dwai

Hmmm that explains your lack humility somehow ?

Hi SB I Was contemplating whether I need to summarize the plot... But truth be told I only have a rough outline... The story writes itself I can reveal that it spans continents and is my attempt to render through fiction a subtle message. Hence the parentheses ( my target demographic are those interested in this kind of thing) It's hard to proof read one's own work and I like your suggestions. I like to follow a narrative technique of a story-teller and try to evoke imagery ( test is in whether i am successful in it). The bit about 5 am is very familiar to those from southern india... And I can see how someone without context can be a bit tired by stuff like that... Thanks and keep the review/critique coming

http://medhajournal....adic-terms.html

You don't get it. The whole issue with dating the Indic scriptures is a direct result of Christian creationist theory ( tht god creates the world around 4000 bce). The early philologists like max mullet ascribe a date of 1500 bce to the composition of the rig Veda purely due to that concept which was accepted as universal truth in 19th century Europe. The traditional dates have never changed from the general epochal range. It is sad to see so much disinformation that has been internalized that the people who are native to these traditions are admonished for following their native narrative. Anyway this is my last post on this topic. If you truly want to learn, come to me with an open mind and empty cup and I will share what I know...

For someone who likes his own posts so much you don't do much background research do you? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Doniger?wasRedirected=true DGW is one of Wendy's top doctoral students. So yes, they for all intents and purposes are cogs of the same machine...

That's your opinion formed by reading the established (western) narrative. Have you read any traditional narratives? I follow the traditional narrative because that is what my forefathers followed. From way Before these so-called scholars you quote we're twinkles in their parents' eyes... Before Europeans came to india. What gives you or anyone else the right to claim that these were wrong? I too am opposed to fundamentalism of any kind (including your juvenile neophyte convert buddhist chauvinism). Fact of the matter is that india, Hindus have long been extremely accommodating and hospitable to diverse groups of people. We don't however need the whites and donigers of this world to tell us what to accept and what to reject.

Just because you don't share Indian ethnicity doesn't mean you have to be derisive towards our beliefs. Ramayana and Mahabharata are considered itihaasa (history) in india and not mythology. So I do believe (as does traditional Indian scholarship and historical narrative) that these refer to historical events. Also TBG is considered to be contemporary to the sarasvati-Indus period and the Aryan invasion theory has been disproved already. If you are interested in learning and not taking ridiculous potshots from your imaginary ivory tower I can direct you to resources that will help. I however think your motivations are not honorable and so I'm probably wasting my time and energy on you. At the end of the day you are free to believe what you choose. That won't necessarily make it right ...

That's hilarious. It's so comical that I can't stop laughing. You don't even know enough buddhism to find your derriere with it in broad daylight...let alone Hinduism.

You are so transparent in your agenda, it is comical. May I also suggest you adopt a Llama and care/feed it. You can drink some Llama-milk tea (Tsangpa), take a llama-spit shower... It's the closest you will get to learning from a Llama (because a Tibetan Lama will kick your butt out of the school as soon as your true attitude is revealed).

I don't need to. Go read any book by luminaries like Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Lakshman Joo, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (to name a few). They deal with the real spirituality and don't need any attestations by Western "Scholars". If you want to look at Academic/Scholarly books -- read Dr. Ramakrishna Puligandla, Dr. Antonio de Nicolas (who despite being a Westerner is lovingly called Nitin Bhai by those who know him well) to name a few. Both these authors also contributed to my journal (http://www.medhajournal.com). If you wanted to, go read up over 10,000 articles on my website (refered above) by many such scholars (who are incidentally highly acclaimed experts in multiple fields ranging from Physics to Philosophy).

Funny ... You brand those who toe the line as "Indian scholars" but those who don't are branded fundies ... Obviously those who toe the line will cite one another -- an incestuous scholarship indeed. I don't need to read these scholars - I had traditional learning. It is a way of life for many of us. Why you surely don't mind if gungadin talks back do you?

Moderators are you Moderating?!? This is so typical - brand anyone who challenges the ivory tower western scholars(like white and doniger ) a Hindu fundamentalist. I've run into so many so called experts on Indic studies over the years that its not even Amusing anymore... Very erudite indeed!

No I stated that he uses pseudo-Freudian sexual perversions in his scholarship. I did not tell him to pull his head out of his ass, call him a fundamentalist or use derogatory juvenile references to the act of sexual intercourse in my interactions so far. You did. Besides unless you are David Gordon white you have no business abusing another member of this board over responding to your obvious attempts at instigating a confrontation! Btw, All that glitters is not gold...

Pest...go infest the Buddhist forum. You are not worthy of further exchange!

Alwayson, you have an axe to grind. go grind it somewhere else. I hope the mods take note of your slanderous allegations and disrespectful ejaculations...

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.svabhinava.org/friends/RajivMalhotra/WendyWhite-frame.php&sa=U&ei=A9L0UOz9O-u00QHOpoHoDQ&ved=0CCwQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNHIaAIoQTept89wmtA_5iKFHU8GSQ

There are a lot of these "scholars" who won't stand a minute before real masters of Indic spiritual traditions. My opinion is shared by many native Indians. Respect that...it's our traditions that you guys are defiling after all!

Actually the agama part of tantric tradition are very much part of astika Hindu practices (which are Vedic for the most part). Ideally this should be called darshana-shaastras ( to cover the entire gamut of Indic traditions --- but how many here know what darshana-shaastras mean?)

No I'm not. David Gordon white's book is offensive at many levels... He is a classic "Wendy's child" and panders to pseudo-Freudian sexual fantasies like the rest of his "intellectual" siblings (Jeffrey kripal, Sara Caldwell, Paul courtright et al) If he is your gold standard then we don't really have much to discuss. Actually we don't have much to discuss anyway...so no point takin this further

Another thing I forgot to mention is that for good shavasana be in a place where you will be shielded from sudden noises etc. it is very disturbing to get interrupted when you are at the periphery of immersion into deeper stages. Also set it up so you can really spend time in shavasana ie not worry about going somewhere else Or doing something else after. Also key is to be comfortable but not on a mattress or too soft a surface. Ie shavasana is best not done on your bed or couch

Why do you care?

I found shavasana very powerful. It has helped going beyond the mind... Key is patience. Depending on your energy level you could sleep or be in such a total state of relaxation that you hear yourself snoring softly - but really you are awake/aware. Shavasana neutralizes the effect of gravity on your body relaxation is possible easily. With relaxation physical tensions release and chi/prana flows. As chi permeates the body it automatically increases relaxation. Then it is possible to turn attention to the mind stream. And let go as thoughts rise and evaporate...resting in the gap as it elongates -- pure consciousness untouched by objects

If you feel inclined towards Yoga do Yoga. You can also do Qi gong or Taiji Chuan. They are complementary systems. My Yoga has helped my Taiji and vice versa. Chi is always there...we are just not sensitive enough to feel it flowing. Depending on how authentic your Yoga practice is, it can be just as intense and at times more intense than Qi Gong (but imho, practicing something should not be predicated on the intensity of it's effects because the effects are mostly ephemeral). The key to Yoga is the pranayama stage besides the Asanas (or Poses). And imho, it's better to relax into the poses rather than force them. As your relax, Qi/Prana automatically flows and aids in further relaxation. When I practiced both, I'd split the schedule (so Tai Chi in the night, yoga in the morning). Now I just do Tai Chi (lack of time more than anything else...) The most significant effect of Yoga (and pranayama) was the effortless meditation that followed a session during the Shavasana (Corpse Pose). Second most significant thing was the raising of the energy through the central channel during Pranayama. NOTE: Do not do pranayama without a teacher! And a good teacher will only give pranayama after 6 months to 1 year of solid Asana practice, imho.

Long ago someone told me this in a dream -- "Sarvaiva hridayam, sadaiva hridayam" (Everything is Heart, Forever is Heart). For some reason it popped into my conscious mind just now. Wonder what it means...

In one of his books he wrote that the difference between a Daoist teacher and a Guru (in making which distinction I think he is wrong btw, for I see a guru exactly like he describes a daoist teacher) is that a Daoist teacher is like a friend on the way, whereas Guru-hood comes with the burden of being a "mother-father-brother-sister" all rolled into one. So, in that aspect, he posits that a Daoist teacher is really like a friend who has travelled the path before and therefore despite their (teacher's) personal idiosyncrasies, one has to determine whether they are indeed worthy of being one's teacher/friend. We all have friends who have peculiarities (some are egotistical, some are meek, some like limelight, some hide from it, so on) -- so why is it different for someone like BKF? What should matter is, does this guy's path positively influences mine. If it does, great. If not, that's great too...find someone whose path does so and go with it. my 2 cents worth...