What Goes Along with Kriya Bridle Oaths

We can study to prepare ourselves by a "worst case" scenario of being unlawfully bound by oaths against some Human Rights in contrast to living fairly. It is often well to consider and act beforehand so that the worst does not happen, or if it happens, so that the damages are lessened by some modest strategies or stratagems to implement "just in case", as we say.

No swearing and great changes of lifestyle may be needed for ◦learning TM, the best all-round meditation method in many comparative research studies. Compare:

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION IS FOUND TO BE SUPERIOR . . . A scientific research paper recently published in the American Journal of Health Promotion (1999) showed Transcendental Meditation to be much better than all other forms of meditation and relaxation techniques in the areas of: anxiety reduction blood pressure reduction physiological relaxation self-actualisation decreased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs The paper, entitled "All approaches to preventing and reversing the effects of stress are not the same", encompassed an overview of a total of 597 scientific studies involving an estimated 20,000 subjects. This was achieved using a statistical technique called meta-analysis which allows researchers to compare and draw conclusions on all the previous studies on TM conducted at universities and research institutions around the world during the past 28 years. Here are the conclusions drawn from some of these studies; 1. The first meta-analysis on Transcendental Meditation appeared in 1981 by Dr. Philip Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson found that TM improved psychological health significantly more than Zen meditation or relaxation response techniques. . . . 3. A 1991 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality showed TM to be far superior to other meditation and relaxation technique in increasing self-actualisation because it provides the experience of transcendental consciousness. 4. A 1994 paper in Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly included three meta-analyses showing that TM is highly effective in reducing cigarette, alcohol, and drug abuse, indicating the power of the technique in normalizing physiological and psychological imbalances. [A] clear conclusion is that TM is not only highly effective - it's one of the best investments . . . [◦Link] [◦More]

In the last years, much more laudable research of this sort has surfaced. It confirms and enlarges on previous studies. You are referred to the links above.

One thing is how a good meditation method works in itself. Another thing is how fairly and fitly it is propagated. A third thing is what comes along with it: It could be restrictions, oaths, and insane cultishness among other things on the one hand, and help, blessings and great freedom on the other. Which will it be. Study the signs -

Ideally, cultishness is not favoured around Transcendental Meditation - it was made to help downtrodden people first of all. That settled basis goes against exploiting people, including lots of inexperienced youngsters. [Basis]

Glimpses into Deals of Babaji

As for kriya yoga in the Babaji lines of transmission, it is very little tested. Some research results are found, though. But in several lines of transmission, hazardious oaths and demands go along with it, also haltingly and repetitiously propagated "in the name of Jesus" [against Bible teachings], as the Yogananda-founded Self-Realization Fellowship church does.

To the degree that Jesus has changed his mind and now goes against his gospel sayings on several matters and given up his New Testament salvation concept and forewarnings against false Christs and having other masters, or is now out of his mind, then Yogananda's and his fellowship's "Jesus onboard" might be true. Further, it is easy to claim this and that in the name and freedom of religion. In the United States there are about 5000 in the estimate of Dr. Margaret Singer. Those who run sects, cults, religions and their schools may get rich and famous and be respectable in their society, and those who succumb may not. They are, rather, esteem-givers. However, many find it may be too hard to deal with faith from claims and propaganda that may benefit those they serve. There is, by the way, sane doubting for some yogis. There are skills to train in before being taken in.

For the lack of sound scepticism and lack of doubting skills, many young persons become believers and victims of charlatans. Suppose kriya-oath-making jeopardises good living. Oath-making that undermines living well, is not without thorns.

Lahiri Mahasaya's Instructions for Kriya Initiation

Along with kriya yoga in a lot of transmission lines deriving from Babaji through Lahiri Mahasaya, there are guru regulations on how to live. Lahiri's full name and other data may be accessed on another page. The source of the instructions below is a Satyeswarananda (further down).

1. The person should not smoke or drink.
2. The person should read some portion of the Bhagavad Gita every day.
3. He should treat all women as his mother, except his wife, and she should treat all men as her father, except her husband.
4. The person should lose self-importance to destroy his or her ego.
5. The person should sit a little lower than his or her Gurudev's or Master's seat and offer everything [sic] to him.
6. The person should practice Kriyas every day strictly according to the instructions personally received from his or her Gurudev.

COMMENT. If you treated your mother badly or poorly and ungratefully, the deal is not "refrain from following the regulation of treating all women likewise". Further, the ego (the heart-felt sense of "I") should not be destroyed, but made to grow, says Babaji, Lahiri's guru. A quotation is on the previous page. And "offer everything" is a rather stiff demand. But then you may offer Lahiri the guru to Lahiri and see what you come up with, as there may be doubt whether Lahiri destroyed his ego. You may be taught instead that "The ego cannot be destroyed; it is an integral part of your being." For without your I-'ness, you are not -

Babaji's instructions for Kriya initiation

1. The person must be honest and not a liar.
2. The person should read the Bhagavad Gita every day.
3. He must offer everything, whatever he has, to his Gurudev including his wife.

COMMENT. The honest husband in the West has to admit that women are not to be treated as the property of men. Babaji's attitude toward women is not right in Buddhism either. In the Apannaka Sutta Buddha says that he who is on the right way, speaks what is factual, speaks words worth treasuring, seasonable, reasonable, and abstains from accepting male and female slaves. [There is more].

Now, you may learn core kriya yoga without shackles and handcuffs - it is public and no secret at all. And then there is TM, Transcendental Meditation, which can be recommended for the good it does far and wide. ◦Long-term effects of TM]

Mentions by Swami Satyeswarananda

What rules are there to follow if you will not be free and strive to make it on your own? Let us see how Swami Satyeswarananda reconciles the two sets of instructions above. He says:

1. The person must be honest and not a liar.
2. The person should not smoke and drink.
3. The person should read some portion of the Bhagavad Gita every day.
4. The person should lose self-importance to destroy his or her ego.
5. He should treat all women as his mother, except his wife, and she should treat all men as her father, except her husband.
6. The person should sit a little lower than his or her Gurudev or Master's seat and offer everything to him.
7. The person should practice Kriyas every day in strict accordance with the instructions personally received from his or her Gurudev.

COMMENT. Interestingly, some tasks were dropped. They were:
"The person should read the Bhagavad Gita every day (Babaji)." Reading some portion of it may be what is meant, hopefully, but on the safe side of these issues it is best to ask what is demanded to see if such a lifestyle is good enough. And which version of it - is it the Post-Vedic Gita of just 84 verses he speaks of? That might in case make readings less tedious. And which translation outside one's cult? You must dare do ask wisely at least. "If you do not like the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

"Wife and everything" to your guru - giving what you may not give could grow into a problem. So could each of them.

Here is a link to the three sets of regulations above: [◦Link]

It Boils Down To:

1. Treating women with a smile, or suitably, means a lot.
2. Destroy your ego, your heartfelt sense of "I", means getting rid of yourself deep down. It is not wise but macabre and nasty to cripple yourself.
3. In the West at least, it may be brutish to offer your wife or children to anybody, and may be criminal too. You could get into serious trouble if you ignore it.
4. Accept real help as genuine and truthful as can be, and consider the long-range consequences to avoid unforeseen calamities and redress former, stupid errors if it can be done.

This is from the larger Bhagavad Gita to keep away from Mephistos:

• A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. (Bhagavad Gita 6:5)
• For one who has taken his birth, death is certain . . . (Bhagavad Gita 2:27)
• Only the ignorant speak of devotional service . . . as being different from the analytical study of the material world . . . (Bhagavad Gita 5:4)
• He who discards [truly sane and helpful] scriptural injunctions and acts [much contrary to them] according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination [if that is the outcome . . .]. (Bhagavad Gita 16:23)

Good offerings

An offering, consisting of muttered prayers, is ten times more efficacious than a sacrifice performed according to the rules (of the Veda); a (prayer) which is inaudible (to others) surpasses it a hundred times, and the mental (recitation of sacred texts) a thousand times. (Manu Samhita, 2:85)

TM (see top of the page) is a form of silent mantra meditation. As for results, "Once the apple has started to fall from the tree, it will most likely reach the ground."

Memorise hovering, general truths that may assist you in your life - with the aim of being on the safe side and reap benefits. This is the core of lojong, mind training.

If by this method you gradually absorb the content of the Gita by heart and just refresh these teachings once in a while, you may learn it better and get freed ample time for good meditation or delicious music. Meditate without interference at regular sittings, is the standard counsel. Meditation is the main yoga method, and lower forms of kriya yoga are means toward it.

Intolerable things may be called just that

Meaning to call a spade a spade - be warned: Where you point out tricky subjects and deals in a setting that scarcely allows for it, you risk being called impolite for basically well-meaning and advanced mentions, ostracised or better. There may be other roads to Rome.

It is wonderfully easy to start a spiritual organization and run it like a commercial enterprise (with collected donations) to provide livelihood for the followers and devotees in the name of God's work, while at the same time, indulging oneself in self-aggrandizement. - Swami Satyeswarananda's comment

Swami Satyeswarananda is for Babaji kriya, and disagrees heavily with Yogananda and his fellowship. He rises to warn against much in the kriya propagation of SRF. [◦See for yourself]

One may add this: Note it takes hard hearts to run roughshod over people. Victims of severe oaths may come to cry.

Into Further Fields

It helps a lot to be well trained in progressing, "academic suspicion making" by learning the thinking and methods of basic science and heuristics. How? It works against being taken in and lorded over. That is the idea. [Link] [Link]

Unless you are well prepared for it and still very careful, spending time in bramble thickets may not go well. There are better ways to progress than reducing yourself by some ensnaring oath - ensnared, fooled and goofed away from such as UN-favoured Human Rights.

Ramayana Words

The Ramayana is an extremely influential, ancient Indian epic poem about rescuing one's pure-hearted, abducted wife, Sita. Some get their wife abducted, others are made to give her away.

Hanuman offered to help the weeping, abducted wife, Sita, but she mentioned, "I am much bigger than you. How can you carry me back across the sea?"

By way of reply, Hanuman swelled and grew enormous and then shrank back into a small size. (Egenes and Reddy 2016)

Hanuman, son of the wind-god, only looked like a monkey, bluntly honest, loyal, courageous, and kind. Yogic shape-shifting stems from siddhis (powers), says sourcebooks. The ability to make the body smaller, and larger are both told of by Hari Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavatam. "The mystic perfections of yoga are acquired by a yogi who has conquered his senses, steadied his mind, conquered the breathing process and fixed his mind on me. . . . There are eighteen types of mystic perfection and meditation, of which eight are primary, having their shelter in me . . . Among the eight primary mystic perfections, the three by which one transforms one's own body are anima, becoming smaller than the smallest; mahima, becoming greater than the greatest [etc.[. (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.15.1-3)

Patanjali Yoga Sutras shows some more such powers explains they are had by some through "perfectly concentrated meditation", that is, "Attention, Meditation, Contemplation" (Chap. 3, mainly)