--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, enlightened_dawn11 <no_re...@...> wrote: > > there are many ways of gaining enlightenment. first off, it is not > an either/or proposition-- i see the process of gaining > enlightenment initially like a lightbulb that flashes on, and then > off, with no regular interval to its timing. an experience of > enlightenment, then darkness for awile, then another flash, then > darkness. > > eventually the light stays on, and perhaps someone feels confident > enough to say, "hey everyone, i am enlightened!" and they begin the > process of watching the lightbulb to see how far the light is > shining out, and when it appears obscured, and what the public > proclamation and challenge does to their ability to integrate the > inner light into their outer life. > > and perhaps the light appears to go out again. a learning process > which takes time; more integration in daily life. and after some > more time, the lightbulb stays on, for good, under all > circumstances, and then they have a choice to say, or not to say, > "i am enlightened", depending on what they feel like doing; hold > themselves up as an example of enlightenment, or quietly allowing > the bulb to burn bright within. > > so to make the assumption that because someone proclaims their > enlightenment, that they will suffer a downfall, and have to start > again from the beginning, is a false assumption. > > we as human beings learn by doing, and testing and challenging, and > if we are true to ourselves and our desire for gaining > enlightenment, we will eventually be successful, regardless of what > we may proclaim along the way.
You *do* like analogies, doncha ED? So, just as a question, pursuing this light bulb analogy, would someone who chose to comment on a turn of phrase that was last used on that forum six months before she arrived there be an extra- ordinarily bright light, capable of seeing back into the past, or more of a dim bulb? :-) Curious wannabe light bulbs want to know... I mean, if the person really CAN see "back in time," that's pretty cool, eh? On the other hand, if the person is remembering the turn of phrase from, say, another incarnation, and remembers *that*, that would be pretty cool, too. On the other hand, if the person merely had adopted a new name to, say, hide actions performed while using a previous name, under which that person had announced their enlight- enment, it kinda weakens the analogy above, right? Or is it that the name change was the thing that made such extraordinary psychic seeing possible? I'm just asking a theoretical question here, ED, not making any kind of statement. The question has more to do with the larger spiritual scene than it does Fairfield Life. Think the old song "The Name Game." Brahmacharya Bal Mahesh -> Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Sri Rajneesh -> Osho. Fred Lenz -> Atmananda -> Rama. Franklin Jones -> Bubba Free John -> Da Free John -> Da Love-Ananda -> Da Kalki-> Da Avabhasa -> Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Tony Nader -> Maharaja Adhiraj Raja Raam. Doesn't this sound an awful lot like Laura Bran- igan's song? "Tony, Tony Bo-Bony Bonana Fanna Fo-Fony Fee-Fi-Mo Mony Tony?" It also sounds to me, because so many supposedly enlightened beings have done this "Name Game" thing, that it's somehow essential to being per- ceived by the public *AS* enlightened. So if our dear Rick wanted to set up shop as an enlightened being, would he need to change his "spiritual name" to Rick, Rick Bo-Bick Bonana Fanna Fo-Fick Fee-Fi- Mo Mick? Would that help his credibility and help him ignore the horrible failings in his past that Nabby has accused him of? Again, I'm not making any kind of statement here. I'm just curious as to why so many of the folks who announce their enlightenment feel the need to change their names from time to time. Is it just an outward expression of the inner change they experienced when they realized their enlight- enment, or could it possibly have something to do with not wanting to address past actions that might be considered less than enlightened? I really don't know the answer, and am just rappin' here this morning because I find the subject inter- esting to speculate about. You seem to be very sure of the things you say here, as if you "knew" them in some cosmic way, beyond mere opinion. So, if you have any cosmic insights that could help me make sense of this Name Game thing, I'd appreciate it if you could pass them along. Yours in enlightenment, His Holiness Sri Barry, Barry Bo-Barry Bonana Fanna Fo-Barry Fee-Fi-Mo Marry Barry Ananda :-)
