Some people would try to grab God by the beard for a few bucks... forgetting that cash only goes so far. You buy a technique, you get the technique. Fair trade. You got exactly what you paid for.
Everything we get is just a technique. Whether it's free or paid, it doesn't matter. The rest is on us to actually do the work, whether we take the easy way or the hard way. I paid for a technique, and for what I paid, it isn't bad.
I don't care about the folklore surrounding Vishwanand any more than I care about any other guru...
You pay for the techniques and you don't give a damn about anything else, including the guru prices. It’s pure commerce, plain and simple. You pay your fee and you leave. Personally, I don't even follow Paramahansa Yogananda.
Why does initiation and shaktipat actually matter? Look, during initiation, you're channeling a specific part of the teacher's energy. You're essentially under their direct supervision. In this lineage, we’re talking about Paramahansa Yogananda. This setup is what keeps you from getting wrecked while practicing these techniques—and let's be clear, they are intense enough to hurt you on multiple levels if you aren't careful. That's why initiation is non-negotiable in the Yoga tradition. Think about it: imagine someone with a 10-watt circuit trying to plug into a 1,000-watt power grid. It’s going to end badly. Period. Beyond just the physical or psychological fallout, there's the whole issue of the ego getting sick. So many people develop massive egos when they start practicing Yoga because they lack the oversight and guidance of a teacher. Shaktipat provides that initial surge of fuel, giving you the momentum to take up the method easily without any nasty side effects. Plus, it clears out all those blocks—energy, mental, emotional, spiritual. It lets you start fresh so you can actually accumulate new energy and awaken Kundalini. If you aren't clean starting out, you're just asking for trouble on the path to self-realization.
Look, these techniques are just part of the well-known Yoga and Kriya traditions. There’s nothing new under the sun here. Of course, most people haven't heard of them because they aren't common in Western practice—they fall into those advanced categories you rarely encounter on a standard Western Yoga path. The whole point of initiation is receiving the so-called shaktipat, an energy transfer from teacher to student. In this case, the source is Mahavatar Babaji. The instructors are just there to walk us through the method and facilitate that transfer. Paramahansa Yogananda isn't a Mentor in that traditional sense either; he’s simply the one who made the method available to the public. This isn't your typical Yoga system where you're under the constant guidance of a Teacher. At least, not in a physical 🙂
The teachings of Transcendental Meditation come straight from Mahavatar Babaji. He’s one of those legendary Sages—a fully realized Yogi. One thing that sets a Sage apart is their possession of Sorub sidhi. That’s basically the power to maintain an immortal body.
Look, people always talk about how Babaji channels wisdom through certain individuals. And yeah, he really does guide folks along paths tied directly to his lineage. But let’s be real—abuse is always a possibility at that level if the 🙂 lets it happen. Still, I guess even that serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things.
This method is pretty new to me, so I’m hoping someone actually steps up here. 🙂 Look, the concept itself isn't exactly groundbreaking if you've spent any real time practicing Yoga. There’s nothing revolutionary about the methodology or the techniques—it’s all already documented in the classic texts. I’m just waiting on someone who’s actually initiated to come forward and share what they've experienced. 🙂
Jesse Gonzalez7 said:Hey everyone, Morgan Hernandez5, Ash. Morgan Hernandez5 — honestly, everything is connected here, so maybe this works out better for you in the long run. Ash — is that offer you made earlier (regarding migration) still on the table?
silverjackal said:Even if this is just some cosmetic change, like Ash says... I’m still totally floored by this..
Look, guys, Morgan Hernandez5 always had an ear to the ground and made time for everyone here. There were people who went MIA for six months, but she was always there, pouring her heart and soul into this subforum, and now she's just gone..🤷, it makes zero sense. Morgan Hernandez5, please know that everyone who found value in Alternative—even the ones who bumped heads with you—is standing right behind you now.👍Whatever happened, happened, but people know you didn't deserve this. You shouldn't be getting kicked out just to make room for one terrible moderator..👎
We aren't about to start whining like a bunch of old ladies, are we? You’ve gotta have some dignity, whether you're winning or losing.
Morgan Hernandez5 said:With this whole mess regarding the Alternative and the moderation stuff, I'm mostly just bummed I won't be able to nominate you for moderator anymore. I've read and listened to more of your wisdom than anyone else here. It sucks how values have flipped lately—like, people at the bottom get pushed up while the good ones get shoved down. But honestly, we don't have to care about their standards. We don't have to be part of it! So whatever, we don't care, because we know what power actually looks like.
It wasn't always this simple here, mod. One minute you're pissed, the next you're laughing. One minute you hate the whole world, then you love someone. You win some, you lose some. You always gotta give something up to get something. Whether you realize it or not, it happens. If this loss is just the price to pay to get what I want, then it was worth it sly.
"The main thing is staying human, regardless of what you know or what you can do" (Karen Perez44)
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but honestly, even if I had the chance, there's no way I'd ever agree to something like that...
Guys, why are we all losing our minds over the administration's decision? Every system is built on some set of laws that neither you nor I am going to change just by whining about this PDF. 😉 Life moves on... I really hope you all realize this whole topic is nothing more than window dressing...
hollowtrucker77 said:I’m going to go ahead and ask everyone here to try and keep this discussion at a somewhat civilized level, if that’s even possible it really ought to be the most efficient way for us to actually arrive at some kind of meaningful resolution thanks
I agree, this is a massive issue for this forum, and the admins need to start treating it like one. We seriously need to tighten up the requirements for becoming a moderator. In my book, a mod should be someone who is mentally stable, objective, and actually knows how to behave when talking to people. They need at least a decent level of communication skills. We don't need people using their power to settle private scores or nursing their own inferiority complexes on our heads. Users shouldn't be subjected to insults that are basically primitive behavior. It’s pathetic.
If someone can't meet even those basic standards, they have no business being a moderator. Period. The users are what make this forum what it is, not the moderators or the admins. Those guys should be invisible here, only showing up in their own damn PDFs. There are plenty of ways to discipline people who break the rules without resorting to dictatorial power trips. It’s especially pathetic when a moderator abuses their authority to stomp on someone's freedom of speech. Honestly, if we actually enforced some basic behavioral norms among the mods, this place would be a much better environment for everyone.
Let people speak their minds as long as they aren't breaking forum rules or US laws. Why would we ban one of our most basic human rights just because we don't like what's being said, or because of some selfish interests? We should be part of something that actually frees people—something that inspires them to explore themselves and the world through real discussion.
driftinggull13 said:There you go. Using just a couple of links on this thread, I managed to dig up the real names for Morgan Hernandez5 and dustyharbor18... didn't realize it was that easy. Not that I even know what I'd do with that info, but still...
That’s easy for you because certain mods are buddies with specific people and leak that data publicly. When they're fighting with them, they drag them through the mud, and when they make up, they start attacking someone else. It's all just playground politics for forum drama.😉
I think the site admins need to start cracking down on moderators who treat users like punching bags. It’s bad for the brand. If this place becomes known as a spot where having a different opinion gets you banned or insulted, it's dead. A forum should be a melting pot of ideas and unique voices. This kind of blatant suppression of free speech is the kind of thing you only see in third-world dictatorships...
I'm calling on the leadership to take a hard look at their mod team. Look at how they treat people, why this forum even exists, and what criteria they’re actually using to hand out punishments. I'm specifically talking about this recent mess.