Replying to New Morning's excellent questions (below) on this thread: It appears that all these people we hold up as enlightened masters wear the shine off their halos the more we get to know them. I say the reason is our concept of enlightenment. If all that means to us is that the person becomes aware of their universal nature (CC) or even it means he becomes aware of his oneness with all existence (BC), little has been done to change and perfect the ego, or individual consciousness, which many people on FFL are claiming doesn't exist. Of course if you think it doesn't exist, you'll do nothing to align it with divine mind, cosmic intention. You'll think that just knowing your universal aspect is the quintessential height of evolution. In reality, that's only part of the journey. The remaining part is for individual consciousness to master the limitations of this dimension, imbibing and expressing universal consciousness in every aspect of one's individual being. This cannot happen if you've gone and annihilated your individual consciousness. To me, true enlightenment is cognizing your universal nature and perfecting your individual nature at the same time -- which means retaining your ego, identifying with it, and purifying/ filling it with the universal light of your own universal Brahman nature. If that became part of people's definition of enlightenment -- which it isn't, for most participants in Eastern spiritual systems -- then the human personality would outgrow its flaws and earthbound limitations. We'd all become masters in the truest, fullest sense. Not walking zombies, and not shakti-zappers who have to screw their disciples.
"new.morning" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "BillyG." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Personally, I question whether or not he is enlightened especially > when he started damning democracy and suggesting Bush was Hitler, that > doesn't strike me as coming from someone who is enlightened! Your posts raises some interesting themes -- a discussion bobbing up and down here through the years. Since you have some degree of opinion or experience on the matter, I ask you and anyone the following -- not in a challenging way but an exploratory way to see the diversity of views and direct experiences for the following. In your framework (or direct experience) what does come from someone who is enlightened? Are people with certain characteristics unable to get enlightened? What are these bad characteristics? Could Tony Soprano be, or become, enlightened (in this life)? If not, how effective is TM (or name you favorite sadhana, practice or path), if they can't enlighten everyone? Would Tony Soprano's behavior change if he were enlightened? Particularly if yes, then does everyone's behavior become better in enlightenment? All aspects of behavior, or just some? Which aspects? --------------------------------- Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel.