A presentation by Dada Rainjitananda on the relationship between the Guru and disciple in Tantra

1. TANTRA
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2. The
Original
Propounder
• Shiva
• Shiva invented
and systematized
spiritual practices
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3. TANTRA
• That which liberates from the bondage of
staticity
• The practical process that leads to one’s
expansion and final emancipation
• Practical science is the most important
factor
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4. TANTRA
• Starts with the body, continues with the
body and mind, and mind and
consciousness with final consummation in
Supreme Attainment.
• The disciple must do intensive spiritual
practice to be worthy of the preceptor’s
instructions at every stage.
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5. Preceptor and Disciple
• In Tantra the disciple needs the help of the
preceptor at every step.
• Proper preceptor and proper disciple are
needed to avoid downfall.
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6. Preceptor and Disciple
• The first step is the selection of a competent
preceptor and worthy disciple.
• The disciple’s heart is the field
• Meditation is the plowing and irrigation
• Preceptor’s initiation is the sowing of seeds.
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7. • If the seeds are defective they will not
sprout.
• If the field is infertile, the harvest will be
poor.
• If the field and seed are ideal, but the field
is not properly plowed and irrigated, the
harvest will yield little.
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8. Disciples
• There are 3 categories of disciples.
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9. Disciple – first type
• Like upside down pitchers placed in a tub of
water.
• As long as they are in the tub the water remains.
• As soon as they are taken out, water pours out.
• Disciple near the preceptor – spiritual knowledge
• Disciple leaves preceptor – forgets everything
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10. Disciple – 2nd Type
• Like people who pluck plums from the thorny
branches of the plum tree. They are absorbed in
climbing down the tree and forget about the plums
in the bag which fall and smash on the ground.
• The disciple learns many things from the
preceptor with great hardship, but does not take
proper care to preserve those instructions safely.
They loose their hard earned knowledge due to
negligence.
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11. Disciple – Best type
• Like pitchers place right up.
• When the pitchers are put in a tub of water,
they remain filled up and surrounded by
water. Even when they are taken out they
remain full to the brim with water.
• These disciples preserve what they learned
from the preceptor safely in the golden
caskets of their heart.
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12. Preceptors
• There are 3 types of preceptors.
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13. Preceptor – 1st type
• Delivers high sounding speeches.
• Does not bother whether teachings are
followed or not.
• Inferior.
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14. Preceptor – 2nd type
•
•
•
•
Impart knowledge
Checks if disciple is following or not.
Is not demanding.
Mediocre.
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15. Preceptor – Best type
• Takes meticulous care to see if the disciple
is following the teachings or not.
• If they discover that the disciples are
negligent, they compel them to practice
more painstakingly by applying
circumstantial pressure.
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16. Surrender
• Tantra emphasizes disciple’s total surrender
to the preceptor.
• Whenever a worthy disciple is taught by a
competent preceptor, spiritual progress is a
certainty.
• To realize the greatness of Tantra one will
have to continue spiritual practice.
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17. Tantra
• Tantra is based on an ardent love for
ideology which is based on the highest
category of devotion.
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18. Tantra
• To learn more: www.pathofbliss.com
• www.dadas.info
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