On Jul 18, 2012, at 10:36 AM, Robin Carlsen wrote:
Here's the problem with your analysis, Vaj: If one were to read
what Share Long has posted, then my post in response to her post, a
person would form a certain portrait of this man—in the abstract,
then. But presumably with some faint feeling of what this guy must
have been like to know in person.
But if a person were to form their idea of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
from your comments, *they would come away with an impression or
idea of Maharishi which would not even begin to account for the
influence he had, nor the context within which that video was
created*.
Your 'truth' about Maharishi tends to reflect back upon you more
than it leads the disinterested and impartial reader to the reality
of Maharishi.
Do you understand how I could form this judgment of your post, Vaj?
I can, I just don't find it very convincing. I believe it's hard for
you to let go of parts of our own history they you hold 'near and
dear' to you. That's actually the function of the ego: to draw things
towards one that enhances it, and to push away ones that do not. The
tao is easy for those with no preferences, but always barred to the
sentimental. I just think you're overly sentimental. And I do
understand it's hard for some people to let go of their past.
Now, if you choose to respond to me, don't prove my thesis by
drawing attention to yourself (your first person ontology) rather
than, as you should, to this controverted issue of the truth about
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
I believe I hold within myself a critical stance towards Maharishi—
in one very important way—which is more powerful and meaningful in
its negative construal of this man than in anything you have ever
said about him.
But I also have to be true to my *experience*—and the experiences
of thousands of others.
And millions of Elvis fans...:-)
Maharishi had an influence upon me which has made me what I am—even
though I consider him the enemy of my final personal integrity.
And so with many teachers. As I've said before 'you can take the
teacher out of the TMO, but you can't take the TMO out of the
teacher'. Thus we have numerous ex-TM teachers in the spiritual
marketplace who leave the TM movement - only to become players in
that same marketplace - plying their acquired TM-teacher skills to
their new product line.
Why not just seek what is most real, Vaj, instead of being a
crotchety, debunking, bitter hater of all things TM and Maharish
and the TMO?
Because I'm actually a pleasant, loving person?
