--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <authfriend@...> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Robin Carlsen" <maskedzebra@> wrote: > > > > --- 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. > > Smarter, maybe. > > But *cooler*?? > > Dig yourself. > > Here you are, whining because you've been insulted. Do we > ever see Barry whine when he's been insulted? Whining is > most definitely Not Cool. If you're going to whine, do it > in private, like he does. > > > And I am disappointed you would make of me a public spectacle > > by essentially calling me out. > > Oh, please. That's your raison d'etre, to be a public > spectacle. You'll happily make yourself one if nobody does > it for you. > > > I feel you have exposed me here, Xeno. And I don't like it one > > bit. Where is your compassion, your sympathy, your pity? > > So you admit you've been exposed. Xeno has done you--and us-- > a *huge favor*: he has revealed the ugly reality of the first- > person ontology you have so carefully concealed behind that > cunning zebra mask. That is true compassion, to make you face > up to the pitiable truth of who you really are. > > > 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. > > Right out in the open, you unleash the Monsters of your ID. > A lot of good they're going to do you now. You're expecting > Xeno to tremble in terror, aren't you? Good luck with that. > Xeno has shown he has the courage to confront you *despite > knowing of your unsavory interactions with people a mere 25 > years ago*. > > > I know there are some persons on FFL who disagree with your > > comparison of Barry and me. > > Probably not any more, not after this disgraceful display. > > > Did you hear that, Xeno? Just because this is what you believe, > > that doesn't turn it into truth. > > No, you've done that yourself, Robbie Boy. Xeno has forced > you to haul out all the spiritual baggage you've been > carrying and lay it before us. You did your best to catch > him in your fiendish snares and suffocate him, and you > FAILED. > > > 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. > > Poor you. Let me get my tiny violin. > > > I hope you're happy now, Xeno. Thanks a lot! > > Gag me with a spoon. Why don't you just go and complain to > your metaphysical super being? Nobody here wants to hear it. > You know, speaking of cosmic miscalculations. > > Get over yourself, dude. We're over you, but good. > > The zebra has been unmasked. (And those cute little stripes, > they're probably fake too.)
Dear authfriend, I just don't get this, authfriend. It just seems way over the top to me. I have read it over four times, and I still can't quite see what you are up to. I think you are being needlessly harsh. And I also believe that few FFL readers will believe my honest letter to Xeno warranted this kind of treatment. If I was slightly irrational in my reaction to what he wrote about me, that is only being human. Would you have me just act as if Xeno had not struck at my very soul? Don't get me wrong, authfriend: you have every right to your opinions, but Xeno never went as far as you have here. Indeed I am quite sure he was shocked at your post. I would even be prepared to believe inside his heart he wishes now he had not said what he said about me. But don't worry, authfriend. I am a strong character and this shall not define the rest of my life. But I think people should judge you according to this post: what you are capable of doing when you get a hate on about someone. I am just sorry it had to come to this. Xeno, please say something to authfriend--or 'Judy' to you. I feel badly for all of us, authfriend. This is a day that ends in unhappiness. But I do not want your pity. It is just that it is so hard right now. Good night, authfriend. Thank you. Robin
