To: K-list
Recieved: 2000/07/08 02:01
Subject: [K-list] Duality's a bitch (was: Mudras)
From: Mhortling
On 2000/07/08 02:01, Mhortling posted thus to the K-list:
Hi Mark !
You wrote:
<<It could also be argued that these teachings are more generally available
<than other esoteric techniques, such as alchemy and qabala, and that is why
<one might be oriented (so to speak) towards them. Or, that the awakening has
<also created a resonance with work done in previous incarnations. Comparing
<wicca to laya yoga is like comparing a Hershey's bar to a Belgian
<truffel.....there is no comparison beyond both being candy and chocolate.
<Western esotericism covers these things quite well, only ecclesiastical
<bigotry from the past has manifested in spiritual ignorance in the present
as
<far as Middle Eastern and European esoteric practices goes.>>
Maybe one could say that all roads lead to Rome eventually and in the end
everything comes out of God, so in that sense most spiritual practices would
at least point in the same direction.
If one really wanted to stress the differences between the Western & Eastern
teachings, I'd say that the Western traditions have focussed more on the
developement and the control of the mind and approached the inner reality
from a vantage point more focussed on personal power and ritual, whereas
spiritual approaches incorporating the Shakti/Goddess paradigm groove more
on surrender and abandon to the greater power.
Interestingly, on that path, spiritual insight seems to be revealed by itself
and the power manifests out of it's own, as opposed to gaining knowledge by
studying and working on obtaining power and on one's personal developement.
Not to say that the Western tradition hasn't produced it's own very much
realised teachers firmly established in God. One that comes to my mind was
the Cypriot healer and mystic Stylianos Atteshlis, (also known as "Daskalos")
,whom I saw in Cyprus shortly before he left his body. He came from a firmly
Christian background but on the deep level of power and realisation he lived
on, there probably was no difference at all to the realisation of the (real)
saints, yogis and gurus from India for instance.
I think the bottom line is that every teaching that takes us closer to home
and the real Self is ultimately true (and also a little bit more true than
schools of thought that keep the shakti anchored in the little self.)
And wisdom and guidance can come even through the voices of not-quite-so
reputable teachers and apparently false teachings.
I remeber how Lobsang Rampa actually had his part in saving this particular
physical life of mine once:
Years ago, when I thought I couldn't stand the kundalini oozing around my
tangled nervous system any longer, I was seriously thinking about actually
commiting suicide. It was pretty much decided and was planned to happen quite
soon. Now, just before, I "happened" to get hold of one of the Rampa books,
in which he described the fate in the afterlife of a guy who had actually
done himself in and how suicide was pretty inacceptable from a spiritual
point of view.
Made me think again and reconsider. Somehow the light went on and I realised
that everything was happening for a reason and that there was no escape.
Probably at least partly thanks to that book, I'm still here.
So maybe thats an example of the God/Guru/Mama-principle at work in all
things
But it's so true, duality can be a confusing mess :)
East or West
True or false
Male and macho or soft and female
I'm right and you're left
You're right and I'm wrong
Death penalty or no death penalty
Individual responsibility or will of God
Saints and murderous scumbags
Sadhana and discipline or wild abandon and letting things just happen
I find it's so damn hard to always remember that this whole circus we're
living in is just a play in which everything has its perfect place. Mutually
complementing opposites, forever appearing and disappearing within the One
consciousness
Hasta la vista
Michael
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