I first saw this video 2 to 3 years ago while our own Sangha was first building.
Shankaranada has been a friend since 1979 when I went to his ashram in Los Angeles. Over the years I got to know several other swamis including Master Charles, Sw. Brahmananda, and Girijinanda, as well as Chidvilasananda and Nityananda, Muktananda's successors. Two or three years ago I met Sw. Chetananda when he came to LA and was much impressed with his devotion to his own guru still.
At the time I saw this video, I thought these three were a bit overly sensitive and crybabyish. Since then, I have discovered they were really being completely vulnerable and honest. Of all they speak here, I have found to be truth.
I especially like what Sw. Chetananda says here.
Realizing the Manifest Self--the Life Force permeating our humanity--and the Unmanifest source from which it arises.
Yes they are being very honest, but I still find this video to be just as disheartening as when I first viewed it years ago.
ReplyDeleteBefore enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water, then sit around in your guru clothes and complain about how hard the work is.
I can understand wanting to sit with your buddies and bitch about your jobs, but really, what is the purpose of releasing this video? Are we supposed to feel sorry for them? Change our behavior so we aren't such a big burden to them?
I don't think they've chopped enough wood yet.
Jeff, you prove a point. No compassion for or seeing the teacher for you except as to perfect receptacle for your problems.
DeleteBesides, I know students always complain about and compare gurus.
Ed, I teach at the college level, and my fellow instructors and I sometimes discuss our jobs and students like this, without the elevated language these guys use. Students are unappreciative, don't really know what's best for them like we do, etc. What we don't do is videotape ourselves and then put it on YouTube for our students to watch. One of the points I was trying to make is that I don't get what they hoped to accomplish by releasing this to the public. What do you think was their purpose in this?
ReplyDeleteThe thing I find more dismaying is that it doesn't seem that it will ever be possible to rise above this type of behavior. Here they are with their enlightenment credentials all in order, and they're still griping about their jobs like the rest of us! Makes me wonder what the point of any of it is.
I would ask you to remember that not so long ago you also found their words and behavior questionable. Just because you've changed your opinion about it, and I haven't, does that make me wrong and you right now?
Jeff, spot on.
DeleteSo you can say, both, student and teacher, are sitting in the same boat, juggling between humanity and divinity.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me..humanness not humanity
ReplyDeleteThe only difference is, the student wants to ascend and the teacher must descend- which reminds me of Da Vinci's painting of the creation of Adam.
ReplyDeleteHey Ed, I think you should pick out the prettiest gold lamé suits with a fur, and ostrich-feather capes and sequins in the Liberace style and blow them out of the water. Time to ROCK!! Also them guys should get some names easier to pronounce like Larrry, Curley and Moe. Stay like you are Ed you don't need to hit the stage, your radiance is within and very strong at that
ReplyDeleteSteve
Kvetchin' over their Karma(?)
ReplyDeleteMy goodness is this the Promised Land I've hoped only to discover that..........(everyone else can complete the sentence as he/she sees fit).
Mark
Actually, 'ol Andy Cohen had his own "skeletons in the closet" based on past accounts(even his own mother wasn't so proud!) but then I haven't posted this out of some sort of perverse guru assassination attempt.
ReplyDeleteMark
We know you haven't posted this out of some perverse guru assassination attempt you just have to go online and see what this Asura has perpertrated upon his students , the list of abuse is endless .
DeleteHey Ed.... Do some research on this lot I have never witnessed such rubbish coming from supposed Gurus in my life .Could you imagine Ramana or Nissargadatta or Chinmayanada or Dayananda sitting up there and expressing what they expressed .The whole Muktananda lineage is rubbish do some research on him for gods sake.You can accept a few posts about Gurus living adharmic lives and put it down to jealousy but when there is a whole litany of abuse from a shit load of people consciousness is telling us something is it not. Then they let the deluded nutcase Andrew Cohen on stage with them , have they no discrimination at all. I would go as far as saying these guys are all charlatans and not to mention guru mayi really another one of the rotten gurus from Muktananda. You say that you where impressed by his devotion still to his guru even now.The true guru Ed is nondual actionless obvious ordinary Awareness , not the body mind if they where the real deal they would find no difference between themselves and their Guru they have made a thriving business from ''THEIR GURU '' and it brings in your own integrity does it not .
ReplyDeleteHow much integrity is their in anonymous critiques?
ReplyDeleteI do know the Muktananda lineage well, but I think Chetananda sticks out in terms of vulnerability and integrity.