KY vs Other Spiritual Practices

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Guru Sahai Kaur,

 

You said:

>>I do not mix the practises but I feel the keeping separate is conflicting.

 

Yes, I sympathize with you, but I believe I have already overcome the feeling. I

have been into KY for almost nine years and in Tibetan Buddhism for three years.

Before taking refuge in Buddha Dharma my sadhana consisted in a selection of

kriyas and the Aquarian Sadhana meditations. I did that for several years.

Although I was receiving many benefits from my practice, deep in my heart I was

not completely satisfied spiritually and my motivation was growing down day by

day. The only advise I received was the traditional "Keep Up", and I did keep

up, but that didn't stop my search for something else. I read about Sikhism and

Vedanta but when I found Buddhism I said "this is it", I found what I was

looking for. In the beginning I felt both practices were incompatible, not the

physical kriyas but the meditations. After I started my actual Buddhist practice

I stopped doing the Aquarian Sadhana and replaced it with my Buddhist sadhana;

after all Yogi Bhajan said "take what is useful for you". I still do the kriyas

but I select the ones (mostly from Gururattan's books) that do not include a

meditation so I can have time to do the Buddhist practice. I do start with Ong

Namo Guru Dev Namo and end with Sat Nam and I love Sat Kriya, but like you, I do

not mix and do not cut anything from any of them, however now I don't feel the

conflict or the separateness anymore.

 

Blessings

Gilberto

 

'Whatever you experience, realize that all of it is simply the unobstructed play

of your own mind.' -Tsele Natsog Rangdrol

 

 

 

Guru Sahai Kaur [guru-sahai-kaur]

Tuesday, February 04, 2003 6:43 PM

Kundaliniyoga

Re: BOF + Hatha = smarmy

 

 

Sat Nam Deva, Sat Sangeet, Ranjit and others

I think this is an interesting discussion developing here. I can totally

understand and relate to the need to do Hatha for flexibility and groundedness

as well as KY. However having also practised different forms of Hatha Yoga and

taught a Hatha Yoga class, I do think the main difference between KY ,as we are

taught it by Yogi Bhajan, and other forms of Hatha Yoga, is that ours is an

Aquarian teaching. For me that means this one, although based on ancient

principles is modern and tailored to this age. It is a perfectly endowed

teaching as it is.

It is confusing in the West as we tend to be saturated with spiritual paths and

teachers and the first thing is to be able to distinguish what is a true

teaching for the age? Buddhism cites a true teaching as one which causes total

transformation in the life of a human being.

My own experience is of having encountered two such "true" teachings in my life

and feeIing that I only need one.I am a KY teacher(in training) but have been a

practising Buddhist for many years and am active in my community and district.

feel that I do not want to give up my Buddhist practise, but I am also deeply

committed to KY and the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. I do not mix the practises but

I feel the keeping separate is conflicting. Does anyone have any similar

experiences, comments or suggestions?

 

 

Blessings to all

 

 

Guru Sahai Kaur

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam All...

 

I have a few more comments then I will let this subject lay, as I

can see we could debate about this for a lifetime...I think

ultimately we all just want to be allowed our view and know that we

have been heard and I believe we have been.

 

I think what I am talking about is a very right brained

concept....There's nothing linear going on in what I am saying. On

the surface it doesn't make a lot of sense. I am asking ..how can we

have seperate religions or spiritual practices "and" have the two

merge and intermingle in our lives without contradicting each other

or... whatever your experience with that is...

 

My point is that I believe a global view is required. Beneath every

religion is a spiritual practice. Religion is meant to be a road

into the soul. So lets look at the underlying themes and

commonalities between these practices....they are all roads leading

to the same destination.

 

It might seem very strange to some that I feel I can walk into a

Christian church or sit in Gudwara and feel that ultimately, I am

practicing the same spirituality? I can look at all the "laws"

and "rules" and see that they differ, I can look at the surfaces and

see that they are different...but that is not what I look for in a

spiritual practice...I look beneath at the underlying Truth at

work...and that's where I percieve the similarity and commonality.

 

Perhaps, I am niave in my thoughts? But this is my experience.

 

My earlier comments weren't about..how do we mix up our practices

and combine them so that we just have to practice "one" thing....my

point was that... In my opinion...I believe we can practice both

without feeling "pulled" or contradicted..if we see what lies

beneath the practice...rather than just the surface detail. And

further..in our understanding of our practices and what upholds

them, when we see that common thread, we can use it to begin weaving

together a quilt of unity between all.

 

For me what that means is that...I can relate to a student, how what

we practice in KY relates to their Christian upbringing or whatever

it is that they feel is incongruet with their KY practice... Not,

that I am going to start using The Lord's Prayer in my class in

place of the Mool Mantra!!!

 

I look around and I see this happening...Yogi Bhajan started Peace

Prayer Day....Peace Family has a whole Cd of world chants and they

weave them together, showing how they all speak of the same

Truth...Gurunam relates kabala (I know my spelling is horrible!) to

KY...."Breath Walk" is the integration of KY into what used to be, a

non yogic, workout. Integration is happening everywhere...And in

this I don't believe the teachings are being "muddied" in any way.

I believe they are intact and present.

 

What are those words Gururattan has about the heart?...something

like...In the heart there is no discussion? The Aquarian Age is all

about the heart...seeing with non judgement..compassion for all..or

we misunderstand the times.

 

In conclusion...I want to be clear...that I am very allowing of all

the views that have been expressed on this subject...my comments

were not meant as fodder for a debate...I was just sharing my

thoughts on the subject as well and I appreciate hearing the views

that were expressed as well. Thank you.

 

I suppose these are all things we continue to struggle with and

muddle through... and through our own experience of spirituality we

find our answers...

 

May our journey be filled with illumination!

 

Sat Nam,

 

Sat Sangeet