It appears that Guru Dev was extremely orthodox. --- Paul Mason <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> If one is using the word 'guru' in the Indian strict > sense of the > word, no, there can be no flexibility in who and who > cannot be gurus. > But if one is using the more modern and much looser > sense of the > word 'guru', then of course, we can all join in. We > all have the > opportunity to learn a fantastic amount from each > other. In fact, in > the west, where so many women are interested in yoga > and meditation, > there are many who know proportionately much more > than many male > seekers. But it is not really necessary to set > oneself up as a 'guru' > for surely we can just learn from one another, > sharing stuff. > > > > > Unfortunately, i > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Mason" > > > <premanandpaul@> wrote: > > > > > > Guru Dev speaks about who and who cannot become > gurus, and the > > > following are translated extracts of satsang > number 74 of 108, > > > included in a collection of his teachings > entitled 'Shri > > > Shankaracharya UpadeshAmrita' > > > > > > 'There is no mention of women being gurus > anywhere in the > > > shastras. Women cannot be a guru. Gargim, > Chudala, Sulabha etc. > > > were women who had become yogis and possessed of > self-knowledge. > > > But it is not met with anywhere that they made > their own > > > disciples.' > > > > > > '...But not everyone can be a guru. Actually, > only brahmans to > > > be in the position of guru. In addition to > brahmans, kshatriyas, > > > vaishya, shudras can become shishya (disciples), > but not guru. > > > Women also have no right to be made a guru.' > > > > > > 'Nowadays kaayastha, vaishya, teli (oilman), and > also kalavar > > > (seller of spirits) are taking to wearing the > colours of the > > > sadhu (holy man) and are eagerly wishing to make > shishya > > > (disciples) of their own. Actually both this > kind of guru and > > > shishya (disciple) are to get their downfall. > Actually this > > > speech we are saying coincides with the > shastras, it is not > > > something of my own that I have made up.' > > > > > > Jai Guru Dev > > > Paul > > > > You agree with Guru Dev that women and those of > > lower caste should not be gurus, Paul? > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 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/
