Guest guest Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 Namashkar, There has been some controversy regarding comments by Ramdev Yogi that Astrology is useless. Narsimha Raoji also wrote something to the effect that Vivekananda had denied astrology. Let me add my 2 cents. Sometimes, chelas refuse to accept in astrology when they have powerful gurus looking after them. Yogananda didnt believe in astrology, & attacked it like Vivekanada, yet his Guru was one of the best astrologers. In fact, Sri Yukteshwar predicted to the day when Yogananda would fall sick, & suggested remedies. Yogananda didnt believe him, yet when he fell sick, he came running to his guru! Its easy to dismiss astrology when your Guru is advanced, but that doesnt mean astrology itself is useless, like Yogananda learned. Sri Aurobindo, who has rightly been called the Father of Spiritual India, also accepted astrology. He said planets did effect us, although most astrologers could only roughly guess their effect. Master Yogis can direclty see the subtle & hidden influences of the planets, & hence make better predictions, should they want to. He said the reason most "scientific" people denied astrology was because of their refusal to accept anything other than the material world. So is Ramdev a better Yogi than Sri Aurobindo? I dont think so. Perhaps Ramdev would be better advised so to make so further progress before making big statements. Shantnu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Shantanu, A correction if I may! In his autobiography, Yogananda writes about how Giri ji advised him to wear a amulet made by a jyotishi and Yogananda refused. Yogananda further wrote that it was possible to thwart bad karmic influences or bad times but that it takes a lot of effort! In that statement I see no refutal of astrology or the influence of planets. Quite the contrary! They do have an influence but it is not absolute and can be modified is what Yogananda saying. Whether the bad effects are removed by lot of spiritual efforts (is what he stated I think) or through bhakti and other means (as jyotish remedies represent for mortals lower than Paramahansas!) -- the basis is similar! RR vedic astrology, "Shantnu" <shanracer wrote: > > Namashkar, > > There has been some controversy regarding comments by Ramdev Yogi that > Astrology is useless. Narsimha Raoji also wrote something to the > effect that Vivekananda had denied astrology. > > Let me add my 2 cents. Sometimes, chelas refuse to accept in astrology > when they have powerful gurus looking after them. > > Yogananda didnt believe in astrology, & attacked it like Vivekanada, > yet his Guru was one of the best astrologers. In fact, Sri Yukteshwar > predicted to the day when Yogananda would fall sick, & suggested > remedies. Yogananda didnt believe him, yet when he fell sick, he came > running to his guru! Its easy to dismiss astrology when your Guru is > advanced, but that doesnt mean astrology itself is useless, like > Yogananda learned. > > Sri Aurobindo, who has rightly been called the Father of Spiritual > India, also accepted astrology. He said planets did effect us, > although most astrologers could only roughly guess their effect. > Master Yogis can direclty see the subtle & hidden influences of the > planets, & hence make better predictions, should they want to. He said > the reason most "scientific" people denied astrology was because of > their refusal to accept anything other than the material world. > > So is Ramdev a better Yogi than Sri Aurobindo? I dont think so. > Perhaps Ramdev would be better advised so to make so further progress > before making big statements. > > Shantnu > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Not only in Autobiography of a Yogi, but in his other books as well Yogananda says that planets have little or no effect, they can be thwarted by will power. This is nonsense- first to thwart a planet by willpower, you must when the planets are about to create trouble for you, for which you need astrology! Besides, as Svoboda said in his book "Aghora"(part 3 I think),as well as the masterful Light on Life, the planets work by twisting & corrupting your mind- willpower has little or nothing to do with it! To completely reject the power of planets, you must be aware 24 hours a day. Sri Aurobindo said that these negative influences enter as thoughts- if you are aware, you can deny them, but you have to do so immediately. Even while sleeping, you must be aware of all thoughts. >From reading of other peoples experiences, this might take at least 10-20 years of continous practice of Raj Yog & Pranayam. Thats why I think people like Ramdev & Yogananda are misleading the people- its impossible for the normal man to reach such high spiritual heights. If such people stop taking the help of astrology as well, they will be compeltely in the dark. Theres a reason Jyotish is called the Light of the Vedas- till a person can becomes advanced enough to directly see hidden influences, he must rely on astrology. Shantnu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Beautiful !!! Shantnu Ji Best Wishes Jagdish Shantnu <shanracer > wrote: Not only in Autobiography of a Yogi, but in his other books as well Yogananda says that planets have little or no effect, they can be thwarted by will power. This is nonsense- first to thwart a planet by willpower, you must when the planets are about to create trouble for you, for which you need astrology! Besides, as Svoboda said in his book "Aghora"(part 3 I think),as well as the masterful Light on Life, the planets work by twisting & corrupting your mind- willpower has little or nothing to do with it! To completely reject the power of planets, you must be aware 24 hours a day. Sri Aurobindo said that these negative influences enter as thoughts- if you are aware, you can deny them, but you have to do so immediately. Even while sleeping, you must be aware of all thoughts. >From reading of other peoples experiences, this might take at least 10-20 years of continous practice of Raj Yog & Pranayam. Thats why I think people like Ramdev & Yogananda are misleading the people- its impossible for the normal man to reach such high spiritual heights. If such people stop taking the help of astrology as well, they will be compeltely in the dark. Theres a reason Jyotish is called the Light of the Vedas- till a person can becomes advanced enough to directly see hidden influences, he must rely on astrology. Shantnu Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real people who know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 No Shantanu ji ... They are not fooling or misleading people. They are perhaps telling them that it is not a rigid and final boundary that many of us think we live in. Sometimes through examples they show that there are higher heights that humans can attain. They never say it would be easy, mind you! Compare that to many astrologers who right, left and center tell their clients that they need not worry about planets as long as they buy high quality gems or amulets from them or recommended sources and also tell that just chant this mantra and all will be fine. Who is really keeping tab on how many of these clients attain success and how many get disillusioned or worse! RR vedic astrology, "Shantnu" <shanracer wrote: > > Not only in Autobiography of a Yogi, but in his other books as well > Yogananda says that planets have little or no effect, they can be > thwarted by will power. > > This is nonsense- first to thwart a planet by willpower, you must when > the planets are about to create trouble for you, for which you need > astrology! > > Besides, as Svoboda said in his book "Aghora"(part 3 I think),as well > as the masterful Light on Life, the planets work by twisting & > corrupting your mind- willpower has little or nothing to do with it! > > To completely reject the power of planets, you must be aware 24 hours > a day. Sri Aurobindo said that these negative influences enter as > thoughts- if you are aware, you can deny them, but you have to do so > immediately. Even while sleeping, you must be aware of all thoughts. > From reading of other peoples experiences, this might take at least > 10-20 years of continous practice of Raj Yog & Pranayam. > > Thats why I think people like Ramdev & Yogananda are misleading the > people- its impossible for the normal man to reach such high spiritual > heights. If such people stop taking the help of astrology as well, > they will be compeltely in the dark. Theres a reason Jyotish is called > the Light of the Vedas- till a person can becomes advanced enough to > directly see hidden influences, he must rely on astrology. > > Shantnu > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 In Autobiography of a Yogi, Sri Yukteswar advises him to get an astrological remedial armlet. Yogananda says "Master, I don't believe in Astrology," and his master says "It doesn't matter if you believe in it or not!" He was told as a young man he would get married at such-and-such age, etc... by the family astrologer, which turned out to be untrue, of course. But his family wanted him to get married at that same age, and there was some struggles involved, if memory serves. He also specifically start events and make important decisions on "inauspicious" days, and they were indeed successful. But he also admitted that there was a lot of hard work and struggle involved. Both things are true: there is BOTH free will and destiny. Your karmas will come, but you may have become more ready by the time they arrived. All people, all householders, can become self-realized. All. They simply need to enjoy life and not worry, and at the same time, work on their spiritual progress through meditation. The mind starts to experience the Self, and it begins to identify with that. The mind, more refined as time goes on, is less likely to have tamasic influences on it, or to do "wrong" things, as it is acting naturally in accord with dharma. Between now and then, there are various degrees of spontaneous right action, and the person may get discouraged -- but if they continue to meditate and live life, and do not give up, self-realization comes. "The obstacles which distract the mind are disease, fatigue, doubt, carelessness, laziness, attachment, confused understanding, failure to achieve samadhi, and failure to attain samadhi. These distractions are accompanied by pain, depression, restlessness, and coarse breathing. These obstacles can be removed by repeated experience of the one reality." Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Ch 1, Verses 30-32 Astrology is a gift from God that allows us to avert dangers and understand our karmas -- Yogananda is not misleading people when he says that the planets can be thwarted -- it is simply in the context of a true seeker's path to God. He is directing his disciples' attention away from "woe is me" towards "I can do it," which is of course the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arun momia Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 My apologies to shantnu and Prathamesn but one should give due care to his wordings, how can you use the word misleading for the personalities like yogananda and swami ramdev, just look at their contribution to mankind. today YOGODA has lacs of followers, Kriya Yoga came as a bliss to western people, A light for humankind that got blind in materialism.And what to talk of swami ji contribution who is giving new life to almoct died Ayurveda and Indian yoga. so many people getting benefitted by pranayams.today whole world is recognising this heritage and at oneside pepople are disparaging thier thoughts. All monks come out with their findings after immense hardwork , Budha too ridiculed vedas,Swami Dyananda opposed idol worship contrary to vedic thoughts, it doesnt mean they were wrong , only thing is that we misunderstand and misinterperate their message. I tell you one short story once a person came to Swami Vivekananda asking for donation for a Goshala saying that they are protecting the sacred animal, Swamiji responded in a harsh manner and told him that there are too many human beings dying of hunger and thirst and you dont bother about them instead you are protecting cows with no intellect, man asserted that it is the karm phal for those human beings and we can not be blamed for that.this reply upsets Swamiji and he told that person there is no karma better than the service to humankind as it is the supereme creature of Almighty, cows and all creatures and all other activities are secondory. does it mean that Swamiji was averse to protecting animals,NO but idea was to protect mankind first, this is what the statements of Yogananda and Swami Ramdev tells us, One can not believe in astrology alone and sit for good fortune but good karmas are must good thoughts are must. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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