--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rory Goff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 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 :-) > Hi Rory- Thanks for this- it is always helpful to get some independent validation of one's experiences and I appreciate you sharing this. I had written what I did regarding a bhakti-ish path also because I wanted to dispel the image of someone chanting to God with finger cymbals on (!) and a lot of mood-making, and indicate that the path is every bit as rigorous, and rewarding, as any other way to liberation. My use of the term 'bhakti-ish' also indicates that there is a dose of jnani thrown in as well, though I tend to keep any intellectual understanding to a bare minimum, lest I get caught up in it. I track just enough so that I know where I am at all times.
Two more things: First, similar to your comments regarding not having to *do* anything about the 27 (28) Nakshatras, and the way of liberation feeling 'right', we don't choose our way of liberation, whether bhakti or jnani. It just comes naturally. Second, regarding all the suffering of the bhakti, once liberation is reached, there is not only no longer any suffering, but the relationship with God is so intimate, so friendly, so normal, that going forward becomes like the experience of a kid in a candy store, or like just going about one's daily business with our favorite Saint, Master, God or Goddess at our side, ready for any kind of interaction. it is really an amazing experience, yet completely normal. Maharishi has said that all paths find their fulfillment in liberation anyway, so regardless of the bus we boarded to get here, here we are! 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/
