On Sep 24, 2007, at 9:58 PM, new.morning 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?
One of my favorite texts to read is the Chaturashiti-Siddha-Pravritti
(Tib.: Grub thob brgyad bcu tsa bzhi'i lo rgyus): the Legends of the
84 Siddhas. The stories detail the enlightenment of 84 very different
human beings, not unlike ones any of us might meet today: a hedonist,
a scholar, a temple whore, a thief, a chronic liar, a snob, etc. Each
one found their unique guru and each guru, based on their students
particular neurosis, gave a sadhana, a prescription for release,
based on the students unique condition. And they all attained perfect
enlightenment. Their traditions continue up to this very day.
So yes, any student, if given the appropriate technique for their
particular condition, can obtain perfect enlightenment. One technique
will not suit all students anymore than one medicine will cure all
diseases.
In inner-tantra we have a saying "the more wood, the more fire",
meaning whatever ones particular obscurations are, they can be used
as fuel for realization, given the right teacher and the right
techniques.
