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SRF Walrus
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        > Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
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KS
Registered User
(1/17/02 7:12 am)
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Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
I feel the Guru-disciple relationship really is a forever thing. I don’t believe someone decides on a true guru, it is more of a discovery of an existing relationship. SRF takes advantage of this belief to make you feel that loyalty to SRF is the same thing, and that brings in all kinds of cult issues and leads to some of the weirdness we read about here on the Walrus. They are a cult and use Master as the draw.

From my experience the relationship with Master develops stronger outside SRF than inside. The distance is because of the level of plaque build up over your spiritual life that comes from the SRF goop they layer on the poor devotees.

gardendiva
Registered User
(5/14/02 1:21 pm)
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Re: Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
I have asked this question, probably for as long as I've been associated with SRF! My introduction to the path was through my brother. I can't say that I felt a particular "draw" to Yogananda, but felt comfortable with the teachings and they seemed like a good way to develop myself.

It took the lessons and took kriya, but still never felt the deep connection that many of my devotee friends express. Still I persevered, albeit not making much progress!

But it's been difficult to look outside what I've become accustom to, for ways to help myself feel whole (this is the best way I can describe what I'm really seeking in a path, at this time). There are all kinds of rumors (I guess they're rumors) about how if you give up doing kriya you won't have the chance again for this "higher" technique for another x amount of lifetimes. It has felt awkward to seek other teachings or paths to help myself, because of the feeling that I get that I am doing something wrong. Of course, much if not all of this comes from my own personality, and I understand that.

But what I really wanted to say, was that I finally developed the mindset that even if Yogananda is NOT my guru, he is still guiding me. Couldn't it be that the other things I'm coming across, even if they are different paths or teachers, I have been guided to by Yogananda? Don't you think that the most important thing is to be a sincere seeker of truth? Then even if we have to part from paths or organizations or teachers, we can have the understanding that we were led in that direction by Divine guidance.

These are just my own musings. Maybe they don't make much sense, but they certainly have helped me feel like I'm moving again.

username
Registered User
(5/15/02 1:14 pm)
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Re: Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
Yogananda had more than one teacher. And visited many teachers, that is what the AY is all about. If it was good enough for Yogananda, it should be good enough for you.

gardendiva
Registered User
(5/15/02 2:35 pm)
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Re: Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
Username...yes, I have thought about PY and all his teachers. I come back to the fact that I took kriya, which we are told is a "vow," and all the "guru-disciple" jargon that goes with it. While it shouldn't bother me, it still kind of does. It's just something that I am working out. I'm not afraid to search anywhere, to find what I need for my own personal evolvement. Actually, this forum has been quite helpful. I was already on the road to creating a "way" for myself and I feel encouraged by what I've read here.

It really doesn't have too much to do with what SRF is or does as an organization. I suppose at times I've put more importance in the organization, but that's been growing weaker over the years. Knowing that others aren't afraid to blaze their own trail, so to speak is incredibly inspirational.

surfer269
Registered User
(5/17/02 10:06 am)
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Re: Is Yogananda Really My Guru?

Swami Sriyukteshwar Giri on "the "Guru" ---

"if the subject of guru was brought up, this immense, magnanimous and ego-less man (Sri Yukteshwar) would say in a simple and ordinary way, "What is the point in being taken aback by the word 'guru'? Guru means weighty, meaning one who is more weighty or knowledgeable than you, from whom you can learn. If it is necessary, then after completing your learning from him, you can take Shelter in an even higher guru -- like going to a professor of an institution of higher learning after grade school. But one must remember to have proper respect and humility towards everyone."

(Swami Satyananda Giri )

www.yoganiketan.net/sriyukteswar/

(from Chapter 5)

gardendiva
Registered User
(5/17/02 10:57 am)
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Re: Is Yogananda Really My Guru?
surfer269...

Thanks for that quote and resource. I'll check out that website.

prssmd
Registered User
(1/1/04 1:51 am)
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Re: Is So-and-so Really My Guru?
When someone asks out loud, "Is So-and-so Really My Guru?" one might reply by pulling a Ramana Maharshi on her and ask the questioner, "Who is this 'I' who wants to know if So-and-so is Really her Guru?"

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