Guest guest Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Dear Siva, An unrelated request. Would you happen to have his birthtime? I know the May 13, 1956, Papanasam, TN part. I would love to have the exact time of the day though. Thanks Sundeep , " schinnas " <schinnas wrote: > > Dear Sir, > I am grateful for your concern. My faith in Sri Sri is both blind and based on my personal experiences. I am grateful to have an discussion with a sincere sadhak and scholar like Shri Narasimha and other sadhaks on this thread. > > The more I think about anything related to Sri Sri, the more chance I get to contemplate on Guru and his tattva. For that I am grateful. > > Love, > -Siva. > > , " chaudhuri.krishnendu " <krishnenduchdhr@> wrote: > > > > Dear Siva, > > > > These are my personal views and they maybe wrong and egoistic so i appeal of forgiveness before: > > > > If you think your GURU to be GOD know that for sure that HE IS GOD > > and let not the view of the world shake your faith. > > One more thing friend spirituality is not a subject of debate or discussion but OF REALISATION as i feel. > > You have taken your GURU or i think we take our GURU as a ladder to reach GOD'S house.When you are climbing never look down to what others are saying.If you want to hear and see from someone let that be ONLY and ONLY your GURU.Either you will reach hell or you will reach heaven.But you will reach somewhere and will not be stranded with those persons shouting below. > > Wishing all the luck in your spiritual journey and may Lord Shiva guide you through. > > > > , " vedic_pathak " <vedic_pathak@> wrote: > > > > > > Dear Siva, > > > > > > Narasimha's views are to Fight/debate/disagree/question without PASSION. so this is an apt thread to do some progress in that attitude. > > > > > > I am sorry if you feel sad or insulting when Sri Sri is criticized but understand that So many millions of Hindus would have felt the same feeling in that debate. I personally admire Shivaji, Maharana Pratap and Sardar Patel and have placed them to the highest of my ideals. Sardar Patel is the one for whom i have same love and respect as Thakur Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda or Narasimha. Why? Because all the 3 were the ideal statesman who did us proud not only by effectively countering religious fanaticism but also BECAUSE THEY OPERATED IN THE SPIRIT OF 'SARVA DHARMA SAMABHAVA'. BIGOTRY CAN NEVER BE ATTACHED TO THEM. And for me this is fantastic and fitting to the ideals of Sanatan Dharma. > > > > > > *** > > > Regarding Dr. Zakir Naik: I did not know about him initially. a year and half back, i visited Oman and there once i switched on TV where in i saw that person on 'Peace' Channel. He was lecturing in front of a gathering and he used a word 'Veda' which interested me to go through. > > > > > > I don't remember the topic but i felt so much saddened by his lecture. The reason was that he kept on attacking Veda/Hinduism and Christianity for proving his points. Immediately in my mind came channels like 'Sanskaar' and 'Ashta' where a lot of religious pundits (most of them are Hindus) come for discourses. and i do not remember any instance where in they have attacked any religious sentiments of other faiths to uphold values of Sanatan Dharma. there is such an obvious contrast. > > > after that first lecture, i watched Zakir's other lectures and was convinced that this person is not a true spiritual leader but a polished intellectual who essentially is a fanatic and then never stopped to see him further. I remember having a debate at the same site (at Oman) with a Young person of Islamic faith. we debated on the issue and i frankly asked him to send Mr. Naik, an email, asking him that does he really believe that other religions and faith are also true. I must say that, i found that young Muslim engineer had much more tolerance and understanding than Dr Zakir Naik. > > > The unfortunate part is that the broad minded people of today's generations are getting corrupted by such fanatic leaders. > > > > > > *** > > > As i have many Muslim, Chrisitan Friends (Really good friends), i never loose a chance to advocate my views - " The time has come when we must not only 'respect' the other religious faiths but also we must belive in our heart of hearts that every faith/religion is true and we must never try to convert people of other religion to our religion but on the contrary we must discourage a person who wants to formally convert by telling him/her that yours is also right and don't get in to such theatrics. > > > > > > I absolutely echo Thakur Ramakrsihna- : " as many are paths, as many opinion are there " > > > *** > > > About Sri Sri, i must say that i believe him as a great spiritual leader. i've some past experiences which makes me believe that. Now that is the reason i wish to know his views on this particular debate episode. I know he has a great knowledge and he also is a scholar but then why he did not counter Dr. Zakir?. > > > > > > Siva wrote: > > > [ > > > Some clues - AOL silver jubilee with over 2 million people meditating and doing Sudarshan Kriya together happened around Feb 16, 2006. There were several threats from certain militants from one community about planting bombs or disrupting it in other ways police security provided was not sufficient for that sized gathering. > > > The concerned debate where lot of SIMI members were among the participants happened few weeks earlier on Jan 21, 2006. > > > Some people believe Sri Sri's presence in the event changed the heart of some miscreants. > > > ] > > > > > > I was present in the Silver jubilee gathering in Bangalore for all the 3 days. BUT the logic of countering threat by loosing in debate on behalf of Sanatan Dharma is very strange and Sri Sri must tell us what went wrong. > > > > > > *** > > > Why we admire Swami Vivekananda and feel proud whenever we remember the World religious conference? He swept all and sundry without showing disrespect or criticizing on their faiths. > > > > > > I sincerely wish to see such a Religious leader from Islamic and Christian faith who stops to see the weaknesses in own faith and then debates with honesty and free from *converting attitudes*. > > > *** > > > This is the reason; i have my reservations for ISCON's propagations. I had a recent debate with few of the ISCON devotees and i ended up hurting them and ironically we all had just finished " Damodar Pujan " on Tulasi vivaha day. Jay Shri Krishna... > > > > > > I dont wish to give their views here. It sounded really foolish and i thought in my mind that what rubbish and what passion with which they were arguing. i was pained by their brain wash. > > > Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum...Is is my opinion that many people from Sanatana dharma who *love* Krishna would have kept themselves far from this organization. > > > > > > will Lord krishna be angry with me? i dont care because i don't FEAR THE lord but i love him. Infact one of the best pictures in my mind about lord is that of Krishna (sky blue complexion) directing Arjuna on the Chariot and the other one is of that Krishna washing the feet of his friend Sudama. > > > *** > > > I am sure my Guru will say that you concentrate on your saadhana and don't judge others and i will not feel bad . > > > *** > > > > > > I wanted to write something and ended up writing many more things which was probably not relevant to the thread. > > > > > > Sorry for this long and if you feel it was all rubbish, please forgive and forget!!! > > > > > > Regards, > > > Utpal > > > > > > > > > > > > , " schinnas " <schinnas@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Shri. Narasimha, > > > > I was giving an explanation from my understanding, but it was still at my mental level. The actions of an englightened master established in Sahaja Samadhi does not need to satisfy our mental concepts of how things should be. > > > > > > > > For example, when Sri Krishna - an Avatar of the highest order, ran away from the battlefield when Jarasandh attacked Mathura instead of fighting and defeating Jarasandh. Sri Krishna himself years later would advice Arjuna against dropping arms in a fight. Can we give a satisfying intellectual answer to it if people raise questions? > > > > > > > > Sri Aurobindo gave a beautiful explanation about it. It was something like: If Krishna were constrained to win all times, that would be a limitation in itself! An Avatar chooses even defeat if it is necessary for a larger and more complete victory in the scheme of the lela. You ofcourse have to read the original to get his exact words.. I read it long ago. > > > > > > > > Another instance that comes to mind - Some thieves came and beat up Ramana Maharishi and made a big nuisance in his Ashram. Ramana Maharishi bore it with equanimity. Sri Ramana was the Spiritual head of the Ashram and one can intellectually argue that it was his dharma to protect the ashram and inmates from the thieves. > > > > > > > > Besides, there were certain things that I did not want to put in an public email. > > > > > > > > Some clues - AOL silverjubilee with over 2 million people meditating and doing sudarhsn Kriya together happened around Feb 16, 2006. There were several threats from certain militants from one community about planting bombs or disrupting it in other ways police security provided was not sufficient for that sized gathering. > > > > > > > > The concerned debate where lot of SIMI members were among the participants happened few weeks earlier on Jan 21, 2006. > > > > > > > > Some people believe Sri Sri's presence in the event changed the heart of some miscreants. > > > > > > > > Many does not know that Sri Sri had cancelled meetings with the future head of state of a superpower few minutes before the meeting was to happen. Sometimes he attends some events which cannot be explained logically by his disciples such as the debate with Zakir Naik. The beauty about an enlightened Master living in Sahaja Samadhi is that we cannot contain them in our mind. They operate from a plane of consciousness that is much higher. > > > > > > > > As the Mother would say if something is beyond our mental understanding, we can maintain a respectable silence about it. > > > > > > > > I do not expect my answers to satisfy all the questions. I feel I have said everything I had to say. > > > > > > > > In hind sight, I realize that I should not have ventured to give an intellectual explanation for something that I myself have not yet intellectually understood. > > > > > > > > I did want to object to some statements saying Sri Sri did not know what do say or was confused. It was a judgement of those without any knowledge or understanding of Sri Sri, just as someone who does not understand Sri Krishna might judge him differently for several of His acts which could not be intellectually explained. Having observed him in person with questions several times tricker than what Zakir Naik said, I can confidently say that it was not true. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > -Siva. > > > > > > > > , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao " <pvr@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Dear Siva, > > > > > > > > > > Respectfully, I want to offer a different perspective. > > > > > > > > > > * * * > > > > > > > > > > > The answer is that Sri Sri did not debate. He never debates on Truth! > > > > > > > > > > If he " never debates on Truth " , why did he agree to take part in the debate? > > > > > > > > > > > To him Truth / God is not an article of debate. He can show the way > > > > > > to Realization of Truth to those that are ready. He is not interested in > > > > > > anything else. > > > > > > > > > > One can " show the way to Realization of Truth to those that are ready " without accepting to take part in a debate like that! > > > > > > > > > > > He answers only when there is sincerity in the heart > > > > > > of the questioner. Otherwise he would say some polite words and > > > > > > let it pass, however big the occasion may be. > > > > > > > > > > If one answers only when there is " sincerity in the heart of the questioner " , why would one then agree to debate a ruthless debater who is known to not have " sincerity in the heart " and who only wants to ruthlessly destroy the views of opponents? After all, opponent in a debate is different from a " questioner " or a disciple seeking spiritual direction. > > > > > > > > > > > The topic of the meeting was something like " Concept of God in > > > > > > Hinduism and Islam " . IMHO, Sri Sri did justice to the topic by " BEING " > > > > > > an embodiment of the very thing that was supposedly the topic of > > > > > > discussion. > > > > > > > > > > If a yogi has such stature, one can do " justice to the topic " without even taking part in the debate and just by being oneself. > > > > > > > > > > * * * > > > > > > > > > > When people of little or no understanding were debating Truth/God and misleading the world, great teachers in the past stepped in and directed the debate in the right direction, whether it is rishis or recently Aadi Shankaracharya or Swami Vivekananda. They had the knack of steering the debate in a direction that they wanted - a direction that would help establish sanatana dharma. They did not tolerate adharma and ignorance with " polite words " . They destroyed adharma and ignorance with the sword of detached, and yet firm, actions. > > > > > > > > > > Fighting with hatred or anger or agitation in the heart is bad. But, fighting with a calm and equanimous mind is completely saattwik. > > > > > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > > Narasimha > > > > > > > > > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam > > > > > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana > > > > > Spirituality: > > > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net > > > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org > > > > > Jyotish writings: JyotishWritings > > > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > , " schinnas " <schinnas@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Rajarshi, > > > > > > Very good question. In fact, this is a question that was raised by disciples of Sri Sri than those that dont know him. In fact, if one looks into it, one will be dumbfounded! How is it that somebody like Sri Sri, who has commented exhaustively on several scriptures, who is an authority on vedanta both by his inner Realization and learning, who recited the Bhagavad Gita when he was 4 years old without anybody teaching him, and who gives impromptu discourses in various forums across the world on all topics under the sun shy away from explaining some simple questions that are about his home turf? > > > > > > > > > > > > The answer is that Sri Sri did not debate. He never debates on Truth! To him Truth / God is not an article of debate. He can show the way to Realization of Truth to those that are ready. He is not interested in anything else. He answers only when there is sincerity in the heart of the questioner. Otherwise he would say some polite words and let it pass, however big the occasion may be. Most of the questions that were raised in that meeting were answered elaborately by Sri Sri in his various commentaries & discourses year ago! > > > > > > > > > > > > One may ask why then did he go to this meeting or whatever it was? The topic of the meeting was something like " Concept of God in Hinduism and Islam " . IMHO, Sri Sri did justice to the topic by " BEING " an embodiment of the very thing that was supposedly the topic of discussion. Those that were ready to benefit from it from the audience would have benefited. > > > > > > > > > > > > ************ > > > > > > > > > > > > The below part is not for Rajarshi but may be of interest to everyone, especially those among us that are intellectually curious about spirituality than practicing it. > > > > > > > > > > > > Sri Sri always practices " experience first and explanation and knowledge later " principle. Sometimes in AOL, there will be big congregation of thousands of people and Sri Sri will only say very simple things or share some simple jokes and laughs, but his presence would convey what needs to be conveyed for those that are receptive. A Master may not be interested in getting 100,000 people trading one mental concept for another, but prefers one sincere person opening up to Truth in silence. A Masters mere presence is enough for that to happen. Words are secondary and optional. In spiritual discussions, the point of words is to create inner silence or illumination and if that is not created, there is no point in talking! > > > > > > > > > > > > It is a great privilege and an immense blessing to be in the presence of a living Master whether it is Sri Sri or someone else. We gain immensely if we listen to them from our Being instead of our mind. In Sri Ramakrishna's life, there are innumerable examples of very simple people benefiting from his mere looks & presence while big intellectuals would debate with him and miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Sometimes when he countered insincere queries, Sri Ramakrishna would feign ignorance and say what would I know - I am an illiterate! What a disaster it would have been for a seeker if he were to label Sri Ramakrishna as an illiterate and ignoramus! > > > > > > > > > > > > Without an accompanying experience (at least a small glimpse or even a fragment of an experience) accumulating knowledge can be very dangerous as it will become yet another mental concept and will actually be a hindrance to the Sadhak. Some of the most subtle and dangerous hindrances for a sadhak are created by none other than the sadhak's empty concepts of spirituality and God! Things like lust, greed, anger, etc., stand out conspicuously and are in that way less dangerous. > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Gurudev! > > > > > > Siva. > > > > > > > > > > > > , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Siva, > > > > > > >  > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nice mail. However I have one issue with Sri Ravishankar. Why did he accept to debate the infamous Zakir Naik on Hinduism? Sri Sri Ravishankar maybe an enlightened master but he just cannot debate. If you see the vedios of that debate that happened a couple of years back, you will find Sri Ravishanker utterly clueless on stage, not knowing what and how to counter the polemical queries of the Zakir Naik. > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > Now when Sri Sri choses to accept an offer to debate Naik on stage, he does not go there merely in his own capacity but as a representative of the religion - Hinduism. And when he fails miserably on stage, it becomes shameful to watch for hindus. I mean, if you are not good with debating why did you even take it up? > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > I am sorry if this mail sounds a little strong, but everything I have stated here is a fact. The vedios are available for free on youtube, for anyone who wants to see how that debate went. > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > -Regards > > > > > > >  Rajarshi > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Thu, 5/11/09, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> > > > > > > > AOL: Seamless blend of Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Gnana Yogas > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Cc: schinnas@ > > > > > > > Thursday, 5 November, 2009, 5:12 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Siva, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You sent this mail to me instead of the list. I am forwarding this to the list. Please feel free to write directly to the list on spiritual matters in future! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > > > > Narasimha > > > > > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > > > > > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam > > > > > > > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana > > > > > > > Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom > > > > > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net > > > > > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org > > > > > > > Jyotish writings: http://groups. / group/JyotishWri tings > > > > > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org > > > > > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:18:24 -0000 > > > > > > > > " schinnas " <schinnas (AT) gmail (DOT) com> > > > > > > > > - owner@ s.com > > > > > > > > AOL: Seamless blend of Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Gnana Yogas > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear all, > > > > > > > > Namaskarams. I occasionally visit this forum. I happened to see several emails about AOL and the below email from Shri. Narasimha. > > > > > > > > As a follower of AOL's spiritual practices and as a disciple and devotee of Sri Sri Ravishankar, I want to clarify a few things to the extent of my understanding. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There are several paths each leading to the destination of Sat-Chit-Ananda. Some are ritualistic, some use austerities, some use devotion, etc. AOL is a path, where the path to Bliss is also blissful. That does not make it in any way inferior to paths of austerities. As Sri Aurobindo would call it, it is a " Sunlit path " . In this path one does not suddenly emerge into SatChitAnanda. The personality of the sadhak is transformed slowly and the sadhak radiates more and more as they progress more and more. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In my experience, AOL is a seamless blend of Raja yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga and Gnana yoga. Spritual practice in AOL is not just doing Sudarshan Kriya everyday as it is commonly (mis)understood. Pranayams and Sudarshan Kriya are done for cleansing and settling of the mind and preparing for meditation and doing other spiritual practices of contemplation, Seva for rest of the day wit the right attitude. Regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya removes / breaks old patterns and > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > AOL includes some yoga asanas to prepare the body (the Padma Sadhana sequence of asanas taught in DSN course and Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) taught in Part II or advance courses fall under this category. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The raja yoga practices include all the pranayams, Sudarshan Kriya, mudras, bandhas, meditations taught in Art of Living course, advance courses, Sahaj samadhi meditation course, etc. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The Knowledge part includes deep contemplative study and imbibing of Narada Bhakti Sutras, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Ashtavakra Gita and Bhagavat Gita. Sri Sri Ravishankar has given very elaborate commentary on all of the above. His commentary on Bhakti Sutras runs to 30 or so tapes and the publicly available commentary on Ashtavakra gita runs to over 33 DVD episodes! Besides daily study of Yoga Vashishtam is highly > > > > > > > > recommended. Learning and contemplation of this Wisdom is mandatory for those that strive to become Art of Living teachers. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The path of AOL emphasises on Surrender and Seva. Guru puja to Guru parampara, nama sankeertan and bhajans are a standard feature of AOL satsangs. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Some wonder why AOL charges for these courses and some wonder about lack of a Sadhguru at every stage. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Let me clarify from my personal experiences that Sri Sri Ravishankar is a fully Enlightened Master living in Sahaj Samadhi all times. He is capable of guiding millions of devotees in every step of the sadhana without having to be near them in person. Several get necessary guidance in dreams (I myself had that experience twice), some in person and several via various other ways. However, to get these guidance, an inner connection with the Master is essential. Until that stage, the various AOL courses, Sri Sri's elaborate and in-depth commentaries on various Knowledge are more than enough to guide disciples to a stage where conscious inner communion with Guru can be established. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Several of the senior AOL teachers (mostly Swamis and Rishis) are yogis of a very high order capable of reaching SatChitAnanda consciousness at will during meditation. They may be not fully established in it like Sri Sri, but act as channels of the SatGuru and can appropriate guide a Sadhak as and when needed. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It is very easy to accept those that left their body as having achieved highest realization such as Sri Aurobindo or Sri Ramakrishna or Ramana Maharishi. However it is a human tendency to doubt them when they are in physical form. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Regarding AOL charging money for its courses: AOL is world's largest volunteer run organization. Neither AOL teachers nor its founder Sri Sri Ravishankar make monitory profits. All the proceeds go to the charitable activities again run by volunteers. Many of the full time teachers have given up veyr lucrative careers and millions worth in property to become teachers and teach for free. Sri Sri Ravishankar neither needs all the money. All senior AOL teachers including Sri Sri have went through very bad and sometimes even dangerous conditions to bring the Knowledge to the masses. This is a time when the highest Knowledge needs to be revealed to maximum number of people. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Senior AOL teachers have faced danger to their lives by going without any help or guidance to areas infested with naxalites, terrorists in North East, Kashmir, Iraq, Palestine, Pakitan, Sri Lanka, etc. with nothing but love and Divine Grace as their aid. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As far as I know, money is charged in AOL courses for two reasons. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1) Past experience showed that those that paid for the courses seem to follow the practices more diligently. It is Sri Sri's guidance that no deserving person should be denied a course because they cannot afford to pay. As a volunteer, I was part of organizing several AOL courses and know first hand many cases where people took courses for free and were also provided free accommodation, etc. Whenever natural disaster strikes, AOL teachers go there paying from their own pocket or by AOL and teach courses for free and provide healing to the victims. AOL does not advertise it or make a show of it. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2) This is my understanding and not AOl position. It removes the Karmic debt to the AOL teachers and volunteers who still may have some doership in them. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Finally, Sri Sri is only interested in getting everyone turn inwards and express the love, joy and compassion that is inside everyone. As long as one follows a path, any path and surrenders to any Sat Guru, we are happy. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jai Gurudev! > > > > > > > > Siva. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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.