Yoga Work 13

• "Whatever You Do, Don't Seek God" Is the Message
• "God" for Muddling Their Heads?
• The Spiritual Eye and Miracles
• Yogic Powers
• Alarming Suspicions
• Dolls, are they nice?

"Whatever You Do, Don't Seek God" Is the Message

Is Scrooge achieving a Breathless State soon?

By fixing the attention between the eyebrows, breath (prana) turns into "food" [nourishment] too." - Lahiri wisdom [cf. p. 10, 11].

One who practices kriya sincerely, has to transcend the expectations of results from doing kriya" - Shyama Lahiri [cf. p. 12].

I think he almost shouted it. And that was really unnecessary, as:

The aim of kriya is to attain santa [deep calm and bliss], that is, kriya calm. Santa [peace and possibly growing bliss] may evolve into eternal bliss beyond that poise." - Shyama Lahiri [cf. p. 8n].

"The highest attainment is Selfhood," says Shyama Lahiri. Reflect on that, and also:

One who practices kriya sincerely, has to transcend the expectations of results from doing kriya" - Lahiri wisdom [cf. p. 12].

Seeker, nothing is apart from the ultimate Self." - Shyama Lahiri. [cf. p. 17].

Well, you state intellect-rooted questions. But Self or Brahman are not "what people here adore". That's another Upanishad teaching. I suspect that adoration and worship goes awry [in very many cases].
      And by this and much else that I have stated, I try to refer to delving methodology throughout: For by methods you may have experiences that confirm some ideas. BUT getting bitten by ideas first, and bitten by ideas that hinder good meditation instead of ushering it, indicates being screwed at the onset of a noble undertaking.

Q: About the cool and warm currents in kriya - do we actually feel them or not?

If you feel them, you feel them. If not, you do not. Don't let it bother you. You can do the "specific, slow and measured, almost inaudible panting" - do all the things that you are to DO. Then, as time goes by, you may enjoy the practice too, and what you do feel may result from that, from good practice in diving, if you get most main things and main details right. Then, what we may come to feel may be a result (fruit) of that hard work. Here I say that in many cases what is felt comes second to RIGHT PRACTICE, and THAT may help solve the basic issue.

Q: Your experiences can help to give some encouragement of what roughly to expect in Yoga.

Experiences tend to vary with the individuals.

Q: That is, I feel that if kriya is a science [art is better], then there should at least be some sort of map of the route, some indicators.

I have referred to Patanjali's. It is widely used, but just somewhat indicative for higher states from samadhi onward.

"God" for Muddling Their Heads?

Here is someone who agrees with that:

One who practices kriya sincerely, has to transcend the expectations of results from doing kriya. - Shyama Lahiri [cf. p. 12].

God's grace is his business too. Skilled practice is something you should go for. It may be within our ability to get results at that.
      In this "business" Yogananda made another of his rather grave errors, in my opinion. In one place, in his autobiography, he promotes kriya yoga by calling it scientific, by saying it works like maths. In other places he says that kriya yoga alone is not enough anyway, and calls for devotion. If he had written the truth in his autobiography, the last point would not have to be made.
      Yogananda talks with two mouths, then, and thus falls short of one of his ardent wishes, which was "If I had a thousand mouths, I would talk through them all to convince you." Yes, he said that. (a) But convincing others could smack of demagoguery (depending on what you mean by 'convince'), and much that is called PR, demagoguery and propaganda, seeks to influence and convince for some end, often an ulterior end. (b), And, of course, in good, sensibly yoga we learn to rise above "the words from a thousand mouths", above thought notions that do not concur with our main target and the ends to it: properly performing our mantra method as a piece (etude) of training time and time again.
      The convincing expert may influence others and make use of them. I think that a decent fellow should rather go for informing others than convincing them. It may not be perfectly all right to press a conviction onto others.
      And talking with just two mouths frequently confuses. A ventriloquist manages that too -
      You are one of the victims of too faulty Yogananda teachings, I guess. They are "Cry for Divine Mother! (and she will surely come)", and "Seek God!" Big disappointments (or neuroticism) could be in store for many SRF-ers, including monastics.

Referring to yoga's sure and methodical efficacy, Lord Krishna praises the technological yogi. - Yogananda, in his Autobiography, 1st ed.

So did I.

Q: But I do find it odd that these masters (excepting perhaps Ramana) claim to be personages like Krishna. Why would they say these things?

I do not remember Vivekananda focused on it. But here is one answer: We get such notions in deep and ecstatic contemplation, also:

All the world is the ultimate Self. - Shyama Lahiri [cf. p. 20].

The Spiritual Eye and Miracles

"By hard work the kutastha can be seen." Shyama Lahiri. "One should train oneself and see the Self in the medulla region through the area between the eyebrows" is his teaching too.
      I have put some dear pages on the Net about it, as well as commented a few things on other pages. [LINK] [LINK]
      The third eye can be seen, say Yogananda and SRF. A method for seeing it is taught in SRF. The experiences tend to come as a result of (increasing) kriya mastery of the methods, I daresay.

Q: And is this a psychic phenomena?

Spiritual. And everything of perception includes one or more minds.

Q: What of miracles, of levitation?

Miracles seldom seem to happen. All life is a great miracle that we have got used to. The everyday life is a true miracle.
      Levitation has been reported to happen to lots of people throughout history, also in the Catholic Church and in Britain.
      Wisdom of Lahiri referred to, is found on this page: [LINK]

Q: I'm familiar with Lahiri Mahasaya's sayings through the books that Satyeswarananda has published. But it is strange that he says things like kriya yoga should be got from a superb kriya yogi and not through organisations, such as the one Yogananda started! Hint Hint.

In SRF the faith is different, or rather, the master is in the lessons you get, and thus you are linked to him - through the duly authorised SRF lessons. That is what is taught. What Yogananda speaks of, is attunement, but rises above that as well.

Q: No doubt Yogananda knew the technique for leaving his body at will, but yet according to much of what you say about him, he seems to have been a deluded individual.

I remember he said, "No more delusions" rather emphatically to his Divine Mother towards the end of his life. This indicates he had had some too.

Q: I'll tell you what I noticed in particular - he states that Jesus has no body (even though the NT tells us Jesus ascended to heaven and rose from the dead himself) and then goes onto say that Jesus will come again. There is contradictory information in there somewhere, I am sure.

Interesting observation.

Q: "They hail Narada!" Not quite sure I get you there . . .

If you read about Narada in the page I gave links to, you will get it: Narada is presented as a destructive swindler who preaches devotion and other such deep tricks in an old Sanskrit work.

Q: And do you consider kriya yoga a science?

Not exactly. More like an art to be practiced - to one's ability.

Q: Vivekananda doesn't claim to be a divine person. Ramakrishna claimed to be two! My feeling with him is that he may have been psychotic perhaps.

Some thought him to be mad. Be that as it may; it can be awfully hard to reconcile inward sights with outer facets or such things.

Q: I find little wrong with Ramana, except that he knows how to sidestep a good question sometimes. I like Finalmoyi Ma though. It is quite wonderful how these people can come out with all that knowledge and yet have no proper education.

Yes, and in dreams all come up with insights. I think it is regularly (hint). [LINK] [JUNG On DREAMS]

Q: Perhaps Yogananda channeled knowledge when he dictated his [Bhagavad] Gita as well. Otherwise, it is hard to believe that he said all those things straight from his mouth. The problem I have with his Gita is, although I think it is the best one, there is a lot of repetition in it. Plus he begins it wrongly - the time frame is weird. Oh well.
      And I never got the master thing either. They talk about master grace, but the first master must have got grace directly from God so why should there be masters at all?

Have you heard of First Man, Manu? He was born of Brahma, the Creator (who got himself drunk in order to create a universe out of himself, is the teaching)
      Manu, First Man, and first master, knew what he needed to know - without being taught, as far as I can remember . . .
      There are good stories about it.

Different strokes for different folks: In Hindu teachings there is a variety of approaches and methods - the ideal is select some that suits the person in question.

Q: I have basically just re-read all the emails you have sent me and I am struck by how telepathic you are.

Well, well -

Q: Remember I told you about that guy, Monker Rallanda? Well, he gave me the kriya yoga and initiated me. But I want to know what you think of him. He seems like a generally good guy although I am hesitant about the implications involved concerning his role as some sort of saviour. I do not know if you can find him on the web . . . I am cautious about any master that claims to be a saviour of some kind, as you may imagine.

Aspirant's caution as to masters is much extolled in old yoga scriptures too. What you say remind me of a sailor's joke:

Foolish spending

SRF does not teach it -

Q: I think you are a cool cool guy . . . and I think that is really cool. You do not tell me things in a straightforward manner. . . . Anyway . . .
      Yes, you are telepathic. I do not think I need say it even.
      All I really wanted to say to you was that I appreciate your contact! Thanks.
      PS tell me what you would like to hear from me as I would oblige that a hundred fold.

I would like to hear this: "Wise use of time will make for wiser living. (American proverb)"

Yogic Powers

Lots are enumerated in Patanjali [q.v.], some in Buddhist scriptures. "Seeing is believing" is my answer to that one.

Q: Somewhere I read that Yogananda claimed to have raised a dead person when he was in India.

The miracle of Yogananda: I have read that too. If so: Well done (technically speaking), considering his words that the world is unreal . . .

Alarming Suspicions

This may need to be sorted. (a) In all cases binding: Evidently no. (b) In some other cases, and not too big ones, study the documentation. (c) And so on (find out for yourself if you can).
      There is a big obstruction to rational sight in some favoured terms. If a guru does one spectacular thing, his followers boast and brag of it and him, and in a short time he is termed almighty and all-knowing, perhaps. It happens in some circles. It is largely due to id (libido), and can lead astray.
      Note the difference between being really almighty and just able to flood the Sahara Desert with clean sweetwater every day - If almightly, why not use it for doing good instead of bragging a lot and finding excuses over and over later, too? In other words, note the differences between such as all-mightly, much-mighty, little-mighty and a little above human, for example.
      It is a big world - we obviously need to beware of big boasts baked into concepts to believe in, and what becomes established in line with that again - so that members become payers (or a herd of cattle in the long run). It happens too, you see.
      To make others believe in over-swollen terms is of course ugly.

Dolls, are they nice?

It is not the habit and hood that makes the monk good.

Feigned devotion is for pleasing someone. - Milarepa, cf. Tm 300

Unfortunate beings cling to worldly things. - Cf. Milarepa, cf. Tm 179

It's a good book. There are some who like the version I host here. [LINK] And higher still:

Accustomed long to meditating . . . I have forgot all that is said in written and in printed books. - Milarepa, [Tm 246]

A few technical, delicate "things" brings about the hurrahs -

Q: What books or spiritual figures would you recommend to me?

Books? . . . Figures: What about your inmost self? Should not be overlooked by anyone.

Q: If you could sum up your feelings on Yogananda, life, kriya and God, what would you say (be nice and detailed)?

This:

On Yogananda and life: "Man's tongue is soft and bone does lack, yet a stroke therewith may break a man's back." (Wisconsin proverb)

On kriya: "A lot still remains to be done."

On God: "Don't throw out old clothes before you get new ones." (American proverb)

You may treat each as a koan and practice that thing too.