YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 9

LINES OF TEACHING QUESTION: Are there any other authentic Lines of Yoga Teachers apart from the one promoted by The Yoga Order? ANSWER: What is important to understand is that Truth is a free, independent and self-existing reality on which nobody can claim to hold a monopoly. We, therefore, do not promote any particular Line of Teachers as "the only true one" even if such a line existed. Our aim is to help Spiritual Seekers to establish a direct link to a Higher Reality. At the same time, however, it is our duty to ensure that the practical, theoretical and Spiritual framework through which this link is established remains in harmony with the Original Yoga Tradition as we understand it on the basis of historical and Spiritual evidence. The Tradition of Shiva is known by the general name of Shiva-Aagama (Revelation of Shiva) or Shiva-Shaastra (Teachings of Shiva). Because the essence of this Tradition is Unity or Union with the Supreme, it is also known as the Tradition of Unity (Yoga-Shaastra, Yoga-Dharma, etc.). The particular line of Teaching to which The Yoga Order belongs is known as Rahasya-Sampradaaya (Secret Tradition), a name derived from this tradition's historical transmission within a limited group of Teachers and disciples, as well as from its main Scripture, the Shiva Rahasya (the Secret Teaching of Shiva). This tradition belongs to a very ancient Spiritual Line which was graciously initiated by the Supreme Being (Parama Shiva) Himself through His Divine Manifestation Lord Shiva Shri-Kantha and continued down to the present day by the World Teachers, Duravasa, Dharmakunda, Satyapati, Mahakala, Adinatha, Ramanatha, Jaleshvara, Svacchanda, Shambhunatha, Guptanatha and Mahaguru Soma-Natha Maharaj Dev, the Supreme Leader of Shri Yoga Mahasamaj (The Yoga Order). The Rahasya Sampradaaya may be regarded as having particularly close connections to the Trika Shaastra of Kashmir, North India (also known as "Kashmir Shaivism"). It is, however, naturally related to all other Shaiva or Hindu traditions of India, such as the Shaiva Siddhaanta, having its roots in the Original Revelation or Universal World Faith, the Supreme Eternal Law of Heaven (Sanaatana Dharma), to which all of Mankind originally belonged.   One Source, many offshoots The fact is that there is only One Spiritual Reality (God). In consequence, all Spiritual traditions are necessarily rooted in the same One Truth. This is particularly true of the Eastern traditions belonging to Glorious Dharma-Aagama which is the Original Divinely Revealed Tradition of the Supreme Eternal Law of Heaven (Sanaatana Dharma) which was established by the Supreme Being at the beginning of Time. These traditions are: Yoga, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. They are the five main branches of Divine Revelation, which Parama Shiva, the Supreme Being, broadcasted in the five directions of the World (upwards, eastwards, southwards, westwards and northwards) for the salvation and upliftment of the human race. All other traditions are just offshoots of this Original Divine Revelation (Aadi Dharma). As far as Western traditions are concerned, it almost goes without saying that they are true when and to the extent that they agree with these five and false when they disagree. However, even in the East, some lines of teachers have strayed from the Original Path (Aadi Dharma). Some Spiritual leaders are attempting to portray Hinduism or Buddhism, for example, as separate from, and even contrary to, the Tradition of Yoga (Yoga Dharma). To understand how such deplorable deviations from the Original Path are possible, it is necessary to acquaint ourselves with the Spiritual facts of life. The total World population has been estimated at about 6 billion, a truly impressive figure. Yet we must not forget that there are far more Souls living on other planes of existence. They too have to be included in the Spiritual Process. Being infinitely more numerous than those on Earth, this means that the real Spiritual Work is being carried out there, rather than here. In consequence, the Original and Authentic Streams of Spiritual Instruction are much more pure and powerful on the other planes. By contrast, those operating on Earth are necessarily smaller, weaker and susceptible to contamination by un-Spiritual energies. The Infinite Ocean of Universal Intelligence can without doubt generate and support any number of Spiritual currents, just as a great lake of pure water can feed several outward-flowing streams. However, while on the Higher Planes, due to the greater purity of those regions, the Streams of Yogic Teaching retain their purity to a large degree, those operating on Earth inevitably become affected by the un-Spiritual and even anti-Spiritual situation of the material World, just as in the case of ordinary water streams, due to the chemical or physical composition of the terrain through which they take their course, some or all of them may become sufficiently polluted for their water to be rendered unsuitable for human consumption. This is only natural, since on the physical plane to which Planet Earth belongs, even Spiritual Energy is more dense and less active or less efficient than in the higher dimensions of existence. Thus, while all Streams of Yogic Teaching - with the exception of bogus ones which do exist - are legitimate in the sense that they originate in the same Authentic Source, the fact remains that due to the influence emanating from the environment in which they operate, some have become contaminated with, or distorted by, cultural, psychological or socio-political issues that render them unsafe for Seekers who are susceptible to such contamination. In the interest of truth and without wishing to appear uncharitable, it must be said that, since in this material world the value of Yoga practice is mainly seen to lie in its capacity to resolve physical and mental issues, certain "Yoga Schools" have come to exhibit a greater resemblance to medical or gymnastic institutions than to places of Spiritual learning. While the desire to help people find mental and physical well-being is in itself admirable, this selective approach has sadly resulted in the Spiritual side of Yoga being largely overlooked and neglected. Now from the perspective of Yoga, no healing process is complete without reference to man's Soul or indwelling Spirit. Moreover, the aforementioned enterprises have consistenly failed to produce any Enlightened Souls, which is what the World at present urgently needs and which is the true function and purpose of Yoga. This is also the reason why we are strongly appealing to all genuine Yoga teaching agencies to urgently join forces and double their efforts to resolve this deplorable situation. Yoga must urgently regain Worldwide recognition and influence as the indispensable force for good that it evidently represents. As regards the authenticity of a Preceptorial Line, uninformed outsiders often entertain the opinion that Self-Realised Masters must appoint a successor in a formal transfer of authority. This is a superficial perception of reality. Initiated Yogis know that contrary to the expectations of outsiders, the transmission of Spiritual authority can and does occur quite naturally and spontaneously. Indeed, the Universal Yoga Stream is like a subterranean current that may spring to surface anywhere and at any time, or again, like a plant that grows offshoots at the most unexpected points in time and space. This being so, the sole criterion of authenticity that we may reasonably apply to a particular Spiritual line is that it operates in Unity with the Original Teaching (Aadi Dharma) as defined above. The fulfilment of this criterion will suffice to qualify it as authentic even when the question of preceptorial succession has found no clear conventional answer. All true Spiritual Activity, such as a Yoga Class, Group, Circle or Order, is a living channel through which the Original, Unique and Eternally One Source Teaching can express itself unimpeded and according to its own inner dynamics. Although Spiritual Conduits of this order may be found in operation on Earth, they are not only extremely rare but, as a rule, beyond the reach of outsiders. To our best knowledge, The Yoga Order represents one of the very few currents of Yogic Teaching that meet the criteria of Authentic Spiritual Activity while being at the same time - and to a large extent - available to the public, indeed, it was brought into being with the specific intention of enhancing public awareness of the true spirit of Yoga as originally revealed.   <<  Yoga Council Home   ||    Questions & Answers >>