Guest guest Posted January 5, 2000 Report Share Posted January 5, 2000 Anyone who has been in the spiritual/religious field for any length of time will notice that it is no different than any other field. There is politics, intrigue, and competition for attention among teachers, gurus, etc. Everyone claims to have the superior way. Even in the area of exploring the nature of the Kundalini Shakti or Nonduality, the competition is heated and intense. Over the last 25 years, I have seen many teachers and gurus ridicule each other and different paths, and their disciples of course take their cue from their gurus. Sometimes the criticism might even be justified from some point of view. But this is how spiritual business is done. This is how spiritual business always has been done. El Collie on the K-List, mentioned examples of healers who could not heal themselves. This is not uncommon. That is just life. There is a long history of teachers and gurus hiding their own shortcomings and problems, sometimes serious, and acting as guides. Certainly people can still benefit from their teaching although some may be misled and harmed as well. This is why it is important for spiritual aspirants to take some responsibility and familiarize themselves with at least the basic religious, spiritual, and/or Shakti/Self/No Self literature which comes from the genuine spiritual traditions. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Taoism and to some extent the Judeo-Christian traditions have been the main sources for me. But there are many other veins of knowledge as well. These are there for all and can be studied and reflected on. The genuine aspirant cannot remain satisfied with endless intellectual questions and answers or endless psychic experiences through kundalini manifestations. But there are subtle questions arising from the longing of the Soul, such as (What does it all mean? Where is True Rest. What is the foundation of experience, any experience? Who seeks answers? Why are answers sought? Who asks questions?). If such questions do not trap one in the jungle of intellectual mumbo jumbo but are followed to the source, they can hint at the Pull of the Heart. Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2000 Report Share Posted January 5, 2000 Dear Harsha: New Century Blessings to All! Your words convey perfectly the balance between being wrapped in the zest of discovery and the worldly realities of existence. Ideas and actions are always the fracturing points between perfect harmony and perfect existence. We can attain inner peace, but we cannot remain motionless for an infinite time, so we must endure compromise and motion. Your essential integrity to truth and to living in a realistic manner are wonderful qualities...and we are most grateful for your generous nature, kindness and wise discussion. To expect anyone to achieve anything approaching lasting perfection, while remaining involved in human activity is the dangerous thing. It is the mantle often forced upon the shoulders of good and good intended people who somehow find that they cannot "lead" or become "more perfect" despite all of the expectations of the crowd and followers. I suggest that it is nearly as difficult to be a "good" follower or admirer, as it is to be a "good" leader. We should always be wary of placing our friends, loved ones, gurus and leaders in positions so limited and narrow that they can never live up to the expectation or breath normally. It require great humility to lead and it requires great self strength and independence to be a good follower. A bad follower can be dependent, emotionally bound, and unrealistic in expecting perfection from his/her idols. Our duty is to inspire others to their own sense of creative, independent thinking...to question and to enjoy life. This often means cutting all of those strings of attachment...not just to ideas and philosophies they may have had, but also to devotional excess and misguided zeal. We are fortunate to have you with us Harsha, and if everyone would take a few moments to appreciate the difference between true leadership and self motivation, they would come to understand how rare a jewel you are. Of course, since no one is perfect, I hasten to add that, like all jewels, some of your facets are a bit off kilter and you require cleaning and polishing, just as we all do, at times. Blessings and Love, Zenbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2000 Report Share Posted January 6, 2000 Thank you brother Zenbob for your wise and very perceptive post, your many compliments, and for sending your blessings and love. They are gratefully received. Indeed your message is worth great reflection at the beginning of the century by both gurus and would be devotees. As an internationally renowned leader in the new age movement and being revered as Sri Sri Zenbabaji you are certainly in a unique place to offer this enlightening perspective. Your emphasis, ZenBabaji, on independence of thinking and giving other people the freedom to be human (whether they are perceived to be devotees, teachers, gurus, masters, etc.), is both insightful and noteworthy. The central point that you raise is the importance of commitment to the Essential Truth and always approaching this in an uncompromising manner and with integrity. This is a notion that has always been very dear to my heart as far back as I can remember. I thought I should share that even as a young child in India, at age of 12-13, meditating and sitting on the roof of my grandfather's house in the verandah such thoughts were rushing forth in my mind. "....Truth of Reality is central. Truth is Central. If anyone should ever be forced to choose between the Truth and a Teacher, they should be taught to always choose the Truth (by the Teacher). If anyone should have to choose between me (Harsha) and the Truth, they should always choose the Truth." Strange and grandiose thoughts for a young child and yet constantly present with such huge and undeniable force without any explanation. Perhaps such thoughts were results of some lessons learned in past lives. It seemed like that at the time. Each individual path is unique. To discover the Jewel in the Heart, that contains the individual and the world and shines through the mind as consciousness is a recognition sages point to and it is for each to see that with one's own eye without an intermediary. The words and instructions of a genuine teacher work in a flash when the time is ripe and then those words disappear without a trace in One's Own Being. As you perceptively point out Sri Baba, the jewel of the personality can always be refined further, and many of my facets are off kilter and require further polishing and cleaning. No doubt you are being much too kind. I gave up all the polishing and cleaning a long time ago and have even forgotten how to go about doing it. And now such laziness overcomes me that I have no choice but to offer myself as car dealers offer old cars -- "As is" :--). Probably, it is our fate to laugh amidst much worldly suffering and suffer much amidst worldly laughter. We have all had much success in that. Somewhere between suffering and laughter lies wisdom as it has roots in both. Love and big hugs Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2000 Report Share Posted January 7, 2000 In a message dated 1/6/00 10:27:05 AM Mountain Standard Time, hluthar writes: << I gave up all the polishing and cleaning a long time ago and have even forgotten how to go about doing it. And now such laziness overcomes me that I have no choice but to offer myself as car dealers offer old cars -- "As is" :--). >> What a lovely post. But I think whatever was in you at 12 or 13 has been polishing you from the inside all along, and that the inside Polisher works better when we stop trying to improve ourselves! Love, Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2000 Report Share Posted January 7, 2000 At 10:52 AM 1/7/00 EST, you wrote: >In a message dated 1/6/00 10:27:05 AM Mountain Standard Time, >hluthar writes: > ><< I gave up all the polishing and cleaning a long time ago and have even >forgotten how to go about doing it. And now such laziness overcomes me that I >have no choice but to offer myself as car dealers offer old cars -- "As is" >:--). >> > >What a lovely post. But I think whatever was in you at 12 or 13 has been >polishing you from the inside all along, and that the inside Polisher works >better when we stop trying to improve ourselves! Love, Holly > Life is a process of choices and change...constantly changing. I am responsible for the choices I make during this life process. I allow other people the dignity to be in their process, different than mine, yet perfect just the same. I remain open and willing and teachable. Life is the teacher...life shows me what I need to learn. My biggest fear is not accepting, acknowledging, and loving myself. I appreciate others for showing me the parts of my self that I still have not accepted and loved. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2000 Report Share Posted January 7, 2000 At 10:52 AM 1/7/00 EST, Hbarrett47 wrote: >In a message dated 1/6/00 10:27:05 AM Mountain Standard Time, >hluthar writes: > ><< I gave up all the polishing and cleaning a long time ago and have even >forgotten how to go about doing it. And now such laziness overcomes me that I >have no choice but to offer myself as car dealers offer old cars -- "As is" >:--). >> > >What a lovely post. But I think whatever was in you at 12 or 13 has been >polishing you from the inside all along, and that the inside Polisher works >better when we stop trying to improve ourselves! Love, Holly I agree! That's our Harsha. Charming, humble, avuncular, and with a wry sense of humor!! Love, --Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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