Sannyas: the Meaning Of Discipleship [Paperback]

Bhagwan Ra Afrika (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 1999

"Sannyas, The Meaning of Discipleship" is a detailed examination of what it takes to be a "real" disciple. This book provides the reader with a very profound insight into the process and disciplines associated with authentic spiritual practice, under the guidance of any authentic spiritual master. Bhagwan points out in unmistakenly clear and forceful language the distinctions between a "student" and a real disciple. The difference is vast. A student, writes Bhagwan, "is only interested in knowing ABOUT God, ABOUT truth, ABOUT spiritual matters. They are only interested in concepts and just merely talking about it." Bhagwan goes on to point out that "a disciple is not merely interested in talking about truth, above love, about God . . . the disciple is interested in BECOMING one with them." Remember the difference!

Editorial Reviews

Review

The book outlines the process and ordeal that everyone who chooses to follow a spiritual master must be willing to undergo for the sake of God-realization. "Sannyas: The Meaning of Discipleship" is a MUST read for any serious seeker and spiritual practitioner. -- A reader

From the Back Cover

Ordinarily, the average individual's concept of discipleship is simply finding someone to approve (sanction) the individual's own strategies to become enlightened. So they look for some teacher, some guru, some spiritual personality to run their strategies by have them looked over, so to speak, and agreed (or disagreed) with, then they take that and hope the result will be enlightenment. This is what I have called "self-guruing" themselves, fundamentally. So the average individual confuses being a disciple with the game of guruing oneself, i.e. reading books, attending lectures getting a little information here, a little information there and then stirring it all into a big pot to make some kind of spiritual practice . . . some kind of path, but it's their own homespun version and it never results in any enlightenment.

When these people become "disciples" when they are blessed with the opportunity to really enter into the authentic ordeal that is discipleship, they are found to usually be the most reluctant among the group because this habit of "self-guruing" has gone deep into them! It has been a part of their whole life! Therefore, part of becoming an authentic disciple is to somehow break free from this "false disciple" tendency that people bring with them initially.

When one has been given, by grace, a very profound knowledge about God and has been fully convicted about it beyond all doubt such a one then makes and enters into a solemn, eternal vow and makes a profound commitment to the attainment of God-realization. One devotes one's life to it. Such a one has realized that they cannot contemplate using their life for anything else. This conclusion is the "ground" from which authentic discipleship arises. In the tradition, it has been called the taking of sannyas or initiation. Initiation means to begin now. Now you begin to live your life on an entirely different basis. Your life now becomes based on "vows." A vow means different things to different people and most people confuse it with a promise or a casual effort . . . if things go right okay; if things don't go right okay. Many confuse a vow with a contract which can be rescinded and broken or changed somewhere down the road, but a vow is a very spiritual action.

There was a time, even amongst humans like us, when a person's word was their bond! When they vowed to do a thing, the whole of their being was behind that vow it was not conditional; not circumstantial. There was a force behind it! When one has become convicted about the reality that is God to the point of absolutely no doubt about it then one enters into such a vow!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 106 pages
• Publisher: Royal House Pub (April 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893745074
• ISBN-13: 978-1893745070
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,084,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for all serious devotees on a spiritual path!!!!, October 4, 1999

By 

Guru Murti(Wayne Gentry) ([e-mail]) (Chicago,IL. U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sannyas: the Meaning Of Discipleship (Paperback)

This book is like a "bible" for all serious devotees who are on a spiritual path! It lays out the requirements for sincere seekers of truth as they MUST be acknowledged and lived by in order to truly be considered a "Sannyasin"(one who has taken a vow of renunciation from the world(ego-based living) and has commited himself/herself to a life and living that is spiritual). It is a book that reveals the rareity of a true and real disciple. In it you will find the reasons why it has always been the case, since time immemoriable,that great spiritual Masters have had few disciples who were courageous enough to align their lives with the discipline that is mandatory in the living of a spiritual life. After reading this book, I was able to truly appreciate the REAL meaning of discipleship as only Bhagwan Ra Afrika can reveal it, with authentic mastery! Having empirical knowledge of this subject, Bhagwan is able to guide his readers thru all of the important things about the meaning of discipleship that are normally "miscontrued", due to a dispensation of this subject by many who do not have the empirical knowledge to back up their claims! This is not the case with this book! In fact, Bhagwan has long surpassed disciplehood and is a living master of traditional and Afrikan Mysticism, and a scholar of all world religions! This book covers everything you will ever need to know about what it takes to walk an authentic spiritual path as a true disciple, and I heavily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in learning more about the amazing gift that Bhagwan Ra Afrika truly is to every lost soul in the world today!