Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga: B.K.S.

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Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga:
B.K.S.

jot1
Enthusiast

Nov 5, 2004, 6:10 AM

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B.K.S.	Can't Post

Dear "Iyengar yoga" practioners (and perhaps teachers). If you have not done so, please check the topic "Yoga is a religion." The original post was meant as an experiment. Please read it along with the heated comments to follow (ironically) from Iyengar students (perhaps teachers). This is very ironic since those responsible for all of the quoted material are none other than Mr. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar.

Your anger has been misplaced, and it might be wise to contact "the powers to be" and find out why so many have been deceived. Could it be that "B.K.S." might stand for the Best Kept Secret?

(A very important related topic that we can go into is in the understanding that Hatha Yoga is "B.K.S.")

jday
Regular

Nov 5, 2004, 4:50 PM

Post #2 of 13 (2691 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, I must break what I said in my last entry and reply to you, jot1. This stuff is just sometimes so interesting I can't help but respond!! As many other people, I just love having my opinion be known.

I was very interested to find out that what you quoted was from the Iyengar's. I was quite confused when I read it, because it didn't seem like you were writing. I agreed with almost everything in it, except some of your little inserts (mainly the first one where you quoted that when Iyengar said Yoga is a Universal religion and then said that that religion was Hinduism). You said that there was a heated discussion in that thread. Indeed there was, but I don't think that it was heated about the information contained in the your thread. It seemed that the heatedness was directed at your mode of communication. When I reread what you had posted from the Iyengar's, I read it with such an open mind, knowing who the Iyengar's are - in a very general way. They would likely not impose their views on anybody. When I read your posts it is with instant antagonism because there seems to be so little room for discussion. No one likes to be told that what they believe is wrong, that they are living in the dark, that they totally misunderstand a concept.
I'm not sure what makes you an expert on Hinduism, since I don't know you personally or what your background is. If one wanted to become a Hindu, is there a special ceremony that you have to go through? In this ceremony are you given secret information that non-Hindus woud not know? If this isn't the case, isn't it possible for a non-Hindu to know just as much about Hinduism as a Hindu? For example, I am not Christian, or Muslim, or Sikh, but I know quite a lot about those religions. I know why the aforementioned people do what they do and act how they act in regards to their religion. I don't have to be initiated into their faith to understand.

In applying your little test, and gathering all your little "fishies", what did you intend to accomplish? Make everyone feel stupid? That is all that can come out of it.

I am now going to tell a little anecdote that is completely politically incorrect, which I apologize for, but it illustrates a point very clearly:

Imagine a picture of a sprinter running in a race, bursting through the the winning line. Now imagine that that sprinter is in the special olympics, and the person who has won is mentally disabled. Now here is the punch line: Fighting on the internet is like winning the special olympics, you may win, but your still retarted.

I'm sure I'll get lots of flac for that, but you get my point. We are all being pretty darn retarded.

Nadia
Enthusiast

Nov 5, 2004, 9:01 PM

Post #3 of 13 (2686 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

To be honest I didn't even bother reading the post, because I had already read enough of your opinions. How can we know what to think of it anyway when we didn't know if it was a quote or your own essay? Why do you want to come and experiment on people? It's quite patronising; you think you can make people look silly by your manipulations. The only thing you proved by your 'experiment' is you don't get anywhere by telling people what to think. The heated discussion was not about the views on yoga but your attitude and the way you talk to people.

jot1
Enthusiast

Nov 6, 2004, 7:55 AM

Post #4 of 13 (2680 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Re: Jday and the race: I concede. You definately won this race.

jot1
Enthusiast

Nov 6, 2004, 8:00 AM

Post #5 of 13 (2678 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear little Nadia,
If you don't read a post, you can still comment on a post. This must be another example of your doctrine of no black and white, no right and wrong relativity. Thank you for providing an invaluable insight.

gangadip
Regular

Nov 6, 2004, 9:05 AM

Post #6 of 13 (2676 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, she really sucks people in doesn't she? Before you get too concerned about anything this jot1 posts, know this--she/he is a Hare Krishna, and if you don't know what that is, go to any of the websites that expose this johnny-come-lately pseudo hindu cult for what it is. Look under IKSCON, and have fun!. Traditional Hindus disown this outfit, it is an embarrasment to them, so don't for a minute think that jot1's views represent Hindus or Hinduism. Hindus do not force their religion or its beliefs on anyone in this way. You might as well argue with a wall for all the good it will do you to try and talk sense with this one, folks! But you probably noticed that already.

jot1
Enthusiast

Nov 6, 2004, 9:25 AM

Post #7 of 13 (2674 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you sure you did not mean to call yourself "ganja-dip?" I don't know from where you get your info. It also looks like you had a difficult time reading the post--one I did not agree with and one that was coming from a Fundamentalist Vaishnava point of view. If I were an F.V., why would I have put up this post? Not only am I not a Hare Krishna but not a female.

Lil' Padma
Regular

Nov 6, 2004, 8:03 PM

Post #8 of 13 (2665 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

"that expose this johnny-come-lately pseudo hindu cult for what it is. Look under IKSCON" Gandigip

Wow, I know serious Iyengar practitioners who belong to ISKCON. Good people with serious religious practices. Some of my friends are in this organization and it saddens me to think you believe Hindus really disdain them. Untrue, many Hindu's find a home away from home at temples in the states where I live. I know about the abuse and scandal, and it disturbs these people especially.

I feel it is really un-yogic to criticize their whole religion on-line in a forum these people will read.

LP

Nadia
Enthusiast

Nov 6, 2004, 8:47 PM

Post #9 of 13 (2661 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, that's almost a bad as criticising a whole style of yoga on a discussion forum dedicated it, and which its practitioners will most definitely read.
That saddens me too. Which is more "un-yogic"?

pascal
Enthusiast

Nov 7, 2004, 9:14 AM

Post #10 of 13 (2651 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Master YODA :" hmmm hmmm, great disturbance in the force i feel" Shocked

Cpt'ain solo :" wow! is jot1 a friend of powerful jabba-the-hutt?" Blush

Master YODA :" a lot of anger i feel, hmmmm...not so far Dark Vador could be..." Mad

R2D2 : beeeeep! i worry for princess Nadia, she is talking with him! Sly

(This post was edited by pascal on Nov 7, 2004, 9:48 AM)

Nadia
Enthusiast

Nov 7, 2004, 4:24 PM

Post #11 of 13 (2642 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I should listen more carefully to master yoda's advice shouldn't I. Wisdom in his words, there is Wink

Lil' Padma
Regular

Nov 7, 2004, 9:13 PM

Post #12 of 13 (2639 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear Nadia,

Thanks for the many uplifting comments you have made in my defense. I appreciate them very much.
I admit that I am engaged by Jot1's commentary, and I would like to see him bother to respond to my questions or his own, it is possible. And we have had a lot more activity on this site because of some heated commentary. A little rajasic clime to season us out of our Tamo guna.

I must also add I really did appreciate Suhas's response to my Desikachar post. Desikachar is a very humble person who does teach chanting, however he feels it should be taught separately. By the way, he does have good relations with the Iyengars. Many of you may know that his mother was Mr. Iyengar's sister.

Whatever you say on this web board could come back to haunt you, myself included, and yes it is bad form to trash a religion, because of an assumption of identity.

Of course, you have probably figured out, the nature of web discussions will always draw the incognito, as you can say whatever you want. The blessing is you can get something off your chest, and the curse you may have to live with it for a long time. Not all Iyengar teachers/students will bear listening to criticism.

A A few years ago I was active in forum that had international participation. I finally figured out who one of the writers was. They revealed some private things because they said they knew their identity was anonymous, and well a couple years later I suprised them at dinner with their screen name. Their jaw hung wide open. My dissapointment was that my posts were not inspiratioinal enough that he could figure out who I was. Oh well.

LP

Nadia
Enthusiast

Nov 8, 2004, 12:37 AM

Post #13 of 13 (2620 views)
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Re: B.K.S. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree, it's amazing the impact anonymity can have on people. My boyfriend used to play online role playing games, and he played a female character. Eventually the people participating in the game all met up in person, and many of them were quite shocked to see he was actually a he and not a she! The way people look at each other changes, and even he said it was interesting to see how different other male characters talked to him on the game.

Anyway, that was a big digression. But who knows, maybe jot1 has multiple identities on this discussion forum, maybe I am really jot1! Only jot1 will really know the truth...

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