Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Devi Bhakta wrote: "I don't know. The subject of pujas for the West is so dicey. What makes me cringe is the mix-n-match nature of the New Age devotees you mention. I tend to think that a qualified exponent (dare I say guru?) of a true lineage can adjust and simplify puja for a different time and place and audience. But the impression I get is of a lot of people adjust and simplifying it themselves -- changing the images to something more familiar, cutting corners on the complexities of puja, approximating mantra pronunciation, tossing in bits and pieces from other traditions ... achieving just the right design effect for their personality and decor -- but effectively short-circuiting the process itself into mere form without appreciable substance." This is a good, apropos comment which describes how new religious traditions are arising in the West, using the resources of the past. Some old practices have to be abandoned as illegal, dangerous, or somehow irrelevant due to basic, general changes in society. On the other hand, complete adoption of practices such as puja isn't being done, perhaps because these same adjusters and simplifiers have not yet sensed the place the practices should occupy. With each choice, however, to include (or not) a particular article of faith or practice, the pictures slowly becomes clearer. I, for one, have sensed that recognition of the Goddess by new agers and neopagans has been well under way for some time now. But I agree that a qualified exponent could accelerate this process; the mix'n'matchers are nothing if not receptive to new ideas. Love to all, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.