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adamadaman
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 08 2012 : 3:07:25 PM
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Hello All,
I am new to this forum and wanted to see if others feel this way..
I have had affiliation with some yoga organizations over my time of practice, and have run into the attitude that "The Guru can do no wrong" Is it OK to be critical of a Guru if one is honest in their critique? |
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karl
United Kingdom
1812 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2012 : 4:18:20 PM
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Hi,
Welcome to the forum Adamadaman,
It's not acceptable to criticise Gurus on the forum. It's OK to discuss them, but the line between one and the other is a fine one. If you didn't find something worked out for you then that's fine to say.
The thing with any Gurus is that it doesn't really matter if they are total hypocrites. It's as valid to be a hypocritical Guru as one with total integrity. In the end its only where they take you. An ill wind is just as likely blow you in the right direction when you cannot clearly define where you are supposed to be heading. Sometimes a sign pointing in the wrong direction is exactly what is needed. |
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adamadaman
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2012 : 6:45:19 PM
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"It's not acceptable to criticise Gurus on the forum. It's OK to discuss them, but the line between one and the other is a fine one. If you didn't find something worked out for you then that's fine to say."
Could you please provide further clarification on this? For instance, if one were to state that following a particular practice from a particular did not work out for them, how would that differ from stating disagreements with the guru? |
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yogani
USA
5201 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2012 : 7:18:23 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by adamadaman
"It's not acceptable to criticise Gurus on the forum. It's OK to discuss them, but the line between one and the other is a fine one. If you didn't find something worked out for you then that's fine to say."
Could you please provide further clarification on this? For instance, if one were to state that following a particular practice from a particular did not work out for them, how would that differ from stating disagreements with the guru?
Hi adamadaman, and welcome!
It is fine to share your first-hand experiences with any guru or teacher, and/or with the AYP system. Second-hand accounts and hearsay are not encouraged for obvious reasons. You can find plenty of first-hand accounts on many teachings here. Traditions you have been involved with may already have been discussed. Try a few searches to find out.
What we guard against here is posting by people who have an ongoing agenda to discredit any teacher or teaching. We call that "bashing," and this is not the place for it. There are plenty of other sites on the web for that sort of thing. Here we like to stick with productive and informative discussions on spiritual practices and experiences. The focus here is not primarily on teachers or gurus. It is on practitioners, and whatever can help them move forward on their path.
For more on posting guidelines and how the forums are moderated, see "Moderating" here: http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic....TOPIC_ID=292
Also see the guidelines there under the heading: "Support for the AYP Practices versus Discussions on Other Systems."
Wishing you all the best on your continuing path. Practice wisely, and enjoy!
The guru is in you.
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adamadaman
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2012 : 11:21:55 AM
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| Thank you for clearing that up for me Yogani! |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2012 : 9:49:47 PM
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I'm going to break the rules and criticize Yogani's spelling...
quote:
Originally posted by yogani
It is fine to share your first-hand experiences with any guru or teacher, and/or with the AYP system. Second-hand accounts and hearsay are not encouraged for obvious reasons. You can find plenty of first-hand accounts on many teachings here.
First-hand and second-hand don't need hyphens--remember! LOL. Firsthand and secondhand are the correct spellings.
Actually, that's not really criticism--it's just correction. There's no agenda to bash his spelling, only to tidy it up a bit.
Man, I am just a snobbish little brat, aren't I?   |
Edited by - Bodhi Tree on Oct 10 2012 9:51:38 PM |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4429 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 06:18:29 AM
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quote:
First-hand and second-hand don't need hyphens--remember! LOL. Firsthand and secondhand are the correct spellings.
Actually, that's not really criticism--it's just correction. There's no agenda to bash his spelling, only to tidy it up a bit.
Hi Bodhi tree,
You can write: "first-hand", "firsthand", or "first hand"; all 3 are in the Collins English dictionary.
http://dictionary.reverso.net/engli...%20firsthand
"first-hand" with the little line can be an adjective or an adverb:
http://dictionary.reverso.net/engli...n/first-hand
I think we might be getting off topic...
Christi
p.s. I have noticed that the more enlightened someone gets, the more they don't care about spelling mistakes. It's the one true sign of enlightenment.  |
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karl
United Kingdom
1812 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 07:01:28 AM
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| Christi ! naughty. |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 10:10:04 AM
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LOL. Lack of care for spelling errors a sign of enlightenment? Perhaps for some, but I don't that's a universal indicator, especially if proofreading is your profession. I believe that Yogani said he has an engineering background, so imagine if he said: "Well, we don't have to get all these math equations and schematics right when it comes to building this bridge. If some are off, no big deal. Hopefully the bridge will hold up, even if a few of the proportions are incorrect. It's only people that are driving over the bridge anyway."
I'm being melodramatic with the bridge example. Obviously, some things matter more than others when it comes to functionality, aesthetics, and the design process. The firsthand and secondhand thing is very trivial, and would not make or break any kind of literature or instruction.
But words do matter, and precision is important. One word can change the entire trajectory of a teaching. Suppose we were instructed to harshly favor the mantra. That would make a difference, wouldn't it?
I had sent Yogani an e-mail correcting the firsthand and secondhand thing from one of the main lessons, so my quip was kind of an "inside joke" that I figured would nevertheless make sense in the context of criticism. Fortunately, I don't think we have to worry about hurting anyone's feelings, if our intentions are of the lighthearted nature, and if we just seek to add humor to the benevolent atmosphere of these forums.
Spell those words how you want to! It's not crucial! Just trying to maintain consistency.  |
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karl
United Kingdom
1812 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 10:53:22 AM
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| I hope you are going to be very strict with my work Bodhi . I'm up to just over 40K words so far. All sorts of tenses cropping up. |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 10:57:23 AM
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| LOL! Hell yes I will, Karl! Rock on...from the beaches of Florida across the Atlantic to that miserable little island where they still have a king and queen! Hehehe...kidding. |
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yogani
USA
5201 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 11:22:57 AM
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Hyphens anyone?
Love 'em --- living unbounded spaces in the flowing stillness of words --- 
The-guru-is-in-you.
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 11:34:24 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by karl
I hope you are going to be very strict with my work Bodhi . I'm up to just over 40K words so far. All sorts of tenses cropping up.
You really want Bodhi to proof-read (hyphenated just for your pleasure Bodhi) your book? You know England and America are two countries separated by a common language. |
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karl
United Kingdom
1812 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 11:43:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Shanti
quote:
Originally posted by karl
I hope you are going to be very strict with my work Bodhi . I'm up to just over 40K words so far. All sorts of tenses cropping up.
You really want Bodhi to proof-read (hyphenated just for your pleasure Bodhi) your book? You know England and America are two countries separated by a common language.
No one knows English over here anymore. We adopted 'down in the hood' and all those amusing colloquiaisms. Too much US TV media. Sometimes I can't understand teenagers anymore because they now talk 'homey'. |
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Shanti
USA
4854 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 11:52:26 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by karl
quote:
Originally posted by Shanti
quote:
Originally posted by karl
I hope you are going to be very strict with my work Bodhi . I'm up to just over 40K words so far. All sorts of tenses cropping up.
You really want Bodhi to proof-read (hyphenated just for your pleasure Bodhi) your book? You know England and America are two countries separated by a common language.
No one knows English over here anymore. We adopted 'down in the hood' and all those amusing colloquiaisms. Too much US TV media. Sometimes I can't understand teenagers anymore because they now talk 'homey'.
Maybe... but do you talk "homey"? If not, Bodhi may not understand what you have written.
OK.. now we are wayyyy off topic...Sorry Adamadaman. |
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adamadaman
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 12:36:32 PM
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| Man, this thread took an odd turn. |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4429 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 12:38:51 PM
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Hi Bodhi Tree
quote:
LOL. Lack of care for spelling errors a sign of enlightenment? Perhaps for some, but I don't that's a universal indicator, especially if proofreading is your profession.
It's: "I don't think that's a universal indicator". Without the verb the whole sentence falls apart.
Only messing around. I'm actually chronically dyslexic and cannot spell to save my life. But luckily I don't care. 
Good to hear you are helping with the proof reading, it's a much needed job.
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Christi
United Kingdom
4429 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 12:41:50 PM
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Hi Adamanaman and all,
Going back to the question of criticizing Gurus. There was a famous monk who once lived in North East Thailand called Ajhan Chah. One day someone told him they thought he was a real hypocrite. They said that one day he advised people to do one thing and then the next day he would advise people to do quite the opposite. He said that giving spiritual advise was like helping a blind man to cross a bridge over a chasm. At one point they would verge too far to the left and he would have to shout "go right", and later they would verge too far to the right and he would have to shout "go left".
So this is one of the reasons we have to be careful criticizing gurus, because we might just still be the blind man crossing the bridge.
Of course this does not mean that spiritual teachers can do no wrong, just that there can be reasons that we are not yet aware of that they say some of the things that they say and do some of the things that they do.
Christi |
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maheswari
Lebanon
2516 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2012 : 1:22:05 PM
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| Love this story...thx Christi |
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karl
United Kingdom
1812 Posts |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4429 Posts |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2012 : 01:25:50 AM
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 quote:
Originally posted by yogani
Hyphens anyone?
Love 'em --- living unbounded spaces in the flowing stillness of words ---
The-guru-is-in-you.
LMAO!
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Wait, and one more yes.
Genius minds thrive here! |
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Bodhi Tree
2972 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2012 : 01:31:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Christi
Hi Bodhi Tree
quote:
LOL. Lack of care for spelling errors a sign of enlightenment? Perhaps for some, but I don't that's a universal indicator, especially if proofreading is your profession.
It's: "I don't think that's a universal indicator". Without the verb the whole sentence falls apart.
Superb. We have come full circle! Even the proofreader needs proofreading. I better quit while I'm ahead...or am I behind?...I forget. |
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Christi
United Kingdom
4429 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2012 : 1:25:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bodhi Tree
quote:
Originally posted by Christi
Hi Bodhi Tree
quote:
LOL. Lack of care for spelling errors a sign of enlightenment? Perhaps for some, but I don't that's a universal indicator, especially if proofreading is your profession.
It's: "I don't think that's a universal indicator". Without the verb the whole sentence falls apart.
Superb. We have come full circle! Even the proofreader needs proofreading. I better quit while I'm ahead...or am I behind?...I forget.
Hi Bodhi Tree,
Don't quit now. We need you! |
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vijikr
United Arab Emirates
413 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2012 : 05:58:10 AM
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ha-ha-ha-ha funny lol
welcome Adamadaman and lets not off the topic.
Nice story Christi.
Love N Light
Viji |
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Etherfish
USA
3615 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2012 : 08:52:07 AM
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This IS funny. If enlightened people care less about spelling, I'm not at ALL enlightened. Partly from an English teacher mom, and partly from being led astray so many times by things not written correctly.
It is a little risky having an American proof read something from UK. There are many differences in spelling, what words are appropriate, implied meanings, etc. |
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Topic |
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Criticizing a Guru
