--- In [email protected], Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ram is a fire mantra?
Rick, Ram, with short 'a' is indeed a fire-mantra and is in the center of the Manipura chakra, which is not the second as Vaj says, but the third chakra. See it here:http://www.sics.se/~piak/yoga/yantra/c hakra/gif/Manipura.gif The Raam used as a mantra most probably in the beginning of the movement, and highly eulogized by the scriptures, such as the Ramayana and the Ramacharitmanas has a long 'A', and is seen as universally beneficial. The Hindu scriptures equate it with God, some even say that the mantra is higher than God himself. See the difference here: http://www.devyani.com/mt/gra/ram1.gif Raajaaraam, look at the last three letters and see the difference. So Vaj is confusing these two mantras. Also the named scriptures , and almost all Hindu scriptures eulogize mantra japa, and don't see it as a beginners technique. Many of the greatest Hindu saints advocate nothing but Japa, that can carry you all the way through.You may also remember that Guru Dev was born in Ayodhya, the bithplace of Raama, and would be naturally familiar with the Ramayana and the Ramacharitmanas. I am not aware of any Hindu scripture calling it a preparatory technique. I think Vaj is confusing here Hindu teachings with Buddhist teachings. In Buddhist teachings such techniques as Mahamudra (or Dzochen or Maha-Ati respectively) are regarded as highest meditation techniques. The principles of these techniques are very similar to TM, in that they don't allow for effort or any attempt to modify ones consciousness. Consciousness is always perfect and aware of itself, and it should not be attempted to be altered according to Dzogchen. Dzogchen does not rely on props like a mantra, but relies on the energy transmission of the 'true view' by a Dzogchen master. Tibetan Buddhism has absorped many Hindu teachings and has attemped to classify them within their own system, like Guru Yoga etc. and have put them within the framework of their own theory. But the original Hindu systems from which this has developed does not make such a classification. The only classification which is made is in traditional Advaita Vedanta, which distinguishes between a higher and a Lower Knowledge, but regards only Jnana Yoga, or intellectual discrimination between Self and non-self as Higher, and all other forms of meditation, such as mantra japa, rituals, or raja yoga as purificions and therefore preparatory. In any case the whole Yoga Sutra would be preparatory only from the Advaita perspective. I think the problem with Vaj is that he mixes too many traditions and makes his own theory out of it. He also confuses the description of Samadhi states in the Yogasutras, such as Bijasamadhi with techniques to acquire it. Its nonsense to say that Bijamantras lead to Bijasamadhi. It's nowhere said in any scripture. > on 5/20/05 8:50 PM, Vaj at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > Yeah--fire mantra. Give it to someone with anger or a screwed up mars > > and they'll have anything other than peace of mind--although they'll > > GIVE you a piece of their mind... To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
