Guest guest Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 Dear Jyostna, This freedom to practice whatever one has been brought up with applies only for the first kriya; kriyas are a successive group of initiations, from the second kriya onwards, there are hindu mantras to be practiced with the kriya and it is said that one comes face to face with hindu deities. Still one could argue that these are not "hindu" mantras per se but universal sounds that reckon no cultural/religious barrier and which were co-incidentally practiced by people who were labelled "hindus". in other words there is no reason why anyone of any persuasion could not practice them:-) yogaman Ammachi, Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2> wrote: > Dear Susheelan, > > Are you aware that you are echoing the comments of > the great yogavatar Lahiri Mahasaya, the paramguru > of Paramahansa Yogananda? Here is the quote from > the Autobiography of a Yogi: > > "The master encouraged his various disciples to > adhere to the traditional discipline of their > own faiths. Stressing the all-inclusive nature > of Kriya Yoga as a practical technique of liberation, > Lahiri Mahasaya then gave his chelas liberty to > express their lives in conformance with environment > and upbringing. > > "A Moslem should perform his namaj worship five > times daily," the master pointed out. "Several > times daily, a Hindu should sit in meditation. A > Christian should go down on his knees several times > daily, praying to God and then reading the Bible." > > and for further thought: > > The great guru taught his disciples to avoid > theoretical discussion of the scriptures. He > only is wise who devotes himself to realizing, > not reading only, the ancient revelations," he > said. "Solve all your problems through meditation. > Exchange unprofitable speculations for actual > God-communion." > > Jai Ma, > Jyotsna > > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 --- Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2 wrote: > Dear Susheelan, > "The master encouraged his various disciples to > adhere to the traditional discipline of their > own faiths. Please, please, please do not take my comments out of context, because I have nothing but love and respect for Jesus, but some of us "left" the Christian faith because we had no other choice. We "left" because the traditional discipline of our own faiths taught that everyone but "us" was going to Hell, a literal lake of fire where souls would experience agony forever and ever with no respite. It took a very long time to disengage from this belief system that so deeply offended my soul. Then one day I happened upon the Bhagavad Gita and it was like, "This is what I've really believed all along." So now, while I am perfectly aware that what I was taught as a child is not a fair reflection of what Jesus taught, it is a constant effort to work through and past the programming. Whereas, I have no-such pre-programmed blocks in my relationship with Mother and my Ishta Devata. In fact, sometimes it's a challenge not to superimpose my former belief systems onto my relationship with Mother, feeling that She's so holy and I'm so not holy that someday She'll get disgusted with me and go away. Again, please don't take any of this the wrong way, Half the time I delete my messages before I send them in fear they might unnecesarilly offend someone. And if Susheelan is still following this thread, I sincerely pray none of us has said anything to offend you. Jai Maa! --Aravind SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Dear Aravind, I don't take your comments amiss and realize they are a valid expression for many westerners. However, not everyone shares your painful memories of their early religious upbringing, and you, too, must respect their feelings. My object in posting this quote by a great master was to support Susheelan in what was seeming to be a very loney position. My favorite part of the quote is "gave his chelas liberty to express their lives in conformance with environment and upbringing." That's what the great masters (like Amma) do--give their chelas liberty to adopt what fits them. Jai Ma! Jyotsna --- Jami Blakeley <jami108 wrote: > --- Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2 wrote: > > Dear Susheelan, > > > "The master encouraged his various disciples to > > adhere to the traditional discipline of their > > own faiths. > > Please, please, please do not take my comments out > of > context, because I have nothing but love and respect > for Jesus, but some of us "left" the Christian faith > because we had no other choice. We "left" because > the > traditional discipline of our own faiths taught that > everyone but "us" was going to Hell, a literal lake > of > fire where souls would experience agony forever and > ever with no respite. It took a very long time to > disengage from this belief system that so deeply > offended my soul. Then one day I happened upon the > Bhagavad Gita and it was like, "This is what I've > really believed all along." > > So now, while I am perfectly aware that what I was > taught as a child is not a fair reflection of what > Jesus taught, it is a constant effort to work > through > and past the programming. Whereas, I have no-such > pre-programmed blocks in my relationship with Mother > and my Ishta Devata. In fact, sometimes it's a > challenge not to superimpose my former belief > systems > onto my relationship with Mother, feeling that She's > so holy and I'm so not holy that someday She'll get > disgusted with me and go away. > > Again, please don't take any of this the wrong way, > Half the time I delete my messages before I send > them > in fear they might unnecesarilly offend someone. > And > if Susheelan is still following this thread, I > sincerely pray none of us has said anything to > offend > you. > > Jai Maa! > --Aravind > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc. > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Jyotsna, I couldn't agree more. In fact, one of the _positive_ parts of my religious upbringing was the spirited singing. I felt so at home in that way during my first evening program with Mother during the bhajans. The way She throws Her head back and lifts Her hand reminds me very much of my grandmother. And yes, I was feeling badly too about the lack of support for Susheelan's position. Jai Maa!!! --Aravind --- Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2 wrote: > Dear Aravind, > > I don't take your comments amiss and realize > they are a valid expression for many westerners. > However, not everyone shares your painful > memories of their early religious upbringing, > and you, too, must respect their feelings. My > object in posting this quote by a great master > was to support Susheelan in what was seeming > to be a very loney position. My favorite part > of the quote is "gave his chelas liberty to > express their lives in conformance with environment > and upbringing." That's what the great masters > (like Amma) do--give their chelas liberty to > adopt what fits them. Jai Ma! > > Jyotsna > --- Jami Blakeley <jami108 wrote: > > --- Ellen Lamb <jyotsna2 wrote: > > > Dear Susheelan, > > > > > "The master encouraged his various disciples to > > > adhere to the traditional discipline of their > > > own faiths. > > > > Please, please, please do not take my comments out > > of > > context, because I have nothing but love and > respect > > for Jesus, but some of us "left" the Christian > faith > > because we had no other choice. We "left" because > > the > > traditional discipline of our own faiths taught > that > > everyone but "us" was going to Hell, a literal > lake > > of > > fire where souls would experience agony forever > and > > ever with no respite. It took a very long time to > > disengage from this belief system that so deeply > > offended my soul. Then one day I happened upon > the > > Bhagavad Gita and it was like, "This is what I've > > really believed all along." > > > > So now, while I am perfectly aware that what I was > > taught as a child is not a fair reflection of what > > Jesus taught, it is a constant effort to work > > through > > and past the programming. Whereas, I have no-such > > pre-programmed blocks in my relationship with > Mother > > and my Ishta Devata. In fact, sometimes it's a > > challenge not to superimpose my former belief > > systems > > onto my relationship with Mother, feeling that > She's > > so holy and I'm so not holy that someday She'll > get > > disgusted with me and go away. > > > > Again, please don't take any of this the wrong > way, > > Half the time I delete my messages before I send > > them > > in fear they might unnecesarilly offend someone. > > And > > if Susheelan is still following this thread, I > > sincerely pray none of us has said anything to > > offend > > you. > > > > Jai Maa! > > --Aravind > > > > > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > > http://sbc. > > > > > > > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc. > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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