[FairfieldLife] Re: Our Spiritual Tradition
A Tradition of World Teachers [image: Inline image 2] The Holy Tradition - painting by Raj Varma "The Shankaracharyas and their devotees have a heightened concern for apostolicity. This concern has an obvious theological implication, for unbroken lineage in Advaita symbolizes the eternal in humankind, in history and in the cosmos. The teaching of the Shankarcharyas is the continuation, it is believed, of Sanatana Dharma in its Advaita expression from generation to generation. The guru of this religious center is the spiritual head of the Danda Sannyasis, numbering over 1,000, and as such engages in the role of a Rajaguru which, as we shall see, distinguishes him from the others." - William Cenkner So, let's review the SBS Parampara: Narayana Padma Bhava Vasishtha Shakti Parashara Badarayana Shudadeva Gaudapapda Govinda Shankara Trotaka Brahmananda Shantananda Vishnudevananda Vasudevananda Are we agreed so far? So,let's review the SBS Parampara: Narayana. An archetypal solar personification of the divine single, imperishable, cosmic, idea. The reality underlying and inhabiting all life, Consciousness, Chit identified with Jaggadishu Vishnu, the symbol of spiritual enlightenment (Gayatri Mantra - Rig III.62,10). Narayana, the Absolute, the Self in solitude, alone existed, in deep meditation on the seat called Sesha. From his hara, issued a lotus called Padma Bhava, the 'Lotus Born', Brahma, the creator of mind, who 'thought' the first thought, in which essentially, every object in existence is a idea in the mind of Brahma. Thus, ours is a universe composed of free thought forms, which is an 'Ideal' existence for Atman. Brahma sat down on the lotus seat and cognized all the mantras and the bijas and with the heat of tapas produced by transcending the most subtle of thought forms, reposed in pure bliss consciousness, sat-chit-ananda. Then, the 'Spirit Naar', came over the waters and Brahma conceived his mind-born sons. Vasishtha. The first historical teacher of the order re-discovered the seventh mandala of Rig Veda (RV VII.18). Author of Yoga Vasishtha, one of two of the holiest books of the order, the other being the Vedanta Sutras of Badarayana. Vasishtha was the first human teacher of yoga and meditation and one of the most prominent rishis of the Vedic tradition. A householder sage, who was married to Arundhati, Vasishtha was one of the mind-born sons of Brahma emanating as vital breath or prana, thus Vasistha is considered to be the founder of the yoga of unity consciousness. Shakti. Daughter of Vasistha, an incarnation of Saraswati. Shakti is not mind-born of Brahma, but freely emanated from the cosmic energy-intelligence-time. She is called auspicious by the wise, but feared by the ignorant. For this age Shakti appeared on Earth as Shiva-Shakti in the form of Nataraja, who performs the cosmic tandava dance, thus becoming the bhagavan who transcended relative duality through performance of action born of unity. Parashara. The teacher of Maitreya, the coming avatar. Parashara, a famous rishi in the Vedas, and the son of Shakti, was the father of Vyasa. Parashara cognized Rig Veda I. 65-75 and IX.97 and received Jyotish from Soma, the moon god. A householder, Parashara was married to Adrishyanti. Badarayana. Son of Shakti, sometimes called Vyasa. Author of Vedanta Sutras, the most famous of the two holy books of the order. A householder, who collected and arranged the scriptures, later became the first sannyasin, and the founder of the Indian system of dialectics based on the Upanishads. Shukadeva. A Sage who studied under Brihaspati. Shuka became a brilliant scholar whose guru was Janaka. Shuka was born under the inspiration a very bright, beautiful, multi-colored parrot, hence the symbol of the order is a rainbow over the tree of knowledge. Shuka was a householder who became a sannyasin and while performing tapas on Mt. Kailash to Lord Shiva, Shuka achieved cosmic consciousness. Shuka was so brilliant that he taught the Vedas, the Srimad Bhagwatam, and the entire Mahabharata to the celestial musicians, the Gandharvas. Gaudapapda Acharya. Author of the famous karika on Mandukya Upanishad, which is based on Arya Asanga's vijnanavada - the consciousness only school. The great Gauda enumerated the turiya, the fourth state of consciousness, which is the coherent basis and applied science of Adwaita Vedanta., The first post-Upanishadic teacher and expositor of the Advaita Vedanta. Govindapada Maha Yogindra. Disciple of Gaudapada, guru of Adi Shankara, did not write any treatises nor commentaries, he taught orally and by example, his reputation resting solely on his achievements as a maha-yogiraj, a teacher of yoga, the highest yoga possible, that is, meditation that is transcendental in its purest form. Adi Shankaracharya. Auspicious incarnation of Lord Shiva. Founder of the Holy Tradition of Masters who make available the whole field of theoretical and practical experience of tra
[FairfieldLife] Re: Our Spiritual Tradition
Ati-Rudrabishek - Pandits with Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati. [image: Inline image 1] On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 2:22 PM, Richard Williams wrote: > Our Spiritual Tradition in Sanskrit Narayanam Padmabhavam Vasistham > Shaktim cha Tatputra > Parasharam cha Vyasam Shukam Gaudapadam Mahantam > Govindayogindram Athasya Shishyam > Srisankaracharyam Athasya Padmapadam cha > Hastamalakam cha Shishyam tam Trotakam > Varttikaram anyan Asmad > gurn Santatam anato smi > > shrutismritipuranam Alayam Karunalayam > Namami Bhagavatapadam Shankaram Lokasankaram > > Shankaram Shankacharyam Keshavam Badarayanam > Sutrabhashyakritau vande Bhagavantau punah punah > Yadvarre Nikhilanimpaparishat Siddhim > Vidhatte 'Nisham Shrimatshrilasitam > Jagadgurupadam Natvatmatriptim Gatah > Lokagyanpayodapatnadhuram Shrisankaram Sharmadam > Bramahanandasaraswatim Guruvarum Dhyayami > Jyotirmayam > > Transliterated from the Sanskrit by Borje Mullquist > > nârâyanaM padmabhavaM vashiSThaM shaktim ca tatputra > parasharam ca vyâsaM shukam gauDapadaM mahântaM > govinda yogîndra mathâsya shiSyam | > shrî shankarâcâryamathâsya padmapâdan ca > hastâmalakan ca shiSyam taM troTakam > vârtikakâram anyânasmad > gurûn santatamânato 'smi || > > shruti-smRti-purâNânam âlayam karuNâlayam | > namâmi bhagavat-pâdam shankaraM lokashankaram || > > shankaraM shankarâcâryaM keshvaM bâdarâyaNam | > sûtra-bhâSya-kRtau vande bhagavantau punaH punaH || > > yad-dvâre nikhilâ nilimpa-pariSad siddhiM > vidhatte 'nisham shrîmat-shrî-lasitaM > jagadgurupadaM natvâtmatRptiM gatâH | > lokâjñâna payoDa-pâTân-dhuraM shrî shankaram sharmadaM > brahmânanda sarasvatîm guruvaraM dhyâyâmi > jyotirmayam || > > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 9:39 PM, Richard Williams wrote: > >> Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first >> meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of >> sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient >> India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first >> psychic pioneers of consciousness. >> In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who >> cognized the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter >> Shakti. >> >> According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete >> description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of >> Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal >> vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first >> bija mantras. >> >> In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition >> from Vasistha and Parashara. >> >> So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: >> >> The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from >> Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence >> to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to >> Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda >> Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. >> >> Narayana >> Padma Bhava >> Vasishtha >> Shakti >> Parashara >> Badarayana >> Shudadeva >> Gaudapapda >> Govinda >> Shankara >> Trotaka >> Brahmanand >> Shantanand >> Vishnudevananda >> Vasudevananda >> > >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Our Spiritual Tradition
Our Spiritual Tradition in SanskritNarayanam Padmabhavam Vasistham Shaktim cha Tatputra Parasharam cha Vyasam Shukam Gaudapadam Mahantam Govindayogindram Athasya Shishyam Srisankaracharyam Athasya Padmapadam cha Hastamalakam cha Shishyam tam Trotakam Varttikaram anyan Asmad gurn Santatam anato smi shrutismritipuranam Alayam Karunalayam Namami Bhagavatapadam Shankaram Lokasankaram Shankaram Shankacharyam Keshavam Badarayanam Sutrabhashyakritau vande Bhagavantau punah punah Yadvarre Nikhilanimpaparishat Siddhim Vidhatte 'Nisham Shrimatshrilasitam Jagadgurupadam Natvatmatriptim Gatah Lokagyanpayodapatnadhuram Shrisankaram Sharmadam Bramahanandasaraswatim Guruvarum Dhyayami Jyotirmayam Transliterated from the Sanskrit by Borje Mullquist nârâyanaM padmabhavaM vashiSThaM shaktim ca tatputra parasharam ca vyâsaM shukam gauDapadaM mahântaM govinda yogîndra mathâsya shiSyam | shrî shankarâcâryamathâsya padmapâdan ca hastâmalakan ca shiSyam taM troTakam vârtikakâram anyânasmad gurûn santatamânato 'smi || shruti-smRti-purâNânam âlayam karuNâlayam | namâmi bhagavat-pâdam shankaraM lokashankaram || shankaraM shankarâcâryaM keshvaM bâdarâyaNam | sûtra-bhâSya-kRtau vande bhagavantau punaH punaH || yad-dvâre nikhilâ nilimpa-pariSad siddhiM vidhatte 'nisham shrîmat-shrî-lasitaM jagadgurupadaM natvâtmatRptiM gatâH | lokâjñâna payoDa-pâTân-dhuraM shrî shankaram sharmadaM brahmânanda sarasvatîm guruvaraM dhyâyâmi jyotirmayam || On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 9:39 PM, Richard Williams wrote: > Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first > meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of > sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient > India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first > psychic pioneers of consciousness. > In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who cognized > the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter Shakti. > > According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete > description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of > Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal > vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first > bija mantras. > > In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition > from Vasistha and Parashara. > > So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: > > The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from > Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence > to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to > Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda > Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. > > Narayana > Padma Bhava > Vasishtha > Shakti > Parashara > Badarayana > Shudadeva > Gaudapapda > Govinda > Shankara > Trotaka > Brahmanand > Shantanand > Vishnudevananda > Vasudevananda >
Re: [FairfieldLife] RE: Our Spiritual Tradition
My contention is that Hindu 'Tantrism' probably originated during the Gupta period (280 to 550 CE), or later, in India. The Tantras are associated with 'medieval India,' having been written between 500 and 1800. Tantrism is not Vedic (1200 to 1500 BCE) or pre-Vedic, and did not originate during the Iron Age. None of the Tantras seem to be pre-Vedic, and in fact, are antagonistic to the Hindu Vedas. Kashmir Shaivism, which predates Hindu Tantrism, arose during the eighth or ninth century CE. In contrast, the Buddhist Tantric versions of the 'Prajnaparamita' date from around 500 CE, AFTER the Sutra Period in India. So, the Buddhist Tantras came first, then Kashmere Tantras, and then Hindu Tantras, as far as I can tell. According to Bhattacharyya: "It is to be noticed that although later Tantric writers wanted to base their doctrines on the Vedas, the orthodox followers of the Vedic tradition invariably referred to Tantra in a spirit of denunciation, stressing its anti-Vedic character." - N.N. Bhattacharyya On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 11:23 PM, wrote: > ** > > > Have you heard of the suggestion of some mantra meditation teachers that > for a newbie the most beneficial idea is to do the the following: find a > quiet space where you won't be disturbed; sit down and close your eyes; > gently allow your thoughts to arise and fall without trying to control the > flow. Eventually a sound will emerge. A sound that becomes dominant because > it charms you and naturally draws your attention. If that gentle pulse > establishes itself - let's say the sound "om" - then that should be your > personal mantra. That's what you should use whenever you meditate. > > If you ponder this line of thinking, isn't it suggesting that this is what > the original rishis did, way back when. Of course, when those rishis found > and then followed their own favourite, personal sound - mantra - they > suggested that very same mantra to any curious students as a suitable > syllable. That's how the list of mantras was eventually established as > venerable tradition. > > So, what I'm wondering: could it be good advice to give to would-be > meditators today? Do just what those dim and distant pioneers did and find > out for yourself your own personal syllable as thrown up by your > subconscious. > > > Yes, it's not for me. As an incurable romantic, I quite enjoy using a > mantra that has pedigree - if it does the job and, as a bonus, conjures up > images of naked sadhus on faraway mountain sides. But maybe the claim that > one would be better off finding a unique syllable that is your very own key > to higher states of consciousness has some merit. There are many people > who learned TM and then (without telling anyone) replaced their > TMO-approved mantra with something they felt was more congenial. > > > ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > wrote: > > Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first > meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of > sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient > India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first > psychic pioneers of consciousness. > In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who cognized > the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter Shakti. > > According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete > description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of > Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal > vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first > bija mantras. > > In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition > from Vasistha and Parashara. > > So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: > > The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from > Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence > to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to > Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda > Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. > > Narayana > Padma Bhava > Vasishtha > Shakti > Parashara > Badarayana > Shudadeva > Gaudapapda > Govinda > Shankara > Trotaka > Brahmanand > Shantanand > Vishnudevananda > Vasudevananda > > >
Re: [FairfieldLife] RE: Our Spiritual Tradition
The symbol for 'OM' does not occur in the Rig Veda (circa 1500 BCE). OM isn't mentioned in the Rig because there was no written text back then (archaic Sanskrit) - the symbol for OM was added much later. It is found mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, (udgitha), which was obviously composed after the historical Buddha's passing. OM is alluded to in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra (pranava) (circa 200 BCE), and in the Bhagavad Gita (circa 100 CE). The Gita appeared later than the great movement represented by the early Upanishads. So, if OM had been known before 400 BCE, it would have been mentioned by the Buddha, Shakya the Muni. The symbol OM isn't really a bija mantra at all; bijas didn't come into use until the age of the tantrics (circa 100 CE). If you inspect the archaic Sankrit of the Rig Veda, you will not find the OM symbol. OM was addded to the text during the time of their arrangement by Pannini. For example, you won't find the bija mantra 'phat' in the Rig Veda either. So, how did we get the Pranava 'OM'? It's just the symbol of the Transcendent, an expression that was added after the age of Tantrism, after the invention of writing. OM is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energizes whatever we say after it. OM is NOT a tantric bija mantra. Obviously, there were no esoteric symbols in Sanskrit before writing! The first instance of writing in India occurs on the Sarnath Pillar erected by Asoka (circa 200 BCE). There is no OM symbol in the Saraswati Civilzation (circa 2400 BCE). OM is a verbal expression, not part of the original Gayatri Mantra. OM is not a primordial symbol - it is an invention of tantrics that was added later. OM is merely a salutation, just like 'Amen" is used in Hebrew. For example, there's no Amen expression in the Old Testament - it is added when the passage is recited, as an affirmation. On Sun, Oct 13, 2013 at 11:05 AM, Richard Williams wrote: > Everyone knows that the Adi Shankaracharya was an exponent of the Kevala > Advaita philosophy; Ramanuja of the Visishtadvaita; Madhvacharya of the > Dvaita; Vallabhacharya of the Suddhadvaita; and Nimbarkacharya of the > Dvaitadvaita. Be that as it may, it might be useful if we review the terms > sampradaya and parampara. Sometimes people get confused between the terms > 'parampara' and 'sampradaya'. > > The first term would be applied to SBS who was in an unbroken line of > succession from the Adi Shankaracharaya through Swami Krishnanda Saraswati. > However, this term, 'parampara', wouldn't be applied to MMY, since he was > not in the direct line of succession in the Shankaracharya tradition - MMY > was of the illustrious line of Yogis.. > > The term 'sampradaya' would be more accurate - that terms refers to the > 'tradition' to which MMY adheres or identifies with. > > So, I'd say that MMY would more correctly be identified with the Mantra > Yoga tradition. Anyone can become a teacher in any tradition they choose. > Although MMY may not have been a 'guru' in the 'parampara' of > Shankaracharaya, he was a teacher in the Mantra Yoga tradition. > > "The Sanskrit word literally means an uninterrupted series or > succession..." > > Parampara: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parampara > > "...by receiving an initiation (diksha) into a parampara of a living guru, > one belongs to its proper sampradaya." > > Sampradaya: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampradaya > > > On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 11:23 PM, wrote: > >> ** >> >> >> Have you heard of the suggestion of some mantra meditation teachers that >> for a newbie the most beneficial idea is to do the the following: find a >> quiet space where you won't be disturbed; sit down and close your eyes; >> gently allow your thoughts to arise and fall without trying to control the >> flow. Eventually a sound will emerge. A sound that becomes dominant because >> it charms you and naturally draws your attention. If that gentle pulse >> establishes itself - let's say the sound "om" - then that should be your >> personal mantra. That's what you should use whenever you meditate. >> >> If you ponder this line of thinking, isn't it suggesting that this is >> what the original rishis did, way back when. Of course, when those rishis >> found and then followed their own favourite, personal sound - mantra - they >> suggested that very same mantra to any curious students as a suitable >> syllable. That's how the list of mantras was eventually established as >> venerable tradition. >> >> So, what I'm wondering: could it be good advice to give to would-be >> meditators today? Do just what those dim and distant pioneers did and find >> out for yourself your own personal syllable as thrown up by your >> subconscious. >> >> >> Yes, it's not for me. As an incurable romantic, I quite enjoy using a >> mantra that has pedigree - if it does the job and, as a bonus, conjures up >> images of naked sadhus on faraway mountain sides. But maybe the claim that >> one would be better off finding a unique
Re: [FairfieldLife] RE: Our Spiritual Tradition
Everyone knows that the Adi Shankaracharya was an exponent of the Kevala Advaita philosophy; Ramanuja of the Visishtadvaita; Madhvacharya of the Dvaita; Vallabhacharya of the Suddhadvaita; and Nimbarkacharya of the Dvaitadvaita. Be that as it may, it might be useful if we review the terms sampradaya and parampara. Sometimes people get confused between the terms 'parampara' and 'sampradaya'. The first term would be applied to SBS who was in an unbroken line of succession from the Adi Shankaracharaya through Swami Krishnanda Saraswati. However, this term, 'parampara', wouldn't be applied to MMY, since he was not in the direct line of succession in the Shankaracharya tradition - MMY was of the illustrious line of Yogis.. The term 'sampradaya' would be more accurate - that terms refers to the 'tradition' to which MMY adheres or identifies with. So, I'd say that MMY would more correctly be identified with the Mantra Yoga tradition. Anyone can become a teacher in any tradition they choose. Although MMY may not have been a 'guru' in the 'parampara' of Shankaracharaya, he was a teacher in the Mantra Yoga tradition. "The Sanskrit word literally means an uninterrupted series or succession..." Parampara: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parampara "...by receiving an initiation (diksha) into a parampara of a living guru, one belongs to its proper sampradaya." Sampradaya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampradaya On Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 11:23 PM, wrote: > ** > > > Have you heard of the suggestion of some mantra meditation teachers that > for a newbie the most beneficial idea is to do the the following: find a > quiet space where you won't be disturbed; sit down and close your eyes; > gently allow your thoughts to arise and fall without trying to control the > flow. Eventually a sound will emerge. A sound that becomes dominant because > it charms you and naturally draws your attention. If that gentle pulse > establishes itself - let's say the sound "om" - then that should be your > personal mantra. That's what you should use whenever you meditate. > > If you ponder this line of thinking, isn't it suggesting that this is what > the original rishis did, way back when. Of course, when those rishis found > and then followed their own favourite, personal sound - mantra - they > suggested that very same mantra to any curious students as a suitable > syllable. That's how the list of mantras was eventually established as > venerable tradition. > > So, what I'm wondering: could it be good advice to give to would-be > meditators today? Do just what those dim and distant pioneers did and find > out for yourself your own personal syllable as thrown up by your > subconscious. > > > Yes, it's not for me. As an incurable romantic, I quite enjoy using a > mantra that has pedigree - if it does the job and, as a bonus, conjures up > images of naked sadhus on faraway mountain sides. But maybe the claim that > one would be better off finding a unique syllable that is your very own key > to higher states of consciousness has some merit. There are many people > who learned TM and then (without telling anyone) replaced their > TMO-approved mantra with something they felt was more congenial. > > > ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > wrote: > > Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first > meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of > sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient > India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first > psychic pioneers of consciousness. > In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who cognized > the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter Shakti. > > According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete > description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of > Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal > vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first > bija mantras. > > In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition > from Vasistha and Parashara. > > So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: > > The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from > Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence > to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to > Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda > Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. > > Narayana > Padma Bhava > Vasishtha > Shakti > Parashara > Badarayana > Shudadeva > Gaudapapda > Govinda > Shankara > Trotaka > Brahmanand > Shantanand > Vishnudevananda > Vasudevananda > > >
[FairfieldLife] RE: Our Spiritual Tradition
Have you heard of the suggestion of some mantra meditation teachers that for a newbie the most beneficial idea is to do the the following: find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed; sit down and close your eyes; gently allow your thoughts to arise and fall without trying to control the flow. Eventually a sound will emerge. A sound that becomes dominant because it charms you and naturally draws your attention. If that gentle pulse establishes itself - let's say the sound "om" - then that should be your personal mantra. That's what you should use whenever you meditate. If you ponder this line of thinking, isn't it suggesting that this is what the original rishis did, way back when. Of course, when those rishis found and then followed their own favourite, personal sound - mantra - they suggested that very same mantra to any curious students as a suitable syllable. That's how the list of mantras was eventually established as venerable tradition. So, what I'm wondering: could it be good advice to give to would-be meditators today? Do just what those dim and distant pioneers did and find out for yourself your own personal syllable as thrown up by your subconscious. Yes, it's not for me. As an incurable romantic, I quite enjoy using a mantra that has pedigree - if it does the job and, as a bonus, conjures up images of naked sadhus on faraway mountain sides. But maybe the claim that one would be better off finding a unique syllable that is your very own key to higher states of consciousness has some merit. There are many people who learned TM and then (without telling anyone) replaced their TMO-approved mantra with something they felt was more congenial. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote: Our Mantra Yoga tradition begins with the Lord Narayana, the first meditator, who thought the first thought and set in motion this science of sound vibration. The thought sounds or mantras were cognized in ancient India by the rishis, that is, the seers of the science of sound, the first psychic pioneers of consciousness. In the Mantra Yoga tradition the first yogi was Yajnavalkhya, who cognized the first bija mantra, and passed this teaching to his daughter Shakti. According to the Tantras, bija mantras are shorthand for a complete description of the universe in the mind of Sri Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, Learning and Knowledge. So, sounds, ergo language, was the primal vibration of Vac, that is, the Lord of human speech, who formed the first bija mantras. In a long line of illustrious masters comes this Mantra Yoga tradition from Vasistha and Parashara. So, lets review the TMer sampradaya: The TM teachers puja to SBS clearly states the desciplic succession from Shakti via the Jyotirlinga hence to Badarayana, to Gauda, to Govinda, hence to Shankara, founder of the Jyotirmatha, hence to Trotaka and on down to Brahmanand Saraswati and hence to Shantanand, hence down to Vasudevananda Saraswati, the current Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. Narayana Padma Bhava Vasishtha Shakti Parashara Badarayana Shudadeva Gaudapapda Govinda Shankara Trotaka Brahmanand Shantanand Vishnudevananda Vasudevananda
