--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Denise Evans <dmevans365@...> wrote: > > This list sounds so very much like something from the > evangelical Christian tradition - religion is religion > is religion.
Bingo, Denise. Emphasis on the keyword "evangelical." It's just not *enough* to believe this stuff; you have to try to make others believe it as well. > --- On Mon, 8/22/11, Buck <dhamiltony2k5@...> wrote: > > From: Buck <dhamiltony2k5@...> > Compare and contrast spiritual groups through time and, of course,one > wonders how it is going for TM and the TM movement. It seems there is a > formula that spiritual groups become organized and then communal as people > coming together to facilitate spiritual experience first, to then also > provide a social contract through time within a group. Spiritual communities > blossoming after the experiential comes along, then following out of > practical need,with a social contract to look after the aged, caring for the > infirm, educating children. Evidently the communities that last for any > length of time often have both a shared spiritual shakti of experience and > provide a social security. Where communal groups diminish in facilitating > the (spiritual) experience and/or fail in the social contract, one or both, > the groups then wither and disappear in time. Life-cycle in utopia. > > > Â "First.â"Are all meditations attended? Do meditators avoid unbecoming > > behavior therein? And is the hour of meditation observed? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Second.â"Are meditators preserved in love one > > toward another? Are tale-bearing and detraction discouraged? And when > > differences arise, are endeavors used speedily to end them? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Third.â"Do meditators endeavor, by example and > > precept, to educate their children, and those under their care, in the > > principles of plainness of speech, deportment, and apparel? Do they guard > > them against reading pernicious books, and from corrupt conversation? And > > are they encouraged to read and chant the Scriptures diligently? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Fourth.â"Are Meditators observing moderation > > and temperance on all occasions? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Fifth.â"Are the necessities of the poor, and > > the circumstances of those who may appear likely to require aid, inspected > > and relieved? Are they advised and assisted in such employments as they are > > capable of; and is due care taken to promote the school-education of their > > children? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Sixth.â"Do Meditators maintain a testimony > > against ill-gotten wages? Against Slavery; oaths; bearing arms; trading in > > goods taken in war; and against lotteries. > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Seventh.â"Are Meditators careful to live within > > the bounds of their circumstances, and to avoid involving themselves in > > business beyond their ability to manage; or in hazardous or speculative > > trade? Are they just in their dealings, and punctual in complying with > > their contracts and engagements; and in paying their debts seasonably? And > > where any give reasonable grounds for fear in these respects, is due care > > extended to them? > > > Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â "Eighth.â"Is care taken to deal with offenders > > seasonably and impartially, and to endeavor to evince to those who will not > > be reclaimed, the spirit of meekness and love, before judgment is placed > > upon them?
