Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Denver Mods 7/26/84) 6/24/83; site drutx.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ahuta!drutx!slb From: slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Novice seeks sources of enlightenment Message-ID: <2439@drutx.UUCP> Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 14:15:53 EST Article-I.D.: drutx.2439 Posted: Mon Apr 8 14:15:53 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 9-Apr-85 02:35:42 EST Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver Lines: 70 Sunny asked for some information on the Ananda Meditiation Center, and some other questions. I was going to mail this, but decided that much of the information could be of general interest. So here goes: Dear Sunny, I do not know how to contact the particular center that you mention, however I thought I would write and let you know of some things that have helped me in my admittedly lazy spiritual search. There is a book out called, I believe, "A Pilgrim's Guide to Spiritual Communities". I don't know if it has been revised and kept up to date. If it has not, it may be of no use to you unless the center is more than 10 years old. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy. If you can find it, it may list the one you are interested in. Ananda means love or devotion, and may be a common name for groups. There are several good translations of the Bhagavad Gita about. I rather like the Penguin edition--as it is translated not with an eye to any one guru or cult. I recommend Ram Das's "The Only Dance There Is" and "Be Here Now" as entry-level guides. Some of what he says pertains more to the acid generation I grew up in, but he really has some very sensible advice. In addition, the last section of "Be Here Now" has a great book-list. It is divided into three sections: 1. Books to Hang Out With, 2. Books to Visit With Now and Then, 3. Books It's Good to Have Known. I think this list is worth the price of the book. An EXCELLENT source for books, as well as dynamite incense, is the Vedanta Catalog, P.O. Box 509, Summerland CA 93067-0509. They specialize in Hindu, but have books from all traditions. Try reading some of Vivikananda's works on the Yogas. Their "Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta" is a marvelous work--which I find useful for making myself remember that all religions are one at the base (so I don't get into a holier-than-thou-because-I've-left-you-behind feeling about Christianity. I find I must remind myself that even though that tradition does nothing for me, it is a valid one.) I wish all Christians could read this for a real shake-up about what their religion can mean. I was going to say something about "Don't get too hung up on one tradition or guru at first." But, well, maybe that is my present problem--I see them as all valid and can't make a commitment. Or maybe I need one diety or tradition to come along and tap me on the shoulder. Right now I say I'm a Buddhist. But sometimes Vishnu calls. And if I am a Buddhist, what kind (shades of net.origins!) am I? I practice irregularly and poorly (those two go together). I cut down on my practice a few years ago when I realized that I had to get my outer life together to help my inner life. My outer life is now as reasonably together as it will ever be, but I have not really gotten back to it. So guess I will say "Go ahead, plunge." Oh well. Hope this helps. Shanti -- Sue Brezden Real World: Room 1B17 Net World: ihnp4!drutx!slb AT&T Information Systems 11900 North Pecos Westminster, Co. 80234 (303)538-3829 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Honk if you love Shiva! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~