--- In [email protected], grate.swan <no_re...@...> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "BillyG." <wgm4u@> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], Vaj <vajradhatu@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > On May 13, 2009, at 11:43 AM, grate.swan wrote: > > > > > > >> It's given me choices about how to interact with "creation" or the > > > >> mandala of life, it makes life easier and freer from obstructions. > > > >> For example, a friend dying of cancer or AIDS, I may decide to do a > > > >> retreat to parlay some iota of assistance from a certain devata. In > > > >> many cases we'll get groups of yogis to help friends in need of some > > > >> sort or another. > > > >> > > > > > > > > Looking at it ecumenically, most religious people would say similar > > > > -- "we prayed to Jesus, Allah, etc we asked for healing (particular > > > > aspects) of his fullenss to heal our friend." An most would cite > > > > personal evidence that "the lord was with us" and brought comfort, > > > > healing, etc. > > > > > > > > What would distinguish devata from those practices and efforts? > > > > > > > > Is it that the effects of the mantra is known with more precisions > > > > and thus more focused results can be obtained? > > > > > > > > > In this particular case I'm speaking of terma, yogic textual/sadhana > > > realizations which include certain practices for certain diseases. > > > Terma, being "fresh" revelations tend to bear siddhis very quickly > > > for one and two they're by their very nature intended for the > > > suffering of a specific age, era or time. This is part and parcel of > > > the compassionate display of wisdom that comes from such treasure > > > bearers (tertons). A good example would be Padma-25, a medical > > > formulation, which has been successfully used in shrinking some > > > tumors. Also the sadhanas themselves are often very precise. > > > > > > In general, initiation into a certain devata may include the root > > > mantra, and after it's accomplishment, a host of "action mantras" for > > > specific functions. Once accomplishment has dawned, one has a host of > > > practices for modifying their environment. > > > > Sounds a lot like what MMY said in his talk on the Vedas: > > > > "....through Vedic hymns, it is possible for those expert in chanting those > > hymns to produce certain effects here, there or there. The universe is > > vast, so many worlds and all that. We do something here according to Vedic > > rites; particular, specific chanting to produce an effect in some other > > world, draw the attention of those higher beings or gods living there." > > > > "The entire knowledge of the mantras or hymns of the Vedas is devoted to > > man's connection, to man's communication with the higher beings in > > different strata of creation." MMY The Vedas page three. > > > > If devata or hymns have a specific, predicable, repeatable effect, then is it > religious? Being a name of a god seems a weak link to religion -- though > obviously some will differ on that. > > Some isolated tribesmen may feel penicillin, when introduced to the tribe, is > a god. They may say penicillin with great reverence and treat it as a holy > god because it has tribe members from what before was sure death. Hail > Penicillin, All Glory be thy name ... Does Penicillin become a religion in > that context? >
Mantra shastra (sp) as cargo cult? Lawson
