Satyananda School of Yoga- Its background and history

[Guest guest]

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

[Guest guest]

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.