thanks for the invite Curtis. I'm just finally chillin a little from a busy week.
nothing really on my mind. I know we had that piece earlier about the brain picking up data before it seems we consciously act on it, and the implications of that for free will vs. determinism. And it was then pointed out, that this might only be for trivial matters. right now, my brain just needs a rest. (-: ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <curtisdeltablues@...> wrote : --In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <steve.sundur@...> wrote : Hey Curtis, I know this is a bit of sensitive topic, but ya know, it does make a difference when disagreeing with someone, to end as you did, as opposed to referring to someone as a "gullible idiot". And no, I don't think it does anything to put a (-: after "gullible idiot" or similar term. C: Hey Steve, It really isn't a sensitive topic for me since I don't use the term, "gullible idiot" with or without the emoticon. If I had to guess it would be that anyone using that term is less interested in an interaction or discussion with the person than I am. I like to ride my discussions closer to the line of where exactly I am disagreeing with someone and where we are drawing our lines. It takes rapport and some time, so I make sure that I make a meta comment on valuing the discussion, if I actually do. It is honest for me. For others, maybe not so much. I don't expect or usually get the same in return around here, except with you and a few others. Anything you want to chat about? I would welcome some Steve time. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <curtisdeltablues@...> wrote : --In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, <no_re...@yahoogroups.com> wrote : WGM4U: Curtis-wiki is useful, but not the final word. C: I only went there for the quote, I already knew what the phrase meant and used to own the gag statue. WGM4U: Hear, see and speak no evil is just a catch-all phrase meaning stay on the positive side of life, IMHO. If you entertain evil, indulge in evil, speak evil it pollutes your own soul, why gossip? You take on that evil, it 'soils' your own soul. It doesn't mean we don't see things for what they are, we just don't indulge in them in the same manner. MMY was saying the same thing, I hope this helps you understand MMY better. C: I believe that Maharishi's purpose was much more specific than telling us to be good boys and girls and don't be bad boys and girls. I am not sure what you mean by "entertaining" evil? Serving it drinks? After a few bourbons evil always gets grab-assy. I guess indulging in evil is doing evil things which is kind of obvious. Of course the people likely to hear and heed such a warning are not likely to be evil doers in the first place. The value of it is kinda thin practically speaking. And I am not sure what you mean by "speaking evil." Buck is using it to mean anyone who states his disagreement with Maharishi's teaching, so I am not sure what standard is being invoked here. I think it is nicer to not be a dick to people, but that is more my preference from my upbringing than anything else. The reason people gossip is to check their social values allignement with other people in their tribe. It has a value which is why it is so popular. But it doesn't have anything to do with my discussions here. I am not gossiping about Maharishi when I present my POV on him and his teaching. What the phrase see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil implies is to put your head in the sand and ignore "evil." This is Maharishi's teaching about how to deal with people like me who disagree with his philosophy. Buck is violating Maharishi's rule about ignoring people who don't play along with the assumptions of the movement. In the movement people like me are demonized as being "evil" when we speak up about our POV. It is a cult move to protect the beliefs. But this principle gets very tricky when you deal outside the closed belief system of a cult mindset. Do you remember the Age of Enlightenment News we used to read to course participants, stripped of any "negative" news? Is it entertaining negativity to know about schools being de-funded and fighting back against the politicians who are doing it? Should we just not see this evil, or hear about it? Screwing kids out of their chance out of a good education is evil in my book, but should I ignore it? What about child abuse? It is by any standard evil right? Should we not see or hear about it, should we not speak out against it and fight it where we can? And what about if we believe in our hearts that a philosophy is flawed and does harm through irrational beliefs? Is it wrong to notice that people who are killing the last of our tigers and rhinos on the planet because they believe in THEIR hearts that these animal's body parts have magical properties? Should we see this evil and confront it on the level of education against this irrational belief? Or should we see no evil? And what if after 15 years studying Maharishi's teaching and experiencing his programs I came to the conclusion that there are faults in his assumptions about what these states of mind mean. What if I sincerely believed that my experience in the group was a valuable insight about the teaching from the perspective of an insider. What if I felt that my POV was as valuable as anyone else's who promote Maharishi's teaching. Am I being "evil" for expressing my opinion on an open forum? WGM4U: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt 10:16 King James C: I like poetry as much as the next literature fan. But in a world of wolves, sheep and doves get eaten. I would rather be a human who knows all about the habits of wolves so I can steer clear of them or if necessary, deal with them. Sheep and doves are both dumb as rocks. They are terrible metaphors for how people should live in the world. But hey, I appreciate your extending the conversation, I really do. We don't agree about this it seems, or at least are seeing it in completely different ways. If your way suits you, more power to you. I am just grateful for an opportunity to write about how I feel about it and for that, I thank you.