Sri Adi Shankara… the “original” jnani….
Here’s a wonderful site that focuses on what is considered to be the most arduous yoga approach:
Jnani
This site is intended for the sincere and open-minded spiritual seeker, whose commitment and experience is deep enough to engage with the issues presented. This site is focused around the concept of jnani, an Indian term meaning insight or wisdom, and used in contrast with the term bhakti, meaning devotion.
Yes, I do detect a little snootiness in the above quote… but back when I went through a lengthy Advaita Vedanta phase (from 1996 through roughly 2002), several well-respected teachers (Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj come immediately to mind) did state that the path of a jnani is the most difficult, but also the quickest for those who are “ripe.”
I found that I was not ripe, and this was a tough realization to accept — but once I accepted it, I was led to the Teacher within, who brought me to the Buddha and his path to attainment. I am now identifying myself with the bhakti approach of devotion mentioned above, and could not be happier.
So it all works out in the end….
Gregor said,
March 18, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Its good to find the right path. I am glad you have found yourself where you need to be.
Best wishes!
Nuno said,
March 21, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Just remember that death is not the end!
Nuno said,
March 21, 2007 at 7:33 pm
peace! love! light!
Hawk Sr. said,
March 23, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Mike: I just was reading pages 275 – 288 in C.G. Jung’s Memories, Dreams, Reflections, and found his comparisons of Indian thought and Christianity very interesting. If you have any reactions or thoughts regarding Jung’s insights here, it would be helpful in my own process.
adreampuppet said,
March 23, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Thanks for the invitation, Hawk. I just read through the first half of the numbered pages you’ve indicated, and will read the other half after my midday meditation.
A first insight: it’s refreshing whenever I see a Westerner in India who is not bowled-over by the sometimes overwhelming show of spirituality that is foremost in many Eastern cultures. In other words, we as Westerners need to go through a process of de-mythologization, so that we are not prone to accepting on blind faith what the “holy men” (Jung’s term) assert, without going through the enlightenment process on our own terms. My meditation teacher, Jeff Brooks, sometimes goes overboard in condemning the Buddhist priesthood — or any priesthood, for that matter — but I share his urgency in provoking at least a thoughtful and honest investigation of how the priesthood (or monkhood) has evolved from the original example of a Buddha or Christ.
Several other ideas came to mind, but I’ll get to them later.
adreampuppet said,
March 23, 2007 at 2:47 pm
This deserves its own thread — I’ll work on putting up a Jung post when time allows….
Spiritualized « AntiSniveler said,
March 24, 2007 at 1:43 pm
[...] commenter Hawk recently brought up a subject worthy of its own post: I just was reading pages 275 – 288 in C.G. Jung’s Memories, [...]