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Date Posted: 10:08:05 01/28/06 Sat
Author: dr - 5 Dec 2005
Subject: Re: Yama/Niyama - The Hardest Part of Yoga
In reply to: ketch - 5 Dec 2005 's message, "Re: Yama/Niyama - The Hardest Part of Yoga" on 10:06:51 01/28/06 Sat


Ketch, i think you should visit Yogani's website and read the forums there - there seems to be plenty of people gaining incredible results from his techniques. In fact, his mantra meditation seems to be the best i have ever seen. He councils to start off with mantra meditation and not add the other pranayamas etc until proficiency is attained with the former. He stresses self-pacing, which i think is very wise.

I think it is very dangerous to judge others without knowing all the details. My brother hasnt read Yogananda before yet maintains that SRF is a cult and Yogananda a bogus cult leader with erroneous views. He is surely ignorant. In the same way, if you dont read Yogani you must be similarly open to the same charge of judging without all the facts.

As regards Yama/Niyama. Yes i agree you need the foundation for succesful meditation practice, however it seems ludicrous to suggest that these must be perfected FIRST and not LAST. Let's be specific - i'm not advocating laziness where the moral precepts are concerned but it is worth bearing in mind that Patanjali's 8 fold path is not really a systematic procedure from 1 - 8, it is much more ALL of the steps together at once.

And regarding initiation. Remember Yogananda's words, "To those who think me near, i will be near". What would formal initiation have to do with this? In my opinion, to have a piece of paper that says you are a disciple of Yogananda is worthless. His grace must surely be drawn through bhakti or even past life association... For example, Master Mahasaya had no tangible link with Yogananda in terms of being a guru in the strictest sense of the word, and yet he gave Yogananda a divine experience.

This guru business is a massive can of worms. While it is obvious that the majority of "gurus" are after fame, adulation money and possibly illicit sex, still the minority of pure gurus doesnt at all indicate that one must be somehow tied to them forever and ever, since they take you to the inner guru only, which is God.

Perhaps you want to elucidate why initiation and having a guru are seemingly all-important requisites for liberation?

Thanks

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