Guruji's teachings
An excerpt tells how Aiya met Guruji, was welcomed without any question of caste, and was asked to share what he received.
An excerpt from the book The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne G. Dempsey, about Aiya, a disciple of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji). Shared on Guruji's blog, posted by Vira Chandra on 24 April 2016. Originally published at “Finding Guruji: Aiya’s Entry into Śrīvidyā”.
This post is an excerpt from a book by an outside writer, so it is summarised here and not copied in full. The full excerpt is on Guruji's blog.
After several years of looking for Sri Vidya practitioners and asking for initiation, Aiya found Guruji, who was then a professor of nuclear physics with a name for deep spiritual insight and unusual thinking.
At an early gathering, Guruji spoke about mantras taught only to men. This had long bothered Aiya. He spoke up and said such rules made no sense, since women bring men into the world, raise them and shape them. Guruji stood, walked over, hugged him and said he was glad to meet someone who thought as he did.
Later Aiya went to Guruji's house to ask for initiation, with Balu for support, afraid he would be refused again. Guruji agreed at once. Aiya worried aloud that he was not a brahmin, and Guruji answered that it made no difference. Guruji then said he would simply ask the Devi, sat in meditation for a few minutes, and afterwards said he would come to Aiya's home in two weeks. There he initiated Aiya and his wife with the full set of sixteen mantras.
Normally a new student gives the guru a small gift. Guruji asked instead for a promise: to share the knowledge, experience and joy with everyone. Six months later Aiya, his wife and their young daughter moved to the United States with Guruji's blessing and began teaching people from all walks of life. His temple grew from that work.
I'm so glad to know somebody who thinks like me.
Short quote, Guruji as told in The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne G. Dempsey. Shared on Guruji's blog: “Finding Guruji: Aiya’s Entry into Śrīvidyā”, 24 April 2016, posted by Vira Chandra.
The story is about access. In the excerpt, Guruji does not ask about caste or sex before he agrees to teach. He asks the Devi, and he asks the student to pass the teaching on.
In Kaula practice the Goddess is not kept behind a gate. She is met in the body, in nature and in worship, whether that worship is inner or done with a yantra and offerings. A teacher's job is to help the student meet Her.
Guruji attained mahasamadhi in October 2015. Guru Amma Annapurnamba guides the lineage today. This post is one disciple's account of how he came to the path.
In this excerpt, no. When Aiya said he was not a brahmin, Guruji answered, "What difference does that make?" and agreed to initiate him.
Aiya had said that rules keeping some mantras from women made no sense. Guruji said he was glad to meet someone who thought like him.
The excerpt says Guruji initiated Aiya and his wife with the whole set, all sixteen mantras.
He asked Aiya to promise to share the knowledge, experience and joy he received with everyone.
It is an excerpt from The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne G. Dempsey, posted on Guruji's blog by Vira Chandra.
Read the original: Finding Guruji: Aiya’s Entry into Śrīvidyā, on Guruji's blog.
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