Thank you for this very beautiful exposition matrixmonitor. --- In [email protected], "matrixmonitor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ---Don't mean to interject in this lively change, but I'll do it > anyway since I've been initiated into Surat Shabda Yoga (Charan > Singh, 1976). There are 5 mantras in their practice, repeated > sequentially coupled with attempting to tune into the Light and > Sound. The mantras are names of Rulers of various planes in the > subtle dimensions, from gross to subtle.
And that's where Vaj got mixed up. > Thus, in a broad sense, > this is "tantric"; as opposed to a non-progressive Path which > purports to totally bypass (transcend and not "stop" along the way) > all dimensions, gross and subtle (examples of these would be Adi Da, > Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj as well as HWL Poonja and > collectively, dozens of "Advaitins" in the Tradition of Ramana > Maharshi (which is in itself a contradiction since RM did not set up > a disciplic succession). > At any rate, relating all of this to Ken Wilber's discussion of > progressive vs non-progressive paths, various Paths can be > categorized according to their degree of progressivity, relating to > a. techniques and/or b. philosophy. Ironically, some paths (Dzogchen > for example since Vaj's Guru Norbu Rinpoch is in this branch of > Buddhism), can be philosophically non-progressive or "immediate > transmission" yet have a host of progressively-oriented techniques. > MMY would be in the progressive end of the spectrum both as to > techniques and philosophy even though he claims to be an Advaita > Vedantist. In traditional Advaita - as opposed to Neo-Advaita - a two staged approach is being taken. Before one is eligable for the higher Advaitic teachings one should be purified by more classical methods. At Shankaras time these were the Vedic rituals. Later these were substituted by Bhakti and also Tantric methods, like Sri Viydia. Go to one of the Shankaracharya mutts in the south in Kanchi or Sringery and you will see that they are engaged in ritual all the time. This two leveled approach is called the higher and the lower knowledge. Ramana taught only the highest state the direct path for those who were ready. For all others he advised the more traditional japa. > The most prominant "purist" of Advaita Vedanta would be > Ramana Maharshi and even more his disciple HWL Poonja who encouraged > people to give up all techniques and just "BE". On rare occasions, > Ramana Maharshi encouraged people to practice various progressive > techniques (such as japa); since these people were apparently not > ready for his Self-enquiry. > 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/
