mylearnings

Things I learned

and insights I have

gained

from the various

mentors, yogis,

friends

and

teachers I have known.

In India, I tho

t it would be good if I got an Indian

wife. They told

me she would not leave me even if I

didn't have any money.

Well, once m

y astrology

teacher was in a poor persons' hospital

for some

treatment

and all friends and clients were there too

(what a scene!)

. Next

door was a widowed young

lady taking

care of her a

iling

mother.

Some affection

developed

between us

-- through exchanges at tea

time --

although I never once spoke

to her. They

thot it

she was

appropriate

match

for me

because

she was a Christian girl and

in their foolishness

they

think all westerners are Christians.

They compared

our birth

charts.

Then at one point her uncle

was

called in. The astrology

teacher took my father

s role

and

discussions were begun.

Suddenly

I felt

fear

"They're serious about

this!" I thought. Just

at that

moment there was a tremendous

thunder and

downpour

even tho the

monsoon season

was

over.

Well , the outcome

was that it was not

considered a practical idea for me. I cried a

little.

So, never

id get

married until I went back to the

US.

However, the

yogis

over there

made a few suggestions to me

about the institution

of marriage

I guess seeing that I had

meditative interests

one suggested I stay single. Another said

two things in a life are very karmic -- wife and how much money

you have. Another

suggested that

I not sleep in the same bed as

my wife.

aba Hari Das

told me that the

man

mostly responsible for

the success of

marriage,

that

need

to be like the dog, the

donkey and the pig

-- t

dog is faithful, the donkey carries the

burden and the pig doesn't

argue. (Not having met a pig I

cannot verify th

.) I have been

trying to follow that advice, but it

ain't easy

It's eas

ier

to hear

good advice than

follow it

Here's some good quotes:

A wife who shows perfect devotion to her husband, who is

faithful to her vows, loyal and saintly in her heart, who is

skillful in practical life, strong minded, full of forgiveness --

Muktananda, even God desires the

darshan

of such a one

Fond of quarrelling, self-willed, husband of her husband,

indifferent to religion and morality -- Muktananda, know her

to be a pit of hell in woman's form."

The Mukteshwari