BKYetc. Definately not overstated!!!!!!!!
i cannot begin to tell you the times i have encountered endless rules and comformity to appearence at SRF. When I go to one of their convocations it reminds me of a military operation... every thing is sooo formal. But some people do seem to like this formality and want things just so.
I find it better to find my chapel in nature and there are many spiritual organizations that do not stress such conformity to old social traditions or respect a more Indian or eastern culture. SRF fits strongly into a traditional western format.
Try doing anything out of the ordinary and someone will let you know it does not fit in. SRFers have never stopped correcting me. There is always one of them somewhere who knows what is best for you!! However despite all this I still would go to an SRF meditation or service if I was nearby and consider it a blessing to have spent time at these places. I must admit though I agree with you so much and probably my choice of where I live in nature today was influenced by never being able to quite satisfy those who live in spiritual communities made up of endless rules.
Jitendra
The feeling I get about SRF is that they are some kind of church trapped in the early 20th century, back when world wars were being raged and militant ideologies were searing the political spectrum across the nations. Ananda may be trapped somewhere around the 1960s. I've never been to a Sivananda Yoga ashram, but they just seem to be more aware and acknowledging of other paths and the heterogeneity of seekers' interests, as well as up to date on spirituality while being traditional. This is what I would say to someone considering joining a path, a skeptic of the paths, or an outsider to whom I was trying to explain what the differences were. I try not to put BKY in a special category, but I know which path I would take to a desert island.
I have been to SRF meditation services, but not since I had the intuition that Babaji's path is more for me. That said, I still owe a debt of gratitude for much to Yogananda as I understand him.
So you said you have tried BKY as well? I receive mixed messages from the the different advanced yogis in my school. Some seem to be very traditional Hindu, some are scientific, and some are sincere in their respect for Christian tradition. I used to think that Kriya yogis were to be criticized for all thinking the same thing in the same lineage, including SRF, even though yogis say even atheists or members of any religion can practice it. Well, now that I have found a Kriya school that is truly mixed, I'm not sure whom to believe!
