Deconstructing Yourself Tantra, Aghora, and Death, with Dr. Robert Svoboda
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Nov 11, 2024 Dr. Robert Svoboda, an American author and Ayurvedic doctor, dives into the radical Aghora sect's cemetery practices and the transformative teachings of his mentor, Vimalananda. He explores the intertwining paths of bhakti and jnana, emphasizing the significance of death awareness for personal growth. Svoboda discusses karmic connections, urging mindfulness and compassion in relationships while sharing mystical encounters that challenge fears. His insights invite listeners to confront mortality and embrace spirituality for a deeper understanding of life.
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Aghori Practices
- Aghoris traditionally lived in cremation grounds, wearing clothes from corpses and eating food cooked in human skulls.
- They focused on death's inevitability and sought to remain unaffected by extreme practices.
Shifting Aghori Focus
- The focus of Aghori practice has shifted from solely living in cremation grounds to maintaining a focus on death while engaging with the world.
- Kinnaram's lineage exemplifies this shift, using cremation ground logs in their ashram's sacred fire.
Modern Aghori: Leprosy
- Baba Bhagavan Ram, finding traditional Aghori practices insufficiently extreme, established a leprosarium.
- He believed serving lepers, a truly loathsome act, represented a more potent modern Aghori practice.