|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 17:54:53 GMT
Hello good people The posts I put in this thread are about the goal of Yoga (union) practice (along with the tools yogi's employ), which is essentially the goal of most spiritual/esoteric/religious systems. All my effort goes towards introducing authentic yoga to people who only know it from the confused, bare-bones, and uninformed schools of yoga that have taken root all over the world. I hate to sound elitist, but it's the reality of the situation. Studying and practicing yoga is my life's work. Practically everything I've done in my life has lead to the work I do now as a teacher. Everything here is only an introduction, I'll give out my email once I'm done in case anyone wishes to learn more about the practices and teachings. These short excerpts are from two of the more knowledgable teachers from the modern age. Most of this isn't online anywhere. I don't intend to disparage anyones practices, or claim that my understanding is any more or less complete than anyone else. One quick note before I begin: Many of you may have heard of the terms Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana, Raja, etc.. these are usually thought of as different styles of practice, or different types of yogi's, but in actuality they are "stages" which aspirants pass through on their path. A linear progression, not different types of Yoga. Just a common mistake I see. There are some traditions which identify themselves under specific names, but all have a common root.
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 17:55:42 GMT
"It is wonderful that the one who takes one from darkness to light has been found. Otherwise there would be death - meaning: there would be no escape from birth and death. The purpose of this body is to be free from birth and death. If the knowledge of atman does not happen in this body, then there is death, verily.
What kind of death is this? Like when flying insects, upon seeing the light of a lamp, fall into it because they think that there is no other light as complete (fulfilling) as this. Thus deluded, they fall into (the flame) and burn and die. In the same way, human beings, unable to see the self (atman), are burning and dying in the flash and filigree of this false (round of worldly existence/maya/samsara), because they think that the pleasures and indulgences of the world make up the most complete happiness, and that other than this there is nothing that is good (fulfilling).
But because of finding (the one who takes one from darkness to light/guru='gu' aka darkness and ‘ru’ aka light), one has seen the delusion, and has been saved from such a death."
- Shama Churn
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 17:58:00 GMT
Student - "Guruji, in the olden times, was it not like a sect? It was still called Nath samapradaya?” ['samapradaya' commonly means a group]
Guruji - (Shri Shailendra Sharma) : "See, samapradaya means 'to give equally' -sama means 'equal', pradaya means 'to give'. Basically to teach what we have learned ourselves. Now if you are teaching equally, you’d have to follow the strict discipline, along with all the pledges. These days it has nothing to do with teaching equally. Now it means a cult or a group.
Now yoga traditions were the only true samapradaya, because if you don’t teach what you’ve practiced, how would anybody learn? It was never about creating followers, or have disciples lie at the feet of the guru, getting kicked around, in the hope that one day guru would wake up and with one blessing turn their life around.
And the guru would know that if he told the disciple whatever little he knew himself - some mantra or something else - then the disciple wouldn’t give a damn about him anymore. So they’d continue to keep it a secret. This is exactly what has happened in most tantric traditions.
There have been so many cults around Bhakti (devotion). Why do you think that the only display of power was done by people who started these cults, and not by their subsequent followers? That is because they used to practice something else and taught their followers something else.
Only in yoga one teaches what one practices, and that is true samapradayikta, whatever be its definition today. Otherwise, the standards could not be maintained. This approach is nowhere else. Even Yogananda didn’t teach what he himself learned.
The teachings should never be trifled with! Nobody is born such a genius that they could better the results arrived at by the old masters. After so many austerities and hard work they extracted the essence of these techniques and passed down that essence to their future generations. Why be a wise-ass and corrupt that knowledge? Only if you follow the instructions exactly as given you'll get the results, not otherwise.
That’s why there aren’t so many yoga traditions, only a couple. There are many meditation groups, but they are not becoming yogis. Only when you follow the yogic way of life with all its discipline, and then someone tells you the mysteries of these teachings, the awareness will develop."
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 17:58:49 GMT
"Kabir sangshay khaya sakal jag, sangshay koi na khaay jo bedha guru acchar, so sangshay chuni khaay." (Number 9 of Kabir’s couplets)
Translation: Kabir is saying that the entire world is being eaten up by doubt and uncertainty - meaning: Everyone is living in doubt and uncertainty - but no one is eating up doubt and uncertainty. One who has found out the difference between the world/guru and the 'imperishable self’ is thoroughly chewing up and eating doubt and uncertainty.
Comments by Shama Churn: "Upon becoming restless, the atman-self’s mind is going in two directions, sometimes to (god/absolute/the “real"), sometimes to (samsara/maya/illusion). Sometimes he thinks that samsara is real and sometimes he thinks that god is real. But in both are doubt and uncertainty. Because of mind being in two places, two yoni’s (wombs) are there. One is the Brahman-yoni Lord, but there is a complete movement away from that - meaning: one is moving from being united, to another “thing”.
When mind moves from one substance to another thing, then that second thing takes birth - meaning: a desire forms in that. It is like when a man and woman become attracted to each other and he enters her, and they themselves take birth in her womb, but find doubt in accepting the child as themselves, in the same way, this great doubt is eating up the world. What this means is: (god/absolute/the “real”) is everywhere; atman (self) is also everywhere.
Wherever there is atman, there is also jiva (individual soul). And within all individuals is this doubt and uncertainty. Engrossed in thinking about this - meaning: does brahamn exist or not - they are dying in the constant doubting of this. But no one is eating up this doubt. When the mind becomes restless, doubt comes around. When man, attracted to woman, enters her, at that time he is restless. Thus, not knowing the true nature, a doubt takes place. In that same way, because of the constant doubting “is there (god/absolute/ the 'real') or not” birth and death are taking place.
When this restlessness become still, then doubt itself is eaten up - meaning: if there is stillness, then who is there to doubt? The person who, via the self, has seen Kutastha from the self, and has entered into the particle of Kutastha and has seen the three worlds along with himself within that (the three worlds), and has made everything one - his name is “bedha” = “bheda” (distinct knowing). He thoroughly chews up and eats doubt.
When one sees that the three worlds are within himself, and within the three worlds sees himself, then oneness is. Doubt is in the dual - meaning: is there a god or not? When oneness is, then doubt is eaten up.
It is like when a bird opens the two lips of his beak to take food, and at the time of swallowing closes the beak - meaning: it makes the two lips one - “is there a god or not” is when the two lips are open, and when doubt goes away, there is one brahman stillness - meaning: doubt is swallowed up. Then the two lips of the beak become one and no longer remain two."
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 17:59:22 GMT
Student - 'What is Karmayoga?'
Shama Churn - 'The action which causes a union with god is 'Karma (action)' and to remain united with that karma incessantly is 'Karmayoga (action-union, Kriyayoga)'. Others are all inactions. God is not an object who has descended from the sky, this is a state. This is the still state of 'prana (life force)'. Still prana in a living being deriving vibration has assumed the forms of intelligence, mind, senses, etc.. and remains enchanted by this.
This is a living being's deviated state from his original form or else this is the state of declension from still prana to dynamic prana. Stillness is a living being's original form. Dynamism represents a living being and stillness represents shiva (absolute/"god"). Therefore the action which terminates that dynamism and reverts a living being again to stillness or the action that causes a living beings state to be extinct and elevates him to the state of shiva, is known as karma yoga. Nothing occurs without action.
Whatever we desire to obtain or give are termed to be action. Without action nothing can be acquired, thus without action god also cannot be obtained; implying stillness cannot be achieved. Some action must to be performed to achieve god. Can god be found through the medium of different types of actions performed materialistically? Certainly not, because a little of these types of actions are performed by all. Then why do they not find god? Japa (mantras), vows, fasting, chanting together, virtuous acts, undertaking pilgrimages, helping others, serving guests, compassion for living beings, etc.. are all actions which are performed by everyone in small degrees, but then why do they not obtain god?
Thus god cannot be achieved by performing these actions because these actions are incapable of causing soul-visualization. But performing these actions purifies the mind of man, these act as aids in the path of sadhana. Thus these actions are necessary. Action will produce consequences, this is the disposition of action. Evil actions produce bad consequences and for good actions good consequences are inevitable. The results produced are in equation to actions performed.
Just as, if hunger is to be appeased the action of taking food is necessary, and other action will not be feasible. Similarly to attain soul-realization, atmakarma (soul-action) is necessary. The gita says: "samnyasastu mahabaha duhkshamaptumyogatah" - meaning: Dear arjuna, barring karma yoga (yoga of action), achieving renunciation is impossible. The state beyond action can be termed to be true renunciation. Then actions are absent. This state of renunciation can be attained through action only. Nothing can be achieved without action."'
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:03:49 GMT
"This Kriyayogaic breathing action is an ancient science. In almost every line of Vedas, Upanishads, Gita and the sastra of Tantrayoga, their esotericism and expedience ave been expounded. The symbol of yoga is reflected in regular worship and in all types of religious actions. At present, just as the deities are concealed under the symbols, similarly under the influence of superficial worship, "The true obeisance/worship/union/soul action" has become concealed. With regard to the puranic historical viewpoint, Krishna imparted this yoga to Arjuna. Many great souls had practised sadhana in this path of yoga throughout the world and achieved immense spiritual fulfilment. Among them the renowned were Kapil muni, King Janaka, Vyasadeva, Sukhdeva, Patanjala, Socrates, Jesus Christ, Saint John, Saint Paul, Dadudayal, Kabir, Ruhidas, Nanak, Jnaneswar, Tukaram, Ramdas Swami, Ramprasad Sen, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira Jain, etc.. God has stated that when he had once descended in the past, he had imparted this sublime imperishable yoga technique to the Soul-Sun (Surya). Surya had given it to Manu and Manu to Ikshaku. The great sages in this manner handed down this yoga to successive generations; but the yoga has lost its significance due to the onslaught of time. Thus the still Pranaic PranaKrishna (Literally the term 'Krishna' is an noun but yogically it is a verb. As a verb the term 'Krishna' connotes that a yogi has to cultivate his body-field for annihilating dynamism and attaining stillness), had imparted this immortal yoga to Surya. Prana is Surya (Soul-Sun); the motion of Prana occurs in the Ida and Pingala and this Pingala is known as the sun nerve and Ida is known as the moon nerve. Therefore the airflow of Prana within the Pingala nerve is Surya. God mentioned to Surya or else that inexpressible state of the still PranaKrishna by entering the nerve of the sun in the form of dynamism, manifested himself dynamically or the sill Pranaic PranaKrishna who reveals himself as the dynamic Prana in the nerve of the sun is the explicit state of yoga. After this Surya imparted this to Manu (Manu means the mind). When Prana becomes vibratory, this vibratory state acquires a designation of the mind and that mind becomes the expressive state of imperishable yoga in that designation. The still state of air is the state of yoga union. From that still state, vibration evolved and in the sun nerve and mind the state of expression or manifestation of yoga appeared. This is clarified thus, the still Pranalike soul driving vibration was expressed as Surya in the Pingala form, from the Surya to the mind, form the mind to Ikshaku signifying that this sublime eternal yoga became manifest within the external air of the nose. Amidst the fourfold lives from celibacy to relinquishment of four social orders, the yoga-culture was positively maintained by people belonging to the different strata of society. Almost all the kings of the Raghu dynasty eventually departed abiding by the path of yoga. That sequence in our country was unimpaired till the time of the great poet Kalidasa. In the first great epic of the Raghu dynasty the evidence of this fact can be underlined from the statement "Yoganantye tanutyajam" Later due to the onslaught of time it became extinct. The avatars preached this sublime yoga sadhana to humanity by again disentangling it from the clutches of time, by amending its austerities and making it suitable for the present spiritually debilitated mankind. This is their supreme bestowal to the whole of humanity and to the universal storehouse of knowledge." -Shama Churn
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:04:32 GMT
Kriya-yoga (Action-Union/true Karma-yoga, "soul action") has five items - Talavya, Pranayama, Nabhikriya, Yonimudra and Mahamudra. These five item total the first chapter of Kriya-yoga.
When a devotee can complete the first chapter he is eligible to obtain the second chapter. In total, Kriya-yoga has six chapters. Omkara-kriya features from the second till the sixth chapter. The mystery of Kriya-yoga sadhana can be derived exclusively from the guru.
Through Talavya, the obstruction of the toungue is released; through Pranayama, Prana and Apana airs are stilled; through Nabhikriya, Samana air achieves a state of evenness; through Yonimudra, soul-realization occurs and through Mahamudra, Vyana and Udana airs achieve a state of settlement.
By conquering the five Pranas in this manner, settling in the void essence at Kutastha and by arriving at the state beyond action the Kriyaban is capable of wandering in the realm of his self.
- Shama Churn
|
|
|
Post by Caylus Ark on Jul 15, 2016 18:05:29 GMT
Do you know anything about the "levels of consciousness"? Supposedly, they vary from 1000 to 0. Anything less than 200 is said to be negative, and the consciousness at a sage of 1000 is said to make up for the collective negativity of all mankind.
Do you think there is any truth to that theory? They call the great teachers of the past that have reached consciousness 1000, "avatars"....
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:07:50 GMT
“Focused and remaining in the transcendental state of kriya - that state is one of darkness and sleep for all of the phenomenal world, and that state which all people who are looking with attachment and perceiving as the waking state - the “munis" (sages), meaning those who have spontaneously become “mouni” (mute) - who do not have the desire to say anything - they see them (people of worldly perspective) as being in darkness, meaning sleep.” "If atmakarma is regularly practised, one day you will reach the state beyond all actions, or the source or origin which is the objective and then you will have a communion with the infinite soul and realize yourself." "This path of sadhana is scripturally regarded as soul-knowledge, spiritual knowledge or brahma-knowledge. (Shama Churn named it Kriyayoga or kriya) This kriyayoga is logical and scientific. The fact that it is entirely scientific is because it is described to be as accurate as mathematics." "Kriya means action. the karma yoga of the gita is kriyayoga. Karma also infers action. Nothing can be achieved without action, therefore much stress has been laid on karma yoga in the gita. The name of kriyayoga has been mentioned in the Patanjala yoga philosophy and in many other places in the sastras." "The soul within you is the soul which pervades all elements. Therefore the soul of all the elements exists within you. There is no difference, thus it is you who becomes the all pervasive soul, "Jagannatha (master of the universe)". The moment you specially realize this in kriya's transcendental state, you can realize the mental inclinations of everybody and it is then by achieving omniscience you will automatically learn about the attributes and actions of all elements. Then by being omnipotent all action can be performed with a non-desirable wish. By this type of profound Kriya, realization of the subtlest of the subtle (molecule like) self occurs, leading to the removal of pride and a pride-less state will be achieved. You are Kutastha, pay reverence to him, it is repeated again - pay reverence to him. Do non desist from paying this reverence because you only are kutastha-like almighty soul and you are beyond the five essences, the mind, intellect and self conceit. When you become one in kriya's transcendental state then you only are the supreme pervading the universe, without you the world does not exist, thus good, evil, and imagination do not exist. If you attain oneness, you are the imperishable and indestructible one, the tranquil pure consciousness and immortal. Then where are your birth, action, propensity and pride? Therefore by abandoning the divisions of this and the fact that everything is the self, become doubtless positively about this in the transcendental state of kriya. You are perceiving the world because you are not within yourself, but in kriya's transcendental state when you will remain within yourself then you only will become the reality. Just for once contemplate on the fact that barring you, everything is absent, you are materialistic and non-materialistic because when you concentrate on extraneous matters you are materialistic, again by remaining within yourself or in the transcendental state of kriya, you are non-materialistic. Everything evolves in this universe in accordance with your volition; in kriya's transcendental state after the cessation of desires you will positively know that the universe is a fallacy merely and by obtaining the knowledge that the entire universe is pervaded by brahma you will attain equilibrium. Then you are neither in bondage nor are liberated and being crowned with success in this manner you will wander in beatitude, this is the maxim of kriyayoga." -Shama Churn
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:32:42 GMT
Do you know anything about the "levels of consciousness"? Supposedly, they vary from 1000 to 0. Anything less than 200 is said to be negative, and the consciousness at a sage of 1000 is said to make up for the collective negativity of all mankind. Do you think there is any truth to that theory? They call the great teachers of the past that have reached consciousness 1000, "avatars".... I do know of levels of consciousness in terms of creation as a whole (I don't know if it can be put into a numerical scale). Everything is consciousness, the difference would be in how its manifested into the perceived existence. In the overall scale, you would see rocks/minerals as the "lowest" manifestation, and a realized being (avatars, liberated ones, etc..) as the highest manifestation. What's interesting is that the highest end of the scale, and the lowest end, are similar in a way. Liberation is stillness, a reversal of the progression of vibratory creation (return to "source"), and the lowest form of consciousness is completely inert (insentient material). I just recently read an interesting quote about this subject: " Student: Please tell me how this cosmic intelligence becomes things like insentient rocks. Teacher: In these substances like rocks, consciousness remains immobile having abandoned the thinking faculty but not having been able to reach the state of no-mind. It is like the state of deep sleep, far away from the state of liberation! Student: but, if they exist as in a state of deep sleep without any concepts or precepts, I think they are close to liberation! Teacher: liberation or the realization of the infinite is not existence as an immobile creature! Liberation is attained when one arrives at the state of supreme peace after intelligent inquiry into the nature of the self and after this has brought about an inner awakening. Total freedom is the attainment of pure being after all mental conditioning is transcended consciously and after a thorough investigation. The wise ones say that one is established in pure being only after one has investigated the nature of the truth as expounded in the scriptures, in the company and with the help of enlightened sages." In terms of levels of consciousness in people, its kind of an illusion. Liberation/self knowledge is every humans natural state, its never truly lost. The lowering of consciousness, and the raising of it back up to "avatar" level, is a natural process that happens over and over again (which also is inseparable from the universal/creation cycle). Not sure if I answered your question lol but thanks for that, it got me thinking
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:34:32 GMT
On the topic of liberation:
"Once, the sage felt inclined to abandon his body and to ensure that he would never again return to embodiment. He resorted to a cave, sat down, and said this within himself:
O attraction, abandon your force of attraction.
O hate, abandon hatred. You have played long enough with me.
O pleasures, salutations to you; you have indeed sustained me all these years and even made me forget the self.
O sorrow, salutations to you; you spurred me on my quest for self-knowledge and it is by your grace that I have attained this self-knowledge; hence you are indeed the bestower of delight.
O body, my friend, permit me to go to my eternal abode of self-knowledge. Such indeed is the course of nature; everyone has to abandon the body at some time or the other.
O body, my friend, you have been my relation for a long time. I abandon you now. You yourself have brought on this separation by nobly leading me to the realization of the self. How wonderful! In order to enable me to attain self-knowledge, you have destroyed yourself.
O mother craving! Give me leave to go; you are now left alone to wither away, because I have reached the state of supreme peace.
O lust! in order to conquer you, I befriended your enemy dispassion; forgive me. I proceed to freedom; bless me.
O merit! Salutations to you, for you rescued me from hell and led me to heaven. Salutations to demerit, the source of pain and punishment. Salutations to delusion under which I laboured for a long time and which is not seen by me even now.
O cave, the companion of meditation, salutation to you. You have given me shelter when I was tormented by the pains of worldly existence.
O staff, you have been my friend too, protecting me from snakes, etc.. and you have saved me from falling into a pit, etc.. Salutations to you.
O body, return to the elements of which you are composed. Salutations to activities like bathing; salutations to all the activities in this world. Salutations to the life-forces that have been my companions. Whatever I did in this world was done only with you, through you and because of your energy. Pray, return to your own source, for now I shall merge in the infinite consciousness. All things that come together in this world have to part one day or the other.
O senses, return to your own sources, the cosmic elements.
I shall now enter into the self by the self indicated by the culmination of the "sound" (as a lamp without fuel). I am free from all the activities of this world and from all notions of perceptions and experiences. My heart is established in the peace indicated by the resonance of the "sound". Gone are delusion and error."
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:36:21 GMT
“God - the knower - is non-dimensional. God's thinking is two-dimensional. God's creative actions are three-dimensional.” “The Creator is One Mind indivisible. Creation is One Whole Idea of Mind divided into countless simulated ideas of mind, through motion.” - Walter Russell
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:38:28 GMT
Master: "Be on friendly terms with your brothers. It looks well. You must have noticed in your theatrical performance that if four singers sing each in a different way, the play is spoiled."
Actor: "Yes, sir. Many birds are trapped in a net; if they all fly together and drag the net in one direction, then many of them may be saved. But that doesn't happen if they try to fly in different directions.
One also sees in a theatrical performance a person keeping a pitcher of water on his head and at the same time dancing about."
Master: "Live in the world but keep the pitcher steady on your head; that is to say, keep the mind firmly on god.
I once said to the sepoys from the barracks: 'Do your duty in the world but remember that the pestle of death will some time smash your hand. Be alert about it.'
In kamarpukur I have seen the women of carpenter families making flattened rice with a husking machine. One woman kicks the end of the wooden beam, and another woman, while nursing her baby, turns the paddy in the mortar dug in the earth. The second woman is always alert lest the pestle of the machine should fall on her hand. With the other hand she fries the soaked paddy in a pan. Besides, she is talking with customers; she says: 'You owe us so much money. Please pay it before you go.'
Likewise, do your different duties in the world, fixing your mind on god. But practice is necessary, and one should also be alert. Only in this way can one safeguard both - god and the world."
Actor: "Sir, what is the proof that the soul is separate from the body?
Master: "Proof? God can be seen. By practising spiritual discipline one sees god, through his grace. The rishis directly realized the self. One cannot know the truth about god through science. Science gives us information only about things perceived by the senses, as for instance: this material mixed with this material gives such and such a result.
For this reason a man cannot comprehend spiritual things with his ordinary intelligence. To understand them he must live in the company of holy persons. You learn to feel the pulse by living with a physician."
Actor: "Yes, sir. Now I understand."
Master: "You must practice tapasya (spiritual action). Only then can you attain the goal. It will avail you nothing even if you learn the texts of the scriptures by heart. You cannot become intoxicated by merely saying "siddhi" over and over. You must swallow some.
One cannot explain the vision of god to others. One cannot explain conjugal happiness to a child five years old."
Actor: "How does one realize the atman?" ……………………………………
Master: "You asked me about self-realization. Longing is the means of realizing atman. A man must strive to attain god with all his body, with all his mind, and with all his speech.
Because of an excess of bile one gets jaundice. Then one sees everything as yellow; one perceives no colour but yellow. Among you actors, those who take only the roles of women acquire the nature of a women; by thinking of woman your ways and thoughts become womanly. Just so, by thinking day and night of god one acquires the nature of god.
The mind is like white linen just returned from the laundry. It takes on the colour you dip it in."
Actor: "But it must first be sent to the laundry."
Master: "Yes. First is the purification of the mind. Afterwards, if you direct the mind to the contemplation of god, it will be coloured by god-consciousness. Again if you direct the mind to worldly duties, such as the acting of a play, it will be coloured by worldiness."
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 15, 2016 18:40:30 GMT
"You ought to be known as the supreme imperishable. You are the supreme receptacle of all this. You are the immutable, the guardian of the eternal law. You are the everlasting spirit. This is my conviction.
…………………………………………………
Without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite vitality, with infinite arms and with moon and sun as eyes: I behold you - Your blazing mouths eating everything as an oblation - burning up all this with your own brilliance.
By you alone is this space between heaven and earth pervaded, and all the quarters too. Seeing this wondrous, terrifying form of yours, the triple world shudders, O great self."
|
|
|
Post by Caylus Ark on Jul 16, 2016 1:09:33 GMT
How does one differentiate a true teacher from a false one? I feel this is where many go wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 17, 2016 16:12:06 GMT
How does one differentiate a true teacher from a false one? I feel this is where many go wrong. That's a really tough question. True teachers of yoga/alchemy are pretty rare. In the Yogic tradition, you really can't become a teacher just because you've learned a lot and decided your up to it. There's no "teacher trainings" that actually produce teachers either. It might sound corny, but it's something your called to do. You need to be "told" to be a teacher. You also need experience with the entire range of experiences/practices, a teacher should already have been to that "goal/place", how else would they be able to show someone else the way? Now how would you know the difference if you're a student? There's a few clues: - A true teacher won't teach as an occupation, or a business. They'll usually have an alternate way of supporting themselves (other than accepting money for instruction). -They won't be big on appearance either. "Looking spiritual", or promoting pilgrimages, rituals, symbols, etc.. is a big red flag. -A teacher shouldn't have too much organization built around his teaching. -They should be very clear with what the objectives and tools of their teachings are. True teachers are more scientists than philosophers. They also should emphasize first hand experience over second hand reporting. In reality.. I don't think a sincere student needs to worry so much, as long as they trust their instinct and stay patient and discerning. A teacher is intimately connected with where you are on your personal path. We've all followed false advice before, but we learn more and move forward. If anyone is earnest in their search for truth, a true teacher will be found. There's a guiding principle that oversees these matters, you're progress is never left completely to chance. Seek for the right reasons, and someone teaching for the right reasons will be nearby.
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 17, 2016 18:52:17 GMT
Do you know anything about the "levels of consciousness"? Supposedly, they vary from 1000 to 0. Anything less than 200 is said to be negative, and the consciousness at a sage of 1000 is said to make up for the collective negativity of all mankind. Do you think there is any truth to that theory? They call the great teachers of the past that have reached consciousness 1000, "avatars".... One more thing I forgot to comment on, about being able to make up for the collective negativity of all mankind.. I think there's some truth to it, the liberation of an individual is also the fulfilment of the purpose of creation itself. An individual who's consciously aware of their unity with the reality they perceive (and understands the nature of action and non-action) can become a force of evolution and "karma cleansing" strong enough to effect all of mankind.
|
|
|
Post by Caylus Ark on Jul 17, 2016 23:06:12 GMT
|
|
|
Post by ben on Jul 18, 2016 13:38:34 GMT
Wow, love the parables although I'm only at post #3 It's kinda heavy for some reason, can't just skip through it, lot's of thinking needed to absorb what you are writing.
|
|
|
Post by Zimmer on Jul 20, 2016 4:17:28 GMT
Wow, love the parables although I'm only at post #3 It's kinda heavy for some reason, can't just skip through it, lot's of thinking needed to absorb what you are writing. It is very "thick" material, but I purposely didn't water it down. It can be hard to process, but that's what its like when someone distills truth into language.
|
|