--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Xenophaneros Anartaxius" <anartaxius@...> wrote: I suppose I ought respond to a few of these comments. Perhaps Xeno has taken leave of his senses.
> awoelflebater wrotes: > So Xeno writes the other day to Judy: > "I feel Barry is more spiritually advanced than Robin" > This alone made my head spin. But just, for example, take a look at Robin's commentary to Emily after she took his quiz yesterday (post 317866) and explain to me how you could possibly argue for this point Xeno. What exactly is your definition of spiritual? Maybe it is something I don't want to aspire to or can view as a positive thing if that is your assessment. If spirituality has anything whatsoever to the quality of heart, openness, willingness to understand, desire to be transformed by truth and life, sensitivity to other living creatures then, dear Xeno, I think you have miscalculated badly - your assertion has missed the mark. > Emily wrote: > I found that an interesting statement, to say the least. > raunchydog wrote: > I'd missed this one, Em. What a hoot! > Ravi wrote: > > ...I think Xeno, the frozen, immobile, sitting duck with his neo-advaita platitudes, the one who used to serve as a target practice for me to whup his ass any time, at my will, at my fancy, has finally stepped up the ante to fill the huge, gaping, void left by His Holiness... > ...This cold, heartless one has been brutally stung by my ambushes. And this ultimately is a victory for me!!! (Your ambushes, Ravi are particularly inept and unfocused and largely self-congratulatory. But then that is Ravi!) > ...Glory to Xeno - the Maitreya of Morons !!! > salyavin808 wrote: > I guess it boils down to that most curious trait that makes people in the TMO (and perhaps other groups) ascribe enlightenment to people simply because they like them. First of all, I said 'I thought', meaning that is my opinion; I did not ascribe enlightenment either to Robin or Barry. I said 'more spiritually advanced'. That implies some relative difference in what I consider a person's understanding of spirituality, but it does not imply what that value of advancement is, other than I thought there was a difference. It does not imply how much the degree of separation is either. Emily was kind enough to quote a few comments I made as reasons for the choice I made. It is based more on a feeling than anything else. If I had to trust someone to watch my back, I would pick Barry over Robin. Fewer blades, and were one to fly, Barry would be up front about it. I do not trust Robin. For whatever problems, shortcomings, and curmudgeonly gripes Barry may have, he is far more direct than Robin, Barry is calculating in many ways, to my mind, but Robin is cunning, and that is danger. Further Robin has a history that is less than savoury in his interactions with people. I do not know Barry's, but based on the interactions here, my guess with normal people (that is, not us), he is a regular guy, maybe a little crusty, but essentially normal. Here on FFL, our IDs (the monsters of the ID) are not so restrained. Robin's does not appear to have been much restrained. People who have the experience of slipping into unity or Brahman, to use that term, seldom take and run with it. They are taken aback by it. It stuns them. They sometimes think they have gone nuts, and are unsure, especially if unprepared for the astonishing shift in awareness. Robin, to my mind, and remember I am saying 'to my mind', I might be wrong in this - is deeply attached to both himself as a person (ego), and to a particular brand of theology, not sure exactly what, it seems kind of Catholic, but with the Robin twist. Barry has basically flown the coop here regarding ideology, but he is still practicing some form of meditation. Barry's ability to make fun of all the holy holies of spiritual life has a certain insight into spiritual puffery and ostentation. He has taken me on for this. But what that means is a lot of spiritual baggage has fallen off from him. This does not mean enlightenment. This does not mean he is a shining example of spirituality. Nobody here even agrees what a shining example of spirituality is. Robin is preloaded with plan, and eventually attempts to move one along that planned path. Barry does not care, but if he gets you right, as he does sometimes, you move, but not according to some preplanned path, he tries to get you to see your inanities and peculiarities of belief. This is the difference between being sucked into some kind of theology and experiencing spiritual spiritual growth. Spiritual growth destroys your crap; it is not ultimately a respecter of what you believe, because what you believe is just an idea in the mind about what is real. Beliefs have a tenuous relationship with reality. You cannot get rid of them all, but pruning is always in order. Barry takes pot shots at you. Robin tries to suffocate you in his grasp. What Robin does does not feel liberating in any way. It has some semblance to what some teachers of 'reality' do, but the end result is different. The reason I feel Barry is 'advanced' over Robin is I think there is less obstruction in his mind as to what reality might really be, and thus, given the right conditions, be more likely to slip into an enlightened realisation. Robin of course says he already was, but it was a lie, and he destroyed it, but now has another version of reality. If it had been real, there is nothing he could have done to get rid of it, because it is not something you can acquire in the first place. Robin has definitely had some profound mystical experiences, and he is very into the metaphysical. But this is not to my mind really related to spiritual growth. Enlightenment is not a special state of holiness, it does not make you lord and master over others. It makes one realise what a total idiot one has been in its pursuit. But the pursuit's 'goal', if consummated finally settles one down, the mystery of life has a curious resolution without the intrigue, or even the trials of life being sapped away. So the pointless pursuit is felt to have been worthwhile. And then one can be just an ordinary person. Robin does not want to be an ordinary person, he wants to be in some highest state of personal ontology in relation to a metaphysical super being, and make sure that you know that is the case, and that for you that is not the case. Barry is pretty much a normal sort of person from what I can tell, in spite of his pointed attacks on spiritual pomposity which can be perhaps a bit over biting at times and his ongoing taunting of Judy and her supporters. But his attack mode, if we characterise his writing style here, is also not the mindless ad hominems of Ravi, or the fiendish snares of Robin's overtures. Now Judy does not really talk about spirituality as such, so there is not much way to even attempt such an evaluation of her - she is our editor. However I can say I think I have learned more from interacting with Judy than with Robin. I do find her annoying sometimes, but the first question I think I should ask myself in such a situation is why do I feel that way? Being peeved at someone has two loci - one's self and the other person. Dear Xeno, I can only pray that one of my disciples straightens you out in this. How could you possible say what you have said? I find this so insulting: imagine, placing Barry above ME? You have made a serious cosmic miscalculation, Xeno: I am so much smarter and cooler than Barry Baby. And I am disappointed you would make of me a public spectacle by essentially calling me out. I feel you have exposed me here, Xeno. And I don't like it one bit. Where is your compassion, your sympathy, your pity? I am angry at what you have done here, Xeno, and I shall try to find my revenge. I am currently at a loss to know what I should do; but never fear: there shall be consequences for this, Xeno. I know there are some persons on FFL who disagree with your comparison of Barry and me. Did you hear that, Xeno? Just because this is what you believe, that doesn't turn it into truth. And I shall just have to be satisfied with this consolation: that, after all, this is just your OPINION. But you have really hurt what I assumed I always was; your *friend*, Xeno. I hope you're happy now, Xeno. Thanks a lot! Robin
