--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <sparaig@> wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > > > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > I would like my comment to be separated from any connection with > > > > > evaluating Jim personally. In my communications he has passed the > > > > > much more important test in my world of being a nice, sincere guy. > > > > > > > > > > I thought the Vedic System of MMY included the Yoga Sutras as the > > > > > tests for consciousness. At least that is how he presented it to > > us. > > > > > They were markers on the path, like belts in martial arts. It seems > > > > > reasonable that the criteria included in the system should be met. > > > > > > > > Well, duh...he was *selling* them for thousands of dollars. :-) > > > > > > > > More seriously, yes I think you're correct that he seems > > > > to hold the siddhis up as some kind of 'standard' for > > > > enlightenment, but he is one of the only spiritual > > > > teachers I've encountered who does. Without exception, > > > > all of the others I've seen personally have said just > > > > the opposite, that there is no connection whatsoever > > > > between the ability to manifest siddhis and enlightenment. > > > > Just FYI. > > > > > > > > > > Of course, that's not what he says. > > > > > > What he (MMY) says is that UNLESS you are able to do the siddhis, > > you can't claim Unity, > > > not that the ability to [at least occassionally] do a siddhi means > > that you are in Unity. > > > > Another wrinkle: what exactly does "able to do > > the siddhis" actually mean in the context of > > Unity consciousness? Does it really mean "on > > demand"? > > > > Outside the context of sutra practice. > > > If Unity consciousness is as MMY describes it, > > wouldn't it be Nature that "decides" whether a > > siddhi is to occur in a specific situation? > > > > Sure, but that's always the case, regardless of our state of consciousness. The point is one > of context: during the specialized sutra practice, or simply when [Nature deems] it is > appropriate at any time whatsoever during sutra pratice or not. For the fully enlightened, > there's no need to set up some special circumstances with unusual states of > consciousness, in order to perform them. Rittam is rittam at all times in all situations.
Right. But the issue I'm trying to get at is whether it makes sense to claim someone doesn't have the siddhis because they do not/cannot perform them on demand, e.g., to satisfy a skeptic. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Everything you need is one click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
