Regarding which Guru...

Lately, I've been looking at some books by Swami Kriyananda on Amazon.com.  Several times I have come across individuals who evidently have made it their life's purpose to slander or discredit Kriyananda in their reviews (or in comments to positive reviews.)  Their comments are not about the books in question, but point to slander websites or state incorrect information about Kriyananda and Ananda.

The individuals I'm referring to, represent SRF (as they state in their posts), as either students of SRF or otherwise.  I realize delusion and mistakes of individuals do not represent the whole of an organization...So I can't say "SRF wrote that" but rather, people who are attached to SRF wrote that.

One individual reports that Kriyananda set himself up as the new Guru, after Yogananda passed.  To clarify this, I was reading in Swami Kriyananda's book on Discipleship quite the opposite.  Swami Kriyananda put in writing his point that he asks people to see him only as a channel for Yogananda - not as the substitute for Yogananda. 

I don't normally belabor points like this... and I ended up replying to these negative comments on Amazon.  I really shouldn't get drawn into it.  That was my mistake.  But for those who are earnestly seeking, I offer the quote below from Swami Kriyananda's book on Discipleship, which explains clearly how he feels about his relationship - not as a Guru - but as a channel for the Guru (Yogananda.)

Several people have told me, or have written to say, that, as I feel toward Master, so they
feel toward me. I had a dream last night which may help to clarify that thought. I won’t
relate the dream itself, as it was personal, but I took it as a warning from Master to pass
on to all of you.

The essential difference between attunement with Master and attunement with me is that
Master lives eternally in cosmic consciousness, whereas I am still struggling to reach that
state. What he channels to us is the Infinite Lord Himself. What I am able to channel to
you is whatever I have succeeded so far in experiencing within myself of Master’s
consciousness. That I feel his bliss is a cause of deep gratitude for myself. But I feel it is
very important for everyone to realize that whatever I have to give anyone is not, and
must never become, personal. To the extent that anyone takes it as such it can be binding
not only for that person, but also, potentially, for me.

Therefore I plead with you—for my own sake quite as much as for yours: “See me only
as a channel for our Guru.” I try my best to serve you in that capacity, and am grateful if,
to any extent, I succeed in that effort. If, however, I seem to be for some of you—if only
by default!—the best instrument you’ve found during your search, please always
remember for what, and for whom, this instrument lives. I have no other desire than to
bring you closer to God by bringing you into deeper spiritual attunement with my Guru.
He is our actual, ever-living channel to God.

When you no longer have fear...

Tonight I was listening to a lecture from a online class at Ananda's Online. This particular class was on Raja Yoga. I was listening to a lecture on Class 2. It was by Swami Kriyananda and it was titled: "Pathways to God, Heart, Head and Hands."

He says something really great... he says:

When one looks at the inner self trying, not at the outer self threatening... When you no longer have fear in your own heart you no longer feel a sense of judgement or anger against other people because you don't care how they treat you. If they want to hit you, threaten you, talk about you - it doesn't matter... it's all God

Theme for July (From Ananda Online)

This month of July the theme at Ananda is Self Control. Below is an excerpt from this theme (taken from Affirmations of Self Healing, by Swami Kriyananda.)

Self-Control
If a lake is made to feed into too many streams, it will soon become drained.
Similarly, if a person’s heart energies are fed into countless streamlets of
desires, he becomes drained, eventually, of even the power to feel. Sated
with pleasure, he grows dry, blasé, and indifferent to even the greatest
wonders.

The sensualist imagines that by giving up his pleasures he would renounce
happiness. But in fact, the more one restrains his senses and learns to live in
the peace of the inner Self, the more he finds himself glowing with
happiness, good health, and a radiant sense of freedom and well-being.

Affirmation
I am strong in myself. I am complete in my Self. The joy and perfection of
the universe await discovery within my inner being!

Prayer
I crave nothing that the world can give me, Lord. O Infinite Perfection, make
me one with Thee!

From Swami Kriyananda’s Affirmations for Self-Healing
Crystal Clarity Publishers

In looking at the affirmation, I'm reminded of what Eckhart Tolle often speaks about - feeling the inner energy within the body.

Essential Bhagavad Gita 3:34 (Swami Kriyananda)

Quoting from Chapter 15 of this text by Swami Kriyananda, there's a lot of good wisdom here - where he gives commentary on verse 3:34 -

(3:34) Attraction and repulsion (regarding) sense objects belong to the natural ebb and flow of duality. Beware equally of them both, for they are man's greatest enemies!

Attraction and repulsion are extreme forms of likes and dislikes. To like anything excessively is as great an error, virtually by definition, as to dislike its opposite. The realization of God depends on neutralizing all one's reactions, leveling out their peaks and their valleys, and seeing the one, changeless Spirit at the heart of everything.

The secret is not to cease from enjoying anything -- a "solution" which leads only to apathy, and consequently, to a deadened awareness. The secret, rather, is to center every enjoyment in the heart: to feel that its cause lies there, in your reactions; and then to draw that energy consciously upward in the spine, from the heart to the brain.

Ordinary likes and dislikes are not man's enemies, as such. Rather, they are like troublesome neighbors. Extreme forms of these emotions, however -- any strong attraction or violent repulsion -- can plunge one into violent storms of emotion that toss him helplessly about on great waves of delusion. Never let yourself become infatuated (infatuation is extreme attraction) with anything or anyone. Never let yourself hate anything or anyone. Develop an attitude, rather, of accepting the cosmic dream as it is, even when it becomes a nightmare! Your only hope is to escape to a higher level of consciousness.

Some people do have ugly traits. Don't waste energy in reacting to them, neither by dislike nor by abhorrence. Don't welcome them into your "galaxy" of interests. Move through life, rather, like a swan off whose back the rain flows lightly, never touching its body.

Protect your heart's feelings from the excitement of all extreme reactions. Surround those feelings with emanations of peace and good will. Relax in the heart. Relax also outward from the heart, to the shoulders. Then direct the heart's energy upward through the spine to the brain. When there are people around you, for instance, shouting angrily -- and especially when they shout at you personally -- relax inwardly; be centered in the Self; smile in your heart, and remind yourself, "I love God alone!"

Expanding or Contracting desire

I was listening to Swami Kriyananda tonight. He was talking about desire. He made an interesting point that got me thinking. He said that a desire to do something that has a root motivator of expanding ourselves (meaning to share or uplift others) then it's a good thing. But when we have desires to benefit ourselves, our ego, then it's not a positive thing.

The example he gave was wanting more money to share with others vs. wanting more money to be a selfish hoarder of possessions and wealth.

After listening to this I thought about my artwork. I've been so into my artwork. I've used tools to do this work, but for what reason? to share with others? To uplift others? No. My deep root motivation was in the attention I can get from others. That's ego. My desire was wrong.

I need to transfer my art to something that is a shareable aspect. Something that gives back to others.

All my desires should be towards that end - uplifting others.

Just listened to Swami Kriyananda

I was tuning into the last broadcast of Swami Kriyananda from Ananda Village in Nevada City - via www.anandaonlineclasses.org

Tonight was his last live lecture before he travels overseas and returns back next year.

He seems like a very kind and sweet person. He also has a great wisdom.

One thing he talked about was the purity of a belief. Any belief changes over time. He gave examples of Christianity - where the beliefs have changed and not been followed over the years. He warned that this could happen to anyone or any belief system.

When I was in my Tibetan Buddhist group: www.aci-la.org many years ago... Lama Marut said the same thing. That over time these groups loose the original way, and give to a more lax way.

But on the other hand, without change, many things would be lost. For example, at one time, society and religion condemned lifestlyes and races. As society gained more acceptance, these were brought into the social and religious aspects of society.

So i'm not convinced that change in general is bad for a group. I also see his point that he doesn't want the core belief to change over time and loose it's potency.