Tesla3

This makes a lot of sense. I'm most familiar with what Krishna teaches in the Gita pertaining to this. He taught Karma yoga. Krishna says one should perform all actions without expectations for results. This includes not only "spiritual practices" but worldly duties as well. Performing all of one's duties in this manner leads to freedom. Karma yoga says that after one has realized union, they go on performing all of their duties as if nothing has changed. I think this caries on to sadhana as well. I have wondered, what is the reason a liberated person would continue with these practices? With that logic, you could also ask, why would a liberated person stop their practices? From what I've noticed many saints have continued their sadhana long after people around them think they have become fully realized. I don't know as much about Buddhism. I have read a handful of books on Zen. From what I remember they said that Satori was certainly not the end and that practices should be continued. I don't know if the reasoning to continue with practices is the same as Karma yoga's, or if it's purpose is to better fine tune one's Buddha nature. With your reasoning both make sense. It is obvious that people go through awakenings and think they have reached the final goal, when they have not. I think India's dogmatic view of a true guru needing to be fully realized to teach, has become engrained in Hindus. Of course we can get much help from people that are farther than us on the path but the fundamental thinking is, if they are not fully realized they are not valid. So we have an endless supply of fully realized beings. So if some Buddhists believe that fine tuning is needed after Satori, that makes sense to me.

Dwai you definitely need to check out, "I am, The first name of God." It is a very good read and makes a lot of sense. https://www.davidgodman.org/i-am-the-first-name-of-god/

When I read John 17 the prayer of jesus, it cemented for me that Jesus is teaching about non dualism. I'll include some of the excerpts from that chapter. "Holy Father, you have given me your name now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are." (Part of John17.11). "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17.21-23). I don't know how it could be any more clear.

I think coming under the guidance of a master is very helpful. Or someone more spiritually advanced than you, even if they are a ways from the goal. Enlightenment is most often the culmination of many lives of spiritual practice. People that have instantaneous satori didn't hear about spirituality for the first in this life. They surely practiced many things in the past, and from many degrees of enlightened people. Maybe a master or two. For me me getting guidance has been helpful. I felt a little overwhelmed before following someone. Must be my temperament for now. Learning crap techniques from fake gurus/teachers is so common though. I know of two small Zen Sanghas within 100 miles of where I live. I would happily take dokusan from those teachers if I was practising Zen right now.

@neti neti That illustration of Lord Krishna is awesome! I like seeing him depicted with black skin tone. Krishna always having a dark complexion in the past is quite interesting.

Does anyone on here know of any disciples of Anandamayi Ma that openly teaches, or is taking disciples? Preferably in America. I feel such devotion for her and like she is continuously trying to call me towards her. Thank you

Woah!🙏

Such a presence indeed! About six months ago I was scrolling through photos of her, and her eyes on one photo sent a shock throughout my body. Her presence is still with us today very much. I hope you liked the book. I always get the impression that her teachings come from her own realization. For so many people I feel they are just repeating what they've been taught or heard elsewhere. Maybe this is the mark of a true Saint.

Hello this is my intro post to say hello to the community. I am a practitioner of Kriya mainly, and I am interested in deepening my understanding of it here. As well as other philosophies. My first spiritual practices a few years ago were Zen. Thank you