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Date Posted: 11:26:03 03/08/04 Mon
Author: :-) / kashi108 - 16 Feb 2004
Subject: Re: Whose disciple was Swami Satyananda?
In reply to: Gunner Mac - 13 Feb 2004 's message, "Whose disciple was Swami Satyananda?" on 11:25:12 03/08/04 Mon


No Sir. Not at all.
Let me try to explain traditional Bengali culture and usage of the
terms "guru" and "disciple" and such
Look, these terms "Guru and disciple", I don't blame you for not
understanding! So let me explain how this works in Bengali culture and
tradition.

Elders and respected ones in Bengali culture are often referred as
"guru"(s).
My dearest Bengali friend who grew up in Calcutta writes of this-----

"Elders of one's family are called as -"guru-jan." "Jan" means - a group of
people. Father and Mother are "gurus" to one; aunts and uncles are also
"gurus"; and all teachers - music, sports,mathematics etc. etc. are
considered "gurus." The reason for this is partly cultural and partly
coming from the definition of "guru" - one who dispels darkness and shows
"light." This meaning also has the triune physical, subtle and spiritual
applications, just as the Great Swami Sriyukteshvar Giriji Maharajhas stated
about other such "spiritual" matters in his incomparable interpretation of
the Gita in the Introduction and first chapter. Because elders show us a
better path in life according to their wisdom - the road that we have not
yet walked in this lifetime in this present time which they have already
done - they are considered gurus on the physical and somewhat subtle levels.
This is also a type - and a very significant one - of "dispelling darkness
and showing 'light'."The master from whom Sriyukteshvar Giriji Maharaj
learned sitar would have been called "guru," even by him. This is simply
and Indian Bengali culture "


See? Doesn't he explain it well?
So you see, sir,----"Guru /disciple" does not always have the
meaning the contempory western people understand it to mean these days.
See? In West Bengal , (especially in the old days), it
was very usual and very normal to refer to a superior or elder as "guru"
and oneself would be a "student". or "disciple".
Music teacher, teacher, elder etc. etc. See? This was the correct way.
So for example, in traditional or older Bengali tradition your school teacher is "guru" and you are disciple. See? etc. etc.
Look, here is an interesting fact. Did you know that the great Sriyukteshvar Giriji Maharaj was studying the sitar? He would have addressed his music teacher as "guru"!
See? See how it works?
Satyanandaji always had tremendous and overwhelming respect for Yoganandaji (have you read his books?).
Yoganandaji was older than Satyananda by some years. Satyananda considered
him to be his "elder brother" and his "guide", (even though Satyananda's
Kriya "Sat Guru" was Swami Sriyukteshvar Giriji Maharaj). See? They were spiritual
brothers! But because of Yogananda's advanced position and Satyananda's
extreme attitude of respect Satyananda (and others as well) would sometimes
address Yogananda as "Guru"----but see----not in the "formal sense" or in
the sense that the word is used in contempoary times in the west.

Can I ask your patience and use one quote? Here are Satyanandaji's own words---

"Gradually Mukunda occupied a place in my heart. From that day, though not
in an official manner, he became my friend philosopher and guide of my life.
But always I met him as Mukunda and next as "Yogananda ", but I could not
remember addressing him as "Swamiji" or "Paramahansaji". Later I addressed
him as "Swamiji" in my letters. And from the day he came in contact with
Swami Sri Yukteswaraji Maharaj, he became "Adorable Guru maharaja" of this
servant."..................Swami Satyananda from Yogananda Sanga

Do you see how it says-----

"though not in an official manner"


As for proof of who was Satyananda's supreme Kriya Guru (that is, who was
Satyananda's "Sat Guru") I am enclosing here a quote from the book 'Yogiraj
Shri Shri Lahiri Mahasay by late professor J.C. Bhattacharya (who was dear friend of my friend in Calcutta)---

"Another great disciple of Shrimat Swami Shri Yukteshwar Giriji Maharaj is
Shrimat Swami Satyananda Giriji Maharaj who has still been ministering to
the spiritual needs of millions and has given a concrete shape to Shri
Yukteshwar's ideal of synthesis in his Ashram 'Sevayatan' at Jhargram,
Midnapore (West Bengal), which combines the best in eastern and western
culture. He is also an author of many books including the lives of Shri Shri
Lahiri Mahashaya and Shrimat Swami Shri Yukteshwar in
Bengali."..........Professor J.C. Bhattacharya (From Yogiraj Shri Shri
Lahiri Mahasay."

See?



Now as for the statement in the first edition of Yoganandaji's book about
"disciple". Look-----When the Brahma Vindyalaya school was formed
Yogananda was considered as "chief" (as described by Satyananda in Yogananda
Sanga"). Everyone involved respected him. It was not unusual for people to refer to him
as 'guru'. see? In fact, it was the norm. So they were the "disciple", but not necessarily in the meaning for the word "guru" and "disciple" that the contemporary western people are used to , but as a title of respect for a "head" and an elder. Shastri Mahasay (Swami Kebalananda) also was teacher of religion at that school and he also was addressed as "Guru Maharaj" by everyone, whether they were his "Kriya disciple" or not, but yet in a less formal sense they coluld be referrred to as "dsiciple". It was the way to address your learned superiors. Do you see how this works?

It is the way of Traditional Bengali culture in the old days. Satyanandaji's books are all written in the "old bengali" and such. Very traditional. So I am trying to explain to
you.

I hope this is clarifying the subject alittle bit.?
See? Satyanandaji worked under the leadership of Yogananda (although he
himself was Kriya disciple of Sriyukteshvar) and therefore he was in that
way "disciple" to Yoganandaji because he worked under him in these various
projects (but not in the "Sat-Guru" disciple way . But rather in
the Bengali cultural way)
But you see..............this is even after Satyananda's Kriya Sat Guru Guru
was Swami Sri Yukteshvar. After his initiation from Sriyukteshvar!



Also, I see that reference to Satyananda as "disciple" was taken out of the
next edition of that book. Perhaps taken out because Paramhansa became aware
that perhaps westerners were misunderstanding. ( we can only speculate)
The west was a different place! A whole differernt culture. Many things were different here!
In year 1935 Paramhansa had remarked once to my Master and to Satyanandaji that he had heard some westerners refering to Lahiri Baba as "barbarian" because of the traditional shirtless photo! What a difficult job the Paramhansa had in order to bridge the chasm between the two cultures. Only he was herculean enough to manage such a task! It is amazing! Imagine how great to have suceeded the way He did! One can only bow ones head is greatest repsect to Him and his work and to those carrying on His work to this day at the SRF.

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