Take Back Yoga

The maya of thought, time, and place

Thought can be a tool, but thought is also a compulsion. In a very real sense, thoughts are foreign impositions and burdensome memories.

The observer and the observed are not identical. If I drop a glass and it falls to the floor, breaking into pieces, do my eyes which perceive it breaking also break?

Thought tricks us into perceiving time. In actuality, we are eternal within infinity. Thoughts attach us to all manners of people, places and things.

When we get into the habit of observing our thoughts and seeing them as just an aspect of our own illusions about ourselves and this world of maya, we begin to tap into consciousness, which is the source of thought, ego, intellect...as well as truth, insight, divinity, and enlightenment.

Our thoughts tend to be controlled, consciously or otherwise by the 5 elements and their tanmatras. These are perceived with our 5 senses. The senses and sense organs are instruments of the brain.

The brain is an instrument of the mind. The mind is an instrument of the ego. The ego is an instrument of buddhi or higher intellect and clarity. Buddhi is an instrument of chitta or conditional consciousness. Chitta is an instrument of chit or unconditional consciousness. Unconditional consciousness is an instrument of the apex of pure consciousness and pure being we call Purusha.

"The observer is different from the observed. The subject is not an object. The characteristics of the seer are different from those of the seen. The eye is not blemished by the imperfections of the objects it perceives.

The consciousness that observes time is not itself of time. To perceive the transient, consciousness must be eternal. We are always in the eternal. Thought creates the idea of our being in time, but awareness is beyond all change and fluctuation. The real present is of the eternal; it is not the constantly changing moments that we experience through the windows of the mind.

It is not difficult to step out of time and find the eternal. Whenever we cease to identify ourselves with external objects, our awareness naturally returns to its eternal equipoise. We continually experience things as beginning and ending. This shows that our consciousness itself does not begin or end.

Yet instead of opening up to this wisdom of eternity, we try to find something lasting in external objects, which only breeds sorrow. To find the eternal we need only give up our seeking in the realm of time." ~ Vamadeva ji (Dr. David Frawley)

There are a lot of good things about ISKCON, but it also can be like Hindu Christianity.
This 'My way is the only way' mentality, is simply ego-based. It comes from ego, to feed the ego. It's not about religion or philosophy. It's about psychology and dogma. It brings Dharma down to the level of monotheism. It robs Hinduism of its beautiful diversity.
This 'My belief trumps your experience' and this 'You're deity is but a demigod' attitude, is nonsensical. The actual Hindu Dharma places importance and emphasis on inner knowledge of Self over blind faith, for a reason. The vidya (one who sees) is not so often one who simply believes, but one who discovers.
The believer or person of faith constantly preaches his/her book-knowledge to others, because he/she feels the need to do so. It's actually not just an attempt to convince others. It's an attempt to convince themselves. Such actions are not sattvic, nor are they a path of ahimsa. They actually come from a lack of faith, as one with true faith is one in union with the love of Bhagavan, and therefore has no need to feel accepted or validated.
Bhakti is great, but admit it. It's the easy way out, and it can easily become convoluted, while it robs the believer of the ability to think for him/herself. It can easily turn one into a bigot, a bully, a fanatic and a fascist.
Bhakti can be an important ingredient in the recipe. It can even stand on its own, as long as it doesn't come along with a lack of ved (knowledge), buddhi (intelligence), and viveka (discernment/insight). Actually, it can stand on its own even without such strengths, as long as the devotee and his/her love is sattvic (pure/true). That however, can be a rarity.
Hinduism is all about free choice and free thinking. Karma itself, is a doctrine of radical freedom of choice, thought, and action. Still, many choose to ignore this (willfully or otherwise), because such ignorance comes along with an illusion of superiority and the delusion of righteousness.
It's peculiar that the bhakta is supposed to be all about 'God', but focuses mostly on the self, while the advaitin is supposed to be all about the Self, but ends up relying on Bhagavan kripa (God's grace). This shows that both work, as long as we don't get in our own way and focus on our individual dharma, rather than on that of others.
Just my 2 cents for the day. Now bring on the fruit loops.

Question posed: Is Hinduism right and all religions wrong?

I would have to agree, but that is my own personal opinion based on my experience, practice, and studies of Hinduism and other religions. I would certainly not go telling a person who follows another religion this unless it was a specific topic of discussion where both parties had agreed to hold such a discourse.

When we claim out of pride alone that one religion is right and all others are wrong, we do a disservice to both or all religions. Then we must define what is right and wrong. As soon as we start doing that, we lower ourselves to the levels of dogmatists.

We have cosmic and personal ahamkara (ego) and svadharma (individual duties). Ahamkara is a necessary knot in consciousness which allows for individuality and svadharma allows us (not just Hindus) to think, speak, and act in a manner which serves our obligations to ourselves, our family, society, and god as independent beings. So in a very real sense, each Hindu has his/her own religion.

It may be when we get into this black & white state of thought, when we make dharma into mere religion, when the historical and philosophical fact is that Hindu Dharma stresses the importance of experience and inner knowledge over any outer display of belief. It is often then, when religiosity and hive-mind mentalities creep in.

Ram Dass shared a little parable. He said, one day God and Satan were strolling along a beach and saw something shining in the distance. Approaching it God said, `Ah, truth` and Satan said, `Give it to me. I will organize it for you.`

I do not consider Sanatana Dharma and Hindu-ism to be identical. Sanatana Dharma is eternal, universal, and unfathomable. It is the cosmic ideal. It may take 100k lifetimes to learn and practice all of Hinduism. As vast, plural, inclusive, and diverse as it is, it still has boundaries. It is not meant to be an end in itself, as one's path to moksha and moksha itself are two different things.

Hinduism is religion, lifestyle, science, metaphysics, culture, philosophy, and technique. It is something one can identify with, join, or leave. Sanatana Dharma is the infinite ideal and the natural way we are all born into the world, prior to being exposed to artifice and various ideologies. Including Hindu ideologies which are often misunderstood by Hindu and non-Hindu alike.

I often see on Facebook someone who was Christian or atheist had a vision of Kali or a dream about Ganesh, so they want to become Hindu. Right off, they want to start chanting Kali mantras and perform pujas for her, because that is what Hindus do, right?

Such an individual was already Sanatani by natural birthright. We all were born in that, and we leave in that. Now she wants to be a Hindu Sanatani in the world. What seems to often happen is, this person becomes a performative Hindu doing ritual for her own sake and playing with fire. When it does not pay off, she is back to being an atheist three months later or back in church.

She left Hinduism as quickly as she joined, but is she still a Sanatani? Of course, she is. She is still an infinite soul. Perhaps her experience will help her to remember someday. That the body-mind complex and religion are like waves in the autonomous requisite or all-sufficing ocean beyond time and space.

Dharma is as dharma does.

Righteous ideas, intentions, and actions will ultimately have like results but often, not before they become twisted around in the whirlwinds of maya and the samskaras of those who will pull you down quicker than you can pull them upwards.

The state of the true yogi is steeped in a level of honesty not well known to the world`s majority. Such nobility becomes a siddhi. Such a yogi is so truthful that even his words are like magic. He/she can say to the sick, `You are healed` and that sick person is healed.

So, what is a dharmi to do other than his/her dharma while allowing the apparent results to be carried by the wind like dandelion parachutes, landing where they may? Let the seeds grow into what they will, where they will, and for whom they will. It is our svadharma to perform our svadharma. How others choose to act, is their circus. Not ours. Keep to truth, love, and simplicity. Then say svaha (so be it) and swaha.

The word `idol` and the word `ideal` relate. `Ideal` means apex, perfection, supreme, absolute. So, next time someone says that Hindus worship idols, ask them if their deity is the highest, perfect, supreme absolute. Idol and ideal are semantically related and can be used interchangeably in many cases. Idol refers to an object or persona that is worshiped, loved, or revered . Ideal refers to a perfect model or standard, as well as a persona that embodies this standard.

The word idol, the Old French `idole` was used to refer to any non-Abrahamic. Prior to that time, idole was used in Greece as `eidolon`, meaning “reflection in water or a mirror.” When Hindus have darshan of the murti, we can see our own similar qualities and characteristics reflected back to us, perhaps in a more purified or sanctified manner. From the word `eidolon` came the word eidos, which means `form` but also `type.`

So, we might think about the 33 koti or types of Vedic deities described in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad – the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati.

If one cannot recognise ‘God’ in the simple and mundane, how can one recognise God in the complex and profound? God can be found in the macrocosm and the microcosm. In the indefinite and in the maya.

If God is omnipresent or everywhere, then God is in all, and can be in a statue too. If one has such devotion towards the supreme to recognise it in the Universe, how much more devotion one must have to also recognise it in a pebble, a carving, a river, flower, or feather?

https://www.hinduhumanrights.info/vedic-evolution-of-consciousness/

Vedic Evolution of Consciousness Modern psychology and cognitive science is only now exploring the frontiers of consciousness (exemplified in Vedanta) and its impact on human life and behaviour. Current researches (Joel Krueger) in the field also indicate that transcending of the personalized ego often leads to a unified mode of aw...

I wrote this about a decade ago. Most of the article made it into my book `A Hindu`s Guide to Advocacy & Activism: Fighting the Narrative War. Some who have already read the first edition were surprised to find so much about things like yoga, ayurveda, the Gita, Vedas, Upanishads, and concepts like karma, reincarnation, Hindu metaphysics, and Indic-ayurvedic psychology within a political book. The second edition will be available soon. My publisher said they would send the final manuscript to me for approval next Tuesday.

Meditation Education There are many misconceptions about Yoga and/or meditation, especially in the material-minded West. Many there, seem to confuse relaxation and “mindfulness” with Hindu’s meditation-proper, which is primarily of a more exact and technical methodology, and is of a primarly psycho-spiritual natur...

I came across this old article I wrote and thought I would share for those interested in such issues. I personally have transferred most of my focus away from political issues onto yog-sadhana, because being a western advocate, ally, and activist can be a stressful and thankless duty. When one puts him/herself out there, one opens one self up for abuse, gas-lighting, and criticism from people who do not know their asses from their elbows. Though I will be self-publishing a book to coincide with the release of A Hindu`s Gudie to Advocacy & Activism called Awakening the Hindu Mind that is part politics and part yoga. Cheers.

What is Hindu advocacy and activism It is time we stand up and defend pro-Hindu causes and policies. It’s time we stand up and speak for those Hindus who won’t or can’t speak for themselves due to fear of public ridicule and backlash, discrimination, job loss, the destruction of temples, assault and death. | MyVoice | OpIndia | ...

Jai Shri Ram 🕉
A golden opportunity for Ram Bhakts in Northern California to participate in a transcendental experience of a first of a kind "SHRI RAM Concert" scheduled for Saturday - May 18th, 2024 at Fremont, CA, organized by a group of Ram Bhakts in the Bay Area.
The world renowned Music, Chant and Dance band "Kirtaniyas" will be performing. Here is a video of a casual percussion and dance improv by the band members Vijay Krsna ji and Malini Taneja ji at Vrindavan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07lz_59nP7k
❗The Occasion: Vishwa Hindu Parishad America’s Shri Ram Rath Yatra has been visiting 1000+ temples in North America, bringing Akshath and prasad straight from Ayodhya Mandir's Pran Pratishta held on 22nd January, 2024. All attendees of the concert will receive the Prashad while Bay Area reverberates with chants on Shri Ram 🕉.
The ticket price is $25 per family (that is, for 2 adults and kids) and $11 per individual. Kids below 12 will get free entry. URL for registration: https://tinyurl.com/RamLallaConcert
(Groups of Ram Bhakts are flying/driving down from other parts of California and the rest of USA).
Thank you

tinyurl.com

Here are a few paragraphs from a portion of my book`s chapter on common misconceptions about Hinduism. The publisher is making some final additions for me. So, A Hindus Guide to Advocacy & Activism: Fighting the Narrative War should be available for pre-sales in a month or so.

Is Hinduism Patriarchal or Misogynistic?

Due to a biassed and superficial Western media, controlled by either right-wing Christians or anti-Hindu liberals, many in the West think Hinduism is anti-woman. There are many millions of strong, bold, and independent Hindu women who would disagree.

There is an extensive line of female Hindu sages and warriors alike. There is no parallel of this in Christianity or Islam. Hindu women dress in colourful sarees and jewellery, not in burkas. This reveals their natural beauty and royal nature. The female form is unapologetically depicted on the outside of many Hindu temples. Christians and Muslims tend to see this as obscene, lewd, and sinful. Hindus see it as beauty and power......
.....There are no major male Hindu deities without a female counterpart. Without such a royal and divine consort, the male deity is considered inert and infirm. In one school of Indic philosophy, the masculine is related to energy. The feminine is related to nature or matter. As we know, the Universe must consist of both energy and matter. The feminine primordial matter is the first cause, from which all manifestation occurs. So, in this sense, the creator of the cosmos and our natural world, is the Goddess.

There are three main Hindu sects. There are the devotees of Vishnu (Vaishnavas) and the devotees of Shiva (Shaivites). The third main sect is Shaktism. Shaktas are Hindu men and women who view the apex of divine power, supremacy, and metaphysical reality, as the great Goddess. This includes many aspects and individual personalities of the Goddess, and/or various individual goddesses. They are all one with Mahadevi (the great Goddess).

The Hindu Goddesses are seen as being more graceful, as well as more fierce than male deities. Besides being perceived as being more powerful than male deities, they are also seen as being more artistic and intellectual. Hindus recognise the powerful nature of women. There are many immensely strong Hindu women, who take great offence to Westerners who promote a misogynistic view of Hinduism and of Hindu men.

Twice a year, Hindus celebrate the festival of Navratri. This is a ten-day and nine-night festival, celebrating the goddesses and womankind. Each day, Hindus recognise a different goddess and her qualities or attributes. Such qualities are believed to be shared by all women. This Navratri custom recognises and celebrates everything a woman is: powerful, peaceful, prosperous, brave, chaste, calm, blissful, tranquil but also vigorous, beautiful, creative, caring, strong, protective, intelligent, optimistic, generous, magical, and charitable.

Pre-invasions, Indian women were strong and respected members of society. There was no corrupt tradition of dowry prior to colonial influences. Women would inherit wealth from their mothers and grandmothers. In the 600 years of Muslim rule in India, women could not vote. In the 200 years of colonial-Christian rule in India, women could not vote. After India’s independence, women immediately gained the right to vote. It took almost 100 years for women to attain that right in the US. Indira Gandhi was elected India’s PM in 1966 and served until 1977. She was re-elected in 1980. We are still waiting for a female President in the US......