FROM A SITE VISITOR: i seek a sadguru, finding your site i read of different teaching methods, different appraoch, different yoga. I have study teachings of hinduism, buddhism,even islam,now find advaita vedanta. How to find in all this the sadguru who is for me? Anwar
F.: At the end of the 25 January 2008 post, you were asked:
What was your day like yesterday? If it was encumbered—if its activities were involved with being driven by programming and accumulation and gain and avoidance—then your involvement with various religions has not provided freedom and peace. Are you ready, therefore, to re-examine everything from a totally different perspective?
So far, your search has been conducted in the religious arena only. If you want to stay that course, "religious versions" of the Advaita Vedanta Teachings are available. But if your own experience with three different religions has provided enough evidence to prove that the answers cannot be found within organized religion, then you might be ready for a version of the Advaita Teachings that will allow you to expand your search beyond those venues and eventually Realize Fully.
NOTE: Since your search has crossed several religious lines, having studied three different religions, it could be that the consciousness called “anwar” might be open to the Advaita Teachings. The search by most persons is so restricted that they merely wander about within the same religion, merely visiting different churches or temples or denominations or sects. This is what has been witnessed more often in the U.S.: Christians who do not find what they seek at one Presbyterian church might try a different Presbyterian church. Some, as a result of not finding what they seek via that change, might continue to search within Christian venues; thus, “A Presbyterian” might become “A Baptist.” Some of those might seek further and become “A Methodist” (which is just a Baptist who can read). Another might become “A Christian Fundamentalist.” Of course, whether Christian or Muslim or Jew, a fundamentalist is one who has fun damning anything than is mental.
F.: At the end of the 25 January 2008 post, you were asked:
What was your day like yesterday? If it was encumbered—if its activities were involved with being driven by programming and accumulation and gain and avoidance—then your involvement with various religions has not provided freedom and peace. Are you ready, therefore, to re-examine everything from a totally different perspective?
So far, your search has been conducted in the religious arena only. If you want to stay that course, "religious versions" of the Advaita Vedanta Teachings are available. But if your own experience with three different religions has provided enough evidence to prove that the answers cannot be found within organized religion, then you might be ready for a version of the Advaita Teachings that will allow you to expand your search beyond those venues and eventually Realize Fully.
NOTE: Since your search has crossed several religious lines, having studied three different religions, it could be that the consciousness called “anwar” might be open to the Advaita Teachings. The search by most persons is so restricted that they merely wander about within the same religion, merely visiting different churches or temples or denominations or sects. This is what has been witnessed more often in the U.S.: Christians who do not find what they seek at one Presbyterian church might try a different Presbyterian church. Some, as a result of not finding what they seek via that change, might continue to search within Christian venues; thus, “A Presbyterian” might become “A Baptist.” Some of those might seek further and become “A Methodist” (which is just a Baptist who can read). Another might become “A Christian Fundamentalist.” Of course, whether Christian or Muslim or Jew, a fundamentalist is one who has fun damning anything than is mental.
(OK…that part was just a diversion that also provided a little moment of fun. The point is, at least you have been willing to look at a variety of religions and also been willing to investigate Advaita as well. If you are ready to move beyond those venues which did not provide what you sought, that could qualify you as being ready for the non-dual message of Advaita that can move you along the remainder of the “path” to Full Realization.)
The next point, before you seek any further, is this: it would be wise to determine the manner in which you would have the remainder of the relative existence unfold. Are you currently interested in accumulation, or does moderation sound of interest? Do you prefer to reform “the world,” or would you consider re-forming your perspectives?
Do you seek solitude...or an audience? Is a lifetime involved with deep analysis and mind-expansion and knowledge-accumulation your goal, or do you seek to be free of the machinations of the mind? Are you into doingness...or beingness?
Do you seek power and control, or would you consider being free of those concepts? Do you seek peace...or prosperity? Do you prefer rituals and exercises rather than a quiet repasse? Are you willing to find which of three food plans is ideal for your body type, or do you prefer a sadguru who will tell you what you should eat in order to “be spiritual” (even though that sadguru hasn’t a clue about which of the three body types you have)?
If you uncover what it is that you truly seek, only then might you succeed in finding a “path” and a guide for the “journey.” With so many paths and so many guides, is it not necessary to understand that/THAT to which you would be guided?
To that end, additional questions will be offered tomorrow before you try to select a sadguru and the Advaita teaching method that might be appropriate for you. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
RELATED TO TODAY’S POST:
The next point, before you seek any further, is this: it would be wise to determine the manner in which you would have the remainder of the relative existence unfold. Are you currently interested in accumulation, or does moderation sound of interest? Do you prefer to reform “the world,” or would you consider re-forming your perspectives?
Do you seek solitude...or an audience? Is a lifetime involved with deep analysis and mind-expansion and knowledge-accumulation your goal, or do you seek to be free of the machinations of the mind? Are you into doingness...or beingness?
Do you seek power and control, or would you consider being free of those concepts? Do you seek peace...or prosperity? Do you prefer rituals and exercises rather than a quiet repasse? Are you willing to find which of three food plans is ideal for your body type, or do you prefer a sadguru who will tell you what you should eat in order to “be spiritual” (even though that sadguru hasn’t a clue about which of the three body types you have)?
If you uncover what it is that you truly seek, only then might you succeed in finding a “path” and a guide for the “journey.” With so many paths and so many guides, is it not necessary to understand that/THAT to which you would be guided?
To that end, additional questions will be offered tomorrow before you try to select a sadguru and the Advaita teaching method that might be appropriate for you. Please enter the silence of contemplation. (To be continued)
RELATED TO TODAY’S POST:
and
and
and
and
