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Date Posted: 02:13:57 04/28/04 Wed
Author: Hendrik - 3 Apr 2004
Subject: Re: the 3 steps on the (kriya) path
In reply to: Shivanath - 3 Apr 2004 's message, "Re: the 3 steps on the (kriya) path" on 02:12:05 04/28/04 Wed


It is true that some people were not impressed with Sivananda, some of them however for the main reason that he stuck to tradition.

Perhaps the qualities of a teacher can also be assessed by the inner qualities he generates in his disciples. Seen from this perspective, Sivananda comes out as a real champion. Swami Chidananda for instance has always impressed me as a very sincere yogi, and Swami Krishnananda was a great scholar, which is rare in present India. I do not know many of the others, but a number of them were wonderful people to be sure.

I went to see Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh last month, for the first time, though only shortly as I was traveling in a group. In his Samadhi hall scenes of his life are depicted including a memorable one telling the story of how he carried an ill man through Rishikesh on his own shoulders. A moving scene; I recommend his autobiography which is available online for free.

I spoke to one of the monks there who made a deep impression on us, and later we were somewhat sad because we had not asked for his name. Incidentally I met the same Swami two weeks later in another ashram in Kerala which is hundreds of miles away; he just happened to visit there. A lucky surprise!

A friend of mine wanted to see Swami Chidananda, who is now living in seclusion in Dehra Dun but considering his advanced age and reportedly poor health I dropped the plan. Chidananda has reduced his daily food intake to 300 kcal a day and discourages visitors to see him, though he makes rare exceptions for foreigners. Nevertheless I think it was good to not have disturbed him without good reason.

Hendrik

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