--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Archer" <r...@...> wrote: > > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairfieldl...@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of geezerfreak > Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:01 PM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: For Ruth > > Sister Raunch....can I ask you something? Do you think that there is a > possibility that your faith in Maharishi and in the "rightness" of his > movement, might be a mistake? In other words, can you consider the > possibility (just the possibility) that what you believe with all of your > heart, about Maharishi and his movement, could be completely wrong? > > Is it possible? > > As I've already stated, when I made the decision to leave the TMO, I did so > knowing that I could be completely wrong, that I may have made the biggest > mistake of my life. Now...in the nearly 30 years that have followed, > everything I experience tells me otherwise. > > But to this day, I really don't know! I like going with my instincts, I > really do. I like knowing that I could be wrong. I like the not knowing! > > Sorry for the diversion and back to my question to you. Is it possible? > Geez, why does your decision have to have been completely right or > completely wrong? The Movement always has been a mixed bag, as have we. Both > it and we have good and bad qualities. You have a great career which you > wouldn't have had if you had remained full time in the movement. Most people > who remained full time have little to show for it, either in terms of any > great spiritual advantage, and certainly not materially. One scenario might > have been to have distanced yourself, but occasionally attended courses, but > you could probably do that now. > Rick, I'm speaking of the belief system. If you go over a certain line in discarding the belief system of the TMO you are considered "off the program". I had some dicey run ins back in the day when it became known that I "read books" meaning books involving Indian and hindu philosophy that were not movement approved. I had to do some fast talking to, for instance, get approved to become a teacher of special techniques.
I haven't the slightest desire to attend courses at this time. I lived year after year going to the next "big course". The joy of discarding that whole way of thinking was, for me, in letting go of the idea that I had to have my foot on some kind of spiritual gas pedal, the whole idea of a "go faster" way. But, I get your point. I don't find anything odd about remaining fascinated with that period of my life where I dove in 100% to another reality. I don't regret any of it. (OK, I probably could have shaved a few years off and gotten what I needed to get out of it.) >From time to time I enjoy participating at FFL. I remain fascinated by those >who, after all of these years of growing and obvious TMO dysfunction, still >believe, heart and soul. I realize that I come across at times as mocking or >condescending. Mostly I'm just playing to tell you the truth. As I've been >writing today, I can't truly look down on anyone who remains hard core into it >all. I was as TB as anyone (maybe with a twist). My instincts and the way life >has gone tell me that the decision I made to leave the TMO was a good one. But....I could be completely full of shit. Part of the joy comes from knowing and accepting that. The question that Barry asked today...can the TB'ers here entertain the concept that they MIGHT be wrong about all of this...it gets to the core of why I check in here. There's no right or wrong but every once in a while someone here has a personal discovery or something to share that keeps me coming back You created quite a joint here Rick!
