December 20, 2009

Dwapara Yuga - What's in a name?

It's interesting the different consciousnesses that Malcolm X tuned into as Malcolm Little, Detroit Red, Malcolm X, and el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, or Ali as Cassius Clay and then Muhammad Ali, or Cat Stevens at first Steven Georgiou and finally as Yusuf Islam.

Bob Dylan was once the unknown Robert Zimmerman, Elton John was Reg Dwight, Marilyn Monroe once Norma Mortenson and Marilyn Manson was once Brian Warner.

Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky began as Vladimir Ulyanov, Loseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili and Lev Bronstein.

Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger.

Peter Parker became Spiderman.

In past eras, women took their husband's name for life, symbolic of a different consciousness, but today there is little difference between marriage and dating with most marriages lasting for a few years, or months only in the West with more and more women not bothering to update paperwork, much less affect a change of consciousness (a change equally lacking in their husbands).

Yogananda began as Mukhunda Ghosh before becoming Swami and then "Great Swan" Paramhansa Yogananda.

Mohandas Gandhi became "Great Soul" Mahatma Gandhi.

Krishna, Christ and Buddha are not names but rather words meaning the ultimate transformation of consciousness - enlightenment.
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Posted by Poor Richard at 12/20/2009

2 comments:

  1. I like this analysis. You have said that it's something about the West that requires outer change of form to go hand-in-hand with inner changes.

    Monastics take successive titles as they take successive vows.
    Something that puts me off is when non-monastics give themselves "spiritual" or Indian names, after they start a spiritual path or anytime thereafter. I know a number of people who have done this. I guess it makes them feel better or more spiritual. It may serve the purpose of getting rid of their old associations with and memories of their birth name (or previous self-instated titles!).

    Maybe my offense is unwarranted, but I think that spiritual titles are something that you can be given, but should not give yourself. That's a trap of the ego.

    Naturally some people who are playing public roles, if they are endowed with long or cumbersome birth names, need to shorten or change them for convenience.

    Also, some people prefer to remain anonymous. This is sometimes for protection or privacy. Often, it is out of humility. They choose a different or anonymous name so as to avoid the trap of the ego that others, who, giving themselves spiritual names or titles, willingly enter into.
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  2. I might add that outer counterparts to inner changes is clearly not only a custom of the West, as is demonstrated in your main post here.
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(c) Dwapara 307-312


The views expressed are the personal, independent views of the author and are not intended to reflect the views of any other individual(s) or organization(s). A list of official Kriya Yoga Organizations can be found here.