RE. Yoga

[Guest guest]

vpcnk draws a difficult dichotomy between "spiritual practice" and

"metaphysics." I find the expression "spiritual practice," which naturally

implies "spiritual growth," to be simultaneously loaded and empty. Nevertheless,

with regards to the Buddhist cult, I make no bones about it: "Buddha-ism"

represents the most insidious intellectual current of our time. I am not at all

attempting to be stylistically flippant or oblique. However, what exactly is

meant by "spiritual practice"? We must be very clear on this before setting out,

because it is all overloaded with traditional presumption.

 

 

 

The presumptions of yoga are three: 1) man experiences a nonspecific

dissatisfaction, 2) he wants to put an end to it, and 3) there are means to this

end. I believe, however, or at least to the extent that one could possibly allow

oneself – if only for the nonce – to enter traditional dharshanic discourse,

that we are probably be overlooking the most vital feature; namely, guru. Most

vitally, however, guru represents a highly heretical non-tradition. This

naturally contravenes all established tradition. Yet, guru is the very

embodiment of yoga, in fact, so much so that with "guru," yoga itself becomes

superfluous.

 

______

 

 

 

Troy Dean Harris

 

 

 

 

 

New DSL Internet Access from SBC &

 

 

[Guest guest]

>"vpcnk" also draws a difficult dichotomy between "spiritual

>practice" and "metaphysics." But what exactly is meant by "spiritual

>practice"?

 

In Patanjala yoga the worldview based on infinite Purushas and

Praakriti could be understood as metaphysics.

 

Even the teaching of chitta vritti nirodah or the cessation of mental

modifications, and the reason why it is important in effecting

liberation - as the Purusha could be "reflected" in the

straightened/pure mind - could be accomodated under "philosophy".

 

But the method to effect chitta vritti nirodah - using mind control,

bhakti etc - could be understood as the path.

[Guest guest]

Starting again from another angle...actually, the problem is not the

phrase "spiritual practice" as much as the single term "spiritual."

In addition, this is much more complex than drawing simple

dichotomies. When I spoke before of the "three presumptions of yoga,"

this applied to all schools, both orthodox and heterodox, Bauddha to

be sure. Yet, even these three presume a forth. But, alas, we return

to simplistic dichotomies.

 

Speaking metaphorically, the goal of all religions is to reach the

summit of a glorious mountain. Therefore, as a formal "classical"

school, Yoga is but one path among many other schools.

Viewed 'generically,' however, yoga reserves no sectarian

affiliations and cannot be misconstrued as a religion-in-itself

(though possibly the science of religion itself). Generically, yoga

is a compendium of conceptions, practices and techniques that have

long been adopted, adapted, tinkered with, buffed, and applied by all

religions and all of their ascetic regimes and offshoots. Thus

speaking more broadly, the Vedic-derived "yoga" pertains to any form

of asceticism and/or meditative technique; this is not preclusive of

prayer. Under such a sentiment, then, yoga engenders an all-embracing

latitudinarian spirit particularly concerning the highest aspirations

of humanity. Though differing greatly, its numerous derivatives and

vernacular expressions would appear to approach the self-same goal.

One is reminded of the oft' quoted verse of Arabi,

 

O Marvel! a garden amidst the flames.

My heart has become capable of every form:

it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,

and a temple for idols and the pilgrim's Kaa'ba,

and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran.

I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love's camels take,

that is my religion and my faith.

 

In light of such a "yogic view" on the collective spiritual dimension

of man, one comes to embrace the unitary notion that all religions

are essentially the same. One appreciates the fact that one is not

alone in ones need to surmount life's non-specific strain of

discontentment - such nostalgia being, plainly, a universal attribute.

 

Still, what exactly does "spiritual" mean? Does the term have any

place in intelligent discussion? We need to be clear on this before

getting carried.

________

 

Troy Dean Harris