Initiation by Guru

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#21

In an attempt to not take ourselves too seriously, doesn’t all this Guru#1 and Guru #2 talk sound like an episode of [I]The Dating Game[/I]? All we are missing is Guru#3…and polyester leisure suits.

From my experience of Shaktipat–my teacher was authorized by his teacher to transmit Shakti Kundalini–is that without a prepared student, the shakti prana is lost and the benefits cannot be kept by the student. A wise and compassionate teacher (Guru) will prepare their student to [I]receive and benefit [/I]from the shakti prana, not just to experience it and then have it lost to them.

Blessings,

#22

[quote=Nichole;6103]In an attempt to not take ourselves too seriously, doesn’t all this Guru#1 and Guru #2 talk sound like an episode of [I]The Dating Game[/I]? All we are missing is Guru#3…and polyester leisure suits.

From my experience of Shaktipat–my teacher was authorized by his teacher to transmit Shakti Kundalini–is that without a prepared student, the shakti prana is lost and the benefits cannot be kept by the student. A wise and compassionate teacher (Guru) will prepare their student to [I]receive and benefit [/I]from the shakti prana, not just to experience it and then have it lost to them.

Blessings,[/quote]

Actually there is a guru one and a half, but maybe we’d better not go there. Guru one and a half is affiliated with guru #1…but that’s not
part of this issue. :slight_smile: It seems I’m a lot of trouble…but I don’t
mean to be.

#23

[quote=Nichole;6105]From my experience of Shaktipat–my teacher was authorized by his teacher to transmit Shakti Kundalini–is that without a prepared student, the shakti prana is lost and the benefits cannot be kept by the student. A wise and compassionate teacher (Guru) will prepare their student to [I]receive and benefit [/I]from the shakti prana, not just to experience it and then have it lost to them.

Blessings,[/quote]

Ok…I’d say that this as much has anything, convinces me to stick with
guru one and one and a half, even despite my meditation struggles.
I’m sorry I bothered potential guru #2, but then he’s about to go off
to India for a pilgrimage anyway.

I feel like I put myself through the ringer…changing into something
more comfortable than polyester…

Thank you everybody.

#24

[quote=Tyler Zambori;6108]Ok…I’d say that this as much has anything, convinces me to stick with
guru one and one and a half, even despite my meditation struggles.
[/quote]

Sorry…I mean stick with them only.

#25

[quote=Tyler Zambori;6106]Actually there is a guru one and a half, but maybe we’d better not go there. Guru one and a half is affiliated with guru #1…but that’s not part of this issue. :slight_smile: It seems I’m a lot of trouble…but I don’t
mean to be.[/quote]

Ok ,there’s actually a specific reason that guru 1.5 was added in. not
necessarily that I’m a lot a lot trouble…it’s just really hard to do this
over the internet. You get the same communication problems that you
get with regular people.

Anyway, I didn’t realize that this forum was meant for SYT students,
sorry everybody. I do practice yoga for health reasons and because
I like it, but I do the most grounded kind of yoga possible - yoga
for strength. This is separate from what I do with my gurus.

#26

I thought this thread would benefit from Aadil’s message on transmission.
In this video clip, Aadil Palkhivala discusses the absence of one of the two forms of transmission in the modern western world.
And explains that the origin of that absence lies in our obsessive need to constantly feed our own egos.

Namaste

#27

He is such a wonderful speaker. Radiant.

#28

Hari Om

 
Namaste and Hello,
 
I thought , if I may, add to Tyler Zambori's post... I do not have Tyler's answer, but thought a good opportunity to offer some ideas on guru's and the like for your consideration.
 
[B]Who gives you a mantra is of great import[/B]
Diksha guru
The Diksha guru is one God Realized being who can deliver initiation to the sisya (student). Diksha = "da" or to give + "ksi" or to destroy . Obviously , to destroy ignorance of not knowing SELF. The verb base is "diks" "to consecrate , coming from "daks" or to grow or increase.
Rtvic guru
This guru is subordinate to the Diksha guru. The person can initiate on behalf of the Diksha Guru 
Siksha guru
Siksha or "instruction" guru, teaches various categories of knowledge.
Maharshi's and a Brahmarishi fall into this class, as highly evolved Pundits and gurus.
 
[B]Mantra - [/B][FONT=Verdana]man- "manas or mind" and the suffix + -tra meaning, tool, hence a literal translation would be "mind tool".
Typically of two types:
a. [B]Kanthika[/B] or those given expression by voice - some call japa or Kirtan and Bhajan's.
b. [B]Ajapa[/B] - non voiced, and internal to the sadhu - used to transcend.
 
 
[B]Taraka-mantra[/B]
That is, the mantra which takes you across the ocean of samsara.
The Sanskrit word taraka, denotes a star as it traverses in space and acts as a guiding light. A boat is called tari, as it allows one to cross over the waters. But what of the oceans of samsara? Samsara (sr= "to flow" + sam = "together") - what flows together? birth-after-birth.
So, a Taraka-mantra is one that gets you out of the wheel of birth after birth - or brings you to enlightenment.
One Mantra that we all know is Om ( also called Pranava) and is considered Taraka-mantra. Many posts are written on this, so I will hold off on any elaboration.
 
[B][I]Another Taraka-mantra is Rama[/I][/B]. This is of great interest...this mantra is wonderful and has deep roots! 
Rama - defined is from "Ram" " pleasing, to delight", yet it goes deeper. From the Padma-purana, it says " ramante yogino-nante brahmaanande chidaatmani " or ' The one in whose memory yogis revel in the bliss of brahman'. Its the mantra that brings bliss. As bija, we know it as Ram or Rama.
 
The Great rishi Valmilki, at the time named Ratnakar, was fortunate to receive this mantra... yet he said, I cannot pronounce this Rama, please give me something different. So , the sages gave him the mantra Mara - note this is Rama backwards MA-RA. So, as the story goes, he gets absorbed in Samadhi, stays in one spot for a long time and ants build hill around him...being totally absorbed in bliss. When the sages return, they ask him to come out - He comes out fully enlightened (jivanmukti) and they give him his new name Valmilki from 'Valmika' meaning an ant-hill. [/FONT]Valmilki , the author of the Ramayana.
 
So, this name forward or backward is auspicious. A wonderful Mantra of [B]Om Ram Ramaya Namaha [/B]- Note that it is based in several taraka mantras Om, Ram then Ram backwards MA and NA from Narayana . just a most exquisite Pra-siddha mantra.
 
For those of Tantric order Its of great interest and delight to me that Tara ( from "tr" or to cross), a Tantric shakti Goddess is associated with Omkara, as her bija sound is Pranava too - Aum.
 
 
pranams,
#29

Hi tyler

see whatever your question is but once you get shaktipat properly you need to focus on the pinacle not on the guru.

guru is there as a stepping stone when you are in trouble then you definately go to the guru. even when guru requires your help like in monetary, mental or any other ways you must have to stand with him to support him. but that dows not mean that you have to be with the guru.

relation between guru and deciple is a like a relation of husband and wife ??? think about it. help guru as much as possible so that people like you will get more benefiteed by him and by the medium of yours.

hari om

ww.siddhyog.org

#30

[quote=Nichole;6669]I thought this thread would benefit from Aadil’s message on transmission.
In this video clip, Aadil Palkhivala discusses the absence of one of the two forms of transmission in the modern western world.
And explains that the origin of that absence lies in our obsessive need to constantly feed our own egos.[/quote]

This is interesting. I would say that I experienced the first kind
when I first read my ur-guru’s first book, but now I’m going for the
second method.

In his book: “Relating to a Spiritual Teacher: Building a Healthy
Relationship,.” Alexander Berzin explained why Eastern (in this case
Tibetan) methods of dealing with students don;t work so well for
Westerners. It’s because, he said, the Tibetan tends more towards arrogance,
hence the need for the guru to put the student in his place
frequently. Westerners, however, tend towards low self esteem.

Despite the arrogance usually displayed by Americans due to being
part of a wealthy “empire,” I find that low self esteem has certainly
been a huge problem for me. That, and worrying. I do it because
that is what I know, and breaking that pattern is hard, but I’m starting
to see the real benefits of learning to be in the moment.

I find that the alligator brain aspect does come into it, that is, I want
to own that which I have feelings for, but I find if try to scrape that
alligator brain stuff off, it just takes something out of my practice.
So instead I’m trying to be patient and accepting of myself.

So I’m not sure I agree with that guy that we westerners really do
have this obssessive need to feed our egos. We do have a culture
that wants to promote that.

I find the surrender thing can happen by degrees, and with the
development of a great deal of trust over time, and also with
developing understanding about why it’s a good thing.

#31

[quote=siddhyogi;6695]Hi tyler

see whatever your question is but once you get shaktipat properly you need to focus on the pinacle not on the guru.

guru is there as a stepping stone when you are in trouble then you definately go to the guru. even when guru requires your help like in monetary, mental or any other ways you must have to stand with him to support him. but that dows not mean that you have to be with the guru.

relation between guru and deciple is a like a relation of husband and wife ??? think about it. help guru as much as possible so that people like you will get more benefiteed by him and by the medium of yours.

hari om

ww.siddhyog.org
[/quote]

well…As far as I know he is not taking any more students, but I think he considers it devotion if I just make progress.

#32

Also, a few weeks back I was trying to explain to an old friend
how it is that I “rate” two gurus. Maybe it was too weird for
her, because she didn’t respond. My thought is, that it’s better
for me to have two if I need that, than to become a lost cause.
Even if other people think that’s weird. I can’t even mention the
first one to my b/f’s christian family.

I decided not to go to the one in Colorado. Sometimes I feel the
urge to go talk to the buddhist monks that live down the street,
just to have people who are not so worldly-minded to talk to.
But that’s not the same thing, and I probably won’t.

#33

From Swamij.com:

“It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher will come. It is also said that the ideal teacher will come for each student, depending on the aspirations the seeker holds in the heart.”

Friendly greetings