Eastern Teachings/Gurus

[Guest guest]

Hi Linda,Harsha & Greg:

 

Linda wrote:

> I can certainly understand disdain and questions regarding the pricing of

TM ...

 

TM seems to be great for a particular type of person at a particular stage.

I think the issue of dependance on a Guru etc.. is an interesting topic.

Perhaps most of us rely on authority at some point, but this is only a

stage?!

> ...simplistic to put warnings on 'eastern teachings'

 

I tacked my original quote from Tarabilda who references Steiner & Brunton

below. Although I sent it to NDS, it never showed up.

 

Greg, regarding Steiner: Tarabilda often quoted Steiner for support as he

does below, but I believe I've heard him also suggest that Steiner did not

sufficiently take advantage of the Eastern perspective.

 

It seems reasonable to consider that the ancient vedic model might need

major revision to be effective for the modern world. I esp like Tarabilda's

comments that it should be used as input but not an authoritarian model.

 

Roger

 

Tarabilda from www.newu.org

-----

9-27-98 RUDOLPH STEINER'S WARNING

 

The philosopher and spiritual adept, Rudolph Steiner, warned westerners not

to fall under the sway of the ancient spiritual teachings of the east. These

teachings flourished at a time when humankind was quite different in its

make-up than today. The human ego was less developed and individuals were

far more otherworldly. Their spiritual practices reflected these differences

so that what was useful then could be dangerous today.

 

Even the question of what is the appropriate role and style of functioning

for a spiritual teacher is handled quite differently in the east. Steiner

also accepted what I constantly emphasize, namely, that the Indian guru

model is no longer appropriate for this age. Westerners who fall under the

sway of Indian gurus are, often, more backward types with poorly developed

egos, lazy minds and weak wills. They are drawn to gurus for the sense of

security and power it gives them.

-----

9-27-98 INDIAN TEACHINGS

 

I have never suggested that the ancient Vedas are best ignored be westerners

as a source of spiritual study and reflection. They should be studied, but

in a spirit of free inquiry and experimentation and with the recognition

that human beings of today are quite different from those of the times when

the Veda was first cognized.

-----

9-26-98 INFATUATION WITH EASTERN TEACHINGS

 

I live in a community (Fairfield, Iowa) where most of the people are still

hypnotized by eastern doctrines and the Indian way of life, due to the

presence of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's university here. These people might be

well served to read Paul Brunton's commentaries on the orient, found in

Volume 10 of his Notebooks. I offer you three samplings:

 

"I have for some years kept myself apart from the Indian spiritual movements

of every kind and do not wish to get associated with them in any way.

Consequently, I shall not resume my contact with any swami or yogi, for I

wish to work in utter independence of them. My reasons are based on the

illuminations which have come to me, on my understanding that the West must

work out its own salvation, and on the narrow-minded intolerance of the

Indian mentality towards any such creative endeavor on the West's part."

 

"This geographical conception of spiritual truth, which places the centre of

light in Asia and the centre of darkness in the rest of the world, had some

value in the past centuries, but it is of dubious value in our own."

 

"The Orient cannot save the Occident for it needs first to save itself. To

arrive at this conclusion was a great change in my beliefs and therefore one

made very slowly."

--------

[Guest guest]

At 04:30 PM 5/5/00 -0600, Roger Isaacs wrote:

>Greg, regarding Steiner: Tarabilda often quoted Steiner for support as he

>does below, but I believe I've heard him also suggest that Steiner did not

>sufficiently take advantage of the Eastern perspective.

>

>It seems reasonable to consider that the ancient vedic model might need

>major revision to be effective for the modern world. I esp like Tarabilda's

>comments that it should be used as input but not an authoritarian model.

 

Tarabilda says the same things about Eastern teachings that Steiner did -

that they are geographically based. Steiner saw Christianity as more

universal than the Eastern forms, both metaphysically and culturally. But

these differences are breaking down these days, and the Eastern forms are

more open and widespread than ever before. Christianity is getting a

repuation as a narrow and supremicist religion. Also, communication and

travel are easier these days than when Steiner was active. We have very

Westernized forms of Hinduism (Hinduism="from the Indus Valley") and Yoga

and Buddhism. Even Tibetan Buddhism is coming into the U.S. and U.K.

pretty strongly, with lots of Western teachers and celebrity followers.

Also, there's a new kind of Western hybrid of Buddhism besides Hinayana and

Mahayana -- "Buddhayana."

 

Love,

 

--Greg

[Guest guest]

>

> Tarabilda says the same things about Eastern teachings that Steiner did -

> that they are geographically based. Steiner saw Christianity as more

> universal than the Eastern forms, both metaphysically and culturally. But

> these differences are breaking down these days, and the Eastern forms are

> more open and widespread than ever before. Christianity is getting a

> repuation as a narrow and supremicist religion. Also, communication and

> travel are easier these days than when Steiner was active. We have very

> Westernized forms of Hinduism (Hinduism="from the Indus Valley") and Yoga

> and Buddhism. Even Tibetan Buddhism is coming into the U.S. and U.K.

> pretty strongly, with lots of Western teachers and celebrity followers.

> Also, there's a new kind of Western hybrid of Buddhism besides Hinayana and

> Mahayana -- "Buddhayana."

>

> Love,

>

> --Greg

 

How would you describe "Buddhyana" and how it differs? -Glo