Hysteria

[Guest guest]

Screwgee - the most hysterical thing missy p. has

read recently are your posts! Take a chill pill or

perhaps just practice correct yoga technique under a guru

and your nervous system will strengthen and purify

THEN we could have an interesting dialogue. Your BKS

Iyengar, a Brahmin, has written a fine book although it is

rarely applicable to the Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa method.

Any attempt to combine the two would just cause

injury and possibly damage the nervous system -

upsetting one's mental well-being (hopefully its not too

late for you). <br><br>I find Yoga Mala to be the

first and last written word on the Vinyasa system -

with each subsequent reading, I continue to be awed by

its depth, intricacy, and wisdom. I find no flaws in

it and have benefitted in many aspects of the

practice in the very ways he suggests. <br><br>Missy p. is

a highly educated woman, as would be clear to any

one who has read her past posts, so I imagine your

question was rhetorical regarding my knowledge of sati. It

is true throughout history that women whose homes

and villages were ransacked and whose husbands were

killed by conquering enemies - chose to kill themselves

rather than be raped or enslaved. This is how sati

began. Regrettably India has a long history of ruthless

and cruel invaders. Regrettably too, this act of sati

was later corrupted by a degraded society. Can any of

us defend completely(if at all) the acts of debased

political leaders and groups? Did you know that sati is not

an act that was exclusive to Brahmin women? In fact

no caste was omitted from this perverted and cruel

penance. Did you know that in India today, economically

poor brides are often burned to death by their

illiterate newlywed husbands who desire more dowry? And that

these murders are often carried out at the behest of

the husband's nagging mother? Also did you know that

in Brazil it is legal for a husband to kill his wife

if she is unfaithful yet he may be unfaithful

without recourse? That in the USA most of the women in

prison for murder were actually acting out of self

defense from violent spouses or boyfriends? Alas womens

and human rights abuses are not restricted to any

particular country, class, or era. That is why it has been

the hope of many great teachers including Sri

Aurobindo, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sri

K.Pattabhi Jois (as he wrote in his preface)that as the

number of people who practice yoga increases then too

will the peace and well being of the individual and

hence, society, leading to the creation of a more

peaceful and just world for all living

beings.<br><br>Faith is not blind but sweet,<br><br>missy p.

[Guest guest]

Suttee (I prefer this spelling, rather than

confusing mindless ritual murder with "sati," which is a

pali word for mindfullness) has existed for hundreds

of years in India, and well out of the context that

you suggest.<br><br>The idea that suttee began as an

act of compassion towards women hardly excuses the

hundreds of years it was practiced, and the thousands of

women who were burnt alive with the blessing of the

Hindu Priesthood -- i.e., the Brahmins.<br><br>Again,

keep in mind that the reason these women were burnt

alive (sometimes against their will...sometimes chained

to the logs before they were set ablaze) was

originated by the Brahmins, perpetuated and endorsed by the

Brahmins.<br><br>The long standing reason had nothing to do with

protecting the women from invaders. On the contrary, the

Brahmins held that if a man died before his wife, this

death was DIRECTLY due to the wife's bad karma. That

is, the wife's bad karma CAUSED her husband's

untimely death.<br><br>I hold the Brahmins -- India's

Priesthood -- responsible for perpetuating the needless

suffering and death of these thousands of women. The

Brahmins were the guys laying down the rules.<br><br>The

moral here is that the guru (e.g. the Brahmin), when

left as ultimate authority, is often wrong. Faith,

respect, and gurubhakti can be intoxicating; it can also

excuse even the most heinous acts.

[Guest guest]

well the post that got me chucklin' today was the one about dropping a low dose

of acid for yoga nirvana

[Guest guest]

Prominent members of the Christian church have

perpretrated many heinous acts. The Church collectively has

been a repressive and backward social force across

much of the world for much of its history. Does that

in any way invalidate the acts and teachings of

individuals like Teresa of Avila, Francis of Assisi or

Matthew Fox? I think not. <br><br>The same could be said

of any other religion. I don't think the historical

track record of the Brahmin caste has much bearing on

the value of yogic teachings by individual Brahmins.

[Guest guest]

Please comment on your confusing

claim:<br><br>"Your BKS Iyengar, a Brahmin, has written a fine book

although it is rarely applicable to the Ashtanga Yoga

Vinyasa method. Any attempt to combine the two would just

cause injury and possibly damage the nervous system -

upsetting one's mental well-being (hopefully its not too

late for you)."<br><br>Iyengar's teachings have only

enhanced my ashtanga practice. I have never had a teacher

tell me it was dangerous. Do you scare your students

this claim?

[Guest guest]

By: alan_little<br>1/5/01 5:32 am

<br><br>"Prominent members of the Christian church have perpretrated

many heinous acts. The Church collectively has been a

repressive and backward social force across much of the

world for much of its history. Does that in any way

invalidate the acts and teachings of individuals like Teresa

of Avila, Francis of Assisi or Matthew Fox? I think

not."<br><br>I agree.<br><br>"The same could be said of any

other religion."<br><br>No, it can't. For example, the

Buddhists never advocated killing. (If we leave Japanese

Buddhism out of the equation, that is).<br><br>However, i

agree that most every religion has promoted racial and

gender distinctions. So, while the Westerners weren't

burning widows, they did own slaves...so perhaps it's

somewhat of a wash.<br><br> "I don't think the historical

track record of the Brahmin caste has much bearing on

the value of yogic teachings by individual

Brahmins."<br><br>I disagree somewhat here. For example, consider

that KPJ had to be persuaded to teach Westerners yoga.

Why? Because Westerners are considered outcaste Hindus

to the Brahmins -- KPJ is a Brahmin, and therefore

his yoga was compromised by the social teachings of

his religion.

[Guest guest]

My understanding was that KPJ wouldn't teach Westerners until some came to his

door who were already practicing vegetarians.

[Guest guest]

> KPJ is a Brahmin, and therefore his yoga was

compromised by the social teachings of his religion.

<br><br>Yes, but consider that in the end he did have the

strength of character and open-ness of mind o step outside

the limits of his upbringing an teach non-brahmins,

and we are all beneficiaries of this brave

decision.<br><br>> For example, the Buddhists never advocated

killing. (If we leave Japanese Buddhism out of the

equation, that is).<br><br>I don't know enough about the

history of countries where Buddhism has been the dominant

religion (except 20th century Tibet) to comment on this

assertion, except to say, why should we leave Japan out of

the equation?

[Guest guest]

> KPJ is a Brahmin, and therefore his yoga was

compromised by the social teachings of his religion.

<br><br>"Yes, but consider that in the end he did have the

strength of character and open-ness of mind o step outside

the limits of his upbringing an teach non-brahmins,

and we are all beneficiaries of this brave

decision."<br><br>Yes, I agree, though I'd also argue that KPJ has

benefits handsomely as well.<br><br>> For example, the

Buddhists never advocated killing. (If we leave Japanese

Buddhism out of the equation, that is).<br><br>"I don't

know enough about the history of countries where

Buddhism has been the dominant religion (except 20th

century Tibet) to comment on this assertion, except to

say, why should we leave Japan out of the

equation?"<br><br>Because (imo) Japanese Buddhism is somewhat warped due to

a variety of factors, a major one being that

certain Buddhist leaders of Japan have put nationalism

over the key moral tenets of their

religion.<br><br>You can't really separate religion from sociological

influences.