Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 Namaste Namasivam and all, my name is Haripriya, I mostly read the contributions in this group. I have not written one myself till now. However I want to share the following in connection to the theme you have expressed: My family calls me Deepa and Haripriya is the name that was given to me in Sivananda Yoga. So I the issue of name giving is not new to me. I feel that in various life situations we have different names. Like in an office we will be addressed differently than by our beloved partner, Mother, Sister. Or in various other fields like professions we may again have certain other names that refer to a certain role that we play in that certain situation. With time the names can also change, if we have new friends or if we move to an other place, where an other languages is spoken etc. All these name have something to do with the aspect of life that we lead in a certain context. The name given to us by our parents is very unique, but the spiritual name that our Guru gives us is also very meaningful: When we enter a spiritual life or have a Master then this relationship is also as special as that which we share with our parents. The name that we may be given has a meaning, that indicates a certain change in life style. But it is also a quality for us to explore, for all these names have a beautiful meaning. It is a part of our Sadhana-practice to understand its meaning and to slowly but surely embody the unique quality which it expresses. That is also a form of Yoga practice and a high form of spirituality. So giving a name when initiated by a Guru is an act of boundless mercy of the Guru or God. When we receive and accept it we express our faith and devotion. These are qualities that we need to cultivate in order to advance in our spiritual evolution. Therefore I see nothing wrong in being given a new name. It is a tool and a gift that guides us on our path to spiritual perfection. Hari Om Tat Sat, Haripriya - Deepa Malavalli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 8, 2004 Report Share Posted November 8, 2004 First of all, when one is given a new name, that has nothing to do with the name one is given by one's parents. It is by no means contradictory nor antagonistic. I don't know why you see it that way. The significance of a name is that great and unfathomable like the significance and the mystery of a mantra. A name is also a sound, it the mantra with which people call us everyday numerous times. According to the universal law of the power of word, the power of sound and the power of the mind, you can imagine how greately words influence us. Words have a meaning and a sound, and both of them affect our deepest nature in ways we might not be aware of. A spiritual name is chosen by the guru and just like the personal mantra, it is related to the inner nature of the disciple. It depicts qualities that are in there in the soul but need to be expressed and develope further through our sadhana. Isn't it beautiful to be called Satyananda, the supreme bliss of truth! Such a name would be given only to a higher soul and it would uplift the person having it. Names are not just to remind us of our parents, actually very little do our parents have to do with our name or with our life. They help us as much as they can and then they let go of us, as we must let go of them eventually. This is the real greatness of parents. Their selfless love. Something which not always happens unfortunately, as we see many parents manipulating or misusing their children in various ways and making their lives a torture even in their adult years. Parents are not Gods. We might believe this when we are kids but in the teenage days we start to realize in dissapointment that parents are not Gods. They are human, with human weaknesses. Just think, in our numerous lives on this earth, how many parents have we had? And how many Gurus? A Guru is our spiritual father/mother that gives birth to our true spiritual nature. A Guru gives birth to our immortal soul and fills it with light. Whereas our parents give birth only to our physical body. A body that is subject to time and change. So who deserves more respect? Alexander the Great said once: "To my parents I owe my life, to my teacher though, I owe the good quality of my life". And this was refering to Aristoteles, a teacher of philosophy. I am not saying here that one should not respect and love one's parents. And the question of comparing these to the Guru never really arises, since these have a totally different function and purpose in life. But since you refered to this subject, I had to make the comparison. , nama siva <nama_sivam> wrote: > > what ever may be the reason I hate why the religious > and the socalled spiritual people change their names > in to sivananda/nityananda/premanandaa/etc. > It shows their hidden desire which are openly exposed. > Generally names given by their creators(parents) > Changing names is a crime. > If they are in their names even common people > can identify their originality. > That is why i think these people hide themselves > in the namalogy custody. Give respect ur parents.They > are the real gods. > namasivayam > > > --- Angie <oiokasti@h...> wrote: > > > > > Hello Uma, > > > > I would love to share with you more about the > > satyananda school of > > yoga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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