DOCSLIB.ORG

After Mindfulness Also by Manu Bazzano

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
After Mindfulness Also by Manu Bazzano After Mindfulness Also by Manu Bazzano SPECTRE OF THE STRANGER: Towards a Phenomenology of Hospitality THE PERPETUAL BEGINNER (in Italian) THE SPEED OF ANGELS BUDDHA IS DEAD: Nietzsche and the Dawn of European Zen ZEN POEMS (editor) HAIKU FOR LOVERS (editor) Music albums: DAEDALO: Walk Inside the Painting NAKED DANCE SEX, RELIGION & COSMETICS After Mindfulness New Perspectives on Psychology and Meditation Edited by Manu Bazzano University of Roehampton, UK Selection and editorial content © Manu Bazzano 2014 Individual chapters © Respective authors 2014 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2014 978-1-137-37039-6 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2014 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-47525-4 ISBN 978-1-137-37040-2 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9781137370402 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. Contents List of Tables vii Preface ix Acknowledgements xiii Notes on Contributors xv Part I Mindfulness in Context 1 Sati or Mindfulness? Bridging the Divide 3 John Peacock 2 Beyond Mindfulness: An Other-centred Paradigm 23 Caroline Brazier 3 The Everyday Sublime 37 Stephen Batchelor 4 Mindfulness: A Philosophical Assessment 49 David Brazier 5 Mindfulness and the Good Life 61 Manu Bazzano Part II Beyond Personal Liberation: Mindfulness, Society, and Clinical Practice 6 How Social is Your Mindfulness? 81 Meg Barker 7 Mindfulness as a Secular Spirituality 101 Alex Gooch 8 Mindfulness and Therapy: A Skeptical Approach 112 Rebecca Greenslade 9 Meditation and Meaning 124 Jeff Harrison 10 Clinical Mindfulness, Meta-perspective, and True Nature 136 Dheeresh Turnbull v vi Contents 11 The Value of Meditative States of Mind in the Therapist 148 Monica Lanyado Concluding Unmindful Postscript 163 Index 169 Tables 6.1 Key differences between popular Western mindfulness approaches and the social mindfulness approach 87 vii This page intentionally left blank Preface “Mindfulness is not a technique, but the cultivation of a sensibility.” These words, spoken by Stephen Batchelor during a talk in 2012 at the annual seven-day Zen retreat he facilitates with Martine Batchelor in Devon, UK, provided the initial spark for the book you are reading. A silent Zen retreat ‘gathers the mind’ (sesshin, in Japanese). A gath- ered mind is a receptive mind. I find the combination of intensive sitting and walking meditation, of working on a koan—all the while sus- tained by a temporary community of supportive practitioners—effective in fostering greater receptivity, deepening my practice, and gaining fresh insight into the way I live and work. On that particular day, these auspicious conditions helped bring forth the idea of this book. Several eminent practitioners in the fields of both meditation and psychology subsequently accepted my invitation, contributing diverse and thought-provoking essays, which are found in this collection. If I believed in karma and reincarnation, as some Buddhists do, I would have said that finding such an enthusiastic response was due to the merit I accumulated in past lives. Given my preference for light-footed skepticism in such matters, I will simply say that I have been lucky beyond belief. The book is a collection of unpublished essays by leading exponents of contemporary Buddhism, esteemed psychotherapists, and writers. Focusing on various practices of ‘mindfulness’ especially within mental health settings, it aims to bring critical evaluation, as well as appreci- ation, of mindfulness. Unlike most books on the topic, it offers a way forward out of what many practitioners begin to perceive as an impasse. The sheer diversity and depth of expertise assembled in the book also contributes to widening the standard presentation of mindfulness, bringing, for the first time, new perspectives. We are in a phase of transition in the integration of Eastern con- templative practices and Western psychology. In many ways, this book reflects this transition. The reader will find here in-depth explorations of diverse approaches—from the teachings of the Buddha to contemporary psychoanalysis, from phenomenology to relational and sexual therapy, from cognitive–behavioural therapy to secular Buddhism, from religious Buddhism to mundane Buddhism, from existential psychotherapy to ix x Preface other-centred therapy. In spite of such wide diversity, contributors agree on the need for a greater contextualisation of mindfulness, and a more contemporary and wide-ranging articulation of the dharma. Mindfulness programmes have so far mostly relied on a cognitive– behavioural framework, which has been influential in mental health culture during the last three decades. There are signs, however, of a paradigm shift (Bazzano, 2013). Contemporary interdisciplinary stud- ies in developmental psychology, child psychiatry, and developmental neuroscience (Ryan, 2007; Panksepp, 2008; Leckman and March, 2011; Schore, 2012) are currently reframing John Bowlby’s (2006) attachment theory into an arguably truer context, insisting that the crucial aspects of motivation, emotion,andself-regulation, present in Bowlby’s original formulation, had been ignored at the time of its inception because of a cultural climate dominated by behaviourism and cognitive psychology. In other words, we might be effectively reaching the end of the cog- nitive turn. This is by no means a uniformly consistent phenomenon, yet its varied manifestations converge. Thinkers inspired by Barthes, Derrida, and Deleuze (Massumi, 1995; Ticineto Clough and Alley, 2007; Gregg and Seigworth, 2010) have written about the affective turn, empha- sising the unpredictable, event-like and self-organising nature of the affects, as well as the fact that they cannot wholly be translated into cognition or representation. Rather than strengthening the ego-self, the affects are a crucial expression of the embodied life of the organism. It’s early days, but if what is now limited to the world of research gath- ers momentum, it will begin to have an impact on how we understand and implement meditation. For instance, it may no longer be under- stood as a set of skills aimed at controlling the ‘disorderly’ nature of the affects, the chaos produced by powerful emotions, or as a tool-box of corrective procedures. It may come to mean being with, valuing the complexities and uncertainties inherent in being human—appreciating one’s life, as Maezumi Roshi was fond of saying (Maezumi, 2001), rather than chastising it. Many agree that mindfulness programmes have been beneficial in the mental health field. At the same time, there is a growing recog- nition that two crucial components have been missing so far: (1) the background (historical, religious, and anthropological, as well as mythical) upon which the teaching of mindfulness rests; and (2) the social, familial, and philosophical context in which the individual is embedded. The book addresses these two distinctive points. In Part I, ‘Mindfulness in Context’, four contemporary Buddhist teachers provide four different views on the background of mindfulness. John Peacock, Preface xi Caroline Brazier, Stephen Batchelor, and David Brazier eloquently artic- ulate this point from diverse perspectives. My own chapter concludes Part I, linking the broader context discussed thus far to some of the specificities present in the second half of the book. Part II, ‘Beyond Per- sonal Liberation’, looks at some of the societal and clinical applications of mindfulness. It calls for an embodied and psychologically informed awareness of dukkha (a key term in the teachings of the Buddha, indi- cating the transient nature of life), beyond the confines of a ‘good life’ pursued by an allegedly separate individual. This crucial point is addressed by Meg Barker, a keen advocate of ‘social mindfulness’ and a writer alert to the need to extend mindfulness to issues of gender, sexu- ality, and relationships. In order to be relevant, a truly secular approach to mindfulness also needs to be informed by contemporary develop- ments in
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Buddhism in America
    Buddhism in America The Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series The United States is the birthplace of religious pluralism, and the spiritual landscape of contemporary America is as varied and complex as that of any country in the world. The books in this new series, written by leading scholars for students and general readers alike, fall into two categories: some of these well-crafted, thought-provoking portraits of the country’s major religious groups describe and explain particular religious practices and rituals, beliefs, and major challenges facing a given community today. Others explore current themes and topics in American religion that cut across denominational lines. The texts are supplemented with care- fully selected photographs and artwork, annotated bibliographies, con- cise profiles of important individuals, and chronologies of major events. — Roman Catholicism in America Islam in America . B UDDHISM in America Richard Hughes Seager C C Publishers Since New York Chichester, West Sussex Copyright © Columbia University Press All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Seager, Richard Hughes. Buddhism in America / Richard Hughes Seager. p. cm. — (Columbia contemporary American religion series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN ‒‒‒ — ISBN ‒‒‒ (pbk.) . Buddhism—United States. I. Title. II. Series. BQ.S .'—dc – Casebound editions of Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is This? Ancient Questions for Modern Minds
    What is this? Ancient questions for modern minds Martine and Stephen Batchelor Tuwhiri Wellington Aotearoa New Zealand Saturday evening WELCOME Entering the retreat Stephen Batchelor Welcome to Gaia House for the yearly Sŏn retreat. I realise that many of you have travelled a long way to get here, and suspect most of us – like myself – have had a busy week as well. We are all likely to be tired. The mad rush of tying up the loose ends of our lives before setting off for a week of quiet, solitary reflection can be exhausting. We’ll keep this opening session short and to the point so everyone can have a good night’s sleep. Martine and I have been leading these retreats once a year since we returned from Songgwang Sa monastery in Korea to Dev- on in 1985, which would make this retreat the thirtieth – well, actually, the twenty-ninth, since one year we offered this slot to the Chinese Chan master Sheng-yen1. 1 What is this? Ancient questions for modern minds First and foremost, this is a retreat: a time of conscious withdrawal from the routines and duties of our everyday existence in order to reflect on what really matters for us. We step back into the solitude and silence offered by Gaia House in order to take stock of ourselves. I imagine many of you will have arrived here with questions or issues that are concerning you. These might have to do with your career, your marriage, your children, or with more personal psychological or spiritual matters.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Stream of Blessings: Ordained Buddhist Women in Britain
    In the Stream of Blessings: Ordained Buddhist Women in Britain Caroline Starkey Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science December 2014 2 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is her own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement ©2014 The University of Leeds and Caroline Starkey The right of Caroline Starkey to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 3 Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and advice of a number of people and institutions. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the University of Leeds, and to the Spalding Trust, each of whom provided vital funding. The School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science at the University of Leeds was extremely supportive, providing me with space to work, funding for conferences, and a collegiate atmosphere. A very special and truly heartfelt thank you is due to both of my academic supervisors – Professor Kim Knott and Dr Emma Tomalin. I am grateful for their attention to detail, their thought-provoking questions, and the concern that they showed both for my research and for me as a researcher.
    [Show full text]
  • Kusan Sunim. the Way of Korean
    “I highly recommend this wonderful book which affords us a ‘bird’s- eye’ view into the teachings of Korean Zen Master Kusan Sunim. The teachings are concise yet comprehensive. A welcome addition to the growing body of writing on Korean Zen.” —Richard Shrobe (Zen Master Wu Kwang), Guiding Teacher, Chogye International Zen Center of New York “A modern Zen classic with deep roots in the oldest traditions of Korean and Chinese Buddhism. Kusan roars like a lion.” —Stanley Lombardo ABOUT THE BOOK The power and simplicity of the Korean Zen tradition shine in this collection of teachings by a renowned modern master, translated by Martine Batchelor. Kusan Sunim provides a wealth of practical advice for students, particularly with regard to the uniquely Korean practice of hwadu, or sitting with questioning. An extensive introduction by Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs, provides both a biography of the author and a brief history of Korean Zen. KUSAN SUNIM (1901–1983) was the resident Zen Master at Songgwang Sa, one of the largest monasteries in South Korea. He was the first Zen teacher to accept and train Western students in a Korean monastery. Sign up to learn more about our books and receive special offers from Shambhala Publications. Or visit us online to sign up at shambhala.com/eshambhala. THE WAY OF KOREAN ZEN by Kusan Sunim translated by Martine Batchelor edited with an introduction by Stephen Batchelor WEATHERHILL • Boston & London • 2013 Weatherhill An imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Horticultural Hall 300 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115 www.shambhala.com © 1985 by Songgwang Sa Monastery Cover art by Sokchong Sunim All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Out of the Shadows: Socially Engaged Buddhist Women
    University of San Diego Digital USD Theology and Religious Studies: Faculty Scholarship Department of Theology and Religious Studies 2019 Out of the Shadows: Socially Engaged Buddhist Women Karma Lekshe Tsomo PhD University of San Diego, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/thrs-faculty Part of the Buddhist Studies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Digital USD Citation Tsomo, Karma Lekshe PhD, "Out of the Shadows: Socially Engaged Buddhist Women" (2019). Theology and Religious Studies: Faculty Scholarship. 25. https://digital.sandiego.edu/thrs-faculty/25 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology and Religious Studies: Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of Digital USD. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Section Titles Placed Here | I Out of the Shadows Socially Engaged Buddhist Women Edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo SAKYADHITA | HONOLULU First Edition: Sri Satguru Publications 2006 Second Edition: Sakyadhita 2019 Copyright © 2019 Karma Lekshe Tsomo All rights reserved No part of this book may not be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage or retreival system, without the prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations. Cover design Copyright © 2006 Allen Wynar Sakyadhita Conference Poster
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue
    Spring 2001 / 2544 The Upasika Newsletter Issue No. 12 In this issue....... Green Buddhism Weeds as Dhamma! The Greening of Anicca Sacred Spaces Pilgrimage Zen Bones, Theravada Bones Hazards, Habits and Trips Medicine—The Fourth Requisite Reviews & Readers Letters 1 Community Green Buddhism This issue is mainly devoted to the theme of the illustrate and convince us of our humble position on natural world. Buddhism for me has always had a planet Earth. We have considerable evidence of the very easy relationship with the world of nature. The rise and fall of whole species. We are unravelling the Buddha observed the suffering of animals and complex interdependencies between plants and recognised that they had a similar reaction to pain and animals. Excursions outside of the Earth’s suffering as humankind. The Buddhist precept to atmosphere and protection has shown how difficult it avoid harming living beings does not simply mean to is to maintain our health. avoid harming other humans - it means that we have to be sensitive to the way we relate to all life. In space, without gravity, bones shrink and loose Buddhist cosmology places humanity within an strength. Without an atmosphere we suffer from intimate network of inter-related forces and realms. greater levels of radiation and have to build complicated recycling systems to remove carbon This was an enlightened and profound realisation dioxide, methane and contaminants. Our bodies and some 2,500 years ago and is one which still runs their welfare are intimately connected with the counter to the egocentric attitude which places ‘me complex ecosphere of the Earth.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relation of Akasa to Pratityasamutpada in Nagarjuna's
    The relation of akasa to pratityasamutpada in Nagarjuna’s writings Garth Mason To Juliet, my wife, whose love, acceptance and graceful realism made this thesis possible. To Sinead and Kieran who teach me everyday I would like to thank Professor Deirdre Byrne for her intellectual support and editing the thesis The relation of akasa to pratityasamutpada in Nagarjuna’s writings By Garth Mason Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject of RELIGIOUS STUDIES at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF. M. CLASQUIN AUGUST 2012 i Summary of thesis: While much of Nāgārjuna’s writings are aimed at deconstructing fixed views and views that hold to some form of substantialist thought (where certain qualities are held to be inherent in phenomena), he does not make many assertive propositions regarding his philosophical position. He focuses most of his writing to applying the prasaṅga method of argumentation to prove the importance of recognizing that all phenomena are śūnya by deconstructing views of phenomena based on substance. Nāgārjuna does, however, assert that all phenomena are empty and that phenomena are meaningful because śūnyatā makes logical sense.1 Based on his deconstruction of prevailing views of substance, he maintains that holding to any view of substance is absurd, that phenomena can only make sense if viewed from the standpoint of śūnyatā. This thesis grapples with the problem that Nāgārjuna does not provide adequate supporting arguments to prove that phenomena are meaningful due to their śūnyatā. It is clear that if saṃvṛti is indiscernible due to its emptiness, saṃvṛtisatya cannot be corroborated on its own terms due to its insubstantiality.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter-Spring-2012.Pdf
    spring 2012 INSIGHT MEDITATION IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION news Contents Regular Articles Welcome pg 2 A word from our Trustees pg 4 Sangha News pg 9 Coordinator news and reflection pg 10 Teacher’s Corner pg 15 Focus on Retreats pg 17 UK One Day Retreat Information pg 20 UK Sitting Groups pg 22 Features in this edition Waking Up In (Our Own) Time pg 5 by Rob Burbea to get us thinking and to challenge our conventional thinking. but few get to know them so intimately as she has done; it is Instant Communication pg 12 Director’s piece... I tend to harbour a comfortable notion of compassion as a delightful to hear some of the inside story, especially when by Martine Batchelor pleasant feeling of goodwill, but the searing honesty which Now in an unnaturally warm late March I feel excited at written in such a poetic way. Insight Meditation and Rob advocates would not be so easy to live with. The the prospect of the long, dreamy, hot summer days ahead. This newsletter is the first one to be taken under the Mindfulness-based Approaches pg 14 intellectual beliefs and values in my head are in conflict with Coming out of winter always brings a relief, heralded at the wing of Charlotte Johnston, our new Communications by Christina Feldman the course of my daily life, with assumptions which I hold front of Gaia House by the patches of daffodils and around Manager. Very many thanks to Sarah Abdy for her years about how I should relate to people or how I should behave in Your feedback please! pg 16 the back of the building by the delicious smell of the wild of hard editorial work, during which this small publication garlic growing in dense, shaded clumps.
    [Show full text]
  • The Americanization of Ancient Science
    The Americanization of Ancient Science Christopher William Cavanaugh Pederson Spring 2014 History 484 Prof. Tauger In recent years, the growth of Yoga has gained much notoriety. The program “YOGA ed.”, promoted by Yoga instructor and creator Tara Guber, has developed rapid popularity in public schools. By 2007, 100 schools in twenty-six states ran the program taught by more than 300 physical education (PE) instructors.1 Yet this new PE initiative has been challenged by an unusual alliance of secular and Christian fundamentalist parents. A group of parents at a school in Encinitas County, California sued the school district superintendent in Sedlock vs. Timothy Baird Superintendent over the use of YOGA ed. in their children’s school. The parents claimed that Yoga was a religious practice and thus violated separation of church and state, citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.2 Suing on behalf of the parents in the lawsuit, The National Center for Law and Policy (NCLP) alleged “civil rights violations resulting from its… Ashtanga yoga program,” and claimed that Yoga was, 1 “Yoga Causes Controversy in Public Schools: Some Parents Say it Violates the Separation of Church and State,” NBC News, January 28, 2007, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16859368/ns/health-childrens_health/t/yoga-causes-controversy- public-schools/#.Uzw4XiiMfuc. 2 Kyla Calvert, “Promoting Hinduism? Parents Demand Removal of School Yoga Class,” NPR News, January 09, 2013, http://www.npr.org/2013/01/09/168613461/promoting-hinduism- parents-demand-removal-of-school-yoga-class. 1 “inherently and pervasively religious, having its roots firmly planted in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and western metaphysical religious beliefs and practices.”3 The school district defended the program as just one element of a greater initiative to help children make healthier decisions.4 They claimed the Yoga program was exercise, citing scientific evidence that Yoga improved attention among students, and resulted in higher test scores and reduced rates of childhood obesity.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring! Spring- Isdue Today Is a Continuation of Yesterday but - to Attachment to the Past-To Something Time Messages in Reality, Today Is a Totally Newday
    Quarterly Newsletter of tbe Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose Dharma Legaca Vol.2 No. I Splag 1998 The Fresh, Greative Life by Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose Many people talk about being busy. Some get all other things and become com- We are unable to wipe them out, unable people say to me, "Oh, you are so busy pletely involved in whateverwe are do- to fopet. Even if rive rememberto try, it is that I hesitate to tell you or ask you ing. Those minutes and hours are really hard to forget something that has hurt us something." In reality, a person is really beautiful. Even the thought of enjoyment deeply. However, it is a discipline, if you not busy at all. We cannot do two things is totally forgotten. We become "noth- want to call it discipline, wherein one is at the same time. We are always ing." The state of nothing is not empty; it able to transcend angerand quanels, and engaged in only one thing at a time. lf we is full of life. One's whole life is involved to start a new clay. To be able to control can realize and live this truth, then we in what one is doing and the self is for- one's own mind isto be able to live each will knowwhythe Buddha stressed non- gotten. At such times we don't get tired day as a new day. This is what non-at- vattachment. because there is creativity, which is the tachment means. This is the basis for You should not become attached to realization of life ilself.
    [Show full text]
  • Buddhist Recovery Meeting
    Buddhist Recovery Meeting Leader Instructions & Example Topics for Contemplation www.5th-precept.org Fifth Precept Sangha Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Sit-and-Share Meeting Format.......................................................................................................................... 6 Topic Guidelines ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Foundations of a Buddhist Recovery ............................................................................................................ 10 A Sajja Path… A Simple Path ........................................................................................................................... 11 Example topics for contemplation and reflection. ................................................................................... 12 Sajja/Sacca, Truth, Karma and Commitment ........................................................................................... 13 To Make a Vow........................................................................................................................................................ 13 Suffering is optional ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Refuge ....................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Yoga and Women
    Yoga and Women Compiled by: Trisha Lamb Last Revised: April 27, 2006 © 2005 by International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) International Association of Yoga Therapists P.O. Box 2513 • Prescott • AZ 86302 • Phone: 928-541-0004 E-mail: [email protected] • URL: www.iayt.org The contents of this bibliography do not provide medical advice and should not be so interpreted. Before beginning any exercise program, see your physician for clearance. Male or female, there is no great difference. But if she develops the mind bent on enlightenment, to be a woman is better. —Padmasambhava speaking to Yeshe Tsogyal, translated by Tarthang Tulku Mother of Knowledge, p. 102 “Many swamis and yogis in India told me that they hoped that in their next lives they would be reincarnated as women because women have true devotion, true humility, and this is the path to liberation.” —Swami Sivananda Radha Mantras: Words of Power, p. 100 “Nowhere in the Smritis, Kalpha shastras or any of the religious texts has it been said that a woman cannot wear the sacred thread. In all the six philosophies, four Vedas, one hundred and eight Upanishads, eighteen Puranas and two epics, nowhere is it written that a female cannot wear the sacred thread.” —Swami Satyananda Saraswati Bhakti Yoga Sagar, p. 25 “Women, by and large, have more viveka or discrimination than men, not only in India but also in the West and everywhere in the world. They can discriminate between right and wrong, true and false, between dharma and adharma . It is due to their influence that dharma is still in existence.” —Swami Satyananda Saraswati Yoga, May 1999, p.
    [Show full text]