When someone starts meditating, is the flatness (separation of Self from sense perception) that they begin to feel is a prelude to Cosmic Consciousness or the beginnings of personality pathology that has nothing to do with enlightenment?
A prelude to CC is the understanding given to us by the TM movement. Personality disorder, depersonalization, etc., is the explanation given by the TM critics. How do we verify which is true? The state of flatness as a prelude to CC would be measured by increasing stabilization of Self as defined by what CC is. Personality disorders such as spaciness, depersonalization, etc., would be confirmed by observations of pathology. So who should we believe, the TMO or the TM Critics. Is this 'flatness of perception a pathology or a natural, normal prelude to enlightenment defined as stabilized Self throughout the three states of consciousness? Mark
