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Questions from beginners

Beginner's mind is the mind infused with wonder and gratitude.
It is the enlightened mind. -- Anatole

1. When I read your teachings, I feel as if I am being reminded of deep truths I already know.
    
   On a spiritual path, we are not searching for something we do not have or for something we have lost. We are just learning to recognize who we already are. We are learning to see through the outer layers of our personality and to discover the inner Divinity that we always had and let It shine forth. We rediscover our spiritual knowledge because we already have the knowledge.
   
   When a teaching resonates with you, it is just a memory of who you really are coming to the surface. It is a moment of recognition – an old relationship coming back to your present consciousness.
     
2. May I follow the Path and the mainstream religion I grew up with (e.g., Christianity, etc.) simultaneously?
    
   Yes, certainly. The two address different human needs.
    
3. Why don't you teach mantras, deity worship and all the other "bells and whistles" generally associated with spiritual practice?
    
   I do teach mantras and stuff but I also realize that "bells and whistles" do not necessarily contribute to the movement of the locomotive. The students that I am interested in do not require those, or require them for a short time only. We should be careful not to mistake the tools for the Path with the Path itself. So many today adore their beautiful automobiles even though the fuel in them was spent long ago...
    
4. If Abhidhyan Yoga isn't a religion, then is it a philosophy? If it's a philosophy, why not just write a "self-help" book about it and spread your teachings that way?
    
   A spiritual path is not a procedure written in a lab manual, which our intellect wants it to be so that it can hijack the process. The fundamental problem is fear of being yourself. Often, book reading is nothing but an exercise of the intellect’s curiosity and the avoidance of real work, which for me involves facing the music head on...
    
5. How is your teaching similar to -- or different from -- other paths (specifically "Eastern" ones) I'm more familiar with?
    
   Intellectually, it is a very important question. But it is an irrelevant question on the Path. The choice of your tradition is presented to you by the Spirit. When you are clear and settled in that choice, you can study any tradition you want. Otherwise, it is an exercise of spiritual materialism by the mind which is confused by the "spiritual supermarket".
   
   If you are attracted to me, my ways, my energy, then it could be the Spirit calling us to join hands.
    
6. You are fond of repeating the quote "spirituality is not a course in literature." Does this mean that you feel books (and websites like this one) are not useful for the serious student? Or is it that our intellect can only take us so far along any given path?
    
   The books are a great inspiration and can be used to confirm our progress. The intellect is a great tool. Without a hand  to hold the hammer, it is useless though… Of course, then comes the question of hitting the nail and not one's finger...
    
7. The Western traditions teach that we are stained by sin; the Eastern traditions teach that we are ignorant of our true nature. These teachings seem remarkably similar. Why is so much made of the apparent differences between the paths of East and West?
    
   No one well-traveled on the Path would see the difference… Yet, the human mind thrives on differences and on theories.  Ours is not an academic pursuit (with all due respect to the establishment expected of a doctoral student). Go and cook a delicious meal instead.
    
8. You insist on the importance of a teacher (guru) for a serious spiritual student. In some traditions in which this practice is followed, the disciple is also instructed to perform pilgrimage to the teacher's homeland or ashram. Is this truly important in your opinion, and if so, why?
    
   The teacher lends the disciple energy, either metaphorically by reminding him of the existence of the spirit, or directly by influencing the student's body, mind and perceptions and enabling him to see the reality directly -- albeit temporarily. Whether metaphorical or direct, the experience upsets the logical mind and may also show to the mind that the spiritual path does lead somewhere, and is not the worthless mirage that the "common sense" mind wants to pretend it is. Everyone should seek such experiences because, without them, there is no spiritual path -- it is just an imaginary, intellectual pursuit.
   
   When I visited my master (which I did as often as I could when he was  alive), the effect of the visits on my meditation and my perception lasted about 6 months and was rather obvious. The effort required for deeper meditation in his presence was much less. But most importantly, these numerous visits convinced me that (among several other things) the Path is real and also helped remove my doubts earlier than would have been possible otherwise.
    
9. What exactly is "initiation," and how important is it? Is my current practice rendered less effective because I'm not yet an initiate?
    
   In my view, the initiation is when the Spirit shows Itself to you -- it is a glimpse of Reality, of Brahman, of Nagual. It can be spontaneous or assisted -- and it can also be unconscious. If we assume this definition, the Path really begins -- or better, takes off -- after this event. Before initiation, one is preparing oneself -- one is laying a foundation.
   
   I have learned over the years not to rush initiating people because a solid house must be build on a solid foundation. A solid foundation is very rare nowadays.
   
   In the tradition of my training, there are several initiation procedures that may lead to a glimpse of the Real. This glimpse is what is predominantly talked about in the "old" teachings when initiation is mentioned. Now I know that even that is just a beginning.
      
10. What are the qualifications for initiation?
     
    This is simple. You will know when you are ready as you know when you are hungry. And you will be ready to give your life for it if you wait long enough. If you get initiated before you are quite ready it will still work but it will not be so precious, so poignant. Hunger makes food taste beautiful. Oh, and having a human body is the only qualification.
     
11. How important is a vegetarian diet to a seeker on the Path?
     
    There is no particular need to be a vegetarian. Nonetheless, I find a non-vegetarian diet immoral and harmful to the environment. My body, however, would likely benefit from an occasional piece of organic dead cow...
       
12. How is your teaching special?
     
    My teaching is not a product. I have no idea in which way it is special -- or even if it is my teaching. When looking for the right teacher, feel, feel and feel. The intellect will likely fail or assail you with doubt, but if you will FEEL, you will know. 
     
13. Can one practice your teaching in combination with others?
     
    Since following any procedure is just an ego trip, you can have as many as you like -- in sequence or concurrently. So yes, definitely. 
     
14. Could you compare your teaching with the **'s teaching?
     
    An interesting question. I am sure a student will write a paper on the subject one day.
      
15. Does it matter if I do asanas or meditation/sadhana first?
     
    The order of practice does not matter unless you have been formally initiated into pranayama practice, in which case you will do asanas last. 
     
16. My family and friends think I am crazy. Any comment?
     
    This is a normal symptom of the yatama'na phase of sa'dhana'. (Yatama'na is the stage of initial difficulty.)
    
    In fact, if your sa'dhana' is effective, relatives and friends will turn against you for a period of time until they either succeed in disturbing your spiritual resolve and win you over, or you succeed and they give up and disown you, or chose to stay friends, or join you. You should be nice to them and reassure them that your sa'dhana' is a way to connect with the Divine and is not an attack on them.
    
    To address your question directly, it is not difficult to determine who is crazy by examining the fears, the priorities, and the prayers.
     
17. How do you pick your students?
     
    When I meet a true student, he or she opens up a special flow in me. The Teacher Principle begins to emerge through me.  My ordinary self enjoys Its presence immensely. The joy and satisfaction from It is like having great sex -- but much better! I become grateful and humble in the presence of such a student because it is a great privilege. The student will reciprocate in some obvious manner. We turn the best in each other on.
    
    If there is a difficulty in the beginning of the teacher-student relationship, it may well be an indication of incompatibility. I am not talking here about normal relating, which always does involve some conflict. Nor am I talking about the pain of learning that is quite naturally a part of the endeavor. By definition, a good student does not run away from learning -- and perseveres.