Lesson 214 - Q&A – Finding your spiritual “hook”

From: Yogani
Date: Sun Jul 4, 2004 0:31pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the web
archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first
lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"


Q: I have a question... It has to do with a general sense I have of
feeling unguided and needing of a guru or teacher for my meditation,
but unable to find anything that sparks a sense that I have found
that... there are many teachers, but no 'hook,' no staying power.
There are many out there willing to tell me that they will be my
guru, or master... and I have even been told that I cannot know if
someone is my guru, that I just have to obey. But somehow this feels
wrong. Meanwhile, my practice is erratic... because I don't really
trust myself to know what would be my best routine. I've been
practicing yoga for over 20 years...


A: I think relying on an outer "hook" is unreliable. Even the best
physical gurus have a few failings, and that is okay. No one is
perfect. But they are expected to be perfect, and that is a guarantee
of failure. Spiritually speaking, the real shortcoming is always in
the practitioner who is looking outside for primary inspiration,
where the only place it can truly be found is inside.

So the approach in the lessons is for everyone to find their own
inner inspiration through solid daily practices, and the resulting
experiences that do not deceive us. Inner silence is inner silence.
Ecstatic conductivity is just that. Purification and opening of our
nervous system is an objective phenomenon, at least from our inner
view. The cause and effect of practice and experience belongs to the
practitioner. There is no mistake about that. Personal spiritual
experience is the best hook. Spiritual practices, done daily, can
cultivate it in the yogi/yogini with a high degree of reliability.

The practices in the lessons are not unique, but their integration,
combined power, and relative safety are rare. Few have dared to cross
the rigid traditional lines and integrate these esoteric methods into
a workable system before. It has been done here, and the results have
been very good. So the practices are offered openly for wise seekers
to explore for themselves. It is an inter-traditional scientific
investigation that has been done, and everyone can carry the work
forward in their own self-paced application of the methods. Such an
approach has been much needed. However, it is not for everyone. If
someone needs a lot of hand-holding, ritual, etc., then a physical
guru may be necessary. That is not me. I am happy to help with
questions on practice, but I am not here to be anyone’s physical
guru. I am making some good tools available. Everyone has to take
up their own journey, using the best tools they can find. Even with a
physical guru this is the case, though few emotionally dependent
disciples like to hear that.

I view yoga as neuro-biological science. No mumbo jumbo. Just cause
and effect. That is what we'd like to have in our yoga -- good
methods that work that we can be confident using year in and year
out. Then we know we will find more and more ecstatic bliss and
divine love welling up within us over time, and the world will be
changed for the better by our unfoldment. What else matters?

Good yoga operates like clockwork. We can see steadily expanding
results over time.

So, try the lessons and see for yourself. Start at the beginning. 20
years is a long time on the path. Even so, everyone should start at
the beginning, because correct deep meditation is the key to
everything in yoga -- at least in this kind of yoga it is. Inner
silence is the foundation of all spiritual progress, and that is what
deep meditation is about. Then we add very effective spinal breathing
pranayama. These two are the core practices, and everything else
builds on these. So, starting at the beginning is very important. The
lessons can be used as a stand-alone teaching, or to supplement any
other path as "food for thought."

No allegiance is necessary here. It is your journey. You are in
charge. In time you will come in tune with the primordial guru
inside, your inner pure bliss consciousness, and then you will have
the real hook. Your bhakti will fly high, and knowledge will come to
you from all directions. Then you will know what this game is about.
It is not about anything but your own inner purification, opening,
and divine union. This is the approach throughout the lessons. Here
there are no promises of deliverance by someone outside you. Just
practical information on practices, and how to apply them within
yourself for the best results.

I wish you all success on your chosen path. Enjoy!

The guru is in you.

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