What about enlightenment? Is that the destination of our spiritual awakening? Is it for anyone and what does that mean? All people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. Awakening is available to all regardless of nationality, gender or social status. Yoga master Swami Sivananda confirmed this to be true and encouraged all to step on the path to Awakening now. Being in the Divine presence, peaceful and truthful with a steady mind and an open heart describes that path for me. Having a practice that sustains and cultivates our ability to be present and aware is this path. What do the Yoga texts say about enlightenment? In Yoga Sutras of Patanjali our world is divided into 2 separate entities: that of material and that of Spirit. One’s final realization comes from knowing the Spirit. It comes only when one no longer has any seeds of past desires that bring forth more karma and births. Once these seeds are “burned” by practice, one becomes free of future karma, consequences of actions in the material world and is liberated from the painful cycle of births and death. The Bhagavad Gita says something a little different. Krishna describes how an enlightened, a realized person lives and acts. Gita speaks of a person of steady wisdom who is not affected by the sensual temptations, who keeps equilibrium amongst the sense objects and pairs of opposites such as praise or blame, heat or cold etc. This scripture speaks of unity. The material world being part of Divine Oneness. Non-dual reality is the basic principle of Vedanta. Enlightenment does not necessarily suggest freedom from moral and ethical obligation of the material world but rather conscious blending of matter and spirit and rejoicing in the well being of all. It draws a clear picture of a Saint. In eastern philosophy reincarnation is common and widely believed. One’s rebirth is based on karmic seeds, unfulfilled desires and clinging. Sri Ramakrishna said that upon final realization the soul is no longer tied to this world and often moves on. He said that about his beloved disciple Swami Vivekananda who died young and it’s believed he died at the moment of such realization. Sri Ramana Maharshi said that ultimately liberation comes as a gift from the Divine regardless of our karmic predispositions, aspirations or practices, the same as Mundaka Upanishad says. This text also describes liberated sage. Many of the world’s religions believe that saints continue to act in the world and set an example for others on the path of evolution of the individual soul. They serve God's mission which is just. Buddhism speaks of Bodhisattva, a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings. Bodhisattva is a realized soul who chooses to be born again and again to help others. The Dalai Lama states that the path to awakening consists of developing simultaneously wisdom and compassion. The path to enlightenment of Christian saints has always been an interest of mine. The final stages describe the blending of the individual with Divine, where the individual will dissolves into the will of God like a drop blending in with the ocean. It is also not uncommon that the awakening of these individuals is unrecognized by others. My favorite saint is St. Theresa of Avila who describes her path to enlightenment in her autobiography she wrote in 1575. The path of unfolding blessings from God and overcoming obstacles of vanity and personal desires. My path started in Christianity and eventually I committed to Yoga. I found Integral Yoga in 1998 and what I learned and experienced has greatly shaped my life. I have recently had to reconsider my faith and dedication to the yogic path. The fact that my “realized” teacher broke basic ethical principles of monastic celibacy and truthfulness made me pause and reconsider. Is enlightenment what I thought it was or was he not quite there yet or fell down from the heights of the liberated state? The belief that Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga was a fully realized human being is challenged. Swami Vimalananda, monastic of Integral Yoga taught us that the “fake it until you make it” approach is ok, that we as yoga teachers should own the teachings when presenting them and do our best to follow them. Was that what our founding Swami’s approach was as well? The conviction that Swami Satchidananda achieved liberation as described in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a state which was beyond the ethical ties of the material world is a philosophical point that many believe. These ethical guidelines were broken resulting in harm. Some cannot acknowledge a possibility that his “secret” is real since the faith in his Divinity and their idea of Divinity differs. Swami Divyananda told us “You cannot judge the actions of Enlightened ones!”. Before all this, I felt a great encouragement from Swami Satchidananda’s existence. If he “made it”, I could also make it or at least get near. I had a goal and a way to proceed. I had an idea about enlightenment and he was my example. That changed for me since I discovered the well kept secret about him. I had to sort my thoughts, feelings and beliefs. I continue to feel a lot of gratitude for his sharing of these ancient teachings with us and gratitude for many of his direct disciples making them accessible. Regardless of his past, what I learned from him has had a tremendous positive effect on me and my students. These ancient teachings of Yoga are valid and reliable regardless of his enlightenment status. How to keep moving forward on the Yogic path? I had to adjust and adapt. I felt a deep sense of betrayal. For a while it felt like I was free falling. I had to learn to embrace the unknown, not grasping at anything as the ultimate truth. I had to let the house of cards collapse and revisit my beliefs and faith. We all have to do this alone while being together. No one can do the inner work for us and mutual support is invaluable. “Just studying religion ourselves is not enough; we need to connect with humanity, with the world in beneficial ways. If we can form positive, conscious relationships with the human family, then we can really make a difference in the world.” ~Lama Surya Das There is a unity amongst us all on this planet and our interconnection is clear to me. Everyday, I experience being very much blended with this world and paradoxically I also stand apart. There is such complexity to our existence. I know I am much more than a disciple of one Yoga master. I continue to feel guided by Divine and by Swami Sivananda, Swami Satchidananda’s Guru. I feel open to receiving this guidance. Will I be able to receive teachings as given by Swami Satchidananda without questioning now? Only time will show. I now look for clues from historical and cultural settings of spiritual teachings in an attempt to find the core of Truth in them. I ask what the scripture said and what other masters say. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” is a well known saying originating all the way back to Buddha and Lao Tzu. I believe that Swami Satchidananda was such a teacher for many of us. I believe guidance also comes internally beyond the personality of one man or lineage. The inner Light is showing me the way. I am so glad I am still open to guidance. I don't want "trust no one" as my motto and yet a healthy dose of skepticism is smart. I aim to learn healthy boundaries and live in Truth. I invite joy, awe and peace into my life. “May you realise that the shape of your Soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the complete facade of your life, something beautiful, planned, and eternal is unfolding and happening.” — John O'Donohue I continue to teach and practice Yoga as a wondrous path to Peace and to Divine. I am dedicated to sharing the ancient teachings of Yoga and continue to practice them. I want to live peacefully and truthfully. Divine supports me. “The Way It Is” by William Stafford There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old. Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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4 Comments
Barbara Dickey
5/19/2024 11:23:12 am
Diana, thank you for this heartfelt discussion. My path with IYI is very similar to yours and I identify strongly with the challenges you talk about in regaining firm ground after the severe jolt of learning about our Guru's secret life. Like you, my life has been shaped by the beautiful teachings that Swami Satchidananda brought to this country and I will always be grateful for those teachings and the IYI organization, swamis, teachers and sangha. This path has meant everything to me. It breaks my heart that he wasn't truly honest about his life. But I believe his teachings are pure. We were all drawn to his uniquely accessible way of presenting them. I will continue to be guided by the teachings and committed to this path. Thank you for your courage in addressing this matter. Peace and love, Barbara Dickey
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Barbara Ustanko
5/20/2024 09:02:08 am
Thank you, Diana, for that beautiful and thoughtful sharing. I am still in the freefall stage of grappling with the betrayal of trust I feel. The feelings that come up for me about these transgressions by the guru in whose sangha I took initiation, where the living teachings I encountered filled me (and still do) with awe and reverence and set me on a transformational path that it is not an exaggeration to call "lifesaving," are painful and complicated.
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5/24/2024 01:34:04 pm
Thank you Diana for this thoughtful and insightful post. Many of us who identify as a member of the Integral Yoga Sangha have been going through some type of transformation. Swamiji said before his passing that when he was gone that he would be more powerful out of his body than in it. Those of us who have clung to who we thought he was have had to face painful truths. There is no doubt that Swamiji changed thousands of lives by his teachings and his presence. But were our past karmas somehow burnt away or were we able to transcend the sensual pleasures? Swamiji was supposed to be our model for enlightenment but somehow his now revealed behavior and the behavior of some of our organizational and spiritual leaders has called the concept of enlightenment into question. Perhaps in his body less consciousness, Swamiji's final message maybe - all attachments are in the mind, cling to nothing in this world not even the guru.
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Lucy Cannon
5/29/2024 11:15:33 pm
Beautiful and deep insight 🙏🏽🥰
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