Need Ammunition Against Self Realization/yogananda

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missal

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Hi,
I am trying to help a family “SEE” their error of having left their
Catholicism for Yokananda / and yoga bla bla
They think it’s OK. They said " Yokananda acknowledges Jesus Christ." I explained, that Yokananda acknowledges Jesus Christ only as a prophet but- “not as God”…
Is there anyone out there that can give me more information… to put a flash light on their error of this ??? PLEASE!
🤷
I’m not really good with computers,so if I don’t get to thank you for
your (name removed by moderator)ut…let me thank you now…
:o
 
I’m afraid that you’re going to need a lot more ammunition than it might seem at first.

This is a very alluring and subtly-deceptive error that many fall into and never come out of. Some would call it the most brilliant of Satan’s deceits since it appears to be so complete as a religious view and it even includes some kind of “belief” in Jesus as a great spiritual teacher.

It’s basically the ancient foundation of today’s New Age movement, but it’s simply Hinduism in essence.

There are some good books that show the errors of Oriental paganism and the New Age – you should look for them. It’s important to understand what your friends are thinking and why they’ve bought-into this religious system.

Probably the best, quick ammunition you can use is what you started with already – question them on their so-called belief in Jesus.

This is always a major challenge – and Our Lord knew it would be. He did not want to be adopted by those who claimed to know Him, but only called him a “Prophet”. So he made that impossible. How? By asserting that He will judge all of mankind. This is far beyond a mere prophet. “Amen I say to you, that henceforth you shall see the Son of Man sitting from the right of the Power and coming over the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26).

So then the yogi and his followers have a major problem. Do they accept who Jesus said that He was? He made it clear that He, alone, was the Son of God – united with the Father. There is no other name under heaven by which men are saved. No other prophet, yogi, swami, mystic – but Christ alone. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you have no life within you.

There are many more quotes from Jesus, proving that He taught that He was a singular and final revelation from God - and that all must submit to Him. It’s not an optional thing.

Usually, the response to this from Eastern synchretists is that “Jesus really meant that we have to self-actualize ourselves”.

But this is a dishonest reading of the Gospel. It’s clinging to an illusion. It’s far more honest to simply say that one rejects what Jesus taught – at least that is honoring His teaching for what it really was. Jesus demanded that people accept him as God – we are required to put our faith in Him.

The yogi cannot make compromises with that, unless he is going to say that Jesus didn’t know what He was talking about, etc. Of course, that is blasphemy and foolishness. Certainly, no one can honor Jesus and at the same time, dismiss the clear staments He made about Himself.

We can’t have it both ways – admiring Jesus as a man but rejecting his direct assertions of Divinity. He would not be an honest or trustworthy man if his claims about Divinity were false.

Some might say that He was divine – “like we all are divine”. The Mormon Church will say something like that. But again, Jesus said that He alone would come to judge all mankind. We are to watch because the Son of Man will judge our actions - and will send some to Hell and bring others to Heaven.

There is no way that can be reconciled with the idea that “we believe in Jesus also” – while following a Hindu swami.
 
missal said:
Hi,
I am trying to help a family “SEE” their error of having left their
Catholicism for Yokananda / and yoga bla bla
They think it’s OK. They said " Yokananda acknowledges Jesus Christ." I explained, that Yokananda acknowledges Jesus Christ only as a prophet but- “not as God”…
Is there anyone out there that can give me more information… to put a flash light on their error of this ??? PLEASE!
🤷
I’m not really good with computers,so if I don’t get to thank you for
your (name removed by moderator)ut…let me thank you now…
:o
Click to expand...
Actually, Paramahansa Yogananada acknowledges Christ not simply as a prophet, but as God.
 
SedesDomi said:
Actually, Paramahansa Yogananada acknowledges Christ not simply as a prophet, but as God.
Click to expand...
I think more clarification is needed on that – although that statement could be shown to be true.

Paramahansa Yogananda’s teaching on self-realization is that we all are identified as God. Christ would be one who fully realized the God-potential, but we all can do the same.

“We are all part of the One Spirit. When you experience the true meaning of religion, which is to know God, you will realize that He is your Self, and that He exists equally and impartially in all beings.”

This is radically different than the Christian teaching about the difference between the Creator and His creatures.
 
Hi reggieM

Thank you so very much for your reply. It has given me so much
information… .IT IS PERFECT. Just what I need!
:blessyou: This web site sure comes in handy!🙂
 
reggieM said:
I think more clarification is needed on that – although that statement could be shown to be true.

Paramahansa Yogananda’s teaching on self-realization is that we all are identified as God. Christ would be one who fully realized the God-potential, but we all can do the same.

“We are all part of the One Spirit. When you experience the true meaning of religion, which is to know God, you will realize that He is your Self, and that He exists equally and impartially in all beings.”

This is radically different than the Christian teaching about the difference between the Creator and His creatures.
Click to expand...
Notice that the quote doesn’t simply equate your “self” with God “Self”. Yogananda didn’t teach a radical Shankaric Advaita. For Yogananda, God-realization is the realization of one’s unity with God, while maintaining awareness of individuality.
 
reggieM said:
Jesus demanded that people accept him as God…
Click to expand...
It’s certainly true that many people do accept Jesus as God, but nowhere did Jesus simply demand that people accept him as God, as if threatening people with punishment if they did not. He asked his apostles, “Who do you think I am?” and they responded according to their understanding.
 
Richard Rohr (Catholic priest and author) says that one of the biggest issues in religion is whether religion is going to be a “belonging system” or a “transformation system.” Your friends are probably much more interested in transformation than belonging, and are thus unlikely to be swayed by arguments coming from a “belonging system” mentality.

If Catholicism is more valid than other religions, this would have to show somehow in the actual lives of Catholics. Why don’t you let go of trying to persuade your friends of anything, and trust that your own good example of living out Christ’s love will serve to attract them to Catholicism more effectively than any argument you could make?
 
reggieM said:
This is a very alluring and subtly-deceptive error that many fall into and never come out of. Some would call it the most brilliant of Satan’s deceits since it appears to be so complete as a religious view and it even includes some kind of “belief” in Jesus as a great spiritual teacher.
Click to expand...
Ah yes–the great lie–self realization fellowship. I know someone who was sucked into this cult like Hinduism. It will be very difficult for your friends to emerge from this lie–but with God all things are possible. If I am not mistaken, Yogananda’s body remained incorrupt after death.

I will pray for your friends.
 
kpk said:
Richard Rohr (Catholic priest and author) says that one of the biggest issues in religion is whether religion is going to be a “belonging system” or a “transformation system.” Your friends are probably much more interested in transformation than belonging, and are thus unlikely to be swayed by arguments coming from a “belonging system” mentality.
Click to expand...
I disagree with Fr. Rohr’s presentation of this either/or dichotomy. Catholicism is both transforming and a community of belonging. The radical individualism that is found in Eastern mysticism has some obvious results in a lack of social justice or awareness. A lot of Western “spiritual adventurers” like to experiment with this personalized religion – seeking only a “transformation” (which for many is a substitution for drug use) or an enlightenment. They find no value in the community of believers – the “belonging” and fellowship which Jesus required.

There is no individual Christianity. One must be a member of the Church-community that Jesus founded. Salvation is found within – belonging and giving of oneself to others (as well as being transformed personally by God).

So, it’s not either/or. I think Fr. Rohr is distorting the Catholic message with that idea.
 
SedesDomi said:
… but nowhere did Jesus simply demand that people accept him as God, as if threatening people with punishment if they did not.
Click to expand...
I think there’s a lot of evidence to the contrary on that point. I will post some later.
 
SedesDomi said:
Actually, Paramahansa Yogananada acknowledges Christ not simply as a prophet, but as God.
Click to expand...
It is quite troubling to me that some in Catholicism see other faiths as some threat that must be overthrown. I find so much in agreement between the teachings of Jesus and that of Hinduism and Buddhism, and yet instead of embracing the agreements, some are determined to define it as “satanic.” But oddly I find that when you look at the numbers 79% of Catholics when polled do not consider their faith necessarily the only means to salvation. That is second only to Buddhists. I guess the 79% don’t come here! LOL
 
SpiritMeadow said:
It is quite troubling to me that some in Catholicism see other faiths as some threat that must be overthrown. I find so much in agreement between the teachings of Jesus and that of Hinduism and Buddhism, and yet instead of embracing the agreements, some are determined to define it as “satanic.” But oddly I find that when you look at the numbers 79% of Catholics when polled do not consider their faith necessarily the only means to salvation. That is second only to Buddhists. I guess the 79% don’t come here! LOL
Click to expand...
The interesting thing is that, if you go to India, you’ll find Hindus going to Catholic shrines, since they see the Divine in Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Now, they may have a slightly different idea of where Jesus fits in the greater scheme of things, but many Hindus have no problem with the claim of Jesus’ divinity. Heck, Hindus are more “Christian” than Jehovah’s Witnesses, in this regard.😃
 
SedesDomi said:
nowhere did Jesus simply demand that people accept him as God, as if threatening people with punishment if they did not.
Click to expand...
Here’s what I found in the Gospel from Jesus’ words. I just did this from memory and a bible search. It’s true that Jesus invited many to his kingdom – He asked them gently. He also said that He came to save the lost sheep and to rescue sinners.

But he did demand belief from all – and He put those demnads in stark terms.

John 3.
He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Mark 6. He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 14.
Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.

John 8.
Therefore I said to you, that you shall die in your sins. For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sin.

John 12.
He that despiseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Matthew 10.
He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.

Matthew 13.
The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mark 8.
For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Luke 12.
But he that shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.

Luke 21.
Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

John 6.
Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.

John 3.
He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved.

Matthew 24.
And Jesus answering, said to them: Take heed that no man seduce you: For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many.
… Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake… And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come. … Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. …If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be. … And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.
 
Again- thank you reggieM

I am printing out everything you have provided. This is simply great material.
I also spent last night researching through google for materials…
This will help me much.
😉 :blessyou:
 
Hello if anyone is interested I would like to reactivate this thread. I investigated the SRF a long time ago and subsequently discarded it after much study and also experiences of the Holy Spirit which saved me from following it. I say saved because my experiences in it were so inadequate compared to the Church when understood correctly. Now I have a family member who is starting to investigate this and I don’t remember everything in detail. She is asking me about it. What I am inclined to answer is 1) what was posted that is essentially what CS Lewis states in Mere Christianity, that if we venerate Our Lord Jesus a prophet, we are not understanding what he said. We either believe he is God/part of the Holy Trinity or that he was a crazy person. After all he was killed for saying he is God and the SRF people do not understand Christianity. 2) They will also tell you that before Constantine, their beliefs were included in Christianity but those were not valid beliefs they were heresies; they count on bad catechesis in the Church 3) the SRF is focused on the self which is limiting and not in agreement with Christianity as they say it is; it misses the point of “love” 4) they try to deny suffering as their strategy to combat it "the world is a movie "kind of thing, and they miss reality, in trying to escape from it and they lose the potential to develop themselves to the fullest through suffering. They are missing out on reality so to speak; 5) one of the ways I abandoned this, and thank the Lord it happened, was that I began to see the existence of true evil. In my experience the SRF does not acknowledge the battle between good and evil very much and is thus dangerous; 6) their idea of consciousness is so abstract it is somewhat nihilistic for lack of a better word. These are some of the things I remember that made me leave it. Does anyone else have some ideas I might have forgotten? Bottom line is that I believe that only badly or inadequately catechized “Catholics” accept this sort of thing. Since it doesn’t make sense to include our Lord Jesus in that whole philosophy. It seems to me thus to be trying to use him to sell their ideas, which doesn’t seem very spiritual to me.
 
There are so many differences that at first the SRF seems to embrace all religions to teach a method of yoga to get to know God.
First the basic breathing technique of repeating Hong Saw means “I am He” this is the beginning of the problem. It basically is leading one to discover that we are all God. Not that we ever needed a redeemer for our salvation, but that we discover our power. It is a very proud thing to find this ‘realization’ because they now know some secret information and are more advanced than others. But where is our humility? They believe they can get to God (within), not God comes to us. It is based on what the person does, not what God does.
It fits Jesus nicely into this as one avatar that came back to help show us the way.
Jesus is a Son of God as we are to realize, not He is the SON of God only and we are adopted sons of God with lowercase s.
Look at the Proof to be Catholic of the Catholic Church in the Cathechism. Look up Fr John Riccardo- who is Jesus? talk - available for download.
You can read a small book by P Yogananda Why God Permist Evil. You will see that evil came from God as a dualism. That they need a villian to exist in this world, but that we need to aim to be good to be more Godlike- does that make sense? Read St Augustine’s confessions - the chapters about Evil. God did not make anything that was not good.
They say that hell is here. Read a book The Dogma of Hell and how to Avoid. Look at the lives of the saints, especially the mystics. Padre Pio said reincarnation was a heresy. Look at his life- amazing saint to take his word for.
Read all the mystics who had Jesus and Mary give them instruction- they have miraculous lives and loved the Eucharist. Why would one give this Sacrament up to sit in a position to concentrate on colors in the mind. Read St Theresa of Avila, who they quote since she was a contemplative, but she said things vastly different than what the SRF groups believed. If they are searching for TRUTH- tell them to dive into the Way, the Truth and the Life and read the Catechism and they seek spiritual aspects, then study St John of the Cross and discover the wealth that they are leaving. Study the Early Desert Fathers. Read Diary of St Faustina. Believe the Saints, we have so many to show us. We are not only spiritual beings, but human and have this body. Remember this life is not a dream, it is a pilgrimage and what we do here matters a lot- and we don’t have another chance, not in this body or another one. Pray for wisdom and faith. Seek TRUTH. Matthew 7:7-8.
 
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