Guru Dev has pointed out that a guru must prerequisitely be a brahmana. Furthermore he clarifies in a quote used by MMY in 'Amrit Kana':- 'In the Shastra it is written that there are two marks of a guru: stotriyata (one who has thoroughly studied the Vedas) and brahmanishthata (one possessing knowledge of the immortal Self, Brahman) - "tadviGYaanaarthasa gurumevaabhigachchhet samitpaaNiH shrotriyaM brahmanishhTha"' (Manduka Upanishad 1-1-12)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Mason" > <premanandpaul@> 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. > > Could you define "the Indian strict sense of the word," > please? > > > > 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" <jstein@> 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 <*> 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/
