dwai

The ideals exist for us to aspire towards. Even if we get to 50% of the ideal, we are better off than 0% And it's really not that hard to do, when you put things in the right context. Which is why, a dedicated practice is required. Ramana Maharshi would often say "Renunciation is in the mind. One need not quit everything and go live in the forest for it..."

One can be a householder and not be attached. Love and duty doesn’t have any relation with attachment. Attachment is a result of superimposing of something/someone else to the self identity. Which we know is false, because the Self is not an identity/personality anyway. While it it might be true that the path of the monk and the householder seems different, they are only different on the surface. Both should live without attachment and do one’s duty with dedication and love (but not attachment). I think there is something to introspect here, if such a beneficial presentation causes irritation or discord. Might be worthwhile investigating “what about the advice to be free of attachment is so irksome? Who is it that finds it irksome?” @Pilgrim very well articulated. This life is an opportunity to dissolve our vāsanās (chronically recurring patterns, that reinforce karma).

I have no idea what to make of the subtext in your comment. What is wrong in letting go of attachment? Can’t love be unattached? Can’t duty be unattached? Attachment here means “drawing one’s identity and sense of being” from something.

I’ve read santatagamana’s book and like it. However it is really not about the techniques per se, but rather about what to do with the techniques. I’m not a Kriyāvån and so won’t know if it is true, but it seemed like he gave the impression that most of the students don’t get to the “advaita” with their practice and he was pointing to that as being the end goal of Kriya Yoga.

In a recent exchange with another bum on another thread, the topic of Sikhism came up. I have to admit I don't know much about it, albeit I've interacted with and had a few friends from that tradition, growing up in India. Here's what their primary motto/motif is (from Wikipedia) -- I say it's lovely!

Illusion might not be a correct term to use. I would use the term "appearance". What it means is that, the world is not independently existent (self-existent). It's existence is predicated on the existence of a subject who experiences the world. But this subject is not merely the mind-body complex that a human being is. The subject is the awareness underlying all phenomena, including sentient and insentient things. And you are that awareness!

Thought it was a very well articulated and sensible perspective on Kriya Yoga.

I found his autobiography as amazing as Paramhamsa Yogananda's. Haven't met him in person yet, but he does travel to the US regularly - does some workshops in Berkeley CA and also in Upstate NY iinm.

All religions point to the same thing (or at least in the same direction). Think of it this way. The "source" is the same. Call it Dao, Void, Brahman, God etc. If you see, almost all religions prescribe one of the four following paths -- These practieces are prefaced with some moral and ethical codes - Don't hate, don't steal, don't lie, don't covet that which belongs to another and so on. Devotion - Love your deity and be devoted to him/her/it. Service - Serve your fellow human being without any expectation of material returns. Although, many religions suggest that by doing so there is a "higher" result that can be achieved - Go to paradise, heaven, etc. Meditation - Different religions have different methods of meditation (of varyingly different levels of benefit). For some it is just prayerful devotion, for others it is devotional prayers while for others it is meditation as in the classical sense (focussed mind-body practice). Wisdom - Many religions will also go down the path of wisdom/knowledge (higher knowledge), but this path is possible for only a small percentage of the population. Typically one has to get to the point of being able to follow the wisdom/knowledge path, after practicing for some reasonable amount of time, one or more of the other four paths. Different religions are different paths to the top of the same mountain. For some, the journey to the peak is the objective of the path, for some others, a specific sub-peak is preferred so they can constantly be able to view the glorious snow-capped peak, while for some others, getting to the peak and being able to get a complete view of the world below is the objective. Often we will find that depending on the individual's predilections, one or the other of these "conditions" will involuntarily apply. As to how the different religions know this? Typically through a "peak experience" or "multiple peak experiences" by an individual (such as a messiah) or a group of individuals (such as a collective of sages) . In other words - through mystical experiences. IMHO, the source is always within each and every one of us. We appear to be a product of the source, but are actually nothing apart from the source. So this source can revealed to us during peak/mystical experiences. Once this source is revealed, the eternal wisdom/eternal truth flows forth. Then it depends on the individual and their psycho-cognitive framework, which provides them words to articulate these experiences and the wisdom that flows forth. Some don't have vocabulary beyond "God" or "Deities". Others have the vocabulary to say "void" or "emptiness". Yet others are keenly aware of the fact that "Words" are not the "Real thing" but rather are pointers to it. So they say "only in direct experience can the truth be known, words are inadequate".

Hari Om! Thanks for sharing your journey

A song I wrote and produced on the topic of spiritual liberation

Of course

I love Nidar Singh’s videos. Talking to my FMA buddies (One is a Garimot guy), they think very highly of his martial arts too

I only drink a very “lowly and strong black tea” 🤔😜

Sorry you lost me. You do realize that I didn't mean "eternal omelette eating" right?

There is only the present moment, eternally I would wish you freedom for all eternity too, but I suspect that you might not want such a freedom yet...

It was delicious

It’s the same routine for me - an omelette and a cup of tea

No it doesn’t quite work like that. I’ve had many such encounters with many beings like that. With spiritually advanced beings and deities, connecting like that tunes us up, makes us “vibrate” in resonance with them. It is a way of “transmission” of lineages and/or presence.

What are you implying?

Another time I was attending a satsang at our local Chinmaya Mission, when suddenly I see a white bearded old man hovering high up in my inner space, above much above my crown chakra. Before I could think anything he descended into me via my crown and I felt like I was connected into a high voltage like, my heart started palpitating and I broke into a sweat. Suddenly I heard a voice in my head “relax, don’t fight it” and everything exploded into bliss at that instant! He was Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. I am not from the Sikh tradition and has not ever spent time thinking about him before... mysterious are the ways of the spirit

Once in between a dream and waking, I came face to face with a greenish-blue hued male being, who was at least 7-8 ft tall (so it seemed to me). We both sat in full lotus, suspended in space and he showed me some practices of invoking light in my heart and also inserted an orb of light into my heart. I was clear in the knowing that he was Lord Shiva himself.

Fascinating talk. Enjoy

As part of your warm up, try to do this posture at least 3-5 times, holding the posture for at least 3 breaths. Stand up between each iteration. Soon your kua will relax and open up. https://www.verywellfit.com/garland-pose-malasana-3567079 Also do this - https://taiji-forum.com/qigong-beginners/warmup-waist-circles/

Glad to know that