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Date Posted: 00:14:31 05/21/03 Wed
Author: Hendrik - 9 Apr 2003
Subject: Re: No more Kriya conversations
In reply to: knonymous - 8 Apr 2003 's message, "Re: No more Kriya conversations" on 00:11:38 05/21/03 Wed

I challenge you to give us any evidence that Shibendu has done or does this.

I haven't taped any of his talks, and apart from that I do not want to be associated with any anti-Shibendu characters who engage in mud-slinging. It is true that we all hear only what we want to hear, but I refer you to his most recent message:

http://www.dynastickriya.com/mess53.htm

Read the first paragraph. What is this for a tone? Even if this was meant as a psychological teaching trying to make some point it still remains the utterance of a disbalanced and spiteful mind. But isn't it mind Shibendu is focussed on so much?

If this doesn't convince you I recommend spending some more time with Shibendu, brother. It is of course easier to read great understanding into any spiritual texts, but this impression can quickly dissolve when the author does not hold up to the stuff he is writing. But what validity has his teaching then?

Here is an interesting site with video feeds of U.G. Krishnamurti:

http://www.ugkrishnamurti.org/ug/ug_video/

Check out the talk about "Sorrow" (scroll down). I have been witness to a similar scene when some newspaper interviewers came to see Shibendu. I do not see what lesson insults and the like can teach, except that the teacher has a massive ego which he projects on others.

U.G. Krishnamurti is completely identical to Shibendu in most of his phraseology, behavior, and gestures. His whole outlook on life is the same. U.G.K. has the arrogance written on his face and I remember that our friend Mike once called him "just a shoddy little fellow", but if I watch videos such as this I do not see an essential difference to Shibendu. The one difference is that Shibendu at least teaches Kriya, but otherwise they are twin brothers in spirit. I mentioned this to Shibendu which got him started - you know, "all yogis are the same" - Shibendu is Christ and U.G.K. is Yogananda etc. He even equates himself with a fake guru like Osho in this respect and this really requires no comment.

I entered yoga being convinced of the fundamental non-duality of all existence, but firstly things are not as easy as to leave it there, and secondly I do not see how people like U.G.K. and Shibendu of all persons should be qualified in any way to teach about ego and mind. As I said, an assaultive philosophy can serve as a smoke-screen to veil one's own deficiency.

The terms "ego" and "mind" should be left out of all personal discussions, because they merely serve to suggest that the other one is not qualified to understand even the most basic things and what he says can safely be neglected. Everyone of us has an ego and a mind and this includes those who preach against it.

Teachers who have realised the self or soul in man address the self or soul in man, but Shibendu admittedly addresses the ego, which allows to draw conclusions about the depth of his own inner state.

I do not consider Shibendu to be a real spiritual authority, he was a businessman and family man forced into this role by his father. He has the names "Lahiri" and "Guru" and that is why many people, including me, at first become attracted to him. Surely not because of his philosophical teaching, though to me it was an interesting experience. I have observed that titles make a great impression on most people.

He would not himself have decided to become a teacher. He is the last one from his family in whom there is any yogic spirit left (I asked him if there is still any Lahiri teaching Kriya and he said no) and after his passing there will be no more dynastic lineage. It is a natural process, and it's the same with most other lineages.

Compare his message to the text by his father Satya Charan that Mike posted, the difference in mentality and the novelty approach in Shibendu's messages compared to that of his father which is more traditional in outlook is evident. But even Satya Charan lived two generations apart from Lahiri Mahasaya and was born long after the passing of the latter. I do not know whether Satya Charan can be called an authority, because he also was a disciple of a disciple of an acknowledged master. Most often much of the original spirit is lost after the second generation.

The basic tenets of yoga are generally the same everywhere, but the matter is how they are to be interpreted and applied. I can also shout: "Non-duality", but that does not make me automatically someone who has understood and exemplify its significance.

I think that Shibendu's outlook on yoga is quite restricted to some contemporary trends personified by people like J. Krishnamurti or Poonjaji, but no doubt he has developed or inherited some shakti and his teaching is effective on a certain level. Nevertheless he mixes up terms like Sabikalpa and Nirbikalpa Samadhi, so that I have to ask myself if he ever has experienced Samadhi and is not just guessing like me.

If you and Mike like this abrasive approach and exclusive focus on mind and it inspires you and helps you in your quest this is O.K. for you and I wish you all the best, but I am not sure everyone will agree with you. As I see this board has become quite unpopulated for some time, and it is not difficult to understand why. Who wants to post when they are told that they are nothing but ego and run after illusions?

Hendrik

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