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Date Posted: 11:20:37 12/19/04 Sun
Author: H - 28 Nov 2004
Subject: Re: Kriya Yoga and Surat Shabd
In reply to: m - 27 Nov 2004 's message, "Re: Kriya Yoga and Surat Shabd" on 11:17:02 12/19/04 Sun


Sri Aurobindo will agree with you here except for your usage of "truth". According to his experience liberation is possible on all of the higher planes of consciousness, starting with the Higher Mind. That is the First Plane of Sant Mat (Sahasrar). The mind is dissolved and the body afterwards run by universal nature. It is common to get there via Ajna. There are many methods. That is what he said.

To attain this seems to be the object of Advaita Vedanta and also of traditional Kriya as I know it. It took me years to get an idea what it is all about. Shibendu is actually very orthodox, shrouded by his modernist phraseology.

Of the no-mind people there are some I really like, including Nisargadatta and Ramesh Balsekar, but for me this does not really fall under the yoga category. In the case of those people their character is more important for me than their philosophy (which is actually psychology -- any skilled metaphysical philosopher or logician would wash their arguments away).

Sri Aurobindo had that Laya experience first, and it never left him - it was his essential breakthrough. But it was not truth, it was nothingness.

Another distinction that I make is that spiritual realization is something to be lived, otherwise it will just remain a state of mind. "A man may have jnana inside, but if he does not live the divine life, he is nothing but a tinkling cymbal," says Ramdas.

Generally those people who 'awaken' walking on the street do not strike me having achieved anything of real value. Some indeed fall back after a few years. Particularly it does not really change their rational materialistic outlook, and hence I say it is not yoga.

From what I know of Sant Mat teaching their proper object is union of Soul with God at Sach Khand, not dissolving the mind at Sahasrar. Radhasoami means Lord of the Soul. Also, being lifted to some inner or higher plane cannot be the same as living from there. Gifted poets and artists probably also have access to inner planes, but on the outside they are ordinary people and live in a normal consciousness.

Apart from that, I agree with you that on what lines one proceeds is a matter of individual temperament.

As for pain and suffering, I think it better to keep them out of the equation, otherwise spiritual endeavour easily becomes psychotherapy. Buddha bases his philosophy on escaping from suffering whereas for Padre Pio the suffering is the end itself. I reject both ideas.

I want to thank you for reminding me of the Arran Stephens book. Sawan, Kirpal and Darshan are among the most wonderful people I have heard of so far. Kirpal is one of the very few who has the eyes of the true mystic.

Do you have any other Sant Mat book recommendations?

H

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