Discussion Happiness in India?

[Tristan]

Hello everyone my first thread! The other day saw something on YouTube where depressed people looking for a meaning of life take a trip to India. On this trip they take all your clothes and make you wear a orange tunic. They worship some old dead Indian man photo at the wall. They had rules on your fist weeks you had to wake up at like 4 am and start scrubbing the floors and toilets by hand, if you can call it toilets. Then the morning prayer would start with everyone in a trance looking at the man on the wall speaking a language I don't understand and lots of crying , fainting, but mostly crying or just eyes closed really introspective type. It is a 3 class training. Then you could see the ones about to leave, ready to face the world again, saying how happy they are now , that this experience changed their life and the meaning of it. "Be happy with what you have and you have what you deserve." And they actually really did look so happy with a glow in their eyes saying all their sadness is gone my worship I can't spell this Indian's man name, sorry. So when that all was over I was like. Does this even exist? Do I have to scrub floors in humid and high temperatures, starve, and wake up at 4 am to worship this man in the picture in order to find happiness. I actually look for reviews about this place and say "oh it saved my life, was a game changer for me etc". So should we all book a trip there and see if we can get better? They looked almost in a trance. I would love to know how they feel 6 months after that I was experience. Because of this really works I'm on the next flight to this remote place In India. And trust me although you have to scrub floors and go to bed at 8pm it's not a cheap 3 week course, oh and edit you were sold, not given a book at check in for your mosquito tent, for the reading of that Holy man. Tristan

 

[Manaaja]

Sounds like a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome. If you torture someone enough, they lose their mind and soul, and end up as puppets. They're too tired, numb, scared, hopeless, etc. to complain or feel anger or sadness.

 

[Pluto]

If you tell me the name of the man I might be able to offer some insight. I have previously commented at length on Indian philosophy which would explain some of what you describe. If so, it is important to understand that people who are in an advanced spiritual state have a completely different outlook. As a Westerner, you might think that they are mad (as if our society is sane!), but it is ultimately just the opposite.

 

[Tristan]

Sounds like a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome. If you torture someone enough, they lose their mind and soul, and end up as puppets. They're too tired, numb, scared, hopeless, etc. to complain or feel anger or sadness.

Maybe. Been checking for those who been there interviewed but can't find them anywhere to see how they doing now. Would be curious to see if all that happiness in having nothing is real.

 

[houseofleaves]

Try floating? I'm sorry for going a little off topic, but i feel like you want to try something new [that can help your spirit somehow become stronger].

 

[Tristan]

If you tell me the name of the man I might be able to offer some insight. I have previously commented at length on Indian philosophy which would explain some of what you describe. If so, it is important to understand that people who are in an advanced spiritual state have a completely different outlook. As a Westerner, you might think that they are mad (as if our society is sane!), but it is ultimately just the opposite.

Thank you, I will try in see my YouTube history to see if it's still there it's been a while since I saw that. But it won't be hard to find. The pic of the man was hands closed in prayer position, huge beard. And of course all the ghanesha , don't think i spelled it out well. All this symbols were there. The food was like well, you know better than me.

Try floating? I'm sorry for going a little off topic, but i feel like you want to try something new [that can help your spirit somehow become stronger].

No I don't want to start something new , trust me, was just curious how to know if such thing is even possible.

 

[Smart No More]

There's tons of retreats of this nature. It's big business. The person in the picture was probably a guru or a baba. They're revered in India but retreats exist in many pkaces. Tibet, Indonesia, Jamaica, Denmark. They're everywhere and often focus on detox (through diets and things like colonic irrigation) , self relflection and some form of mental and physical challenging/resistance training. Not the resistance training of gyms and exercise plans. Its more of a breaking of self imposed limits and a reprogramming of sorts. Like a kind of reshuffle of understanding what you can and can't achieve and endure. They're varied in efficacy but most, if not all have a tail off in longevity after leaving the retreats. Much like exercise you need to keep it up to keep the benefits but I guess for some they find enlightenment of some kind by having time away from their home lives and space to reflect and understand things that they may have overlooked in life. The same can be acheived from travel and other activities that take you out of your comfort zone and the day to day life you currently know.

 

[Tristan]

There's tons of retreats of this nature. It's big business. The person in the picture was probably a guru or a baba. They're revered in India but retreats exist in many pkaces. Tibet, Indonesia, Jamaica, Denmark. They're everywhere and often focus on detox (through diets and things like colonic irrigation) , self relflection and some form of mental and physical challenging/resistance training. Not the resistance training of gyms and exercise plans. Its more of a breaking of self imposed limits and a reprogramming of sorts. Like a kind of reshuffle of understanding what you can and can't achieve and endure. They're varied in efficacy but most, if not all have a tail off in longevity after leaving the retreats. Much like exercise you need to keep it up to keep the benefits but I guess for some they find enlightenment of some kind by having time away from their home lives and space to reflect and understand things that they may have overlooked in life. The same can be acheived from travel and other activities that take you out of your comfort zone and the day to day life you currently know.

Yeah I get you, travelling sounds better than starving. It is a Guro like you said.

 

[Smart No More]

Yeah I get you, travelling sounds better than starving. It is a Guro like you said.

I think the key factor is challenging yourself and being out of your comfort zone. That's what all the floor cleaning is about. For some it's probably humbling too. Some need that more than others. Breaking out of negative and restrictive self imposed patterns that you don't necessarily see until you gain some distance from them are another goal. There's things like special forces training that really push you to your limits but leave you stronger for it. You can do these in the same way as going to a retreat or pilgrimage. Obviously you don't actually become a member of any special forces you're just put through the paces for the benefit of being tested and finding strength and perspective you didn't realise you had. Going on a luxury cruise or travel holiday wouldn't provide this so when I say travelling I'm referring to the type that involves backpacks, tents and public transport. Ideally to somewhere that isn't a completely mainstream tourist destination.

 

[Pluto]

Thank you, I will try in see my YouTube history to see if it's still there it's been a while since I saw that. But it won't be hard to find. The pic of the man was hands closed in prayer position, huge beard. And of course all the ghanesha , don't think i spelled it out well. All this symbols were there. The food was like well, you know better than me.

No problems. The ones I know very well don't have beards, but that doesn't matter. I will try and summarise what I know.

A basic understanding that life is suffering, all pleasure is fleeting and nothing on Earth brings lasting happiness is an important primer. This renders all conventional pursuits (wealth, relationships, beauty, etc.) redundant. Instead, the goal is seeking to know our own true nature beyond the body and mind, as this is the only thing which is timeless, infinite and happy regardless of outside conditions.

The state of pure consciousness that advanced seekers aspire to cannot be described and the mind cannot understand it at all. It can only be described in negative terms. (Eg. it is not male or female, not big or small, not old or young, etc.)

The various Gods and gurus are analogous to transformative characters within a dream. They are as false as anything else in the dream, but have the power to wake up the dreamer. The tendency to worship their forms is a technique to achieve divine union, as well as expressing gratitude for the ultimate gift of liberation from the human condition. It is very different to Western religions which place God/Jesus/Mohammed onto a pedestal out of fear of punishment in the afterlife.

When someone has an awakening, they may laugh or cry uncontrollably, or in extreme cases become paralysed and need help looking after themselves. Most awakening experiences are temporary, but the ultimate goal is total ego death and a number of people have achieved it.

Have shared this one before but it is a good example of the process in action.

 

[BigG91]

Hello everyone my first thread! The other day saw something on YouTube where depressed people looking for a meaning of life take a trip to India. On this trip they take all your clothes and make you wear a orange tunic. They worship some old dead Indian man photo at the wall. They had rules on your fist weeks you had to wake up at like 4 am and start scrubbing the floors and toilets by hand, if you can call it toilets. Then the morning prayer would start with everyone in a trance looking at the man on the wall speaking a language I don't understand and lots of crying , fainting, but mostly crying or just eyes closed really introspective type. It is a 3 class training. Then you could see the ones about to leave, ready to face the world again, saying how happy they are now , that this experience changed their life and the meaning of it. "Be happy with what you have and you have what you deserve." And they actually really did look so happy with a glow in their eyes saying all their sadness is gone my worship I can't spell this Indian's man name, sorry. So when that all was over I was like. Does this even exist? Do I have to scrub floors in humid and high temperatures, starve, and wake up at 4 am to worship this man in the picture in order to find happiness. I actually look for reviews about this place and say "oh it saved my life, was a game changer for me etc". So should we all book a trip there and see if we can get better? They looked almost in a trance. I would love to know how they feel 6 months after that I was experience. Because of this really works I'm on the next flight to this remote place In India. And trust me although you have to scrub floors and go to bed at 8pm it's not a cheap 3 week course, oh and edit you were sold, not given a book at check in for your mosquito tent, for the reading of that Holy man. Tristan

It won't work on you if you're depressed clinically..... If you're just sad lets say with life due to some circumstances then a place like that or visiting India in general will make you feel better after seeing that people are happy in India living in worse conditions.... you'll probably return home feeling " my life ain't that bad after all "....

 

[NSA]

Sounds like a scam to me. I know certain Buddhist sects have retreats like this, where you go to a monastery in the middle of nowhere and lead a highly structured life for a time, but they're free, aside from things like travel. The most principled ones don't even accept donations untill you complete the course, and you are free to leave at any time. was thinking of doing one myself, but it's too far away.

Vipassana Meditation

www.dhamma.org

 

[Sister of the Moon]

I have to say, I'd honestly love to go and do something similar to this. Maybe in Tibet or Nepal or somewhere. I'll never do it, but it's a dream. I need to free myself from my attachments, and I can't see that happening any time soon.

 

[motel rooms]

Been checking for those who been there interviewed but can't find them anywhere to see how they doing now. Would be curious to see if all that happiness in having nothing is real.

You don't have to go to India to join a cult & be deliriously happy until reality hits you over the head with a bat.

 

[Depressed Cat]

I guess going to the Amazon rainforest and drinking ayahuasca (contains DMT or the spirit molecule) with the indigenous tribes would give one a more profound spiritual experience than going to India and staying with such gurus, most of whom are in it just to make money.

 

[whatevs]

No problems. The ones I know very well don't have beards, but that doesn't matter. I will try and summarise what I know.

A basic understanding that life is suffering, all pleasure is fleeting and nothing on Earth brings lasting happiness is an important primer. This renders all conventional pursuits (wealth, relationships, beauty, etc.) redundant. Instead, the goal is seeking to know our own true nature beyond the body and mind, as this is the only thing which is timeless, infinite and happy regardless of outside conditions.

The state of pure consciousness that advanced seekers aspire to cannot be described and the mind cannot understand it at all. It can only be described in negative terms. (Eg. it is not male or female, not big or small, not old or young, etc.)

The various Gods and gurus are analogous to transformative characters within a dream. They are as false as anything else in the dream, but have the power to wake up the dreamer. The tendency to worship their forms is a technique to achieve divine union, as well as expressing gratitude for the ultimate gift of liberation from the human condition. It is very different to Western religions which place God/Jesus/Mohammed onto a pedestal out of fear of punishment in the afterlife.

When someone has an awakening, they may laugh or cry uncontrollably, or in extreme cases become paralysed and need help looking after themselves. Most awakening experiences are temporary, but the ultimate goal is total ego death and a number of people have achieved it.

Have shared this one before but it is a good example of the process in action.

I like your posts but not these guys sitting in a literal pedestal, basically being worshipped. That part of the whole Hinduism thing is religious bullshit for sure. Unless you can prove that you are superhuman you don't deserve that kind of treatment and awe.

I guess going to the Amazon rainforest and drinking ayahuasca (contains DMT or the spirit molecule) with the indigenous tribes would give one a more profound spiritual experience than going to India and staying with such gurus, most of whom are in it just to make money.

These people you speak of are also motivated by money more than anything most probably. But I would like to try that experience.

 

[Pluto]

I like your posts but not these guys sitting in a literal pedestal, basically being worshipped. That part of the whole Hinduism thing is religious bullshit for sure. Unless you can prove that you are superhuman you don't deserve that kind of treatment and awe.

This is a fair point, and a large number within spiritual circles would share that criticism. I'm neutral on the topic but I see where the critics are coming from.

The 'gold standard' of 20th century gurus was Ramana Maharshi. One of his disciples went onto become a teacher himself; he was known as Papaji. And Mooji is in turn one of Papaji's students.

The degree to which Mooji is a worthy successor of Ramana is very debatable. For what it's worth, Ramana refused all donations, was available 24/7 for all seekers and at one point refused to even sit on a sofa because he wanted to be at the same level as everyone else. He also refused to eat unless everyone else in the hall had access to the same food. Undoubtedly that extreme egalitarianism has been lost, though the core message of the teaching is very similar, which is why I don't mind sharing Mooji's content.

A devotional pathway known as Bhakti yoga is one of the yogic pathways. If it works for some people, then great. And of course there will be some outright frauds, too. Such debates were rife even in Ramana's time, but Ramana always encouraged seekers to mind their own business (that is, focus entirely on their own awakening).

 

[Manaaja]

I'd suggest everyone to watch this. It's really funny, but also "realistic" and deep and emotional and sad but has a happy ending, and shows the dangers of cults.

Spoiler: Spoilers for what happens

A girl's dad dies, the mother gets depressed, and the girl joins a cult which promises to bring the dead dad back because she wants to see her mom happy again, and her mother is worried and asks the protagonist to save her. Then it turns out it's just a scam for the cult leader to collect money from the others and brainwash women into having sex with him (don't worry, there's no sex, it's SFW except for kicking ass which I guess can be SFW too.

 

[Tristan]

You don't have to go to India to join a cult & be deliriously happy until reality hits you over the head with a bat.

Well said mate!

 

[MegaGordo]

Book: FEET OF CLAY: A STUDY OF GURUS by Anthony Storr
Book: FEET OF CLAY: A STUDY OF GURUS by Anthony Storr