Theos-Talk Archives (November 2002 Message tt00215)

--- In theos-talk@y..., "netemara888" <netemara888@y...> wrote:
> But what about the 6 or 7 schools of yoga. Did they not cover all 
the 
> bases?

I am not sure I understand the question, but different schools were 
developed to meet the needs of different temperaments. In his book 
TANTRIC MYSTICISM IN TIBET Blofeld argued that the different schools 
are like different grades in the public school system. Mantra yoga, 
which is based on the simple repetition of a sound, is the 
most "elemebtary" level, whereas Tantric Tibetan schools, with their 
elaborate deity visualizations is akin to high school. and Zen is the 
PhD program. Blofeld's idea is that not everyone is ready for a PhD. 
There was a spoof on a shampoo commercial on TV a number of years ago 
in which some fellow made up to look like the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 
says "Maharishi say life is like a hairbrush. Different strokes for 
different folks." The commercial they were satirizing was itself a 
satire in which a guy looking like the Maharishi recoiled from a 
devotee's disgusting hair and recommended he use a brand of shampoo.

There is a very complex psychological theory to explain why there are 
different schools of yoga. The devotional schools are actually the 
most advanced according to this theory, but not everyone is 
temperamentally suited for devotion (I am not) and so we have Jnana 
Yoga, Karma Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, and so on.

there are not only many unanswered questions, 
> but many unaddressed problems inherent in a system such as this.

The system opens up to you over time and the unanswered questions are 
answered. In due course you come to realize the an entire lifetime 
is not enough to learn everything there is to know.

> Bhakti devotion is given to the pious masses to help assure 
humility. 
> So that they will not all rise up and declare "I am God."

Actually this idea that one must be humble and not identify 
with "God" arises with the building up of hierarchy. I had a Roman 
catholic tell me they are taught the pope is God, although not all of 
them buy into that. But in the first century they were taught that 
THEY were God. The first century idea was that fellow beings should 
be regarded as God and treated with due reverence. But this idea is 
also very empowering, because if your fellow man is God, then so are 
you, and if you are God, your limitations are all entirely self 
imposed.

Now if this 
> were to happen, then you would have chaos or Utopia would you not? 
> Well, it can be argued either way. You will have chaos or divine 
> order

If people regarded their fellow man as "God" as was taught centuries 
ago the result would be utopia and not chaos. Huna teacher Serge 
King still recommends this to his students. When he meets someone he 
says mentally: "Thou art God" to change his mental state.

, but certainly you would not have popes and masters who declare 
> that THEY are GIHF and YOU, my peon, are NOT.

That is the historical reason this idea was anathematized.