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Gitano no divino
Registered User
(7/9/02 11:04 am)
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Re: A reply to Gitano
Srflongago, once again you work your magic. Thanks for a most thoughtful reply to my questions. You say that PY "cannot be blamed for the enthusiasm of contemporary followers or the use made of him as an icon by others later." Fair enough. My only reservation here pertains to the story told by Anandamoy, who wanted to know if PY was an avatar. He tried to check out whether PY cast a shadow, for the AY (first edition) says avatars don't. Blah, blah, you know the rest. Anyway, at the end of the story, PY (supposedly) says, "Yes, I'm an avatar; only such a one could carry out this work," or words pretty close to that effect. Now, perhaps Anandamoy is telling a bald-faced lie (not too hard to imagine, that). But if PY wasn't an avatar, or didn't think it was useful for anyone to know that he was, he didn't try especially hard to discourage such a view (if there's some truth to A'moy's story). That's why I remain unconvinced that he bears no responsibility for the god-man status conferred upon him by the adoring multitudes, and by those in the organization who clearly stand to profit from his celebrity.

Chuckle Chela, you put things in the clearest possible perspective, with heart. Like you, my attachment to SRF is personal and sentimental, not philosophical or even rational. "The struggle I face is in deciding whether SRF is redeemable or worth redeeming." This is probably true for all of us here. My current thinking is that if SRF were to be redeemed, it would be so different from what it is now that hardly anyone would recognize it as SRF. It's like a house that has a serviceable foundation but is otherwise so rotted and dilapidated that it needs to be rebuilt, from the ground up. I can't imagine how this would be done or that it's even possible. I used to be a fairly loyal fellow, but now I believe in subversion. We may have not only the right but the responsibility to take these teachings into our own hands. Start our own little groups, practice the "teachings" as we see fit, discarding whatever doesn't work, screw MC and the whole administrative apparatus--the saris, the titles, the ludicrous pretense, the simony and hypocrisy, the whitewash (literal and figurative), and most of all, those awful "love offerings." Or . . . go to the beach, nurse a cool one in one hand, a paperback of "Lolita" in the other, and wait for death to catch up with us. Unfortunately, I have a family to support, so I have to get back to work. Oh, well . . .

gardendiva
Registered User
(7/9/02 11:20 am)
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Re: A reply to Gitano
Quote:
I used to be a fairly loyal fellow, but now I believe in subversion. We may have not only the right but the responsibility to take these teachings into our own hands. Start our own little groups, practice the "teachings" as we see fit, discarding whatever doesn't work, screw MC and the whole administrative apparatus--the saris, the titles, the ludicrous pretense, the simony and hypocrisy, the whitewash (literal and figurative), and most of all, those awful "love offerings."


Here, here, Gitano!! If I wasn't finding Zen better suited to me personally, I'd be right there with you.

soulcircle
Registered User
(7/9/02 4:37 pm)
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lovers, songs, chucklechela welcoming Gitano back
Yes, yes, yes chucklechela,
Thanks so much for your love, friendship and time.
Keep your heart so alive!
soulcircle
<heypoet@aol.com>

srflongago
Registered User
(7/12/02 2:40 pm)
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Re: A reply to Gitano
For Gitano:

Yogananda indeed cast a shadow. I have snapshots taken outdoors of him. I am sure that others have similar photographs. So much for silly stories and silly people.

SayItIsntSo
Registered User
(7/13/02 12:43 pm)
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O
(This message was left blank)

Edited by: SayItIsntSo at: 7/17/02 7:22:08 am
Gitano no divino
Registered User
(7/15/02 1:26 pm)
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Re: Very Funny-Sad Story
People will see what they want to see, whether it's really there or not (I'm mindful of the fact that this observation may apply to me and others on this board who have an ax to grind with SRF). I had this same experience on several occasions. And woe unto the bearer of unwelcome tidings. You might as well have some deadly virus, which, in fact, you do: willingness-to-think-independently disease. Most cultists have natural immunity, but that won't stop them from quarantining you.

I was pleased to learn that PY truly did cast a shadow (not that I doubted it). We know from the wishing well that he was also prone to leaving footprints. It's rather cute the way Anandamoy explains that in subsequent editions of the AY, the passage reads that "on occasion" an avatar does not cast a shadow or leave footprints. Young Henry was completely satisfied with this transparent evasion. Evidently srflongago's photos were taken on the wrong occasion. Heaven forefend that we should call into question Hindu scripture or the word of an avatar!

srflongago
Registered User
(7/15/02 3:58 pm)
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Re: Very Funny-Sad Story
Perhaps I was present by accident on only those occasions when his shadow was normal! I think I am constitutionally incompatible with shadow elimination.

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