I'm currently studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali rishi from an old Swamini in my ashram. Im also listening to Swami Rama of the Himalayas talk on the Sutras and really enjoying it. Lots of good stuff in there. Swami Rama's talks: https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BBD86952A2239E79
Ugh. I just found out Swami Rama abused his female followers and also that he had 2 wives and children, and he wouldnt allow the to publicly acknowledge their relationship with him. I feel really angry and betrayed.
Yeah... it was a real shock. But thats the risk with these yoga types - there's always the chance of a fall until they attain total enlightenment. And well before that they get all sorts of tricks like stopping your heart and altering your brainwaves... They confuse those powers with spiritual attainment and let their guard down.
The Patanjali yoga sutures are a stand alone book to read regardless of other peoples abuse of them. The Bhagavad gita is also a good text to study. Story of mans battle through life. The bible is a stand alone book to read regardless of other peoples abuse of them. Read and learn from all wisdom texts and discuss your understanding with others. How many people here know the first bird that Noah sent out after the flood? What did God leave as a sign of the Covenant that he would not destroy man by flood again? As a yogi I find the second answer nice, being keen on natural phenomena Highlight below to see if you were right. It was a Raven the Dove came later. Genesis 8:6 and the rainbow was the sign of the covenant Genesis 9:12.
Of course you're right! I have not given up on studying the Yoga Sutras. I am just not using his lectures. I decided to go back to the sanskrit commentaries and work from there.
Bhaskar, he is a human being, he has his strong points and weak points, and he is prone to make mistakes. We feel alot of anger and feelings of betrayal when we see that our religious leaders are not what they suggest they are, and although partly it could be because they claim to be "perfect", it could also be because we idolize them and put them on a pedestal where they are not allowed to make any mistakes. Really, would it be so bad to accept that one aspect of swami rama is inspiring while other aspect of him is downright disgusting? He is a human being after all, he is not infallible, so forgive him. Also, when you think about it, he didn't "fall" because he didn't "rise" in the first place...this affair he was having was probably going on for a while , and he probably gave alot of people alot of spiritual inspiration at one end, while this stuff was going on in the background. So technically when you were thinking he "rose" or was "rising" to a new spiritual height, it wasn't really happening...or maybe the rising and falling was happening at the same time, so they can cancel each other out , heh.
I don't expect perfection from my teachers. Perfection is not possible in vyavahara. But I do expect honesty. If Swami R had openly said he is married and has kids, it would only add to his greatness. If you claim to be a monk, be true to that. If you're fucking around, fine. But do that openly like Dongzar Khyentze Rimpoche and its fine. Its hiding and pretending and lying that is not acceptable in a spiritual teacher.
I am not a buddhist, I have no idea who this Dongzar Kyentze Rimpoche is, but this is interesting... if they can't stay true to their vows of celibacy and have to "break the rules" whether it is being done openly or not, why even have this impossible standard for themselves to follow in the first place. Also bhaskar, that Swami Rama is just a guy, thats all he is, he lies from time to time, thats the way it is. You could be a brilliant speaker or politician but you could be a moron when it comes to family life, or you could be a great husband or wife, but an idiot when it comes to actually making $$ , thats the way it is... unfortunately, no one is 100% honest all the time, especially when they think they are doing something wrong and are guilty or embarrassed about it, just look to yourself, you probably lied one time or the other (for one reason or the other) in the past week, if you were totally truthful then go back in time a little, a month maybe, or a few years or even a decade hahaha.
Not all schools of Tibetan Buddhism require celibacy from the Lamas. Many Lamas get married and have children. So DKR is not actually breaking rules and is one of the most respected lamas in his tradition. And I completely disagree when you say that everyone is dishonest. I refuse to subscribe to such a pessimistic world view.
Its not pessimistic, its realistic. Its in human nature to feel guilty when doing something that is forbidden (when measured by the society's standards or one's own) , even if it is as benign as stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, the child who steals it will try to deny it to himself or sometimes will deny it in front of adults, but when the guilt kicks in , he cries, looks for peace. When a swami like this one commits many of the "sins", its the same concept, where he goes and lies even to himself, he doesn't want to face the reality of it all, but then comes a time when all that builds up and bursts open, and there he is, accepting the facts and accepting the consequences of his actions. Its really nothing to do with anybody else, and everything to do with him, no need to feel bad about it, yes?
Human all too human.An essential part of being human is to be weak and imperfect. In your first post you said you are studying in your ashram. Have you started an ashram ? If so is it in India ?
