Message #41523

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Thanks mccoy, you are entitled to express the opinions of an organization if you choose and I know without a doubt what Brother Bhaktananda told me. There have been splinters in many spiritual organizations because of various views. And yes I understand that the goal is Self - Realization and not to know about our past lives. I also know Brother Bhaktananda and for instance Brother Turiyananda were asked not to say things by Mother Center and others at SRF, but went on and said them anyhow. And we have other monks, like for instance, Ramananda and Anandamoy who followed SRF doctrine quite religiously. If I was told by SRF personally to remain quiet 🤐 about such matters I would not do so. I would ask them why I should when a jivamukta  - someone who had spiritual release or salvation which was achieved while still alive - told me that. I also would say that…  I have heard varying information on how to practice Kriya by various monks. I have also wondered why you would have various views presented. I have come to the conclusion that people often are told what they need to be advised of for their particular sadhana. An organization is not infallible and neither am I, so choose what you like or choose not to talk of such matters if you like. Brother Bhaktananda did not ask me to keep that information from others and so I have mentioned it here. I also sincerely believe there was a reason I was told what Paramahansa Yogananda said otherwise I would have never said it again here. Many people have all different views of what the Self Realization Fellowship represents and what Paramahansa Yogananda actually said and did. I’m ok 🙂 with that. I hope others are as well. I have also met people at various groups who have felt that their view is correct and their can be no variation that contradicts it. Quite frankly it makes me 😂 laugh. It reminds me of Christian’s telling me I’ve been mislead and then preached the Bible like a robot uttering preprogrammed phrases.

Since you brought up Durga Ma and mentioned an interest in the past - about my experiences with her- I also will mention that I heard her say something that SRF may not agree with but nevertheless it made sense to me. And one of them was this; I used to visit her at Mother Center with a group of SRFers about once a month. We would meditate with her in her room. She had a couple little dogs and they were a bit restless when we were attempting to be totally still. Suddenly she remarked - as if to excuse their behavior - “If you give a dog enough love it will become a human in the next incarnation” - i do think there is a purpose for such wisdom provided by various nuns and monks of SRF that may not be given as a SRF view to everyone. The path to enlightenment is a very personal one for every individual and not an indoctrination that fits everyone the same and is given by an organization as a dogma to be followed by everyone, with no exceptions in procedure and practice. You have just reminded me and made me feel better about my decision to  never become a monastic (this life). I’m sure their have been moments when many, for instance Catholic saints did not agree with church doctrine and later were proven right in their assessment as well. I leave you with that  thought.

Quite literally What is; One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Poison