Hi , Meditation, Contemplation, Karma, Devotion, Non-Duality, Zen, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and the Pathway of Letting Go… Jesus, Krishna, Buddha, Lao-Tsu Yogananda, Hawkins and a host of teachers from Eckart Tolle to Neal Donald Walsh have all contributed to my quest for enlightenment! In the west we are conditioned to think that the benefit of spiritual progress is personal gain, either in happiness, money, relationships or some other material tangible. In the East, it is thought that all these things are obstacles to attaining the highest levels of consciousness and many spiritual aspirants take vows of poverty and chastity. Spiritual devotees in the West often purchase expensive courses on manifesting, abundance, love and relationships. They travel great distances, leave jobs, relationships, and fall into cults in the pursuit of a better life. In the East, often times the material conditions of life are so harsh its easier to renounce them in favour of life that eschews material possessions. In 1896, a Western Minded Mystic from Bengal named Sri Yukteswar wrote a book called the Holy Science after attending the Kumbha Mela and being influence by a divine teacher. The book is unique in that it offers a comparative discourse on the commonality of Christianity as taught by Jesus, and Hinduism as taught by Krishna. The book explains where we are in the universe, what the goal of life is, the rising and descending cycles of consciousness, as well as the procedure to be come enlightened in both Sanskrit and English. It also offers suggestions of the 3 fold nature of the soul, causal, astral, and physical and how through right action, meditation and study one could directly perceive all of these subtleties and rejoin ones divine omnipresent nature. Sri Yukteswar was born into a wealthy family, managed his business affairs, study western physiology, was fluent in many languages, and did not rely on donations of followers to support his ashram. His teachings were free but his discipline was draconian and few could stand the soul revealing scalpel of his Wisdom. Yukteswar could have been a general, a political leader, or a world class sports coach. He was a living example of both East and West principles. In 1920 he sent his chief disciple Paramahansa Yogananda to live in the west that he might begin the exchange of Eastern Spirituality and Western Material Practicality. Yogananda was the first Yogi to live in the west and is considered the father of the entire Yoga movement in the Western World. His book Autobiography of a Yogi is considered one of the 100 greatest spiritual books of all time and provides one of the best insights into how the mysteries of the East can be applied in day to life in the material world. Its been almost 20 years since I was first exposed to the concepts presented by Yogananda and his teacher Sri Yukteswar and they have helped me transcend any resentment around organized religion left over from my misguided youth and exposure to Canadian Baptist Christianity. He taught me more about Christianity than my preacher and gave me a practice that allows me to develop my own capacities to perceive the truth and right action in day to day life. This practice has made my life richer beyond anything I have acquired in life and has helped me understand the underlying truth behind all true religions. I have learned that both Eastern and Western spiritual practices are best balanced by right profession, and right action in the world. One need not give up possession, merely not be possessed by them or the lack of them. Each day, I am renewed with the ancient wisdom of the East and grateful for the technological developments of the West that allow me to experience more freedom to practice meditation and contemplation. My athletic career has given me a platform and and a physical vitality which I am grateful. My parents provided a supporting environment that assisted in cultivating a love for knowledge and the pursuit of my dreams under all circumstances regardless of peoples perception. My spiritual teachers have opened up an inner universe that supports my physical and mental supports and gives me the courage and peace of mind to push my limits both personally and professionally. Bottom line - I cannot image what life would be like without a spiritual practice to put all of lifes challenges and successes in perspective. If your struggling in life, If your unhappy for any reason, If you lack the physical discipline, financial wherewithal or spiritual peace of mind I would invite you to expose yourself to a variety of practices until one resonates with you. The riches of your internal world will serve you throughout your life whether your a popper or a princess. Namaste! Wade P.S. My questions is what practice do you follow if any and what have you realized from it? Please share your thoughts and feelings on this topic.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:36:43 +0000
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