Eclectic Tendencies: Spiritual Strengthening or Weakening?

[Guest guest]

Greetings all,

 

I was curious on what everyone felt about eclectic tendencies in general.

Do you consider them outright riding the fence, or do you think that

eclecticness can refine one's spiritual path under the right circumstances?

Where should one be eclectic and where should one not be? Do they make one

strong or weak?

 

As far as my thoughts on eclecticism, I think that there is something to

learn from everything. Yes, one should have some ground beliefs (then

again, people change in time as well and it could be that we are never truly

fixed until we pass from this lifetime), but I believe that if one feels

that certain techniques, methods of energy works, etc help them refine their

personal paths, I do not see it as a problem.

 

I do not see eclectic tendencies a problem also for the fact that I think

everyone, to an extent, is eclectic; sure one may follow a certain

tradition, but it does not mean that they are not individuals with their own

view on how things should be done. I would like to use my grandma as an

example: she is an extremely devout Roman Catholic, but she still holds the

Confucian mindset that influenced her area of Vietnam and still has the same

superstitions that she had when living there. Maybe I do not agree with all

of what she believes (for our superstitions are relatively different), but

it is right for her path, and I will not force her to think otherwise.

Hopefully, I am making sense here - please tell me if I am not! Either way,

I am interested in what everyone here thinks about eclectic tendencies.

 

 

Blessings,

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/21/2004 2:12:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

angelusmortiis writes:

Either way,

I am interested in what everyone here thinks about eclectic tendencies.

I think as long as it works go for it. You can not be blamed for doing your

best.

 

People have varied requirements for spirituality and everyone is different so

it really depends on what you want.

 

I'm basically a Kali Bhakta, however I have an altar in my house to a spirit

from the Carribbean Voudou tradition that I work with and don't see the

conflict as that helps me in life also!

 

There are also statues in my house of ancient Greek gods that I treat with

the same respect too......

 

These are all different aspects of my existence that I pay homage to. It's

funny considering that I was born in the US where the most accessible tradition

is Christianity, but my interests were always elsewhere. In a way having no

backround makes me feel less limited and I think have some volition as to which

things I go for!

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Anya:

 

Your question requires a certain context, in order for my answer to

make sense. In the case of Shaktism, you have a very ancient, very

specific system (of group of systems) that prescribe certain

approaches for certain results.

 

The Shakta Tantras are not scriptures in the Judaic/ Christian/

Islamic sense; i.e. they do not just present pholosophy and moral

instruction that you must believe and adhere to, or else risk eternal

damnation.

 

Rather they are, in a very real sense, instruction books. You do not

"believe" or "disbelieve" Tantras -- you try them. They are the

culmination of generations of exploration and experimentation by great

sages. They work. You try for yourself and decide for yourself. In a

purely practical sense, it makes no sense to say, "I believe in this

scripture, but I don't believe in that one," or "I like this imagery

but not that imagery."

 

That's just talk -- to quote the Russian bard Grebenshikov, it's "just

another bunch of pretty words that stand between the sailor and the

sea." In Shaktism, we say: Relax and jump into the sea! The water's

fine! And if you don't like it after all, you're always free to go

play in other lakes and streams.

 

Shaktism in its modern form dates back to at least 500 CE. Its

essential elements and many of its ritual details are rooted beyond

the reach of memory, in early human prehistory. Every generation adds

something to the tradition, but first they absorb the tradition --

then they begin to build, expand and adapt it.

 

Now, as for "eclectic tendencies in general," I will say that I do not

think it's a good idea to "mix and match" traditions too freely. Not

because I'm a snob, or think Shaktism's "best," or because I'm stuck

on some kind of fundamental purism -- but for strictly practical

purposes. I think it slows you down, and I think it can -- if you're

not very vigilant and careful -- confuse your progress.

 

I am assuming here that one approaches a spiritual tradition in order

to make spiritual progress -- not just to create a personally

appealing aesthetic mood. I do know that many people really *are*

looking for that mood -- to create a personal "spiritual space" that

feels nuturing and comfortable. There is nothing wrong with that --

but we must not try and convince ourselves that it is "Shaktism." It's

not. It's the building of a personal aesthetic. In my opinion, it's

fine to do that (who doesn't?) ... but we ought not to consider it a

substitute for or improvement upon the actual ancient practices.

 

You put it very well yourself: "I think that there is something to

learn from everything." I agree. I am fortunate to count among my

friends several highly accomplished spiritual adepts from several

traditions -- a Native American medicine man in northern Maine; a

heriditary priest of the voudon tradition of Haiti; a Sufi

practitioner who passionately follows a compassionate and authentic

Islam with pure love -- and of course, great souls from the Srividya

tradition of Shaktism, from whom I have taken initiation and whose

words and teachings guide me every day.

 

So Srividya is my path. But for me, there are few pleasures finer than

comparing notes with my friends and acquaintances from other

traditions. We help each other; advise each other. Because at a

certain level, we understand that it all begins to blend together. The

parallels and correspondences are nothing short of mind-blowing. But

at the end of the day, I think we also realize that nothing matches

the sheer power of one's own chosen path. Voudon can respect Sufism,

but has no need to mix-n-match borrowed prayers. The Native American

priest will gain little from inventing a chant to Lakshmi -- that

power is already revered under other names and in different ways.

 

*** Yes, one should have some ground beliefs, but I believe that if

one feels that certain techniques, methods of energy works, etc help

them refine their personal paths, I do not see it as a problem. ****

 

Say you lined up 25 of the finest precision automobiles in the world,

dissembled them, took your favorite pieces from each, and then built a

new car all your own. Would it still be a precision automobile? Maybe

-- but it's far more likely that you'd have merely cobbled together a

rickety, coughing jalopy. Sure, maybe it'll get you from point A to

point B with the occasional breakdown -- but wouldn't it have been

smarter and more efficient to simply choose the vehicle that most

appealed, and driven to point B in comfort and style?

 

*** I think everyone, to an extent, is eclectic; sure one may follow a

certain tradition, but it does not mean that they are not individuals

with their own view on how things should be done. ****

 

I agree with this too. Once you are comfortable with your chosen

tradition, you would be a fool not to acknowledge and draw inspiration

from parallels and wisdom in other traditions. In my opinion,

virtually every religious system is true, or rooted in truth. At

bottom, they are teaching us the same lessons, providing the same

guidance, in ways that speak to various times and places. I do feel

that it's important to find one's base tradition, and that it's unwise

to indiscriminately borrow between systems without truly understanding

the elements you are mixing together. But once again, as long as

you're careful and vigilant, it would be folish not to partake of the

beautiful richness of the world's myriad approaches to the Divine.

 

In Hinduism, after all, it is said: "eko satya vipraH bahdhaa vadanti"

-- "The Truth is One; the wise call it by many names."

 

Aum Maatangyai NamaH

[Guest guest]

Greetings Anya.

 

As DB said, this question needs a certain context.

 

Contexts are many -

1. Generally spiritually interested without any commitment yet

2. Newbie aspirant checking out the wares (spiritual paths)

3. Rookie spiritual aspirant

4. Committed spiritual aspirant

5. DONE THAT!

 

There could be other contexts also.

 

In 1 & 2 above, eclectic tendencies are ok; in fact preferred. It

gives you a wide-range of knowledge and a certain level of

sophistication, both in spiritual and material matters.

 

In 3, it is an absolute no-no. You have graduated from 2 and decided

your path. Stick to it and learn as much as you can. Here eclectic

tendencies can weaken you big-time!

 

In 4 also, it is a no-no, but the rules may be relaxed a bit,

because you are adept at controlling yourself.

 

In 5 (mukti-land), you do what you want! no rules - dive in to all

cultures and experiment with them if you want, or just laze around!

 

Jai Ma!

 

 

, "Anya Mortiis"

<angelusmortiis@h...> wrote:

> I do not see eclectic tendencies a problem also for the fact that

I think

> everyone, to an extent, is eclectic; sure one may follow a certain

> tradition, but it does not mean that they are not individuals with

their own

> view on how things should be done. I would like to use my grandma

as an

> example: she is an extremely devout Roman Catholic, but she still

holds the

> Confucian mindset that influenced her area of Vietnam and still

has the same

> superstitions that she had when living there. Maybe I do not

agree with all

> of what she believes (for our superstitions are relatively

different), but

> it is right for her path, and I will not force her to think

otherwise.

> Hopefully, I am making sense here - please tell me if I am not!

Either way,

> I am interested in what everyone here thinks about eclectic

tendencies.

>

>

> Blessings,

> Anya

[Guest guest]

Dear Devi Bhakta, Manoj Menon, and everyone else who have responded...

 

I would like to say that I enjoyed reading your opinions on this topic - I

like learning from everyone's opinions and experiences (there will always be

a part of me that is still learning ). As far as context goes, I was

thinking about eclectic tendencies in general. However, I guess I can share

how I am eclectic.

 

As far as morals and basic beliefs concerning Divinity goes, I am very fixed

there. Even if I patronize a deity, I will always believe in the "all Gods

are One" philosophy - I will not jump around or wish-wash there.

 

When it comes to methods of meditation, Divination, prayer, and other forms

of "energy works", if that makes any sense, that is where my eclectic side

steps in. While I still pray to the same person, pantheon, etc, I see no

problem working with different methods of practice. If it enhances one's

spirituality and works for them, and has no negative effect on them at all,

then I think one should embrace the practice.

 

That is the context where I am eclectic on. I have not officially dedicated

myself to a core tradition or patronized a specific deity yet, but if I do,

my question is: do you all think that it would weaken me to, for an

example...consult the I-Ching book while dedicating myself to a Hindu

tradition, when the I-Ching is considered Chinese?

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

>"manoj_menon" <ammasmon

>

>

> Re: Eclectic Tendencies: Spiritual Strengthening

>or Weakening?

>Tue, 21 Sep 2004 17:16:49 -0000

>

>Greetings Anya.

>

>As DB said, this question needs a certain context.

>

>Contexts are many -

>1. Generally spiritually interested without any commitment yet

>2. Newbie aspirant checking out the wares (spiritual paths)

>3. Rookie spiritual aspirant

>4. Committed spiritual aspirant

>5. DONE THAT!

>

>There could be other contexts also.

>

>In 1 & 2 above, eclectic tendencies are ok; in fact preferred. It

>gives you a wide-range of knowledge and a certain level of

>sophistication, both in spiritual and material matters.

>

>In 3, it is an absolute no-no. You have graduated from 2 and decided

>your path. Stick to it and learn as much as you can. Here eclectic

>tendencies can weaken you big-time!

>

>In 4 also, it is a no-no, but the rules may be relaxed a bit,

>because you are adept at controlling yourself.

>

>In 5 (mukti-land), you do what you want! no rules - dive in to all

>cultures and experiment with them if you want, or just laze around!

>

>Jai Ma!

>

>

>, "Anya Mortiis"

><angelusmortiis@h...> wrote:

> > I do not see eclectic tendencies a problem also for the fact that

>I think

> > everyone, to an extent, is eclectic; sure one may follow a certain

> > tradition, but it does not mean that they are not individuals with

>their own

> > view on how things should be done. I would like to use my grandma

>as an

> > example: she is an extremely devout Roman Catholic, but she still

>holds the

> > Confucian mindset that influenced her area of Vietnam and still

>has the same

> > superstitions that she had when living there. Maybe I do not

>agree with all

> > of what she believes (for our superstitions are relatively

>different), but

> > it is right for her path, and I will not force her to think

>otherwise.

> > Hopefully, I am making sense here - please tell me if I am not!

>Either way,

> > I am interested in what everyone here thinks about eclectic

>tendencies.

> >

> >

> > Blessings,

> > Anya

>

>

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Anya:

 

I'm glad to hear that you found everyone's responses to be helpful.

You ask:

 

*** do you all think that it would weaken me to, for an example ...

consult the I-Ching book while dedicating myself to a Hindu tradition,

when the I-Ching is considered Chinese? ***

 

In my opinion, the great I-Ching isn't going to "weaken" anyone.

However, it might confuse concepts if you are a fairly new arrival to

a different system. If you are really thinking of "dedicating yourself

to a Hindu tradition," I would think that is the tradition whose

scriptures you would do best to spend your time studying and absorbing

at this time.

 

However, the caveat, as Manoj Menon rather brilliantly noted in his

last post, is that it totally depends on your context:

 

"manoj_menon" <ammasmon@s...>

 

Contexts are many -

 

1. Generally spiritually interested without any commitment yet

2. Newbie aspirant checking out the wares (spiritual paths)

3. Rookie spiritual aspirant

4. Committed spiritual aspirant

5. DONE THAT!

 

There could be other contexts also.

 

In 1 & 2 above, eclectic tendencies are ok; in fact preferred. It

gives you a wide-range of knowledge and a certain level of

sophistication, both in spiritual and material matters.

 

In 3, it is an absolute no-no. You have graduated from 2 and decided

your path. Stick to it and learn as much as you can. Here eclectic

tendencies can weaken you big-time!

 

In 4 also, it is a no-no, but the rules may be relaxed a bit, because

you are adept at controlling yourself.

 

In 5 (mukti-land), you do what you want! no rules - dive in to all

cultures and experiment with them if you want, or just laze around!

 

*****

 

In fact, I would say that this "guide to ececticism" is so useful that

I would humbly ask manoj_menon if we might have the honor of adding it

permanently to our homepage?

 

Good luck, Anya, and thank you for your excellent queries! Keep 'em

coming!

 

DB

[Guest guest]

*smiles* I am glad that my queries brought on such great discussion. I

shall be focusing my studies on Hindu scriptures for a while, then see where

the journey will take me. Thank you for your compliments.

 

 

As always, blessed be,

>"Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta

>

>

> Re: Eclectic Tendencies: Spiritual Strengthening

>or Weakening?

>Wed, 22 Sep 2004 16:30:27 -0000

>

>Dear Anya:

>

>I'm glad to hear that you found everyone's responses to be helpful.

>You ask:

>

>*** do you all think that it would weaken me to, for an example ...

>consult the I-Ching book while dedicating myself to a Hindu tradition,

>when the I-Ching is considered Chinese? ***

>

>In my opinion, the great I-Ching isn't going to "weaken" anyone.

>However, it might confuse concepts if you are a fairly new arrival to

>a different system. If you are really thinking of "dedicating yourself

>to a Hindu tradition," I would think that is the tradition whose

>scriptures you would do best to spend your time studying and absorbing

>at this time.

>

>However, the caveat, as Manoj Menon rather brilliantly noted in his

>last post, is that it totally depends on your context:

>

>"manoj_menon" <ammasmon@s...>

>

>Contexts are many -

>

>1. Generally spiritually interested without any commitment yet

>2. Newbie aspirant checking out the wares (spiritual paths)

>3. Rookie spiritual aspirant

>4. Committed spiritual aspirant

>5. DONE THAT!

>

>There could be other contexts also.

>

>In 1 & 2 above, eclectic tendencies are ok; in fact preferred. It

>gives you a wide-range of knowledge and a certain level of

>sophistication, both in spiritual and material matters.

>

>In 3, it is an absolute no-no. You have graduated from 2 and decided

>your path. Stick to it and learn as much as you can. Here eclectic

>tendencies can weaken you big-time!

>

>In 4 also, it is a no-no, but the rules may be relaxed a bit, because

>you are adept at controlling yourself.

>

>In 5 (mukti-land), you do what you want! no rules - dive in to all

>cultures and experiment with them if you want, or just laze around!

>

>*****

>

>In fact, I would say that this "guide to ececticism" is so useful that

>I would humbly ask manoj_menon if we might have the honor of adding it

>permanently to our homepage?

>

>Good luck, Anya, and thank you for your excellent queries! Keep 'em

>coming!

>

>DB

>

>

>

 

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