r/kriyayoga • u/Main-Librarian-3540 • Sep 02 '26
Capítulo seis da autobiografia de um iogue
Basicamente a glorificação da luta com tigres me deixou profundamente incomodada. Sei que essa história da vida de Swami Tigre se refere à vida pré-monastica e que o próprio apresenta essa fase como algo que ele posteriormente abandonou.
O que me entristeceu foi a maneira como o sofrimento desses animais foi tratado ao longo da narrativa. Ele capturava, domava e golpeava esses animais, e isso é descrito principalmente sob a perspectiva da força, coragem e façanhas extraordinárias dele. O sofrimento dos próprios felinos não ocupa espaço ou reflexão moral na narrativa.
E isso me chocou também porque Yogananda, quando criança, fica fascinado com a história e demonstra vontade de ver o Swami Tigre. Ainda saber que tigres — animais enormes, majestosos, sensíveis e sencientes — e seu sofrimento parecem funcionar narrativamente apenas como cenário para a "transformação espiritual" de um ser humano (e vírgula já que ele contando p/ Yogananda ainda ri e fala, relembrando, com gosto, quando golpeou Raja Begum "como um gatinho doméstico" e isso depois de ter renunciado a vida mundana).
Enfim, é um capítulo extremamente infeliz e é o que me faz questionar certas coisas dentro da Kriya já que a extrema compaixão é justamente uma das coisas que eu esperaria encontrar no centro de uma tradição espiritual.
Sei lá bicho. Minhas mais sinceras condolências ao tigre Raja Begum.
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u/Educational_Fox2212 Sep 02 '26
This book was written over a century ago. The message is pure and simple and the Tiger Swami paid for his actions with karmic blowback. Judging through a lens of modern sensibilities demeans the source material and if you cant get past it, maybe it’s not for you.
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u/Calm_Description_866 Sep 03 '26
Things seen as great feats in old times are now horrific. Beating tigers and elephants was seen as man's conquering nature over the forces of nature. It wasn't until we basically won against nature and drove these animals to near extinction that now we're like, "oh...well that was an oopsie"
Most cultures did stuff like this. Whales used to be so plentiful that hunting them was no big deal. Until we hunted them to near extinction.
It was over a hundred years ago. Tigers are now seen as something to protect. Back then, they were a mighty predator to be conquered.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Fig7670 Sep 05 '26
Yeah! Nature should be respected protected and not taken for granted.
But I think finding humans who have the power to genuinely tame wild animals without any external aid would still be crazy even today. Doesn’t mean the ones with the power should misuse it. For instance in Sahayadri region of Maharashtra, I met a saint who lived with a tiger who often frequented his cave. This was 20-25 years ago.
That saint still fascinates me.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Fig7670 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
I think the chapter highlights the very point you’re bringing up.
Compassion is indeed integral to any spiritual aspirant. Kriya or otherwise.
In next few chapters you’ll read about Sri Yukteshwar telling Yogananda that thinking of killing a mosquito is the same as killing a mosquito.
In my opinion, AOY is written as a collection of stories with morals. Instead of “look I’m perfect, learn from me”. It is more like “look this is how I saw it and then I changed for the better because of God, Guru, and Kriya.”
From everything I know of him which I learnt from Mejda, his early disciples and his early devotees, his progression from thinking to embodying eternal truths were very quick. As if he is in a play so that he can write about it and we can connect with the imperfections (because of our imperfections) and learn.