Spiritual Cultural Values....

[Guest guest]

Dear Jagbir,

 

i want to address this issue to you as you were born in a place of Eastern

Culture.

 

i remember when i was a child in Canada, my mom used to wear much longer dresses

than most women, because she came from a different cultural background. When my

mom would come to school for a Parent and Teacher's Night, i would be very

embarrassed, because she was the only mother who wore a much longer dress. Now,

she would fit right in as dresses are now worn by many at that length these

days; in fact are very popular. It is amazing that culture can have such an

influence of us and embarrass us in many ways, if we have to be different to

other people in the mode of dress.

 

i guess i am bringing up this issue because i also have felt that when East

meets West in Sahaja Culture, there can also be these uncomfortable moments,

where a person can feel overwhelmed by cultural differences at times.

 

i know that Shri Mataji has come to Earth to bring back the Dharma. As far as

Eastern and Western Cultures in general, it is quite well known that the West

are more advanced in material developments whereas the Eastern Cultures are more

advanced in spiritual developments. Shri Mataji has also remarked on this.

 

Hindu Culture is supposed to be one of the most accepting of other religious

traditions, whereas the Western Culture (Christianity) for example has often

outrightly rejected Eastern Religious Traditions as Pagan. Even

non-fundamentalist Islam, i believe accepts the Incarnations and Prophets of

other religions.

 

i don't mean to be presumptious, but i believe that because the Hindu culture is

the most accepting of all other Incarnations and prophets and because Eastern

Culture in general is still more Dharmic, i believe; at least more spiritual,

that that is why Shri Mataji decided to be born in India and then also to

Christian parents, which is very interesting also.

 

i also believe that Shri Mataji has said that Her job is to unite all people.

So..... this has got to be a huge feat, when you think of it. And She has tried

to do it with Sahaja Yoga (self-realization) and also with Her instructions for

a Sahaja Culture.

 

The Sahaja Culture therefore, obviously needs to include the essence of all

religions, which is based on Dharma. Also, She has given the option of marrying

Sahaja Yogis to Sahaja Yogis by Arrangement for these by the leadership, or that

a person find a non-Sahaja Yogi marriage partner, who subsequently can take to

Sahaja Yoga. Shri Mataji has given Her blessing to both options.

 

Sahaja Yogis all try to follow Shri Mataji's instructions as best as they can.

However, when it comes to cultural mores and a person tries to adopt to a Sahaja

Culture, some of the suggestions Shri Mataji has given are not something someone

may be comfortable with, such as for example, in the case of mother and baby

staying in the house for 40 days, before allowing them outdoors. A person in the

West would not be able to do that, however, apparently in the East if a person

does not do that, they are frowned upon.

 

There needs to be understanding from all parties when East meets West. Another

example is that as much as i love saris, i still cannot put one on myself. i

would love to be able to do that, however, not living in the East means i do not

get enough experience to do just that, as i do not wear saris everyday. Mind

you, i would love Indian Dress in the West, because they are so beautiful.

 

One of the rules in Australia, is that you must wear a sari for a puja. This

means that a person who cannot put one on, always needs the help of someone else

to put it on, which has been at times a bit uncomfortable-making if there is no

one available to help, or if there is a whole line of ladies waiting to get

their saris adjusted by someone who can do this.

 

It really can be quite fun, however, what is wrong with other suitable attire at

a puja, as long as it is dharmic dress? i know the sari is supposed to represent

the Kunalini and is like a ceremonial dress and most beautiful too. However, is

not other traditional dharmic dress okay too. Must everyone be dressed in saris.

It would be interesting to know if all countries have this rule or just

Australia. (Well, i at least was told it was a rule in Australia). The reason

given was that it will please Shri Mataji and that is a nice gesture too.

 

The main point is, does Shri Mataji force Sahaj Cultural Values on people? i

don't think so. i think She recommends Cultural Values and really wants people

to be able to accept these in order to bring about change in the whole World

Cultural Value System.

 

i know that Sahaj Culture is a place where East Meets West and Sahaj Values

intermingle. However, " West " certainly has more adaptation to do than " East "

does in this equation and sometimes i think that " East " does not appreciate the

efforts that " West " has to make to come up to what is considered a 'good' Sahaja

Yogi.

 

i would appreciate some comments from you, Jagbir, about this issue. i know that

it is great for those who come from Arranged Marriages between East and West and

they are in a great place to imbibe all these Sahaj Values, however for those

who are married West with West, some of these cultural mores are not a

necessity, not a normal part of their life (such as wearing saris, for example)

and are therefore not as easy to adopt.

 

It is good to discuss these things and our experiences and gain an

understanding of cultural differences and their reasons so that everyone can

learn and become more comfortable about these issues that i know a lot of Sahaja

Yogis have also faced over the years.

 

There is also an unspoken belief, i believe, that if a person does not conform

to all Sahaj Cultural Mores to the letter, that they are not as good a Sahaja

Yogi. Is that a true statement?

 

Violet

[Guest guest]

, " Violet " <vtubb@b...> wrote:

 

> One of the rules in Australia, is that you must wear a sari for

> a puja.

 

Respondo:

This statement is incorrect.

There are no 'rules' relating to clothing worn for puja in the local

collective of which I am part.

Some sisters wear saris for puja, some wear western clothes.

Some brothers wear 'whites', some wear western clothes.

Its personal choice.

 

In fact there is a remarkable absence of any 'rules' in the collective

these days. Indeed there is no 'leader' in the traditional sense

either. We have a five-person State Council that coordinates

activities, otherwise collective action is spontaneous being based on

vibrational awareness.

Its cool!

John