That chap is the Swami’s body guard.
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;47111] Yoga is just as prone to weird things as anything else on the earth. [/QUOTE]
Maybe I am naive, but yoga is not exactly gymnastics, it seems to me. Learning yoga not as a part of eight limbs might be the problem. The whole basis of dissolving ego, detachment etc seems to be lost in lot of practitioners. But my question really was more simple. Let me rephrase it: Doesnt many years of practice during their youth, lead to a healthy body and habits for a lifetime, especially for the enlightened gurus? For me it doesnt diminish their greatness, but just a bit confusing. Their teachings are wise and insightful, but their body-shape was pretty hopeless.
[QUOTE=Indra Deva;47128]I’ve heard so many reasons that gurus supposedly “inexplicably” get sick or get fat. Their students or devotees will say that they are transmuting someone else’s karma, etc. "Oh, what a great soul they are, how much compassion they have…"
Of course, I’ve interacted with other teachers who maintain excellent health and optimum body weight into old age and they scoff at such excuses for human weakness, & even in situations where there is would appear that there really is something possibly supernatural going on, they say that a guru taking on karma of another and then physically manifesting weight gain, illness etc is a big sign that they are not a part of an authentic lineage, that a teacher in an authentic lineage just moves the karma up the line & has no need to take things on themselves…Who knows?[/QUOTE]
Ive been thinking about this for a while and there seems to be some truth in it. Ramana Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahansa among many other realized souls died of cancer. Come to think of it: What are the odds of dying of cancer in a village in early-mid part of last century in India? Practically zero, with cancer hardly heard of, not much industrialization, very little pollution, very little processed food, not so stressful life, living with nature etc. And then, Swami Vivekananda, Paramahamsa Yogananda died fairly young too, less than the average life-span during their time. There are many other examples I can think of.
Looks like we are ding our favorite thing here now: we degrees!
I will repeat again: following the sattvic diet and mindfully eating will never produce en effect of balloon-like belly.
[QUOTE=CityMonk;47225]Looks like we are ding our favorite thing here now: we degrees!
I will repeat again: following the sattvic diet and mindfully eating will never produce en effect of balloon-like belly.[/QUOTE]
But I love me some spicy chili & corn bread :mad:
Dear Ran, here’s your post: “But my question really was more simple. Let me rephrase it: Doesnt many years of practice during their youth, lead to a healthy body and habits for a lifetime, especially for the enlightened gurus? For me it doesnt diminish their greatness, but just a bit confusing. Their teachings are wise and insightful, but their body-shape was pretty hopeless.”
Do you want us to speculate why they turn into fatties? I have no idea why they let themselves turn into flab. I myself have touched Swamiji’s upper arm once, and I was shocked. He was just flab, I couldn’t feel muscle under the shirt at all. http://www.yogaindailylife.org/news/kumbha-mela-impressions-14th-of-april-2010
Haven’t checked where you actually live, but maybe approach Swamiji and ask him yourself? 
I can tell you from personal experience that he has siddhis, supernatural powers, but as everyone knows here on the forum, I think he also lacks in the areas of honesty and integrity. I know for a fact that he was as skinny as a rake, became a monk age 16 I think, when he supposedly got enlightenment. Then he went to teach Yoga in Austria from 1972, still skinny and doing his Asanas. At what point he gave up on the Asanas, I don’t know.
I would love you to go up to him and ask him. I don’t think there is anything wrong with this question and Swamiji, being a holy man (supposedly) should give you an honest answer. Oh God, please, I can’t wait.
He’ll be in Amercia again soon, too. Elisabeth
[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;47203]That chap is the Swami’s body guard.[/QUOTE]
Yes, he looks like it, for sure. Oh, why can’t I be famous and have a body guard like that? :roll: