Yogananda Facing Ignorance

Yogananda Facing Ignorance

You will find that Yogananda taught that ignorance was

the greatest sin, the root cause of error, Satan, the arch-enemy, the true enemy, the fog, the supreme disease, the great poison, the root of ill-health, and first cause of blindness

He does not seem to teach "happy ignorance" - that "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Or does he? But you can be happy and good without knowing terribly much. So you may wonder what Yogananda's problem was.

His greatest enemy - himself?

Who was his greatest enemy? Was it "Satan-ignorance, the arch-enemy, the true enemy - himself or yourself, bills, Bolschevism or moods - all of them? Read on, and you may start to wonder - even if you should not - if Satan was yourself even if you were not born when Yogananda lived, or maybe your bills, moods, and Bolshevism?

I hope you will not swallow everything from Yogananda, though. This hope is much contrary to the sectarian stand of his fellowship who decrees that his wisdom is flawless and that they do not find fault with his guidelines. Is that a result of Satan-ignorance or being who they are - their greatest enemies, you may start to ponder. Please refrain. There is so much fine to go for in this world.

The guru's guidelines are not flawless, you may see. There are too many "greatest enemy" in the yogi's teachings for it, for one thing. Free yourself from bossy-pathetic guru drivel, take up a noble way of living, and be as happy as you can, trudging along, stepwise.

You may come to appreciate saner teachings, for example Buddhism's Middle Way. The third step of it is called right speech. To speak in exaggerated, untruthful ways goes against it. It is not good enough to say bad things as a guru. Noblesse oblige, the French say.

The greatest sin is ignorance—not to know what life is all about. And the greatest virtue is wisdom. [Wer 47]

Man suffers because of his errors; and the root-cause of error is ignorance. [Dr 49]

Many think they are not suited for the spiritual life, but that is Satan's greatest lie. Satan is ignorance. God tells me that the only path we are fitted for is the path that leads to Him! [Dr 448]

The true enemy of man is ignorance. It must be driven from this earth. [Ak 25]

When the fog of ignorance is removed by meditation you will see the right path. [Ak 28]

Ignorance is the supreme disease. When one banishes ignorance he also banishes the causes of all physical, mental, and spiritual disease. [Ak 80]

Ignorance is like a great poison in the system. Because of it we don't realize our true nature, made in the image of God. [Ak 460]

Ignorance is the arch-enemy of man. Therefore, to guide yourself and others by wisdom is the greatest wisdom. To all those who are around me, I speak without weighing my words. If I see error in their ways, I tell them so. But I never try in any way to muffle anyone's reason. [Dr 81]

We are like gold in the mud: when the mud of ignorance is cleansed away, the shining gold of the soul, made in God's image, is seen within. [Dr 90]

The originator and pioneer of all suffering, Ignorance is the mysterious root of the tree of ill-health, the source of every type of mental inefficiency, and the primal cause of man's soul blindness.

Stealthily reigning . . . - [Wf 207]

"The Greatest Enemy" According to Yogananda

The greatest enemy of happiness in this country is the bills. - Yogananda, [SRM, Winter 1979, p. 8; Jse 273]

The greatest enemy of yourself is yourself. [Jse 345]

Moods are your greatest enemy. [Jse 393]

Anything that weakens your mind is your greatest enemy. [Ak 72]

Bolshevism, the greatest enemy. [Dr 64]

A Few Deductions

To think that you yourself is the greatest enemy of happiness in this universe, because that is how you understand "Mr Infallible" himself, is grossly stupid. And thus you prove yourself to be a Communist, which also is Satan of supreme disease and ill-health - all according to Yogananda.

You should realise that there are too many "greatest enemy" for any normal equation in the Yogananda universe.

Literature  

The acronyms used for books refer to Yogananda books. Annotated references are here: LINK]



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