Sayings of Yogananda
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Reincarnation and Deep Sleep, Basic Facts
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| Charity by Rubens. Detail. |
As for reincarnation and the belief in it, there are a few things to sort out: to hold private opinions is a human right, endorsed by UN. However, opinions that are exposed in the public sphere, can be more determining for one's fare. A faith that consists of opinions may not work well for you; you may be ridiculed for it, depending on how many there are who say that reincarnation is a fact, and how many who don't think so.
Many Asian religions hold that reincarnation is no myth. The teaching goes along with the teachings of retributions, or karma.
The question is: How well may it be documented that life goes on after that, and that at least some reincarnate? Much depends on sound documentation. And how can reincarnation be proved? Various methods exist. One is to recall former lives, either in hypnosis (not recommended) or through deep meditation (best). Others tell from earlier lives without such props or means. Some researchers have in fact been able to verify things told by such "innocents". Ian Stevenson is one such researcher. The subject - reincarnation - demands proper methods. There are many sources of errors to get to grips with [Link].
Try to let basic facts come first, and study the evidence. Dr. Stevenson has conducted interesting research into the field that Yogananda talks about. Get the research results first, to save you the embarrassment of the gullible; some of them succumb to blind faith for no good enough reason at all.
Below you find some gist of the teachings of Yogananda, a guru. Yogananda did not sleep in a normal way, and went for days on end without sleeping toward the end of his public ministry. He talks for reducing sleep too, even by many hours, ignoring that the need for sleep varies among persons, that some need more sleep than others. Much research has been done on sleep and alarming consequences of sleep deprivation.
There is another side to Yogananda's faith-linked teachings. Many followers believe he was this and that known person in the history of man, just because he said so.
The capsules that follow are rooted in his "Reincarnation, How Can It Be Scientifically Proved?" The article was first published in his East West magazine, Volume 1 - 3 March 1926 - April 1926. - Tormod Kinnes
Yogananda Teaches
MOST OF those who believe in a just God, base their faith on belief only. They do not dare to scrutinize or deeply question their faith.Why should not the methods of experimentation used by the scientist be applied in investigating spiritual law? One is to watch the state of sleep, and the method has been discovered, the rules laid down, and the result is open - ¤
ENERGY withdraws on the occasion of death.
OFTEN, people are aware that they are dreaming - (5)
In the Big Sleep of death [you stop living]. By certain practices, this further relaxation may be produced consciously. [A quite alarming first message?] (6)
Can the truth of reincarnation be scientifically proven to the satisfaction of sceptics? Can the theory of reincarnation be in any way scientifically experimented on? Ancient Hindus found that death was the withdrawal of the electricity of life [prana] from the bulb [kosha, sheath] of human flesh.
Literature
Ay: Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. 1st ed. New York: Philosophical Library, 1946. Online. [oaks.nvg.org/pv6bk12.html]
Soc: Giles, Lionel, ed. The Sayings of Confucius: A Translation of the Confucian Analects. Twickenham: Tiger Books, 1998.
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