Soham Swami Common Sense Pdf
Jeremias Resendez
my growing impression of Hinduism is that -all- hindu temples
use that procedure of "installing" various "deities", who are
then considered physically present. (Kind of like a
"consecrated host" in a Catholic church is a "real presence".)
this is not unique to "sri vidya" which centers on mother divine,
imo it is found thru-out all hinduism, including temple worship
of "male" deities also.(warning: all my "knowledge" of hinduism comes off the internet!)
Hutch - There is no evidence that Guru Dev followed the path of 'Sri Vidya'.
Apparently, Guru Dev practiced TM just like we do now. But it all depends on
how you define TM - according to the definition proposed by Maharsihi, Guru
Dev was a TMer because he was able to transcend the relative field and make
contact with Brahmin or the Absolute. There are numerous photographic images
of Guru Dev sitting in meditative repose and numerous disciples have
attested to his habit of seeking solitary surroundings so that he could
meditate.According to his official biography, Guru Dev was a chela of Swami
Krishnanda Saraswati, a Sannyasin of the Shankaracharya Dasanami, of
Sringeri. This puts both Guru Dev and his teacher in the Adwaita Sampradya
and squarely in the path of Yoga, which is another term name for TM. There
is no evidence that Guru Dev used a Shri Yantra for dualistic, devotional
purposes or as a personal devata - Adwaita Sannyasins are not supposed to be
playing around with fire and worshipping mundane physical constructs such as
poles or magic circles.The Sri Vidya is described as a mnemonic device used for meditation practice
and it derives from the Buddhist tantric practices which utilize mantra,
yantra, and dharani. The Shri Yantra is a graphical representation of the
TM bija-mantras, and it was invented in the fifth century in Bengal at the
beginning of the Gupta era by the Sahajiyas or Baulas.In fact, any device can be used for meditation, a word, a diagram - even the
word "mic" or "one", however, it has been found through experience over many
years that certain sounds are more beneficial than others. At any rate, the
use of the Sri Yantra is a purely mental technique - it's been termed a
visualization excercise by Swami Ageananda Bharati.There are a number of Guru Dev disciples still living, that is, besides the
Maharishi. According to the Swami Prakashanada Saraswati, a direct disciple,
Guru Dev taught Divine Love Meditation, which is an aspect of transcendental
meditation. According to Swami Prabhupada, another Saraswati Sannyasin, all
meditation is transcendental, and that Swami advocates meditation on the
maha-mantra of Swami Chaitanya Bharati, founder of the Gaudhiya Sampradaya.So, from the above observations, it is probable that Guru Dev meditated on
bija-mantras contained in Shri Vidya, a yantra, or mnemonic device for
transcending. However, there is no evidence that I can find which would lead
me to believe that Guru Dev practiced any tantric forms of sadhana such as
Shaktism or sex-magic. Guru Dev was a life-long celibate, an Adwaitan who
practiced Raja Yoga all his life, just like the great Sri Ramana Maharshi.I don't think Guru Dev had anything to do with Baula Tantra. If he did, he
kept it from a galaxy of devotees!
This is pure unadulterated clap-trap, James, and I think you know it.
There's no such thing as a "power" outside human conciousness, that enters
into the physical universe and causes change. These notions are all part and
parcel of prakriti, maya, and simply don't exist in expereience. And, there
is no such thing as a "diety" outside human conciousness either. These are
all false ideas spread by dualistic scribes and priests in order to fool the
people. Besides, there are no Sri Chakra Goddesses mentioned in the Vedas,
the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras or Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.In fact all these ideas are pre-Buddhist, totemic, dualistic ritual magic
practices that are derived from Dravidian shamanisn and have nothing to do
with Adwaita, the path of Guru Dev. If he was a tantric, he would have said
so, would he not? Or, at least one of a galaxy of desiples would have said
so.
"James Duffy" wrote in message
news:fb894cbd.03041...@posting.google.com...
>This is pure unadulterated clap-trap, James, and I think you know it.
>There's no such thing as a "power" outside human conciousness, that enters
>into the physical universe and causes change. These notions are all part and
>parcel of prakriti, maya, and simply don't exist in expereience. And, there
>is no such thing as a "diety" outside human conciousness either. These are
>all false ideas spread by dualistic scribes and priests in order to fool the
>people. Besides, there are no Sri Chakra Goddesses mentioned in the Vedas,
>the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras or Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
>
>In fact all these ideas are pre-Buddhist, totemic, dualistic ritual magic
>practices that are derived from Dravidian shamanisn and have nothing to do
>with Adwaita, the path of Guru Dev. If he was a tantric, he would have said
>so, would he not? Or, at least one of a galaxy of desiples would have said
>so.
>
My sense is that even Indian Advaitists feel free to turn
towards dualism whenever they please. They seem to explore
the potentials of non-dualistic enlightnment and also of
dualistic approaches when they wish to accomplish
something.We westerners seem to want to find one distilled truth,
one highest truth. Or "the true religion" or whatever.A lot of what we have heard about Guru Dev has come to us
through Maharishi, and if M is into goddess bhakti as well
as the impresonal realisation of being, then does that
suggest something about Guru Dev's approach?ayspoze
> There are a number of Guru Dev disciples still living, that is, besides the
> Maharishi. According to the Swami Prakashanada Saraswati, a direct disciple,
> Guru Dev taught Divine Love Meditation, which is an aspect of transcendental
> meditation.
Mrs. Perino - Never heard of a personal form of God/Brahm called 'dumbass',
but if so, why did the priests give Him a girl's nickname, Sri?Also, your definition of a 'diety' as 'God/Brahm' tells us nothing. What's a
Brahm?P.S. I didn't see a statue of 'God/Brahm' at your Barsana temple, why not?"ColdBluICE" wrote in message
news:cd5299c0.03041...@posting.google.com...
Mrs Perino - You are incorrect - according to Swami Prakashananda Saraswati,
a direct desciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Guru Devji was fully
established in Brahman, the transcendental state. That Guru Dev practiced a
yogic sadhana is attested to by a galaxy of other disciples. In addition,
Guru Dev was reportedly a great Raja Yogi who was fully accomplished in the
siddhis.It has already been established that Guru Dev was a member of the Dasanami
Sampradaya, which would place him on the Adwaita path.There are many reports by disciples who all agree that Guru Dev was a fully
realized master, who had passed beyond all dualism and who was always in a
state unity conciousness. Many people who knew Guru Dev have reported that
he practiced meditation on a regular basis and there are photographic images
and films which show that he sat with eyes closed during meditation. I have
a photograph of the Maharishi and Guru Dev meditating together.According to Swami Prabhupada Saraswati, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to
meditate on the maha-mantra and by doing so Chaitanya reached a
transcendental state of conciousness. Shakya the Muni, Sage Patanjali,
Gaudapadaji and the Adi Shankaracharya all practiced a meditation that was
transcendental.Therefore, your statement is without basis, and lacks any merit whatsoever.One thing cannot be disputed - there have never been any reports or
photographs which show the Guru Devji dancing the two-step with the Swami
Prakashji while bangin' on a drum and wavin' a camphor flame around.
WillyT....Please show me where you find the bija mantras used in TM in
the Vedas,
the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras or Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. GOOD
LUCK! YOU'LL NEED IT! Yet....gee...I can easily find the bija mantras
used in TM in the tantric traditions. Yet you argue Guru Dev wasn't a
tantric??? The mantras of TM are DIRECTLY related to Sri Vidya.
WillyT....talk about DUALISTIC!!! Indeed... there is only
Consciousness, so why are you belittling the play of Shakti...aka
prakriti, maya, which is inseperable from Shiva??? Your so-called
"Maya" is the sublime expression of Consciousness...and that tantrics
such as Guru Dev and myself choose to honor this manifestation and the
"powers at be" through mantra, yantra, nyasa, etc is a personal
choice. If you choose not to do so as well, that's fine and you are no
lesser for it imo...but please have the integrity not to mislead
people with your "version" of tantra.james
"Willytex" wrote in message news:...
> > individuals who clearly...ah...I'm not going there. FACT #1-Guru Dev
> > was a disciple of Swami Krishananda...who was a tantric Guru. FACT
> > #2-Guru Dev practiced Sri Vidya in the tradition of Bhaskararaya. Far,
> > far more importantly imo...what you have stated reveals that you
> > possess zero experience or knowledge about yantras and/or traditional
> > tantric practice....which is fine...advaita vedanta is a wonderful
> > path... I just ask that you not be so freakin' deluded about your
> > understanding of tantra. Is that really too much to ask??? I answered
> > someone's question and referred them to information where they could
Hutch...you're welcome. I hope you find the book inspiring. Also, I
was recently reminded by someone of an easy to find reference to Guru
Dev as a Sri Vidya practitioner...Swami Rama's book, "Living with the
Himalayan Masters". There's a sweet, though short chapter on Swami
Rama's meeting with a great Sri Vidya practitioner who has a Sri
Yantra made of rubies, etc, etc...and this tantrika is none other than
Swami Brahmananda, aka Guru Dev. The whole book is cool too! Enjoy!!!james