Eric/ gurus and disciples

[Guest guest]

 

EBlackstead [EBlackstead]

 

Harsha & Friends,

 

Well, Harsha, we can't always agree on everything, can we?

 

"A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or taken in even by the

greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual freshness of

Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches and promises and

miracles appear dry and without any meaning what so ever."

 

Isn't the devotee you are positing here, not a devotee at all, but

rather a Realized being? What devotee "knows the Self?" In my

estimation, all devotees "can be fooled or taken in even by the

greatest magicians". It is why we all, secretly, fear becoming a

devotee. We know that there is a world "out there", where we will be

taken advantage of simply because, in answer to the requests of

God/Guru we will be exposed in our desire to "see God in each other".

 

I don't think you are crediting "God" with the deviousness that is

truly God's due. It is always good to remember the truth; we seek God

because God hides himself/herself from us. If it were not so, god's

leela wouldn't inspire any "takers".

 

yours in the bonds,

eric

***********************************

Dear Eric,

 

Thanks for your clear post. I see what you are saying. Yes, sincere and

good people can be fooled for some time. A devotee's own purity may serve to

protect as well. Knowing the nature of consciousness as Self as the Supreme

and Primal principle, one certainly is not attracted by magic and miracles

and sees them as anything else.

 

Love

Harsha

[Guest guest]

Yes Eric and Harsha:

 

There is the fear of submitting to someone else and the purity of the

aspirant is a protection. This is a crucial issue. I think it speaks

of the inner guru. A real teacher in the flesh will not be one iota

different than the inner guru.

I sat on my porch thinking of asking my nephew who is a psychologist

what the western explanation is for the two different kinds

of "thoughts" I have. Most of the time I just have a chain of

thoughts one leading to the next, one causing the next, all concerned

with some selfish aspect of "my" life, that is the life of my ego.

Then sometimes I know I'm thinking. I am curious how western

psychology interprets the difference between these two.

Maybe someone on the list knows and can reply.

It is like there are different kinds of software continually running

taking care of the computer but then sometimes the entire computer

becomes aware of some of the software that is running. Most of the

time that awareness is not present. After noticing this phenomenon

the computer decides to install software that makes it know what is

running on deeper levels more often. It realizes the advantage

engendered by an overview in the search for optimal performance.

It adds software to accomodate this realization. That is when all

the "error" messages start popping up because of clutter and

conflicting programs. Ergo, worry about false gurus, etc.

 

Yours truly,

Bob G.

 

, "Harsha" <harsha-hkl@h...> wrote:

>

> EBlackstead@c... [EBlackstead@c...]

>

> Harsha & Friends,

>

> Well, Harsha, we can't always agree on everything, can we?

>

> "A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or taken in even by

the

> greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual freshness of

> Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches and promises and

> miracles appear dry and without any meaning what so ever."

>

> Isn't the devotee you are positing here, not a devotee at all, but

> rather a Realized being? What devotee "knows the Self?" In my

> estimation, all devotees "can be fooled or taken in even by the

> greatest magicians". It is why we all, secretly, fear becoming a

> devotee. We know that there is a world "out there", where we will be

> taken advantage of simply because, in answer to the requests of

> God/Guru we will be exposed in our desire to "see God in each

other".

>

> I don't think you are crediting "God" with the deviousness that is

> truly God's due. It is always good to remember the truth; we seek

God

> because God hides himself/herself from us. If it were not so, god's

> leela wouldn't inspire any "takers".

>

> yours in the bonds,

> eric

> ***********************************

> Dear Eric,

>

> Thanks for your clear post. I see what you are saying. Yes,

sincere and

> good people can be fooled for some time. A devotee's own purity may

serve to

> protect as well. Knowing the nature of consciousness as Self as the

Supreme

> and Primal principle, one certainly is not attracted by magic and

miracles

> and sees them as anything else.

>

> Love

> Harsha