"Lemme throw this into the mix: Given that we all are or were practitioners of TM, is it possible that having recognized the need to distance ourselves from movement conditioning is a function of improvement in our cognitive skills as a result of our TM practice (whether or not we've continued the practice itself)?"
It could be. But I just don't see any consistency of this position. When I was really deeply into the "teaching", I was also really thoughtful about it, that is what drew me to the philosophy major. We had a chance to think about Maharishi's teaching through many POVs. I have some sense of my intellectual limits, but my mind has approached my interests in a similar way since I was a boy. So I suspect that you always enjoyed running your intellectual engine on topics of interest and guys like Bevan preferred to learn some phrases to spout, and then pursue his own power agendas. (judgmental much? Oh yeah!) If the practice actually enhanced this function I would expect to see more really thoughtful people representing the movement, and I just don't see any evidence for this. I'll also add that when I was doing the longest programs, my mental functions were no better than they are today. If anything the years of practicing my thinking has improved things considerably. That said, your experience may be quite different. But this is a very interesting topic for me. It goes to the heart of what does meditation improve or add to one's life? I've been doing my own research and have drifted back into using my longass mantra. The old engine just started up on its own. So I am tying to get a sense of what mental areas are improved by meditating. I am enjoying it. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > <snip> > > I have noticed that the people here whose perspective I seem to > > gain the most from have either kept the movement conditioning at > > arms length,(Judy and sometimes Lawson as examples), or followed > > other POVs deeply enough to be forced to think about the concepts > > outside the structured phrases of the belief system. (Kirk's recent > > post comes to mind, but many posters here have this skill) > > > > So I can't say that I believe that people who practice meditation > > or sidhis do develop any cognitive skills that seems like > > anything on the brochures. I don't think it automatically > > diminishes any cognitive abilities either. > > Lemme throw this into the mix: Given that we all > are or were practitioners of TM, is it possible > that having recognized the need to distance ourselves > from movement conditioning is a function of > improvement in our cognitive skills as a result of > our TM practice (whether or not we've continued the > practice itself)? >
