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AtThyFeet
Registered User
(1/6/06 6:44 am)
Reply 		The historic event of Yogananda’s birthday
Great souls,

This is an offering from my heart to my Guru Yogananda, for his birthday yesterday.

I would like to share it only with Yogananda devotees, who with me swim in his blessings (after all, this Walrus site, as is clear from the homepage, is meant for Yogananda devotees- even written in big letters: “Those using this board are loyal devotees of Paramahansa Yogananda.”) Pearls of devotion are better kept to those who understand.

Maybe some will think that this text is not very fitting for this history section. I might answer, true, but at least it shines a light on the historic personality of Yogananda, which sometimes is be perceived in quite a one-sided way (so it seems to me). And it celebrates a truly historic event: his birthday!

May all his disciples learn to drink more and more from his blissful source,
like little children,
everyone in his/her own way,
AtThyFeet

••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••


Oh Master!

We bow to you again and again.

We little ones might not fully understand your glory, your greatness, your life,
for who can perceive the countless facets of a divine diamond?
But we touch your feet with love, and we praise you,
who are blissfully established in the Realm beyond duality.
The ancient verse we sing to you: “Sat Gurum Tuam Namami!”

Oh Christ-like Master,
Your earthly life was a rare song of glory.
Your Light was of one who knows his Eternal Home,
and you came to speak to us of
"how to encase Him in Your bosom."

You were overflowing with divine love,
loving everyone equally, even your enemies.
As Christ, you teach us to do the same.

You could be bubbling with joy and enthusiasm.
You loved humor, too, and at times told the funniest jokes,
shaking with laughter.
And you showed us where we can find that joy:
"I Myself am the Joy which I so sought."
But you were serious and silent at other times,
for "Silence is the altar of Spirit."

You loved God more than anything else,
and you communed with Him or Her ecstatically.
Us too you urge: "Love God! Love God! Love God!"

Sharing divine teachings and practices
were your mission on earth.
You magically changed and blessed
the lives of hundreds of thousands.
Your divine spark was irresistible:
"The time of knowing God has come."

And you brought us the ancient Kriya Yoga,
"an airplane route to God."
Through your grace we walk in the heavenly footsteps
of Bhagavan Krishna and the great Pandavas,
of Christ and his apostles,
of Patanjali and Adi Shankaracharya,
of Kabir and Mahatma Gandhi.

You stressed personal inner experience,
not dry belief or dogma.
Dusty and rusty religion
became fresh, free and alive again, under your guidance!
"You must individually make love to God."

Once, with your own hands,
you fed a disciple some sweets,
as if he were your own child.
At other times you scolded strictly
like a stern father.
You had to, for you knew everyone's thoughts.

You were a uniquely colorful poet,
and your poems are overflowing
with beauty, creativity, and love for God.

You also were a gifted composer and musician.
Music was a great love for you.
And us too, you urge to sing:
"Chanting is half the battle," you tell us.

You performed miracles,
and even raised the dead.
But such things you rarely did openly,
since "the spiritual path is no circus."

You were spontaneous, free in spirit,
often unpredictable.
"The Spirit blows where it wills..."

You were deeply respectful of everyone's innate divinity.
You were a true friend to all.
So many loved you, and love you.
And you had a wild side, too!
You sang, "I will be a gypsy."

You were an inventor, even-
your inventions are numerous!
Unknown to many, you built the first mobile home!

You were an extremely fast runner,
played tennis at Mount Washington,
and were incredibly strong,
to the surprise of all who witnessed it.

You loved to cook
and delighted in creating many new, delicious recipes.
They linger with us, as a special spark
of your divine diamond Light.

You were gracious as a host,
and a true gentleman.

You were ecstatic-
"all drunk with Thy name!"

You were broadminded and universal in outlook.
The world you declared to be your homeland,
and God to be the world's president.

Anchored in God,
you were inwardly always completely detached
from the world's dream: "I came liberated."
But still you wept when your friends died or suffered.
You wept tears of love
for you dearest friend, Rajarsi, your "little one,"
and said: "I am divinely attached to all!"

You were childlike and spontaneous,
and could play the greatest jokes on your disciples.
Your water pistol once was used
for Rajarsi's poor bald head...

You were different with everyone,
you taught them all differently,
according to their needs and natures.
You even looked different with everybody –
like a divine mirror you were!
Hardly could one put you in a little box,
saying “this is how he was!”

Your heart was enormous,
ever forgiving and magnanimous.
"What else can I do?" you once asked.
Compassion was your hallmark,
and the will to help us all.

You knew how to be most practical
and even made beautiful architectural designs.
You opened a goat dairy,
a vegetable garden, a flower garden,
and a vegetarian restaurant and cafe.

You were a schoolteacher, and a good one-
you loved children!
Spiritual schools were most dear to your heart,
and, since nothing could stop you, you started one.

You were full of fire, zest, and mighty will -
a true warrior of God.
You roared: "Danger and I were born together,
but I am more dangerous than danger! "

And, at the same time,
you were totally humble, sweet, and devoted.
"Receive me on Thy lap, oh Mother... "

You were fully yourself, never a copy of anyone.
"I will sing a song that none has sung... "

You believed in everyone's divine goodness and greatness,
and you sang a song to us, with your Guru,
"Oh my saint, wake, yet wake... "

In scriptural commentary you were wise,
fresh and amazingly deep,
for your wisdom came to you
like a mystical cascade from the Infinite.

You were deeply non-sectarian and disliked "Churchianity,"
but you loved divine friendship in God.
You loved the monastic life, and also loved World-Brotherhood Colonies.
"Environment," you told people, "is stronger than will-power"!

Oh Master, and you never left.
You promised us:
"To those who think me near, I will be near "!
Some disciples even say
that you appeared to them in flesh and blood
after your miraculous passing.
How blessed we all are!

And you live in our hearts.
From there, ever you keep calling us
to the heavenly bliss of our own being-
to Self-realization in God;
to the "opal pool of iridescent joy
where my Father distributes
His all-desire-quenching liquid peace."

And - what incredible blessing!
You have promised to come again and again,
"if need be, a trillion times,"
until even the last of us
has found his way to his home in God.

Again and again, beloved Master, we bow to you!
May your blessed birthday be
a glorious astral feast in the highest regions,
with luminous angels, with your Masters and Christ,
and with God Himself!

••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••~•~••••••

moyma
Registered User
(1/10/06 12:52 pm)
Reply 		Re: The historic event of Yogananda’s birthday
Jaya, Jaya, Om Guru !

SayItIsntSo
Registered User
(3/2/06 12:46 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter

 Re: The historic event of Yogananda’s birthday
Quote:
Oh Christ-like Master


I am assuming you mean Jesus? It's less personal to say Christ, as one can apply that name to something broader--a conciousness, but there is only one Christ. Jesus Christ.

I never heard anyone say Yogananda was like Jesus. Because they can't. Nor do the teachings of SRF have any relevant measure to the Bible. That's another argument.

They really should stop referring to Yogananda as Christ-Like. He wasn't. I don't want to give you Biblical examples because that's just an invitation for trouble here, but let me leave you with this thought--

"For many will come in My name, saying "I am Christ," and will mislead many." Matthew 24:5

P.S. I will say the poem was quite beautiful even if I don't agree with that Yogananda was Christ like.

Spot the Looney

Edited by: SayItIsntSo at: 3/3/06 8:46 am
MastersChela 
Registered User
(3/15/06 8:11 am)
Reply 		Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
This is an interesting question... First of all, it's very difficult to look at the Bible and get any sense of what "Jesus-like" would be. We have no discription of his personality, his day-to-day behaviors, his "job" outside of preaching. The assertion that Jesus was a "poor carpenter" is ruled out by the family tree which tries to tie him to the House of David (the royal family of Israel). This would be like Prince Charles saying he is "just an apartment manager" when in fact his is the wealthiest landowner in England.

Questions of Jesus' marital status are popular these days. I personally don't think these questions matter much, because ultimately, the religion is CHIRSTiantity, not JESUSianity. Christ refers to the Consciousness, not the Guy. Who cares if he married Mary Magdalene, except in the matter of whether celebacy and monastacism should be held up as the ultimate virtue.

The Bible is not history, and we can't begin to determine if Yogananda is "christ-like" based on it.

moyma
Registered User
(3/15/06 9:48 pm)
Reply 		Re: Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
We always seem to make that distinction about jesus being Christ like , but remember that there was no western tradition when Jesus was born......... there was only the eastern tradition.....They knew what Christ like was, thats why he got the name ! It is only the people that came after his time,....AD...... after the Christian "church" was established .......that decided he was the "only Christ" The people of his time, those in other countries also found him Christlike....in the eastern tradition.
Amazing how we westernized Him ! To make him better than every other Christ Krishna , Yogananda and so on.....

SayItIsntSo
Registered User
(3/18/06 12:25 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter

 Re: Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
Quote:
Christ refers to the Consciousness


AHEM -

Christ:

1. The Messiah, as foretold by the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. Often used with the.
2. Christianity Jesus.

Christ - a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)
Deliverer, Good Shepherd, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Redeemer, Savior, Saviour, the Nazarene
Logos, Son, Word - the divine word of God; the second person in the Trinity (incarnate in Jesus)
2. christ - any expected deliverer
messiah
rescuer, savior, saviour, deliverer - a person who rescues you from harm or danger

The Old Testament books in the Bible contained hundreds of prophecies about an “anointed one” (“Messiah” in Hebrew) who would arrive in their future.

Christ is the English representation of the Greek word Khristos, which means anointed. The Christian religion takes its name from Christ, as a title given to Jesus of Nazareth The Anointed One.

Christ" has taken on such power and significance as a theological, religious and/or devotional term that it has been appropriated and/or expanded by various theologians and religious writers so as to take it beyond its merely Christian context.

There is no such thing as other Christs. The real issue with talking about Jesus here is that people are brainwashed to believe a certain thing without doing any homework of their own.

Read what I wrote on this link...scrowl down a bit...

Spot the Looney

Edited by: SayItIsntSo at: 3/18/06 12:27 pm
SayItIsntSo
Registered User
(3/18/06 2:54 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter

 Re: Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
Quote:
The Bible is not history


I'll let you do your own reseach on this statement.

But as far as the Bible not giving an accurate account of who Jesus was...well...that is just not true. Is this what you concluded after reading it? Not just the King James, but how about the NIV and The Amplified Bible.

One thing I am certain about. He came to the aid of those who never asked, and especially helped women. He was kind and caring and forgiving and very insightful. He healed people and raised people from the dead.

In first-century Palestine, the way Jesus treated women was considered revolutionary.

You can learn a lot about Jesus by studying the Bible.

I just want SRF people (who come here for other perspectives) to know that the Bible according to SRF is fiction.

Yogananda did not do anything supernatural to be called a Christ even if you take it out of the Christian context. He is not Christ, nor Christ-like.

Spot the Looney

Edited by: SayItIsntSo at: 3/18/06 3:01 pm
ranger20
Registered User
(3/18/06 10:16 pm)
Reply 		Re: Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
SayItIsntSo,

This is a wonderful post, thanks very much. I find I have little energy for bulletin board posting these days (I'm in the middle of the second draft of a novel - amazing how my creativity has come roaring back since disengaging from SRF - but that's another story).

Anyway, to your post, I can only say amen, amen!
Quote:
One thing I am certain about. He came to the aid of those who never asked, and especially helped women.

One of my favorite stories is the woman at the well. I recall seeing a "Second Coming" exerpt in the SRF mag, in which they went to great pains to explain that she was "a truant disciple from a former life with enough good karma to attract her guru again," nullifying one of the key points to me, of this story and my entire understanding of Jesus's message - that unmerited grace is available for the asking, and sometimes even when we don't ask.

SRF obviously cannot tolerate the concept of unmerited grace being widely available.

Interestingly I heard a Catholic priest address this issue head on last year. I attended a retreat with Laurence Freeman, successor to John Main in spreading the practice of Christian mantra meditation. One of his comments was "there is nothing in the gospels that contradicts the law of karma, but what we find is the addition of the laws of love and grace which trump karma."

Edited by: ranger20 at: 3/18/06 10:21 pm
moyma
Registered User
(3/19/06 3:38 pm)
Reply 		Re: Was Yogananda "christ-like?"
all of your interpetations are still colored by western thought . You may read what the old testament says but you can't go back and say what Jesus believed in without a huge argument !
You don't know [if you just read the bible"]
of the three wise men .....who they were our what they taught ??
now your saying you can go back even farther and find whats true there, and I don't think you can.
You can tell me what the bible says but not the preveiling thought at the time....In fact you could say that all the verses in the old testament refering to the anointed one were put in to counter the "other' way of thinking.
Yes the jewish race thought that the messiah was coming but they were such a small part of history....in that time.

I still think that Christ the name came from the Christ of the eastern thought . Christ and krishna is no accident.
If you read in between the words in the bible you realize that eastern thought was the general way of thinking at that time...
the early Christians may have taken it from the greek but there were others at that time ....doing the work of Christ that were not Christian....jesus even reference to such a one.
The jewish race had many prophets and when they came they were the "annointed" of there time ......
as the jews think of jesus.
I would think that the eary fathers took the meaning to counter the eastern thought of the time.....
I guess really what I'm saying is that Christanity was not born in a bubble with no outside influnce like you suggest.


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