Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Swami, why should a Westerner follow a spiritual path that originates from the East? Doesn't it make more sense to create our own spiritual systems that are congruent with the culture we live in? (Swamiji answers.) All known religions come from the East, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The forms of worship that we are using that have emanated from the East are traditions that have worked for people who attained the goal. We are studying and practicing them because they are systems that have worked. They put the body, mind, and consciousness into harmony and allow absorption into total divinity. Therefore, we are not trying to create a new system. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works, use it. from Before Becoming This Conversations with Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda about Life, Love, and the Cosmic Play by Steven Newmark, Ph.D. (Available at the bookstore at www.shreemaa.org.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 He is a true spritual pragmatist. , "Karen Borak" <karenborak@e...> wrote: > Swami, why should a Westerner follow a spiritual path that originates from the East? Doesn't it make more sense to create our own spiritual systems that are congruent with the culture we live in? > > (Swamiji answers.) All known religions come from the East, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The forms of worship that we are using that have emanated from the East are traditions that have worked for people who attained the goal. We are studying and practicing them because they are systems that have worked. They put the body, mind, and consciousness into harmony and allow absorption into total divinity. Therefore, we are not trying to create a new system. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works, use it. > > from Before Becoming This Conversations with Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda about Life, Love, and the Cosmic Play by Steven Newmark, Ph.D. (Available at the bookstore at www.shreemaa.org.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Dear Karen, thank you for posting this q&a, as I am struggling with this. I can certainly understand Swamiji's advice to practice a system that has obviously proven its worth. What still puzzles me is what to do when you are used to working with another system of worship, other symbolism, other images, which, because you have worked with them and meditated on them for some time deeply resonate within. Should you just put that aside as you start delving in the Indian Stuff? Or can you mix a little as you recognize the essence of the one in the other, albeit in different form? Any ideas, anyone? with love, Henny with love, "Karen Borak" <karenborak@e...> wrote: > Swami, why should a Westerner follow a spiritual path that originates from the East? Doesn't it make more sense to create our own spiritual systems that are congruent with the culture we live in? > > (Swamiji answers.) All known religions come from the East, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The forms of worship that we are using that have emanated from the East are traditions that have worked for people who attained the goal. We are studying and practicing them because they are systems that have worked. They put the body, mind, and consciousness into harmony and allow absorption into total divinity. Therefore, we are not trying to create a new system. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works, use it. > > from Before Becoming This Conversations with Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda about Life, Love, and the Cosmic Play by Steven Newmark, Ph.D. (Available at the bookstore at www.shreemaa.org.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Dear Karen, Just my humble opinion but I would mix a little as you recognize the essence of one in the other or as Swamiji says let it grow organically within you. Slowly, as you learn Swamiji's system you will learn what works for you...as Swamiji says it is your love affajir with God. Grace On 23/03/2005, at 5:25 AM, henny_v_i wrote: > > > Dear Karen, > > thank you for posting this q&a, as I am struggling with this. I can > certainly understand Swamiji's advice to practice a system that has > obviously proven its worth. What still puzzles me is what to do when > you are used to working with another system of worship, other > symbolism, other images, which, because you have worked with them and > meditated on them for some time deeply resonate within. Should you > just put that aside as you start delving in the Indian Stuff? Or can > you mix a little as you recognize the essence of the one in the other, > albeit in different form? Any ideas, anyone? > > with love, > > Henny > > > > with love, "Karen Borak" > <karenborak@e...> wrote: > > Swami, why should a Westerner follow a spiritual path that > originates from the East? Doesn't it make more sense to create our > own spiritual systems that are congruent with the culture we live in? > > > > (Swamiji answers.) All known religions come from the East, > including Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The forms of worship > that we are using that have emanated from the East are traditions that > have worked for people who attained the goal. We are studying and > practicing them because they are systems that have worked. They put > the body, mind, and consciousness into harmony and allow absorption > into total divinity. Therefore, we are not trying to create a new > system. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works, use it. > > > > from Before Becoming This Conversations with Shree Maa and Swami > Satyananda about Life, Love, and the Cosmic Play by Steven Newmark, > Ph.D. (Available at the bookstore at www.shreemaa.org.) > > > Sponsor > > > <22305_0205_016_b_300250_a.gif> > <l.gif> > > Links > > • > / > > • > > > • Terms of > Service. > > Attachment: (text/enriched) [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 You may want to put some of the other practices aside, at least for a time. Otherwise it is like trying to learn two or more languages at the same time. You might learn the vocabulary and grammar, but it could be more difficult to gain mastery. When you have learned one then you can move forward. It also depends on the reasons for practicing in more than one tradition. My first guru said, quoting Ramakrishna, if you want to commit suicide a pin will do the trick, but if you want to fight a war you need a sword. He explained then to me that if you are working primarily for your own enlightenment focus on one path, but if you are called to teach you may need to learn from several so that you can reach others where they are. He was very strong in his recommendations for regular sadhana and moving to a deep level of understanding before tryng something else on. I hope this helps. Arjunahenny_v_i <HvI (AT) SoftHome (DOT) net> wrote: Dear Karen,thank you for posting this q&a, as I am struggling with this. I can certainly understand Swamiji's advice to practice a system that has obviously proven its worth. What still puzzles me is what to do when you are used to working with another system of worship, other symbolism, other images, which, because you have worked with them and meditated on them for some time deeply resonate within. Should you just put that aside as you start delving in the Indian Stuff? Or can you mix a little as you recognize the essence of the one in the other, albeit in different form? Any ideas, anyone?with love,Henny with love, "Karen Borak" <karenborak@e...> wrote:> Swami, why should a Westerner follow a spiritual path that originates from the East? Doesn't it make more sense to create our own spiritual systems that are congruent with the culture we live in?> > (Swamiji answers.) All known religions come from the East, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The forms of worship that we are using that have emanated from the East are traditions that have worked for people who attained the goal. We are studying and practicing them because they are systems that have worked. They put the body, mind, and consciousness into harmony and allow absorption into total divinity. Therefore, we are not trying to create a new system. Why reinvent the wheel? If it works, use it.> > from Before Becoming This Conversations with Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda about Life, Love, and the Cosmic Play by Steven Newmark, Ph.D. (Available at the bookstore at www.shreemaa.org.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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