Thanks, Jim, this is most interesting! I had just finished reading in Swami Vishnu Devananda's "Meditation and Mantras" (which also includes a nice translation of Patanjali's YS) that each of the paths had its specific strengths and weaknesses. If I remember correctly he said the bhaktas suffered a lot along the way, as their faith was constantly being tested to the limits, whereas the jnanas' weakness tended to be an overemphasis on the intellectual sheath, despite their assertions of unity with Brahman. If Brian Teitzman's revised version of Ed Tarabilda's system is correct I'm actually a Surya (Solar path of synthesis, a little of each, which feels right), so I'd guess I have some of the flaws of all ... along with a good dollop of Solar pride (perhaps masked by false modesty) just for good measure, I imagine :-)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My way has always been more bhakti-ish, and I just wanted to comment > that prior to Incarnation of the Whole as stated above, being bhakti- > ish was pretty hell-ish(!), it sucked big time, like being in a > constant tug of war with God, being forced to surrender, and yet being > very fearful of the consequences. Facing death 24x7. > > Like walking a minefield blindfolded, or constantly cliff jumping > (which is more what it felt like in my mind and body). Of course all > of the fear and drama were not due to my surrender to God, but rather > due to not having yet collapsed into an Incarnation of Wholeness; > Awakening. > > And so I just had this peephole of my bound perception to look out > from while undertaking this complete surrender, this series of cliff- > jumping exercises. Scary stuff yet very, very powerful, and absolutely > real- straight through the Fire. Existing as a naked thought within > the Mind of God. > > Since all of the fear was built on illusion, I came to realize, > Afterwards (Ha-Ha!), that not only was I always safe in my boundary > breaking endeavors (being precisely attuned to the Supreme Being > always includes a safety net- It Is Divine Law), but once the collapse > or release into Wholeness occurred, my relationship with the Lord > deepened immeasurably into an unanticipated depth of fulfillment, the > rewards and extent of which continue to overwhelm me with gratitude > and love. The complete joy of surrender is that for what little I am > able to give, I receive a hundred times in return. Its pretty cool! > Real freedom in total surrender, complete intimacy. > > Jai Guru Dev > Om Shiva > To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
