Thoughts on Sri Ramakrishna?

[Aupmanyav]

He appointed the successor by himself so why would any student think of leaving the tradition? Its not at all natural.When a new Shankaracharya ascends the Shankara Pitha we don't hear about smartas walking out,they don't lose even 1 follower,so is the case with any tradition.Parampara is always more than an individual ..

I am not a member of any sampradaya, but a 'Paramacharya' remains a 'Paramacharya' and a 'Sankaracharya' remains a 'Sankaracharya' for life. One may differ with them on points but their authority is unchallenged. The only exceptions are people like Nithiyananda. There, the Acharya made a huge mistake, actually destroyed the parampara.

LOL, you're a rascal plain and simple!

Sassymaa, I did my hard work when it was required.

 

[Bhadr]

Bhadrji, before "someone else" points it out, we're probably talking about Westerners here. There are many who merely dip their toes into the water out of curiosity or neediness and then there are those who "get naked" and dive in with their whole body, mind and soul into the ocean depths that is Hinduism.

This could be true.But honestly, we should accept that there is a problem when such things happen.Actually it doesn't happen here because the selection of successor is an important issue and is handled properly.The pontiff of the tradition mentioned earlier selects the successor from the pool of many students only after observing and testing;the designate is expected to be exceptionally good at mastering & understanding the shastras and have intense vairagya(otherwise we know what'll happen afterwards).The successor is publicly announced and installed when the Senior acharya is still active and teaching.The new younger pontiff is introduced to followers and he is taught the responsibilities and functioning of the tradition.The successor also tours along with the senior acharya and interacts with sishyas,this ensures that a proper communication channel is established between the lineage and students.It is a universal fact that all Gurus are human beings and will live in the physical body for a finite period. If the successor is suddenly announced/imposed (for example,after the passing away) it may lead to potentially disastrous consequences like rejection of the successor (or infighting if multiple disciples stake claim to leadership or worse things like schism and the ensuing endless disputes about everything). One of the most important duties of any Guru is to make sure that this transition takes place as smoothly as possible and ensure that the sishyas have confidence in his/her decision.When so much care is taken why would anybody give up a tradition?

Which isn't to say I haven't seen and been around a slew of Indian Hindus who came here to the U.S. and who now act just like any ordinary, pompous, irreligious Westerner. It most certainly is not just the place of birth which makes a Hindu.

I agree.

This is a strict sampradaya, and people come and go, not just for this reason, but for several others as well. It's human nature.

Right now I'm going through some old texts and manuals and in my observation the sampradaya is comparatively liberal than others,accommodating and flexible.If some people feel this is strict, they wouldn't survive more than a day in the rest.

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

... regarding the flight of disciples..."But honestly, we should accept that there is a problem when such things happen."

Oh, if I suggested that I felt otherwise, I didn't write clearly enough. Eastern or Western (or Northern or Southern ), if one's guru and path has been shown, it's a gift from God and should not be abandoned no matter what tests and circumstances arise. But after re-reading your post, I think you are also intimating that there is error on the part of the guru if his/her successor has not been properly introduced to the "flock" and that it endangers the harmonious continuance of the parampara to neglect that duty. I agree.

 

[Kirran]

Kirran appears:

I'm pretty hot on Ramakrishna. I think he was a very great guru, and in a way I have a strong association with his lineage. I spend a lot of time at an ashram founded by his disciple Swami Brahmananda following his reincarnation. Sri Ramakrishna was really a beautiful person, as I see it, with a deep love for and knowledge of the Divine, without sectarianism. I think the Ramakrishna Mission and Order are fantastic

Yogaswami, a Sri Lankan guru who I have a lot of respect for too, spoke very highly of the Ramakrishna Mission and used to send monastic-inclined devotees of his to go and join the Ramakrishna Order.