What is Nath Philosophy?

I think what we may really need here is to look at context in a realistic manner. Shri Mahendranath wrote a number of works at different times, for different readers, on different though related ideas. These ideas were intended to be used as “guidelines” for our own “Think,” experimentation and development. Going further, it should be noted that Shri Mahendranath’s ideas were his own and intended only for the INO. There are numerous sects and groups of Naths. Shri Mahendranath never intended to be speaking for, or guiding the greater Nath stream as a whole.

It might be humorous to note, that the suggestion that Mahendranath was promulgating a “Nath philosophy” would have made him scream—loudly. In order to understand this head-scratching irony, we need to consider what people may mean by different words.

For Mahendranath, philosophy was a “model” of life and Cosmos. What Mahendranath was attempting to do with his “guidelines” is to suggest patterns of approach which may help others to actually Awaken to a new “reality” of life and its possibilities.

These three ideas are worthy, I believe, of much thought. In this email I could only scratch the surface on these concepts, but will attempt to do so if it can help to clarify context and profile.

In reverse order:

A New, Better, & More Enlightened Social Order Based on Our Pagan Past

Shri Mahendranath was hopeful that pagan people could put aside their imagined differences and join in a broad Pagan collective. It was thought of as an ideal that individuals could live and think differently without undue conflict. If pagans of any “denomination” wanted to discuss and share their ideas, this was to be encouraged. The ideal here, was intended that ideas which were useful in “reality,” could be discussed. If the idea or concept was practical and useful—use it. If the idea or concept fell short after proper scrutiny and experiment—reject it.

This elist is intended as an expression of this broader idea and ideal. In order to keep things focused, this list is restricted to topics related to Shri Mahendranath, INO and its goals. The idea of a new and better social order is a fine “ideal,” though like most ideals, can only be partially realized. Words on an elist is not real life, though it can reflect the thoughts and thinking of living people.

The Development of Magick Powers

This idea is based on the concept that human beings have latent occult and spiritual faculties. I believe this is true. The “problem or challenge” becomes making these latent potentials bloom into “reality” and operation. There are a number of approaches to this. When all is said and done however, I will go so far as to assert that much of what impedes us, and much of what allows us to succeed on these levels has to do with the mind and our own actions.

While the potential of mind/spirit expansion and magick power is a part of each individual, it is rarely developed as a tangible and reliable faculty without effort.

In the explicit context of magick power being a tangible and reliable faculty and much related to mind development, we find a high correlation between practices and approaches which are intended to focus and expand the mind. It is for these reasons that “meditation” and techniques supportive of it, have been encouraged.

Spiritual Development Towards Awakening

Now, if you are relaxed, your mind is crystal clear and without conflict and you are a natural born yogi, you may not have to “practice meditation” to enter into the spheres which “meditation” is intended to produce or reveal.

Having said that, I know of very few people who even occasionally reside in a condition known as “natural contemplation” or “sahaja samadhi” without resorting to some aspect of volition or intention—practice.

For all others the Zonule work of relaxation, contemplation, meditation and supportive mantra work is still encouraged.

Kapilnath