[FairfieldLife] Re: Shemp -- how'd ya do that?...be my teacher
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, bob_brigante [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, shempmcgurk shempmcgurk@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung no_reply@ wrote: Shemp, How did you get Girish's photo to show up, online, in your post. I used the standard HTML tags but got nowhere. Perhaps I have to post from my email software instead of the online interface? Edg 1) Rich-Text Editor mode; 2) clicked on the link you provided to the photo; 3) highlighted the photo; 4) right-click copied; 5) pasted. Perhaps you made it too complicated than it had to be... *** Shemp emailed his post into FFL, which is why the photo showed up. Posting at the web site won't cut it for this purpose. Not necessary to e-mail it to FFL, just paste into Rich Text Editor from website, and follow the instructions. You must highlight the photo on a website first --- ie. drag across it so that it darkens, then copy.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sandiego108 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 7:11 PM, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, BillyG. wgm4u@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: snip Maybe he really wasn't a yogi. Is that a possibility here? Yes! Be interesting to hear a definition of yogi from both of you. CC type attainment as a minimum--the slightly dualistic turiyatita--beyond the forth being what I'd refer to in a TM- style context. But there are non-dual and other yogis as well, so it is good to specify what style of yogi you mean when you make some sort of declaration. It's not a monolithic thing. I'm always glad to specify if people are sensitive enough to even ask. Most aren't. and those that know the truth about this sort of thing aren't either. Go home pretender. This notion that you have of their being a never ending path of signs and symbols and sciences and levels of accomplishment is all designed to mollify the fear of complete dissolution, of your own death. Nothing more. All who talk in these terms seek to keep those listening in bondage, keep them seeking outward for what is each of our spontaneous and wholly owned birthright, that of eternal freedom. Some of the trappings of these rituals of Maya are beautiful, but that doesn't make them liberating. There are just two kinds of existence, 1) bound and segregated, and 2) free and integrated. To make a fundamentalist science as you do of all of these gradations and other things keeps the mind busy so that it can believe in something other than its own naturally available annihilation. Just more fear and idiocy dancing with Maya. Everything Jim says here boils down to, I know the truth, and you don't. As far as I know, *that* is Narcissistic Personality Disorder, in a nutshell. With a dash of being not terribly smart or original thrown in. :-)
[FairfieldLife] Meeting Maharishi (by Gotham Chopra)
Meeting Maharishi (by Gotham Chopra) One of the more interesting parts of growing up Chopra, was the range of people my sister and I were exposed to--from celebrities to heads of state to Nobel laureates and all the rest. As a teenager growing up in Boston, the emotional response to these experiences ranged from titillation (Madonna) to indifference (Elizabeth Taylor), to total fascination (Michael Jackson). But the most memorable was the little Indian Guru who over the years became a symbol of something very primordial to my whole family. I remember the first time my parents dragged my sister and I to meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is some rural outpost in India outside of New Delhi. I was about 11 years old and I hated them for it. Drag is the literal case here because it was 1986 and the Boston Celtics (my boyhood favorite team) were on the run to the NBA Championship. Alas my parents decided that we needed to travel to the old country to see our grandparents and visit the ashram of some old Beatles Guru that they had become enamored with. This caused considerable family friction: if Larry Bird was my Luke Skywalker, the dude known as Maharishi had literally just become my Darth Vadar. In those days, India was not the bustling land of plenty and opportunity it is today. Getting to India in the first place was a hell of an ordeal. Getting to Noida where Maharishi's ashram was involved taking a convoy out to what appeared to be the sticks. The upshot was that almost since my father's first encounter with Maharishi, he had been mysteriously seemingly anointed the chosen one by the movement that surrounded the Guru and hence we were treated with an overt sense of deference and importance. In India this meant getting an escort of Maruti cars from Delhi to Noida almost upon landing at the airport in the middle of the night. That was just the beginning of the mysterious journey. Once we we arrived in the ashram, a quiet compound awash with candlelight and the fragrance of fresh flowers, we were sequestered to a room where we waited, and waited, and waited. It was truly an exercise in patience and endurance, to wait for hour on end in pursuit of an encounter that meant nothing to me. Finally, about nine hours in, I was handed an ice cream cone by one of the movement handlers and we were escorted into a massive auditorium where a few thousand people seemed to be seated. At the head, atop an flower covered pedestal sat the diminutive Maharishi. As the VIPS that we were, we were ushered to the front row and seated in full view of his holiness. He seemed to be midstream on a long dissertation about the meaning of life which to my 11-year-old brain, really didn't register as highly important. He didn't as much as blink upon our entrance, take an extra breath or make an aside glance to acknowledge our presence. He just droned on. But then, a moment later, he stopped. And he stared down at the four of us, my parents, sister, and I. It was as if he had stopped mid-sentence, mid-thought even. And he just stared at me. And pointed at me. Despite my 11-year-old hubris, I was shrewd enough to know that this was a big deal and all of a sudden the glare of the spotlight burned right through me. Maharishi paused and spoke into his microphone, come here, you can? I stared at my father unsure what to do. Go, go... He urged. I gestured to my older sister Mallika to come with me and she just shook her head. Go dummy, she whispered. So with the hushed glared of a thousand eyes on my back I staggered forward awkwardly. After a seeming eternity, I stood in front of the great Maharishi. I knew from the Indian comic books that I collected that you were supposed to bow down and touch the feet in a show of respect to these old sadhus. Not sure what else to do, I started to get down to my knees, balancing my ice cream cone in my hands. Maharishi laughed and reached out and stopped me. No...no...no... he giggled. Americans do not bow down at the feet of anyone, he said. I stared at him awkwardly not sure how to respond, holding my ice cream cone tenuously. Um, I'm not really American... I divulged the great discomfort of my upbringing as the son of a an immigrant raised in America, the only brown Celtics fan I really knew. Indian? Maharishi giggled back at me. Not really... the flip side of my identity conflict was now out in the open for everyone to see. Maharishi nodded slowly. I looked in his eyes. There was a gentleness to them, something very comfortable that put you at ease. Then what are you? He inquired. Um... I stammered. Um, I don't know. I guess I am...I'm just uh. I guess I just am...? And he started to laugh again, this sweet innocent infectious laugh. All these years, he started to speak. I have meditated and studied, he giggled even louder, to come upon this revelation that you already know! We just are! He put his hand on my head.
[FairfieldLife] Growing Up with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (by Mallika Chopra)
Growing Up with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (by Mallika Chopra) I learned transcendental meditation when I was 9. I think I met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time when I was 13, and for the next decade he was a major influence in my life. I remember sitting for endless hours with Maharishi sometimes crowds of thousands of people, others times just with my parents and brother. Because of my fathers (Deepak Chopra) relationship with him, Maharishi was someone we knew, rather than someone we idolized. When you were with Maharishi, it truly was like time did not exist. There was a sense of connection to something deeper. Maharishi was a visionary. He always spoke in grand, universal, mythic terms. Numbers were always infinite, possibilities endless, nothing too difficult to accomplish. He would talk about changing the world in sweeping terms, and then suddenly, focus on some minute detail. Since people from so many walks of life came to Maharishi, those endless hours were full of individuals who did different things, who came from every corner of the earth. Maharishi spoke a universal language that resonated with all of them. His language touched peoples souls. You could tune in and out of what he said, and still feel like you were experiencing something truly monumental. As a young girl, I did not understand most of what was talked about, but I wanted to be there. I felt inspired, energetic, motivated and at peace. When we left him, I would run and shyly give him a rose, and he would give me a smile that always made me laugh. Maharishi would talk with his sweet voice and then giggle a giggle that then erupted into a wave of laughter that tickled those in his presence at their very souls. I will always remember the laughter around Maharishi. Around him, I felt happy and free and timeless. Even though I was shy, I could laugh with abandon a laughter that was so uplifting. I remember very clearly the evening my mother called me to tell me that she and my father had left Maharishi for good. I was a senior at Brown University, and to me it was quite devastating because his presence had, in many ways, formed my identity. But, upon reflection, it was the natural step in a mythical relationship between a guru (Maharishi) and his disciple (my father). The comic books that my brother and I had read growing up had the same theme over and over again. At some time, the guru says good-bye, and the disciple moves on. That evening, I went and got a red rose and headed to the local TM Center in Providence. The people there had always welcomed me as a daughter, and it had proved to be a quiet haven for me throughout college. I sat in the meditation room, the rose in my hand, and meditated for over an hour. When I came out of my meditation, I felt a tremendous sense of strength and peace. I realized in that moment the wonderful gift that Maharishi had given me the ability to connect to myself, to love myself, to laugh and feel connected to something universal. Yesterday, when my father called to say that Maharishi had left, I felt that peace again. It has been more than 10 years since I last saw him, but his gift is still with me. When my father taught my elder daughter to meditate last summer, Maharishis gift was passed on to her. Today, I plan to spread rose petals around my house with my two little girls. To honor Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, we will meditate and cuddle and play. And, most importantly, we will smile and laugh and celebrate. - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Although I am sure this will be hard to relate to for some... I got a lot of peace from the article in the Skeptical Inquirer in 89 or 90 that compared these personality traits [Narcissistic Personality Disorder] with popular gurus. I think it's a valid way to see many of the teachers in today's spiritual world, and possibly in the whole history of spirituality. It's not the most *flattering* way to see them, and so of course the True Believers are going to react to the non-flattering-ness of it and not be able to see how *accurate* the description of NPD is when applied to most spiritual teachers. But I think it's a *very* valuable way of looking at things. I know this seemed horrible to people who may view him as a real messiah... For what it's worth, Curtis, I see all real Messiahs as suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder as well. The fact that they became more famous than other people who suffered from the same fantasies doesn't mean that they're not fantasies. ...but for me it gave me some insight for compassion for Maharishi. It helped me understand how he operated the way he did, and even the odd feeling he would give off when I interacted with him. It explained how he could use and discard people as he unfolded his mission. I don't see this as a putdown. It is an alternate explanation to the idea that he proposed that he was the most important human in history. And a far more realistic one. :-) The reaction of most of the world to news of the death of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is, Who? Why would someone believe such a thing about themselves? I think we're seeing it here on this group. There are quite a few people here whose way of reacting to grief at the loss of their teacher is to GET INTO ARGUMENTS. Why? So they can declare themselves right about something, and try to assert themselves as more right than someone else, and get other people to focus on them. It's how they have consistently reacted for years here. What I'm suggesting is that this tendency was learned from their teacher, Maharishi. Everything always came down to *him* as the ultimate authority, *him* as the person who knows the truth. How could a bunch of students, having seen this in their teacher for over 40 years, not pick up on the trait themselves? Either he was or he was not, but it requires an explanation. At least it did for me. For me as well. So for me he remains a fascinating guy with or without this disorder. As, for me, does Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz, another spiritual teacher whom I would class as being a *classic* example of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The whole role of the guru as proposed by many if not most spiritual traditions, IMO, has been a process of putting Narcissistic Personality Disorder up on a pedestal and glorifying it, as if it were a good thing. One piece of evidence I submit that perhaps he was mislead about the power of his teaching are the closest people to him that he left behind, presumably his most advanced pupils. Indeed. There is not a single person among them who is going to be remembered by history in five years, much less 100. I think we have a pretty good idea that his optimism about his programs exceeded his results. Or is that just me being negative on King Tony and Bevan? I don't think so. Of course, that could just be *me* being negative. :-) I've been around the spiritual smorgasbord a bit, and have looked at and interacted with a LOT of different spiritual trips. I would have to say that the *primary* characteristic of a TMer (as opposed to seekers in other traditions) is that tendency to believe and announce, We know the truth and no one else does. This is a trait you do NOT find in other trad- itions as much as you find it in members of the TMO. And I think it's related to Narcissistic Personality Disorder. *That* set of personality traits describes very accurately how Maharishi related to the world and to his students for forty years. *That* set of personality traits describes how many of the students themselves have come to act. *That* set of traits is IMO the legacy of the TMO, almost more than the TM technique. Just my opinion...
[FairfieldLife] An account of Astral plane of existence....
Paramhansa Yogananda's guru Sri Yukteshwar Giri shed his mortal body in January 1936. After a few months in June 1936 Guru Yukteshwar Giri appeared before disciple Paramhansa Yogananda's in an astral form. The Guru -disciple dialogue as it appears in the book The Autobiography of a Yogi is given below. In this dialogue the Guru describes the astral body , the astral beings and experiences in astral plane of existence. : http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/books/ay/43.html Some excerpts : As prophets are sent on earth to help men work out their physical karma, so I have been directed by God to serve on an astral planet as a savior, Sri Yukteswar explained. It is called Hiranyaloka or 'Illumined Astral Planet.' There I am aiding advanced beings to rid themselves of astral karma and thus attain liberation from astral rebirths. The dwellers on Hiranyaloka are highly developed spiritually; all of them had acquired, in their last earth-incarnation, the meditation-given power of consciously leaving their physical bodies at death. No one can enter Hiranyaloka unless he has passed on earth beyond the state of sabikalpa samadhi into the higher state of nirbikalpa samadhi. God encased the human soul successively in three bodies-the idea, or causal, body; the subtle astral body, seat of man's mental and emotional natures; and the gross physical body. On earth a man is equipped with his physical senses. An astral being works with his consciousness and feelings and a body made of lifetrons. A causal-bodied being remains in the blissful realm of ideas. My work is with those astral beings who are preparing to enter the causal world. The astral universe, made of various subtle vibrations of light and color, is hundreds of times larger than the material cosmos. The entire physical creation hangs like a little solid basket under the huge luminous balloon of the astral sphere. Just as many physical suns and stars roam in space, so there are also countless astral solar and stellar systems. Their planets have astral suns and moons, more beautiful than the physical ones. The astral luminaries resemble the aurora borealis-the sunny astral aurora being more dazzling than the mild-rayed moon-aurora. The astral day and night are longer than those of earth. The astral body is not subject to cold or heat or other natural conditions. The anatomy includes an astral brain, or the thousand-petaled lotus of light, and six awakened centers in the sushumna, or astral cerebro-spinal axis. The heart draws cosmic energy as well as light from the astral brain, and pumps it to the astral nerves and body cells, or lifetrons. Astral beings can affect their bodies by lifetronic force or by mantric vibrations. Physical desires are rooted in egotism and sense pleasures. The compulsion or temptation of sensory experience is more powerful than the desire-force connected with astral attachments or causal perceptions. Astral desires center around enjoyment in terms of vibration. Astral beings enjoy the ethereal music of the spheres and are entranced by the sight of all creation as exhaustless expressions of changing light. The astral beings also smell, taste, and touch light. Astral desires are thus connected with an astral being's power to precipitate all objects and experiences as forms of light or as condensed thoughts or dreams. Causal desires are fulfilled by perception only. The nearly-free beings who are encased only in the causal body see the whole universe as realizations of the dream-ideas of God; they can materialize anything and everything in sheer thought. Causal beings therefore consider the enjoyment of physical sensations or astral delights as gross and suffocating to the soul's fine sensibilities. Causal beings work out their desires by materializing them instantly.Those who find themselves covered only by the delicate veil of the causal body can bring universes into manifestation even as the Creator. Because all creation is made of the cosmic dream-texture, the soul thinly clothed in the causal has vast realizations of power. - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The DSM-IV elements of narcissistic PD are at least five of the following: 1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance 2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love 3. believes that he or she is special and unique 4. requires excessive admiration 5. has a sense of entitlement 6. is interpersonally exploitative 7. lacks empathy 8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her 9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes Exactly. Thanks for posting this, Ruth. I think that people (if you consider Judy 'people') are reacting to the term 'Disorder.' It's a descrip- tion of a known set of behaviors and beliefs, grouped into a convenient category for describing a certain type of human being. IMO Maharishi Mahesh Yogi fits ALL of the criteria above to a T. IMO so does the other teacher I studied with for a long time, Rama, Dr. Frederick Lenz and a host of other popular gurus and teachers in the modern world. Now of course, just because you believe you are special, doesn't mean you aren't special. Exactly again. The people who think like this *might* be right. It's just that most of the time they aren't.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
curtisdeltablues wrote: I got a lot of peace from the article in the Skeptical Inquirer in 89 or 90 that compared these personality traits with popular gurus... It explained how he could use and discard people as he unfolded his mission. I don't see this as a putdown. One piece of evidence I submit that perhaps he was mislead about the power of his teaching are the closest people to him that he left behind, presumably his most advanced pupils. I think we have a pretty good idea that his optimism about his programs exceeded his results. Or is that just me being negative on King Tony and Bevan? King Tony always struck me as not really wanting the king job, put playing along, just to keep M happy out of reverence. Which means he might give up the crown soon, now that he can. But its Bevan im more worried about. Bevan's whole life has been as Maharishi's defender, kind of like a cosmic body guard. But with M gone, Bevan might just unravel and go bonkers. i hope im wrong, hope he can hang tough! i have had my own issues with Bevan, but i dont wish him ill.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 6:18 AM, srijim1 wrote: I bet old Deep-Pockets Chopra is probably kicking himself now... it could have been all his. Ha! Tough luck Deepak, you had your chance. Actually Chopra's an interesting case and point. He has his own Neo- Vedic Science mega-church now--but needs to kiss up since his song and dance is derived from his ex-teacher's. So he's been making up new stories to secure that cash, uh, I meant lineage. :-) If he doesn't try to make his teacher look legit, it makes him look illegitimate. So the stories flow. Have you seen the 6-year old Mahasamadhi picture? Very clever! Vaj, I'm delighted to see there is someone else on this forum who has an irreverent sense of humor. As you've noticed, I don't have much respect for these self-proclaimed holy men from India. After The Beatles made Mr. Varma the first guru superstar, the US was literally flooded with these characters. Why? because that's where the big money was. It's as simple as that. The guru con is one of the oldest cons in India, right up there with the begging cartels. The USA was the mother-lode of spiritual suckers then and it still is. I guess what I find so offensive about the self-proclaimed Maharishi is that he didn't even try to disguise his con... he started out almost immediately trying to turn a profit. First, he side-stepped the have-nots and charged $35 to the haves. And when he didn't think the Haves were lucrative enough, he marketed spirituality exclusively to the Have- Mores. The guy was completely shameless in his greed and ruined the lives a lot of sincere good people with all his vedic smoke mirrors. Flying technique?... give me a break. The Shankara lineage in India was absolutely appalled by the man. And, the TM Movement has evolved into nothing less than a fascist spiritual tyranny run by a group of self-serving megalomaniacs. Chopra Pundit Ravi Shankar are cut from the same cloth. They didn't feel they were getting their share of the Maharishi pie and saw their chance to set up their own little spiritual money machines. The transparency is laughable. And yet, sincere people are continually taken in by this obvious con. It's truly tragic. But, what can you do? People believe what they want to believe no matter how ridiculous. There is no waking these zombies out of their spiritual fog with reason, so maybe a little humor will help laugh them out of it. We're all victims of our own folly to an extent. There is no shame in seeing that. Selling/buying enlightenment for a million dollars is funny. Even his royal highness, Nader Rum-Dum can't disguise the absurdity of that. Hopefully not, anyway. What I wonder, is that now Mr. Varma is dead... are the rank file going to keep putting up with this TM Monarchy nonsense? Only time will tell and I truly wish them the best.
[FairfieldLife] Re: important Sage of a New Generation quotation
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, at_man_and_brahman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is paraphrased, but Maharishi was asked at the end of this film from the early '70s for what he would like to be remembered. Maharishi looked a million miles into the distance and then said, disarmingly, Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. But you will be remembered! That will be up to those who will remember me! (laughter) That beautiful moment ---faster forward--- Maharishi asking the rajas days before his death for a memorial, yielding plans for Towers of Immortality here, there, and everywhere. Of all the things that saddens me about Maharishi's death, that saddens me the most. It's so Citizen Kane. Well said. That's it exactly, the sad, sad King Lear egoness of his last few years and days.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 8:34 PM, sandiego108 wrote: No, better yet, continue to lose yourself in your layers and signs and Ways and Views...that's the ticket. Arduously discover a glimpse, a painful elicited glimmer of the one true self, no wait, The One True Self Of Compassion--- Hilarious!!! You crack me up Vaj Rant... Every thing is a symbol: learn, love and live! Enjoy your own mandala. No self or Self necessary! What crap. Useless information.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 8:30 PM, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 8:04 PM, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 7:12 PM, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: snip I've spoken to a number of psychologist and psychiatrist friends on this one. Most point to Narcissistic Personality Disorder ROTFL!! Judy, do tell! What was your DSM IV guess??? I don't make DSM-IV guesses. Neither do responsible psychologists or psychiatrists make them about people they haven't at least interacted with. For deceased persons? Yes they do. And you've spoken to all these psychologist and psychiatrist friends to get their diagnosis of MMY just since Tuesday afternoon, right? Of course not. It was over time Dear Editor. So it *wasn't* for a deceased person. You're getting rattled again, Vaj, as you always do when someone calls you on one of your more ludicrous pronouncements. Observe Vaj's explanation of the circumstances under which professionals supposedly make such a diagnosis: Keep in mind, death (irregardless of whether or not it's seen as significant) is like a final stamp on a bank account or administrators account. The stamp has fallen. Based on the evidence between Mahesh Srivistava Varma's creation and death we can (and will) look at evidence for a certain personality type (or pathos). But now he informs us it *wasn't* the falling of the stamp that enabled his friends to make this diagnosis. snip Plus which, any professional who would trust *you* to give an accurate enough account of MMY to do a long-distance diagnosis is incompetent anyway. Vaj's furious backpedaling notwithstanding, the applies whatever the situation. Professionals do sometimes attempt speculative diagnoses of historical figures years after they die when they have spent considerable time studying the records. *Responsible* professionals don't come up with such diagnoses on a dime the day after a person with whom they have no familiarity has died, on the basis of a single person's account (least of all someone as unreliable as to facts and as highly biased as you). And of course, another Judy's Golem --a strawman and monstrous distortion with no resemblance whatsoever to my intentions. chortle See above. Of course, my purported straw man was based precisely on what Vaj had said. Vaj is the classic ego nerd who read a book somewhere and thinks he knows more than all the saints.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 7:57 PM, do.rflex wrote: Regarding early TMO pundits and teachers: 'they certainly weren't no Acharyas'. :-) Brahmachari Satyanand, whom I referred to, had spent many years with Guru Dev as a disciple. After Guru Dev's 'death' he later went on to assist Maharishi spreading Transcendental Meditation, as I understand it, until he died himself. I attended a course he conducted at Lake Arrowhead in the early 70s and spoke with him individually and privately at least three times, one of which was to receive an advanced technique. I say this mainly to indicate that Satyanand was directly involved with Guru Dev and Maharishi both. IME it's not a guarantee that these people are completely and holistically trained in these sciences. I really, honestly, see most of them as naive. Fact is, you haven't seen Guru Dev or Brahmachari Satyanand at all. But I do have lineal transmission of Samaya Sri Vidya directly from his line (Guru Dev's). So I base my View on his same transmission. And I do know that transmission. (So can anyone). What the hell is same transmission? Satyanand? Only stories. Some flattering. Some less so. An acharya? No. You're playing your name games there, fella. The only thing you have is book learning and opinion, no experience. Brahmanand Saraswati? Emphatically YES. And a yogi with ram (fire) siddhi (at very least). You wouldn't really know. Your information is only because you've 'heard' about them. I knew Satyanand and I experience Swami Brahmananda Saraswati practically daily. I also spent a considerable amount of time with Maharishi, including TTC which he conducted himself. Again, you wouldn't know.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Fortunately, in a couple of weeks the posting limits will be back, and he'll be gone again. TurquoiseB, are the posting limits a Yahoo thing or a TM Movement directive? Neither. They're a local thing, to keep assholes from dominating the conversations here by posting hundreds of times per week It used to happen, with some regularity. The three biggest offenders -- the *reasons* that the normal posting limit of 50 per week was originated -- were three posters who go by the IDs of 'authfriend', 'shempmcgurk', and 'sparaig.' Each of them used to flood this forum with their posts, and when asked politely to refrain from doing so, they refused. Therefore the posting limits were adopted. During normal times, if anyone goes over 50 posts per week (Friday midnight Fairfield time through the next Friday midnight), they get banned for a week. Can't WAIT for them to be in effect again... Just FYI, Funeral Gawker, Judy is right...you're making an ass of yourself. MOST of the people here are NOT believers in all the stuff you think they are. The person being an idiot is you.
[FairfieldLife] Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
Ruth earlier posted the DSM-IV definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder: The DSM-IV elements of narcissistic PD are at least five of the following: 1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance 2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love 3. believes that he or she is special and unique 4. requires excessive admiration 5. has a sense of entitlement 6. is interpersonally exploitative 7. lacks empathy 8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her 9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes I'm not a shrink, just an observer of the smorgasbord of spiritual practice, but I see these descriptions/categorizations as fairly significant, because they accurately describe a LOT of spiritual teachers, and a LOT of their students. I might add a tenth criterion, one that IMO is important to recognize when dealing with products of the TM movement: 10. has difficulty knowing the difference between this is the truth and this is how I see it. To me, that's probably THE most defining aspect of narcissism -- the *assumption* that how one sees things *equals* how things really are. And that's one of the most recurring themes here on Fairfield Life with regard to the TM TB (True Believer) phenonmenon, and with regard to occas- ional claims of enlightenment. Nabby and some of the other rare TBs who appear here seem incapable of seeing that there is any *possible* way of seeing things other than the way that they see it. It's probably the characteristic that defines them the most. Any way other of seeing things than the way they see things is by definition wrong. Some of those who have claimed enlightenment on this forum have trotted out the same assumption: if they perceive it or believe, it's not only true, it's TRUTH. Because they are enlightened (or consider themselves enlightened), they *assume* that all of their perceptions are true. When it is pointed out to them that many of them are factually not true, they just tune out and descend into insults and You'll understand when you're as high as I am spiritual oneupsmanship language. It's as if they CAN'T conceive of their perceptions as being anything BUT equivalent with truth. So what I'm suggesting is that when looking at the issue of narcissism or Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context, this tenth criterion is a Big One. If the spiritual group being studied tends to *create* this tendency to believe that one's own way of seeing things is the *only* way of seeing things, or the only right way of seeing things, or the truth, then I think it's safe to assume that what's going on in that group is Narcissism Training.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, geezerfreak [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: I'm just going to leave it at that, because it's great fun to watch you spout off thinking you know what you're talking about. I checked out of FFL for many months but took a look again when MMY passed. And lo and behold, there's Judith on her high horse running her ridiculous pompous mouth again. Some things never change. Even worse, Sparaig is back being an OCD defender of everything Maharishi again. In all this time away you'd have thought he might have learned to THINK before he posts, but nooo... Fortunately, in a couple of weeks the posting limits will be back, and he'll be gone again.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
Fortunately, in a couple of weeks the posting limits will be back, and he'll be gone again. TurquoiseB, are the posting limits a Yahoo thing or a TM Movement directive?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, geezerfreak [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, geezerfreak geezerfreak@ wrote: Hm, I guess you didn't bother to read the post I was responding to. Bad idea. Makes you look almost as silly as the poster. Yeah sister, I did. The content doesn't matter. It's your never ending condescending attitude towards those you disagree with. The DSM-IV elements of narcissistic PD are at least five of the following: 1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance 2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love 3. believes that he or she is special and unique 4. requires excessive admiration 5. has a sense of entitlement 6. is interpersonally exploitative 7. lacks empathy 8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her 9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes Have you ever SEEN a more classic embodiment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder than Judy Stein? That's what I've talking about this morning. If the teacher embodies Narcissistic Personality Disorder, SO DO HIS STUDENTS. It just goes with the territory.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Pundit Ramanand Shastris predictions for 2008
I know this Pundit performs Yagyas with his group. Has anyone tried his Yagyas?
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: From Bill Eberwein Re MMY death
--- lurkernomore20002000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Re: William W. Eberwein Whoa, a Christian statment, not judging, not condeming, not preaching. Maybe this Age of Enlightenment thing has something to it. Alex Stanley: I sniffed around, and Eberwein is not a typical fundie Christian: http://eberweins.blogspot.com/2006/10/fresh-flowers.html http://eberweins.blogspot.com/2006/10/fresh-flowers.html Maybe Bill Eberwein realized at some point that the way to win friends, and influence people is to walk the talk, and not beat people over the head with your beliefs. BTW, isn't it kind of funny the the next Vice President of the United States believes that the world was created in seven days, and is only 5000 years old. You mean it isn't? dude, I've got problems! Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: [...] But soon after, while I was very morose, sorrow, sad, entire world was empty for me and I did not understand what to do without Guru Dev, just a half a minute or two seconds after, a flash came and it appeared to me that Guru Dev was scolding me; What a fool you are! You have been with me for all these many months and years, and you heard my discourses too. Is it a moment of feeling sorry? Why should you be sorry today? And you think that I am gone, where am I gone? Till now whenever you wanted to meet me, you had, you had to come to the place where I was, and today when I have attained nirvana, I am everywhere, I am omnipresent. Where have I gone? Very foolish for you to mourn on this occasion. I am with you, here, there, everywhere. Why should you be sorry? And the moment this flash came, my face became very brilliant, I became very cheerful. And when I raised my head, my friends who were standing there, very anxious and held in suspense, they were upset to see my brilliant and cheerful face. And then they said, What has happened to you? I said, No you can't understand, nothing has happened to me, I am alright, now let me go back to the ashram and make the necessary arrangements. Where does it say that Guudev actually spoke to him? ...and it appeared to me that Guru Dev was scolding me; Apparently you didn't read the monologue. Schizophrenics hear voices and think its someone talking to them. Satyanand wasn't schizophrenic, Lawson. Did you ever meet him? Non-schizophrenics recall the attitude and put it into words or simply remember the sound of the person saying the words, but don't say Gurudev spoke these words to me after he died. Apparently you didn't read the monologue. Instead, they say and it appeared to me that Guru Dev was scolding me. Likewise, MMY received direct inspiration from Gurudev to do something but didn't say Gurudev appeared in a vision and told me to do this. You really haven't clearly defined direct inspiration from Gurudev And you didn't really answer the question, Lawson. In my view, the reason you didn't is because you don't want to consider any possibility beyond that the drop becomes the ocean the end. I have experienced Guru Dev visually and telepathically myself. Once I 'heard' him repeating something which I'd never heard before, I believe it was in Sanskrit - as if an initiation or such. I know other TM teachers who have had similar experiences. I'm not schizophrenic and neither were they. And what we experience[d] isn't merely 'inspiration' from memories.
Re: [FairfieldLife] As a common bumpkin I did it my way ( MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt)
On Feb 8, 2008, at 8:51 AM, Duveyoung wrote: Sal, Come on. The TMO leaders merely did what all humans in power do. They are commonly tawdry -- let's not aggrandize them as especially good at it -- they didn't open up new territory, nor were the TBers extra suckerish. You're undoubtedly right, Edg. I'm probably still too wrapped up in the whole thing to view it objectively. And the TMO poofy-boys are about to CLEARLY FAIL -- Maharishi's passing was like a train going by their dress-up party in their house of cards.whoosh, poof, and the stunned look of the leaders will be priceless. The scam is used by all organizations. Going direct. Pink Cadillac. Elder in the church. Tenured. Master Sergeant. Always with the hierarchy -- such an old song and dance. The banks just now are finishing up counting their 1/4-trillion-dollar profits from scamming the poor with the sub-prime ploy -- that's millions of lives stressed far beyond whatever the TMO was able to leave in its wake, so what's the ruination of a few thousand TBers' hopes and dreams and bank accounts? If you happen to be one of them, it's everything. But I too confess to having these feelings of how could they. But, gasp, all along the way, time after time after time, there I'd be dusting myself off and gleefully turning another cheek after each incident wherein I would get this same boot imprint delivered resounding to my face by sycophant after smarmy boob after bureaucrat after 108 guy after don't sit in cordoned off seats up front after move to FF or the nukes will fall after, Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was responding to a thread initiated by a true believer, Rick Archer, with the hope that I might stir up a dialog with either him or people who share his convictions. That is yet another incorrect assumption and example of why you would do well to spend some serious time, reading the archives and getting to know the participants here. Rick Archer is NOT a TM true believer. Rick Archer was kicked out of the dome. Rick Archer ditched his TM mantra and instead uses a mantra given to him by Ammachi. Rick Archer is the one who posted an email discussion about allegations that MMY was sexually involved with women. These are all facts that can be found in the FFL archives. There's a reason why it's common netiquette for newbies to a forum to lurk for a while and get a feel for the forum and its participants before participating. You barged in here, completely ignorant of what FFL is about and the people who post here, and started making a complete ass of yourself. Barry's right: You're clueless. Either shut up and learn something, or go away.
[FairfieldLife] Re: L.B. Shriver a Gentleman in FF compiling a book on Guru Dev.from news reports
Normally I would have to question the 'Gentleman' nomenclature, but in this case its true ! OffWorld --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The book is not out as yet. He has over many years collected donations loans for the publication of such but since 1999 to my knowledge perhaps before that time. He expects to have such done soon he states but soon since 2001 is still not as yet. Many joyfully await it publication is some cases the return on there loans for its publication.Far more folks look to reading enjoying the actual reading of the collected news paper reports articles of those transcribed speeches talks of Guru Dev. To date no time certain has been set for either actions. I believe he is still working to put such a published work in our hands. L. B. Shriver is an MUM graduate scholar has been form time to time a responsible sounding board for MIU later MUM to grow more free liberal even kinder to its treatment of mediators sidha's. This had causes him at times to be banned from campus even thwarted in his activities in the town of Fairfield. I consider him to be a friend of mine. I also dearly hope for this publication of Guru Dev's talks published available to us all. Those talks were to my understanding transcribed from Hindi to English by scholars in the pay of L. B. for us all to then read. L. B. Shriver also has a radio program in FF IA is on air I believe Wednesdays each week. In a message dated 2/8/2008 9:55:39 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: --- Angela Mailander wrote: Who's L. B. Shriver? LB Trusty Shriver (real name; no initials) is a Fairfield writer and publisher who was active on Fairfield Life a few years ago, and checks in occasionally yet. 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 **Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy? NCID=aolcmp00300025 48)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Last hours of Maharishi
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gyselsvishnu dirkgysels@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gyselsvishnu dirkgysels@ wrote: Since he is a saint, he wil get Jala samadhi, immersion in water in a stone coffin, like his Master. What is your source for that? Official communications from the TMO refer to a cremation ceremony. It is written in the Dutch local press (from the province of Limburg). It is true there are many unclear things. As you know it is officially said that M. died in his sleep but other reports claim that he mentioned Gurudev on his deathbed. Can anyone who was there tell the real full story objectively? I am now in Madanapalle, South India. I visited a function today in the Maharishi Mandir, which was constructed on his behalf in 1956. They said that there will be a cremation on Monday in Allahabad. Maharishis body will arrive on the 9th by direct plane from Amsterdam to Allahabad. I got the news here through the local Maharishi Mandir who in turn informed Mother. I had had a conversation with her a week earlier, and told her that MMY had said he will soon go. She laughed and said, where will he go, to USA? sort of joking. I said no, not like this, leaving this plane. She said something to the effect that there is no going anywhere for the enlightened - he will be here. That was very consoling, I didn't ask further. The reason given for that there will be a cremation is that Maharishi was not a Swami, and Yogis are just cremated like everybody. Even though Maharishi is a great saint, he would have gone strictly by the orders of his tradition. I spoke with the nephew of Narayan Ayer just now, and he will accompany him to be there in Allahabad. I think many Indian devotees will come.
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ben Gilberti Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:12 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here is a failure to communicate. Dear Srijim, They called me an asshole for a good while, they were right actualy, I was also clueless. I shut up and learned something. We don't know yet if it worked, however. It’s a rite of passage. A sort of virtual mustard belly. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
RE: [FairfieldLife] About L.B.Shriver (Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel)
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Duveyoung Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:42 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] About L.B.Shriver (Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel) L.B. Shriver is one of the first of us zombies to come back to LIFE. He published a few editions of Survival in Paradise. (I think that was the name.) In it were articles by about a dozen FF writers that did not completely tow-the-TM-line. To the TMO he was a dangerous gadfly that had to be banned from the MIU campus where L.B. distributed his newspaper for free. I would describe his skill-set as like -- Judy's for precision wording, -- Vaj's for sacred scholarship, -- Rick's for ecumenicality, -- Marek's for emotional control, -- Turq's for prolixity, and -- mine for absurdly believing that writing-something can help others. Though I don't think he ever really liked me all that much, cuz I'm a yapping moralistic puppy to his gnarled dog with steely gaze and low growl snarl, I often recall his general feel with pleasure. Edg Thanks for the vocabulary lesson. Had to look up a couple of those. I’ll forward this to LB. Incidentally, while teaching the Desktop Publishing program at MIU, I had the only large format laser printer in town. I used to print the master copies of Survival in Paradise for LB. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
RE: [FairfieldLife] About L.B.Shriver (Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel)
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Duveyoung Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:42 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] About L.B.Shriver (Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel) L.B. Shriver is one of the first of us zombies to come back to LIFE. P.S. Edg, I always used to enjoy your writing in “Survival.” No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 10:06 AM, do.rflex wrote: Scientology? ...or what? What qualifies you to determine and/or to be a final arbiter of the validity of the saints, especially ones you've never met or 'experienced'? No interest in scientology or being a final arbiter. I've trained and practiced in both Hindu and Buddhist mantrayana lines, including practices for death and dying. So how does that qualify you to give any legitimate definition to Maharishi, Brahmachari Satyanand or Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, or for that matter, Transcendental Meditation? You have ZERO direct experience with any of those persons or the TM. What do you have more than second hand information in that regard?
RE: [FairfieldLife] What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of srijim1 Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 8:46 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] What we have here is a failure to communicate. What we have here is a failure to communicate. I see your point and you are correct that I was under the impression that I was corresponding with forum members currently living in Fairfield and involved in the activities of the TM Movement. My initial response was to some guy named Rick Archer and the subject of the thread was/and is: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel. If you read my initial response, you should see that my response was in no way directed towards people who had actually left the TM Movement. Quite to the contrary, I applaud you for having the good sense to do so. When I read your responses, it was my assumption that they were targeted to the thread subject matter as initiated by Mr. Archer. The purpose of a subject line in a thread is to keep responses within an overall context in order to stay on point. You actually sound like a pretty good guy, so I won't take serious offense at you repeatedly calling me an asshole, but I don't mind pointing out that you are actually the one responding on the wrong thread with regard to the subject topic and it's initiation. It's an honest mistake on both of our parts. I was responding to a thread initiated by a true believer, Rick Archer, Hey Nabby, are you paying attention? I’ve been anointed a “true believer.” Cool! Do I get a crown with that? Jim, for the record, many things I post here are forwarded. I post them because I consider them significant and potential stimulants for discussion. They don’t necessarily reflect my opinions. People who’ve been around a while know this, so I don’t preface every post with a disclaimer. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
This post raises a critical point and I'm quite sure it's been hashed over many times before, so bear with me. I am reminded of something that my favourite remote viewer guy, Ingo Swann has said. He lamented that of the many impressions and images that a viewer will see in their career the one thing they all come away with after the event is the sad knowledge that until the day they have CONFIRMATION from some source, they have ZERO way of KNOWING what exactly they SAW. He was clear about this. The person cannot ascertain on their own whether their so called 'perception' was a product of their imagination, ego, mind, who knows what else? A clear vision of something, in the end, means only something on one level to the perceiver. What it is in the ultimate realms of truth is quite something else. This takes me to the other point. Prophets in any religion will always say that they have received information from a higher source and that you had just better trust them on this. There is, after all, no other way other than FAITH to figure out if the words of the prophet are true, except for one thing. In the Old Testatment many prophets appear. One of the strictest criteria for whether we are supposed to 'believe' them is that for at least some of their prophecies, some of them have to come 'true' in their lifetime. Some words of some of them were for far off events, such as the words of Daniel and others. In other words, if they said that the Lord had said such and such as a prophecy, then the test was in the results. That was one criteria. So, if someone says that they had the experience of contact with Guru Dev or any other entity/intelligence, be it human or non-human, by what measure should we apply to ascertain whether the claim has any value? If we too do not have the same experience and can verify it on some level, then the claim is just taken at face value and you either believe it or not. If someone, say, for example my remote viewers, say that they had contact with an alien being, then unless we can verify it, we should just take it with a grain of salt. Maybe a lot of salt. The same criteria applies to anyone who has an expererience that is out of the ordinary day to day. How do we test the claims? Belief systems, religious systems are almost all set up this way. People line up to believe and if the right guy comes along with horns of light, well you know, people are impressed. The difference between the charlatans and the real mccoy is not always easy to measure. When the prophet Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a duel, he won the day because of a supernatural event that convinced everyone on the spot that he had God's phone number in his back pocket and the priests of Baal were phoney. I'll leave off for now. Regards, Fred [snip]
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
Dear Srijim, They called me an asshole for a good while, they were right actualy, I was also clueless. I shut up and learned something. We don't know yet if it worked, however. -- Ben TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You actually sound like a pretty good guy, so I won't take serious offense at you repeatedly calling me an asshole... You are incorrect on both counts. I am NOT a good guy, and I call you an asshole because you're acting like one. Your assessment of me is as off as your initial assessment of who Rick Archer is and what his intention was in reposting an announcement. You're clueless. Either shut up and learn something, or go away. - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 9:35 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 9:01 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 6:39 AM, do.rflex wrote: What the hell is same transmission? Transmission is just a translation of the Sanskrit word agama (Agama) --a transmission of the same teaching, in the same practice line as Guru Dev, from one of his students. Doesn't guarantee its legitimacy. Satyanand? Only stories. Some flattering. Some less so. An acharya? No. You're playing your name games there, fella. The only thing you have is book learning and opinion, no experience. Actually I have more experience than book reading! Which is? 40 years. 40 years of what? Spiritual practice and for about 25 of that, training as well. Scientology? ...or what? What qualifies you to determine and/or to be a final arbiter of the validity of the saints, especially ones you've never met or 'experienced'?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- Angela Mailander wrote: Who's L. B. Shriver? LB Trusty Shriver (real name; no initials) is a Fairfield writer and publisher who was active on Fairfield Life a few years ago, and checks in occasionally yet.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
Who's L. B. Shriver?
- Original Message
From: Duveyoung [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2008 1:02:12 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
Srijim1,
Hmmm, L.B.Shriver had the same step-style formatting posting problem
-- are you using a Mac like L.B.?
If you can fix that, it would be good.
On the other hand, you sound like L.B., and that's good, or, hey,
new theory, maybe L.B.'s a jerk but stair stepping one's sentences
makes one sound wise.
Edg
--- In FairfieldLife@ yahoogroups. com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] . wrote:
Gal, actually.
If you're still confused, here's a hint:
Have a look at the posts from last week,
before MMY died. Or just about any week
before that.
You should be able to figure it out from
there.
Judy, Judy, Judy,
Thanks for referring me to some other people's thoughts on the
matter. Forgive my
impertinence, but do you happen to have any original thoughts of
your own? or is that
asking too much. Why so shy in expressing your own opinion? Perhaps
that is frowned on
by his Majesty, but believe it or not it's a right guaranteed by the
Constitution of the
United States. And get this it is even okay for you to practice
different forms of spiritual
practice if you want. Not only that... if an employer tries to
hinder your religious freedom...
they can be prosecuted for it. I guess that part of the Constitution
hasn't reached Fairfield
yet, huh? Anyway Judy, only children hide behind the opinions of
others. If you have
anything to say that expresses your own experiential understanding,
I will be glad to read
it. Maybe when you find out what you actually think you will have
something valuable to
contribute to the discussion. Until then, you are simply taking up
space. There's an old
saying, When everyone thinks the same there is no one thinking
at all. There appears
to be far too much of this happening in your neck of the woods...
and you appear to be a
prime example of the principle.
!--
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[FairfieldLife] What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
It has nothing to DO with your opinion of Maharishi and the TM movement. That's not what I'm talking about. It has to do with your opinion of the people you are speaking to on THIS forum. You cruised into town with a big fucking elitism chip on your shoulder, assuming that everyone here believed the same things you think that TM True Believers believe. They don't. Most of the folks here walked away from the TM movement years or decades ago. They come here to talk about it because here you can actually HAVE your own opinions on all that stuff. In the TM movement itself, you couldn't. Bottom line, dude, is that you're being an asshole. You refuse to LISTEN. If you just shut the fuck up for a little while and listened to what most of the people here are really saying, you'd realize that it has almost nothing to do with your fantasies of what they're saying. What we have here is a failure to communicate. I see your point and you are correct that I was under the impression that I was corresponding with forum members currently living in Fairfield and involved in the activities of the TM Movement. My initial response was to some guy named Rick Archer and the subject of the thread was/and is: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel. If you read my initial response, you should see that my response was in no way directed towards people who had actually left the TM Movement. Quite to the contrary, I applaud you for having the good sense to do so. When I read your responses, it was my assumption that they were targeted to the thread subject matter as initiated by Mr. Archer. The purpose of a subject line in a thread is to keep responses within an overall context in order to stay on point. You actually sound like a pretty good guy, so I won't take serious offense at you repeatedly calling me an asshole, but I don't mind pointing out that you are actually the one responding on the wrong thread with regard to the subject topic and it's initiation. It's an honest mistake on both of our parts. I was responding to a thread initiated by a true believer, Rick Archer, with the hope that I might stir up a dialog with either him or people who share his convictions. Probably wishful thinking on my part. Instead, I was preaching to the choir without being aware of it. It's a shame really because right now TM Movement members have what appears to be a real opportunity to throw off the chains of tyranny people like you had the wisdom to recognize years and even decades ago. And to any other Ex-TMers out there, please understand that all of my postings have been directed to what I believed was a TM Movement yahoo group in the context of a TM Movement staff member's press release.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: Brahmanand Saraswati? Emphatically YES. And a yogi with ram (fire) siddhi (at very least). You wouldn't really know. Your information is only because you've 'heard' about them. I knew Satyanand and I experience Swami Brahmananda Saraswati practically daily. Not to argue but to reinforce my point in post #163860, John, aren't you assuming that your subject experience of Brahmananda Saraswati trumps anything that Vaj could possibly say, or that anyone else on *Earth* could possibly say? It's your experience; therefore it is true. Thank you for providing such a perfect example of that tenth criterion of Narcissistic Personality Disorder that I was talking about. Actually, you've got the context of what they're arguing about wrong, because you're more interested in dumping on John and preaching your standard sermons than in understanding what they're saying. ( For the record...what you experience COULD be true. I don't know. My only point is that you don't either. You only assume it's true because it's *your* subjective experience. That is almost the classic definition of narcissism. ) Uh, no, it isn't. But it's kind of fun to go back and look at Barry's rants about how important it is to trust your own experience. For example: There are a few people here on FFL who have had such subjective experiences, whether it be of odd phenomena or their own subjective exper- iences of higher states of consciousness. I like dealing with them *because* I can identify with the changes that their subjective experiences and learning to trust them have put them through. And even funnier: You'll notice that most of the people who *have* had interesting experiences of higher states of consciousness or of extraordinary phenomena rarely, if ever, talk about them any more. Jim's about the only one who dares to brave the boring, terrified turd-throwers any more. Rory's silent, Tom's mainly silent, and a few people have left altogether. The bottom line, as I see it, is that the wimps have WON, *especially* after the migration of a couple of compulsive-poster wimps from alt.m.t. Those two, together with anon_couscous and a few others who don't even have the balls to use their own names here, have made Fairfield Life a distinctly UNFRIENDLY environment in which to talk about one's own spiritual experiences. One of the compulsive-poster wimps from alt.m.t Barry was referring to just happened to be do.rflex (John), the guy he's now dumping on because John trusts his experience of Guru Dev. Ironically, compulsive-poster wimp from alt.m.t describes Barry to a T.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Last hours of Maharishi
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gyselsvishnu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Since he is a saint, he wil get Jala samadhi, immersion in water in a stone coffin, like his Master. What is your source for that? Official communications from the TMO refer to a cremation ceremony.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 no_reply@ wrote: snip That's the beauty of democracy even assholes get to express their opinions. Since I evidently have a wrong opinion, in your view, with regard to the Maharishi the TM Movement, perhaps you can enlighten me. It has nothing to DO with your opinion of Maharishi and the TM movement. That's not what I'm talking about. It has to do with your opinion of the people you are speaking to on THIS forum. You cruised into town with a big fucking elitism chip on your shoulder, assuming that everyone here believed the same things you think that TM True Believers believe. They don't. Most of the folks here walked away from the TM movement years or decades ago. They come here to talk about it because here you can actually HAVE your own opinions on all that stuff. In the TM movement itself, you couldn't. Bottom line, dude, is that you're being an asshole. You refuse to LISTEN. If you just shut the fuck up for a little while and listened to what most of the people here are really saying, you'd realize that it has almost nothing to do with your fantasies of what they're saying. It's actually understandable why he has the wrong impression, having joined the group at this point and seen all the various tributes to MMY. That's why I urged him to have a look at the traffic here from before MMY died, when the posts were more typical. His motive for coming here in the first place after he heard about MMY's death wasn't exactly admirable, given his misunderstanding about the nature of the group. But the posts he saw have tended to confirm that misunderstanding, so he plowed right ahead in his mission to upset all us True Believers by dumping on MMY as we were mourning MMY's demise. As you say, he's interpreting the responses to his posts as objections to his opinions of MMY rather than as attempts to set him straight about the nature of this forum. It's really pretty funny.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 6:39 AM, do.rflex wrote: What the hell is same transmission? Transmission is just a translation of the Sanskrit word agama (Agama) --a transmission of the same teaching, in the same practice line as Guru Dev, from one of his students. Doesn't guarantee its legitimacy. Satyanand? Only stories. Some flattering. Some less so. An acharya? No. You're playing your name games there, fella. The only thing you have is book learning and opinion, no experience. Actually I have more experience than book reading! Which is?
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 7:33 AM, do.rflex wrote: I have experienced Guru Dev visually and telepathically myself. Once I 'heard' him repeating something which I'd never heard before, I believe it was in Sanskrit - as if an initiation or such. I know other TM teachers who have had similar experiences. I'm not schizophrenic and neither were they. And what we experience[d] isn't merely 'inspiration' from memories. Unstressing. Return to the mantra.
[FairfieldLife] Re: stillness
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ben Gilberti [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 207 undercover agents freeze in place in New York City. These people are fabulous. They've done all sorts of stunts, and most (all?) of them have been videotaped. Check out their Web site for more: http://www.improveverywhere.com They're based in NYC, but they encourage you to form a similar group wherever you are. http://youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo
[FairfieldLife] Last hours of Maharishi
The Dutch local press writes that Maharshi was taken to the hospital of Roermond nearby. This happened probably also on last Tuesday. However, he wanted to return home to die in his own surroundings. On a truck which could load a specially constructed coffin (with a window on one side), the body of Maharishi sitting in lotus was brought early this morning to the Schiphol airport. Since he is a saint, he wil get Jala samadhi, immersion in water in a stone coffin, like his Master. Dirk Gysels, Brussels
[FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
Sri Jim, Hey, I've seen quite a few folks barge in here since, well, since I barged in here about a year ago with my tude going full blast, and just about all of the newbies have had to fight their way into this gang. Gotta take a thousand kicks from us -- that's how we see if you go away or stick around and surrender to the abuse that is available here -- it can be as much fun as snowball fighting, and as dangerous. I post these long rants and lectures and sermons and get almost nothing back, but I look at it as my archiving for posterity the ruminations of a newage cud chewer. I pride myself that as long as the Internet lasts, I'll be googlable. Scant immortality, but where else can an ego invest these days? Prepare to have King Lear's feelings on a regular basis if you try to lay down some truth here. Points of view are mercilessly scathed and I count it as a nice sandpapering of one's egoic sculpture to get a group to refine one's projections. That said, hey, I really like you. I really really like you. Keep posting. Something ya gots resonates over here. If you post some biographical info, that sometimes mellows the folks out -- otherwise, a stranger has come to town and we're all putting our hands next to our holsters. And get that damned stair-stepping format fixed. Edg --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are incorrect on both counts. I am NOT a good guy, and I call you an asshole because you're acting like one. Your assessment of me is as off as your initial assessment of who Rick Archer is and what his intention was in reposting an announcement. You're clueless. Either shut up and learn something, or go away. TurquoiseB, LOL!!! Okay, have it your way... you are a jerk and probably a complete asshole as well. I won't dispute that with you. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt... but, oh well. You say I'm clueless, while at the same time offering absolutely nothing to back up your statement. What do I have to do?... pay some kind of initiation fee to become privy to this secret knowledge you claim to possess. Rick Archer's posting of that TM Movement superlative clap-trap seemed a bit moronic to me, but if you possess some higher wisdom on the subject hit me with your best shot. I'm an adult... I can take it. But, if all you can do is regurgitate insults and patronizingly say, Learn something ... then spare me. Who the hell made you pope of this thread... you servile arrogant prick. This is a public forum open to anyone who wants to participate. You say you left the TM Movement years ago... and yet you seem to exhibit the same kind of haughty imperious attitude the TM Movement is so famous for. What is it with you Judith? ... do you think just because you hurl some supercilious insults in an intimidating manner, I'm supposed to take it on faith you have any clue what you're talking about? I certainly haven't seen any evidence of it. All I've seen is some pompous guy who is verbose... and yet does not persuade. If you have a legitimate point of view that can be backed up... state it like an adult. If it has any merit, I'll listen. But, enough of this acerbic nonsense you keep spouting.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: I think that John has bought into the propaganda spread by Nabby and others that you have never practiced TM or been a TM teacher. His phrasing above seems to imply that. If I'm not mistaken, neither is true. Like many of us here, you both learned TM and spent some time on the front lines as a TM teacher before moving on to other studies, including some that involved working with teachers in the *real* Shankaracharya lineage. Oh, ok thanks. I'll just ignore his post then like Nabby's! Life's too short. Caught with his pants down the complainer runs. LOL!
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:29 AM, srijim1 wrote: Finally, someone who is actually willing to explain the situation without feeling the need to insult me. Now, was that so difficult to accomplish? Rick, here I thought you were some true believer and now it is apparent you are anything but. My apologies. I am obviously in the wrong forum talking to the wrong people. You have your own thing happening here and I'll intrude no further. Good luck to you all. I believe most TB's avoid FFL or have even been told (in FF) that it is off the program to participate here. I suspect the only TMO TB's you'll find here are lurkers. But there are a lot of TM/TMSP TB's here.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:52 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: I think that John has bought into the propaganda spread by Nabby and others that you have never practiced TM or been a TM teacher. His phrasing above seems to imply that. If I'm not mistaken, neither is true. Like many of us here, you both learned TM and spent some time on the front lines as a TM teacher before moving on to other studies, including some that involved working with teachers in the *real* Shankaracharya lineage. Oh, ok thanks. I'll just ignore his post then like Nabby's! Life's too short. Caught with his pants down the complainer runs. LOL! Actually I'm still here, just not into playing games with naive assholes!
Re: [FairfieldLife] What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:45 AM, Duveyoung wrote: I see that over at alt.buddha.short.fat.guy there was one thread about Maharishi, TM Founder Dies, with but four snide posts. I wudda thunk there'd be a flood of stuff there. Er, so, how are other groups handling this? So, anyone who is reading other groups who can summarize the responses please chime in. On a large list of Buddhist scholars and practitioners it got a brief mention. One person shared their stories of people they had seen who had been damaged thru it's practice, leading to nervous breakdowns. The same guy, who had practiced TM in the 70's for a couple of years, said it seemed to make people gullible, it's teachers seemed numb and compassion was lacking in them. He also had taught several ex-TM people Vipassana meditation. One sidha said 'after his instructions he finally began to understand what meditation actually was about.'
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Last hours of Maharishi
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:39 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Last hours of Maharishi I got the news here through the local Maharishi Mandir who in turn informed Mother. Who is “Mother”? No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
[FairfieldLife] Re: Last hours of Maharishi
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gyselsvishnu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, gyselsvishnu dirkgysels@ wrote: Since he is a saint, he wil get Jala samadhi, immersion in water in a stone coffin, like his Master. What is your source for that? Official communications from the TMO refer to a cremation ceremony. It is written in the Dutch local press (from the province of Limburg). It is true there are many unclear things. As you know it is officially said that M. died in his sleep but other reports claim that he mentioned Gurudev on his deathbed. Can anyone who was there tell the real full story objectively? I am now in Madanapalle, South India. I visited a function today in the Maharishi Mandir, which was constructed on his behalf in 1956. They said that there will be a cremation on Monday in Allahabad. Maharishis body will arrive on the 9th by direct plane from Amsterdam to Allahabad. I got the news here through the local Maharishi Mandir who in turn informed Mother. I had had a conversation with her a week earlier, and told her that MMY had said he will soon go. She laughed and said, where will he go, to USA? sort of joking. I said no, not like this, leaving this plane. She said something to the effect that there is no going anywhere for the enlightened - he will be here. That was very consoling, I didn't ask further.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: The DSM-IV elements of narcissistic PD are at least five of the following: 1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance 2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love 3. believes that he or she is special and unique 4. requires excessive admiration 5. has a sense of entitlement 6. is interpersonally exploitative 7. lacks empathy 8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her 9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes Exactly. Thanks for posting this, Ruth. I think that people (if you consider Judy 'people') are reacting to the term 'Disorder.' Basically, that's true. It's dicey to try to pin a disorder label on people who are highly unusual. It's a descrip- tion of a known set of behaviors and beliefs, grouped into a convenient category for describing a certain type of human being. Note that the certain type of human being is that of people who entered therapy because they were having problems coping with ordinary life. Moreover, the DSM-IV criteria for various disorders were determined on the basis of the diagnoses of many therapy patients over time, rather than the reverse. The criteria don't exist in a vacuum; they aren't sets of rules for diagnosing patients that have always existed. With regard to narcissistic personality disorder, for example, this is the appropriate statement: Of those people who have entered therapy and been diagnosed with the disorder at the time of the publication of DSM-IV (or for however many editions of DSM these criteria have been listed), most have shown at least five of the listed characteristics. That does *not* mean that everyone who shows at least five of the characteristics has narcissistic personality disorder, especially if they have never felt the need to seek therapy, and *especially* on the basis of the judgment of nonprofessionals. It *does* mean that if a professional determines that a patient in therapy has at least five of the characteristics, a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder should be considered. For people who have never sought therapy, and in the judgment of nonprofessionals, it's no more than idle speculation. And as Ruth points out: Now of course, just because you believe you are special, doesn't mean you aren't special. Exactly again. The people who think like this *might* be right. It's just that most of the time they aren't. Aren't right? Barry knows The Truth about who is special and who isn't?? When he just got done saying: 10. has difficulty knowing the difference between 'this is the truth' and 'this is how I see it.' To me, that's probably THE most defining aspect of narcissism -- the *assumption* that how one sees things *equals* how things really are. Amazing.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 8:37 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think that it's PERSONAL that Maharishi or any other NPD spiritual teacher doesn't treat their students with respect. My feeling is that they barely even notice that the students are even THERE. Very perceptive, Barry. While I never did take it personally, I didn't give up nor devote nearly as much (timewise or any other way) as many others. Sal
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 9:35 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 9:01 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 6:39 AM, do.rflex wrote: What the hell is same transmission? Transmission is just a translation of the Sanskrit word agama (Agama) --a transmission of the same teaching, in the same practice line as Guru Dev, from one of his students. Doesn't guarantee its legitimacy. Satyanand? Only stories. Some flattering. Some less so. An acharya? No. You're playing your name games there, fella. The only thing you have is book learning and opinion, no experience. Actually I have more experience than book reading! Which is? 40 years. 40 years of what? Spiritual practice and for about 25 of that, training as well.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snip Even worse, Sparaig is back being an OCD defender of everything Maharishi again. Actually, since he came back he's made 11 posts. During the same period, you've made 27.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 3:29 AM, george_deforest wrote: curtisdeltablues wrote: I got a lot of peace from the article in the Skeptical Inquirer in 89 or 90 that compared these personality traits with popular gurus... It explained how he could use and discard people as he unfolded his mission. I don't see this as a putdown. Curtis, this is the main thing that has bothered me about MMY and the TMO--how could he (they) do that? How could they take the good will and good intentions of so many really nice people and treat them like that? I think I may spend a long time pondering that question. I look forward to any revelations along the way. I can only pass along one of the things that I found comforting and releasing about looking at such actions by spiritual teachers in terms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. They really aren't *concerned* with how other people may feel about being treated one way or another because in a very real sense there ARE no other people in their world. The NPD per- sonalities lack empathy; they're locked inside themselves (or themSelves, if you feel that they really are enlightened), and these other people around them really have no reality at all. The only thing that DOES have any reality is the stuff going on inside the head of the NPD personality. So it's really not as if they're dissing these people and their good intentions and their many contributions, financial-wise and trust-wise and devotion-wise or any other kind of -wise. The NPD personalities just don't FEEL these other people, AT ALL. They barely ever *exist* for the person whose life embodies Narcissistic Personality Disorder...these other people are little more than gnats flit- ting around them. Gnats come and they go; the only thing that is important to the NPD person- ality is their mission, the way they see themselves (or themSelves). I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think that it's PERSONAL that Maharishi or any other NPD spiritual teacher doesn't treat their students with respect. My feeling is that they barely even notice that the students are even THERE.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Special Broadcast on Maharishi Channel
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 no_reply@ wrote: snip TurquoiseB, are the posting limits a Yahoo thing or a TM Movement directive? Neither. They're a local thing, to keep assholes from dominating the conversations here by posting hundreds of times per week It used to happen, with some regularity. No, it didn't. On some occasions, around 100 posts a week, but never hundreds of times per week. And of course dominating the conversations is absurd, since anybody could post as much as they wanted. The three biggest offenders -- the *reasons* that the normal posting limit of 50 per week was originated -- were three posters who go by the IDs of 'authfriend', 'shempmcgurk', and 'sparaig.' Each of them used to flood this forum with their posts, and when asked politely to refrain from doing so, they refused. That's not true either, actually.
[FairfieldLife] Re: An account of Astral plane of existence....
Lurk, You're right; the words below are triggers that amplify those faint emotions from so long ago.and, hey, this is exactly what I was saying about it's all inside me BUZZING, and only needs the spotlight of awareness. I remember reading the Autobiography of a Yogi at TTC and getting caught with the book by Ned Wynn. He chided me gently that the book was okay but inferior to Maharishi's technique and teachings. I had already bought into that concept cuz of Wallace's oxygen consumption reporting, but I still finished the book -- oh, I was a rebel! Man, I just tore off a do not remove under penalty of law, tag from a seat cushion on an old couch on the curb waiting for spring pick-up -- am I a bad ass still or not! Alright! I'm the man! Oops, I think I strained a tendon patting my own back. Igor --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, lurkernomore20002000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It's so cool rereading this stuff, and getting transported to the feelings and emotions you had when you first read it. Some excerpts : As prophets are sent on earth to help men work out their physical karma, so I have been directed by God to serve on an astral planet as a savior, Sri Yukteswar explained. It is called Hiranyaloka or 'Illumined Astral Planet.' There I am aiding advanced beings to rid themselves of astral karma and thus attain liberation from astral rebirths. The dwellers on Hiranyaloka are highly developed spiritually; all of them had acquired, in their last earth-incarnation, the meditation-given power of consciously leaving their physical bodies at death. No one can enter Hiranyaloka unless he has passed on earth beyond the state of sabikalpa samadhi into the higher state of nirbikalpa samadhi. God encased the human soul successively in three bodies-the idea, or causal, body; the subtle astral body, seat of man's mental and emotional natures; and the gross physical body. On earth a man is equipped with his physical senses. An astral being works with his consciousness and feelings and a body made of lifetrons. A causal-bodied being remains in the blissful realm of ideas. My work is with those astral beings who are preparing to enter the causal world. The astral universe, made of various subtle vibrations of light and color, is hundreds of times larger than the material cosmos. The entire physical creation hangs like a little solid basket under the huge luminous balloon of the astral sphere. Just as many physical suns and stars roam in space, so there are also countless astral solar and stellar systems. Their planets have astral suns and moons, more beautiful than the physical ones. The astral luminaries resemble the aurora borealis-the sunny astral aurora being more dazzling than the mild-rayed moon-aurora. The astral day and night are longer than those of earth. The astral body is not subject to cold or heat or other natural conditions. The anatomy includes an astral brain, or the thousand-petaled lotus of light, and six awakened centers in the sushumna, or astral cerebro-spinal axis. The heart draws cosmic energy as well as light from the astral brain, and pumps it to the astral nerves and body cells, or lifetrons. Astral beings can affect their bodies by lifetronic force or by mantric vibrations. Physical desires are rooted in egotism and sense pleasures. The compulsion or temptation of sensory experience is more powerful than the desire-force connected with astral attachments or causal perceptions. Astral desires center around enjoyment in terms of vibration. Astral beings enjoy the ethereal music of the spheres and are entranced by the sight of all creation as exhaustless expressions of changing light. The astral beings also smell, taste, and touch light. Astral desires are thus connected with an astral being's power to precipitate all objects and experiences as forms of light or as condensed thoughts or dreams. Causal desires are fulfilled by perception only. The nearly-free beings who are encased only in the causal body see the whole universe as realizations of the dream-ideas of God; they can materialize anything and everything in sheer thought. Causal beings therefore consider the enjoyment of physical sensations or astral delights as gross and suffocating to the soul's fine sensibilities. Causal beings work out their desires by materializing them instantly.Those who find themselves covered only by the delicate veil of the causal body can bring universes into manifestation even as the Creator. Because all creation is made of the cosmic dream-texture, the soul thinly clothed in the causal has vast realizations of power. - Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 9:01 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 6:39 AM, do.rflex wrote: What the hell is same transmission? Transmission is just a translation of the Sanskrit word agama (Agama) --a transmission of the same teaching, in the same practice line as Guru Dev, from one of his students. Doesn't guarantee its legitimacy. Satyanand? Only stories. Some flattering. Some less so. An acharya? No. You're playing your name games there, fella. The only thing you have is book learning and opinion, no experience. Actually I have more experience than book reading! Which is? 40 years.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 8:25 PM, sandiego108 wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 7, 2008, at 7:11 PM, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, BillyG. wgm4u@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: snip Maybe he really wasn't a yogi. Is that a possibility here? Yes! Be interesting to hear a definition of yogi from both of you. CC type attainment as a minimum--the slightly dualistic turiyatita--beyond the forth being what I'd refer to in a TM- style context. But there are non-dual and other yogis as well, so it is good to specify what style of yogi you mean when you make some sort of declaration. It's not a monolithic thing. I'm always glad to specify if people are sensitive enough to even ask. Most aren't. and those that know the truth about this sort of thing aren't either. Go home pretender. This notion that you have of their being a never ending path of signs and symbols and sciences and levels of accomplishment is all designed to mollify the fear of complete dissolution, of your own death. Nothing more. All who talk in these terms seek to keep those listening in bondage, keep them seeking outward for what is each of our spontaneous and wholly owned birthright, that of eternal freedom. Some of the trappings of these rituals of Maya are beautiful, but that doesn't make them liberating. There are just two kinds of existence, 1) bound and segregated, and 2) free and integrated. To make a fundamentalist science as you do of all of these gradations and other things keeps the mind busy so that it can believe in something other than its own naturally available annihilation. Just more fear and idiocy dancing with Maya. Uh, thanks, Jim. I'll make sure I tell all the sages I meet. I doubt you've ever met one.
[FairfieldLife] Re: What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
Hmmm, I wonder how much coverage we'd see posted here at FFL about the deaths of other spiritual leaders. Call me puffed up, but I think we'd really dig into each incident and look for nutshellings that brought closure. I'd love to see the NY Times obits for those spiritual leaders still working the crowds today. Who's going to go next? The Dali Lamaramadingdong? DoubleSriHeeHee? Amahuggahuggaburninlovaji? See, now here's where all you astrologers out there could be a help -- that is, if your charts have any predictive powers at all to match the fees you'd charge for a reading. Anyone tracking which folks got closest to predicting Maharishi's death day? Years ago, Silva Brown told the press/world/parents that that missing kid was dead at a Mexican's hands -- she's never apologized for the stress she flooded the nervous systems of the boy's family when years later the kid shows up having been brainwashed and sequestered by a pedophile. I went to about a dozen astrologers, and not a single one warned me about anything ahead of time, nor could they read my present life's past, but oh boy did they have stuff to say about me. Did you know that I was a famous sword fighter in France in my last lifetime? Wait, I also was a ship's captain in my last lifetime. Wait, I was an uptight Catholic woman who refused to marry my lifetime-love cuz HE was divorced. No, wait, I had an alien implant that was successfully removed by a woman making strange sounds like the high whine of a fart trying to escape Dick DeAngelis' folds. No wait, I was born to be a world-class teacher preacher with the chart of a king. I paid for all those opinions, and publishing them here is my proper punishment. Anyone got a bridge to sell me? Edg --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:45 AM, Duveyoung wrote: I see that over at alt.buddha.short.fat.guy there was one thread about Maharishi, TM Founder Dies, with but four snide posts. I wudda thunk there'd be a flood of stuff there. Er, so, how are other groups handling this? So, anyone who is reading other groups who can summarize the responses please chime in. On a large list of Buddhist scholars and practitioners it got a brief mention. One person shared their stories of people they had seen who had been damaged thru it's practice, leading to nervous breakdowns. The same guy, who had practiced TM in the 70's for a couple of years, said it seemed to make people gullible, it's teachers seemed numb and compassion was lacking in them. He also had taught several ex-TM people Vipassana meditation. One sidha said 'after his instructions he finally began to understand what meditation actually was about.'
[FairfieldLife] Re: Jai?
Hindi vs Sanskrit --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, cardemaister [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In the Beatles' Across the Universe 'jai' is IMO pronounced so that it rhymes with 'high'. The most common pronunciation seems to rhyme with 'hey'. I guess the first one might be the more authentic pronunciation.
[FairfieldLife] Re: What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I see that over at alt.buddha.short.fat.guy there was one thread about Maharishi, TM Founder Dies, with but four snide posts. I wudda thunk there'd be a flood of stuff there. Er, so, how are other groups handling this? So, anyone who is reading other groups who can summarize the responses please chime in. Good question. I'm on a few spiritual forums, and on only one of them has Maharishi's name even come up. That's what I was trying to get across to you the other day when you implied that snowstorms happened because everyone was thinking about Maharishi. Just t'ain't so; his death has barely even made a ripple in the day- to-day affairs of the world, or of these other spiritual groups. For the record, here is the one post I refer to above, on a forum that has to do with another spiritual teacher, and which has about a hundred active members. The only response, also reposted below, was mine: Maharishi has left the building A great many of X's students began Practice in this life using the Transcendental Meditation technique as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. And, despite the snarky things X said about TM whenever he had the chance, there is no way to deny the major (yes, even positive) impact Maharishi has had on this world (e.g., John Gray, Deepak Chopra, and Howard Stern). Peace be unto him. It's interesting, since I was his student and one of his teachers for a number of years, and had much face time with him, that I feel absolutely nothing at Maharishi's passing. Nada. Rien. Nichevo. Bupkus. Go figure. Then again, it's been over 30 years since I last saw him or had any real feelings for him. That's a long time. As for his impact on this world, I hardly think that any of the three people you mentioned are part of that impact. All three will be forgotten by history long before *they* leave the building. :-) IMO, the biggest impact Maharishi had on the world was to make meditation a household word, and to take some of the stigma it had developed in Western society off of it and make it something that anyone could do, and benefit from. That's no small accomplishment, and he deserves full credit for that. As you say, may his continuing journey be a peaceful one...
[FairfieldLife] What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
I see that over at alt.buddha.short.fat.guy there was one thread about Maharishi, TM Founder Dies, with but four snide posts. I wudda thunk there'd be a flood of stuff there. Er, so, how are other groups handling this? So, anyone who is reading other groups who can summarize the responses please chime in. Edg
[FairfieldLife] Re: As a common bumpkin I did it my way ( MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 8:51 AM, Duveyoung wrote: Sal, Come on. The TMO leaders merely did what all humans in power do. They are commonly tawdry -- let's not aggrandize them as especially good at it -- they didn't open up new territory I think this passing off as only human is what annoys me the most about the TM rulers and their apologists. The whole point of a spiritual movement is that it operates in a more evolved way isn't it? Why did we forget to hold Maharishi and co to the enlightened standards they preach they are helping the world evolve to? I don't think the ends justify the means, which is why I think the TMO will fail, and quickly now the glue that held it together has gone.
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
Rick. I never heard the mustard belly reference before, but couldn't find a definition for it when I googled it. What does it mean? -- Ben Rick Archer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ben Gilberti Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:12 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here is a failure to communicate. Dear Srijim, They called me an asshole for a good while, they were right actualy, I was also clueless. I shut up and learned something. We don't know yet if it worked, however. Its a rite of passage. A sort of virtual mustard belly. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: I think that John has bought into the propaganda spread by Nabby and others that you have never practiced TM or been a TM teacher. His phrasing above seems to imply that. If I'm not mistaken, neither is true. Like many of us here, you both learned TM and spent some time on the front lines as a TM teacher before moving on to other studies, including some that involved working with teachers in the *real* Shankaracharya lineage. Oh, ok thanks. I'll just ignore his post then like Nabby's! Life's too short.
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of srijim1 Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 10:29 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here is a failure to communicate. Finally, someone who is actually willing to explain the situation without feeling the need to insult me. Now, was that so difficult to accomplish? Rick, here I thought you were some true believer and now it is apparent you are anything but. My apologies. I am obviously in the wrong forum talking to the wrong people. You have your own thing happening here and I'll intrude no further. Good luck to you all. SriJim I hope you stick around. I’m sure you’d have a lot to contribute. It’s often a rough and tumble atmosphere here. Maybe those who make it that way like it that way. If you don’t, don’t contribute to it, ignore those who insult you and try to pull you into nastiness, and pick out the good stuff. In other words, “Take what you need and leave the rest.” No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
Re: [FairfieldLife] Why Does Allah create the human being?
Dear Maryam,
I have much respect for Islam, as I do for all religions.
You mention that:
The human brain recognizes that the Creator of the universe is Knowledgeable
and Wise.
That is quite true. And in the same way, Allah created the human brain to
have an innate intuition about how to live and behave, if he simply takes a
little time to get quiet enough to tune into it. The messengers should
really only be needed to prime the pump so to speak.
Love,
Ben
Maryam Hassan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Why Does Allah create the human being?
Does Allah create us in vain?
The brain is aware of the existence of Allah Almighty by the use of the signs
in the universe. The human brain recognizes that the Creator of the universe is
Knowledgeable and Wise. Thus, it is quite impossible that He creates us in vain
and without a special target. Otherwise, this fact would not be in tandem with
His wisdom, Glory be to Him.
- {{ Did you think that We had created you in play (without any
purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us? . So Exalted be Allâh,
the True King, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),
the Lord of the Supreme Throne!!}}, (Holy Qur'an 23: 115-116).
Though, we cannot know what does the Creator want from us, How to worship Him
as He really wants us to do? How to thank Him? This is why He has sent to us
messengers to tell us about Himself (Allah Almighty) and the reason He has
created the universe. Why he has created us? What is the life-style He has
depicted for us to follow? And what He has preserved to us whether it is a
reward or a punishment?
{{ Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that
mankind should have no plea against Allâh after the Messengers. And Allâh is
Ever Allshy;Powerful, Allshy;Wise. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4: 165)
The messengers, whom Allah has picked out from the best of His creatures, were
under the custody and the protection of Allah. They have brought miracles from
Allah Almighty to give evidence of their truthful message. Allah has sent down
to them the procedure of life which must be performed by the humankind. As it
is, he who has obeyed Allah and his messengers will be perfectly rewarded by
Allah Almighty; and he has disobeyed Allah will be punished for sure.
{{ And whoso obeys Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will be in the
company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the
Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to
believe in them.), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these
companions are!. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4: 69).Furthermore, Allah Almighty has
confirmed in the Holy Qur'an: {{ And whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger
(Muhammad), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to
abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4:14 )
Allah Almighty has explained to us that the creation is certainly for specific
wisdom:{{ And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between
them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then
woe to those who disbelieve (in Islâmic Monotheism) from the Fire! }}.(Holy
Qur'an 38:27)
Allah Almighty has made it clear to us to know the reason behind the creation
of the humankind:{{ And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they
should worship Me (Alone).}} (Holy Qur'an 51: 56 ).
It goes without saying that worshiping Allah is not only praying, genuflecting,
and fasting, but it contains also all the deeds and the behavior which Allah
loves us to do. Taking care of the orphan is considered as worshipping.
Visiting a sick person is part of worshipping. Taking away anything that might
hurt the others in the road is a way of worshipping. Greeting the others is
also worshipping
.etc.
Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah has confirmed:
Worshipping is a name that is connected to everything Allah Almighty loves and
agrees on whether it is related to sayings, interior and exterior deeds.
Prayer, giving alms, fasting, doing the pilgrimage, saying the truth, loyalty,
filial devotion, good contact with one's relatives, fulfillment of the pact,
Ordering to work out kindness and avoiding badness, striving against the
unbelievers and hypocrites, the philanthropy to the neighbors, orphans,
indigent, vagabond, slaves, animals, invocation of Allah, reading
are all kinds
of worshipping Allah Almighty.
The love of Allah and His messenger, the fear of Allah, deputation to His
Almighty, keeping loyalty to His religion, being patient to his orders, being
thankful to His beneficence, the contentment towards His fate, the reliance on
him, Beseeching His mercy and apprehending his excruciation, and the like are
all kinds of worshipping Allah Almighty.
http://www.islamtoday.com
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ben Gilberti Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:56 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here is a failure to communicate. Rick. I never heard the mustard belly reference before, but couldn't find a definition for it when I googled it. What does it mean? -- Ben I remember hearing once that when sailors crossed the equator for the first time, they would undergo a hazing that sometimes involved spreading spicy mustard on their bellies, among other unpleasant yet non-lethal things. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ignoring Judy's Gotta Get Barry episode, and dealing with the real issue at hand: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: One of the compulsive-poster wimps from alt.m.t Barry was referring to just happened to be do.rflex (John), the guy he's now dumping on because John trusts his experience of Guru Dev. I have NO PROBLEM with John trusting his subjective experience of Guru Dev. I have NO PROBLEM with him talking about it. I think it's *important* to learn to trust, to some extent, one's subjective experiences in life. Declaring them truth is another thing entirely. But he didn't. As I pointed out, you missed the context completely because you were so eager to dump on him and preach your standard sermon.
[FairfieldLife] L.B. Shriver a Gentleman in FF compiling a book on Guru Dev.from news reports
The book is not out as yet. He has over many years collected donations loans for the publication of such but since 1999 to my knowledge perhaps before that time. He expects to have such done soon he states but soon since 2001 is still not as yet. Many joyfully await it publication is some cases the return on there loans for its publication.Far more folks look to reading enjoying the actual reading of the collected news paper reports articles of those transcribed speeches talks of Guru Dev. To date no time certain has been set for either actions. I believe he is still working to put such a published work in our hands. L. B. Shriver is an MUM graduate scholar has been form time to time a responsible sounding board for MIU later MUM to grow more free liberal even kinder to its treatment of mediators sidha's. This had causes him at times to be banned from campus even thwarted in his activities in the town of Fairfield. I consider him to be a friend of mine. I also dearly hope for this publication of Guru Dev's talks published available to us all. Those talks were to my understanding transcribed from Hindi to English by scholars in the pay of L. B. for us all to then read. L. B. Shriver also has a radio program in FF IA is on air I believe Wednesdays each week. In a message dated 2/8/2008 9:55:39 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: --- Angela Mailander wrote: Who's L. B. Shriver? LB Trusty Shriver (real name; no initials) is a Fairfield writer and publisher who was active on Fairfield Life a few years ago, and checks in occasionally yet. 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 **Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300025 48)
[FairfieldLife] Re: What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
Duveyoung wrote: So, anyone who is reading other groups who can summarize the responses please chime in. Here's my chime in: Hey, Ed, you'll love this guy's comments. He was the BIGGEST LYING CON-MAN ever... His stinking rotting carcass will thrown into the ground in Holland. No vedic ritual on the banks of GanagJi for MishMashy Mahesh Prasad Varmit!! Read more: Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental From: ColdBluIce Date: Wed, Feb 6 2008 8:03 am Subject: Re: Rest in Peace http://tinyurl.com/29k9dm No matter, it was a pack of lies mostly -- TM has never delivered anything that anyone ever was promised by the marketing blurbs. For GAWD's sake just examine the minds of the wrecks that have ended up at Rick's party here -- where's the bliss? Read more: Newsgroups: Yahoo! Groups From: Duveyoung Date: Sat, Feb 7 9:10 am Subject: David Lynch on Product Placement http://tinyurl.com/3ah2rg
[FairfieldLife] Replay of Bevan's Wonderful Call Tomorrow Afternoon
Bevan made such a wonderful call to us in Fairfield Wednesday night! To me it was the best of his that I've ever heard. I've just learned it's going to be replayed tomorrow, Saturday afternoon in the Dome at 2:15. I'm checking to see if a current badge is also required.
[FairfieldLife] Mike Love and Al Jardine Tributes to Maharishi
Mike Love's Statement on the Passing of Maharishi: While in Paris participating in a UNICEF benefit show, the Beach Boys were introduced to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. That was in December of 1967. Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Alan Jardine and myself along with several family members learned the TM technique from Maharishi himself. Two months later, I made the journey to Rishi Kesh, India, where Donovan and the Beatles also attended a teachers training course. Alan and I both became teachers of TM a couple years later. To say that what I have learned from Maharishi has been of great benefit to me is an understatement to be sure. Maharishi has designed a pathway of development of human potential, which includes transcendental mediation, the TM-Sidhi program, Maharishi Ayurveda, Jyotish, and Yagyas,--all derived directly from the Earths most ancient text, The Vedas. No less a goal than that of world peace was Maharishi's life's work. For those of us who were fortunate enough to have been in his presence, his passing is profoundly sad. But I for one, am among the millions who are grateful for what he shared with us on this - The dawn of the Age of Enlightenment - on the way to the goal which Maharishi called Heaven on Earth We will miss you, but your great light will shine on. Jai Guru Dev Michael E. Love also fwiw, this old tape of Mike Love on TM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ318QInrUg Al Jardine's Statement on the Passing of Maharishi: I am saddened by this great man's passing. He helped to enlighten me and my family to the value of transcendental meditation. He hoped to enlighten the world, but said that it must start with each individual, the family, the community, and then entire nations. He would chastise me in a kind way if I stayed away too long, 'Where have you been?' And of course I could not think of a single good answer, because being in his presence made one feel like a complete idiot for staying away too long. He left me with a tool to deal with life and its complexities. For that I will always be grateful, and whenever I'm dipping into that 'pool of peace inside,' I will always think of him. Jai Guru Dev, Al Jardine
[FairfieldLife] Jai?
In the Beatles' Across the Universe 'jai' is IMO pronounced so that it rhymes with 'high'. The most common pronunciation seems to rhyme with 'hey'. I guess the first one might be the more authentic pronunciation.
Re: [FairfieldLife] the bathtub test
On Feb 8, 2008, at 12:50 PM, Ben Gilberti wrote: During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director how they determined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. 'Well,' said the Director, 'we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.' 'Oh, I understand,' said the visitor. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.' 'No.' said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?' LOL--funny, Ben! Sal
Re: [FairfieldLife] Fall of the Roman Empire, much like the USA today, why?
On Feb 8, 2008, at 12:23 PM, Napoleon Lupei wrote: I can say drought water pollution did it. Somewhat like Global Warming. Same thing for this--post #2 I think. He's sending this to over 45 groups. Spam alert. Sal
Re: [FairfieldLife] islam in briefattributes of God
On Feb 8, 2008, at 12:11 PM, Maryam Hassan wrote: Attributes of God ( Allah ) Rick, isn't this like the 4th time this same post has appeared? Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: snip There are many who say some variant of good works are not the way to heaven. I think that they are wrong, or at least wrong in implying that good works are not a necessary part of the path. Martin Luther said (paraphrased): Good works do not make a good person, but a good person will do good works. Which is pretty much Maharishi's perspective. (Good person = enlightened person; good works = spontaneous right action. By [his] definition, you can't do *spontaneous* right action if you aren't enlightened.) Yes, I have heard this before. I think that both can be true. A good person will do good works. But a person can learn goodness by doing good works. Why do we teach our children to share? To give? To say please and thank you? We are teaching them to do good and to be good. For people with intact empathy, doing good is rewarding and encourages you to do more good. In the end, you are a good person. But for people without any empathy, doing good probably is just a means to an end. Of course, it isn't always easy to know what right action or good works are. Some are obvious--feeding the poor, etc. Others may not be. Even the person doing them may not recognize them as such. True. Justice in particular is difficult to know. The danger lies in assuming that we know what is right in all circumstances. Back to narcissism or egoism again. Instead, I consciously try to be empathetic. Putting myself in the other's position when I am making a decision that effects someone else.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
I heard Maharishi actually say: All actions are done to the Self. The meaning, in context, was very clear: don't be deluded, even your good intentions are impure if one is still thinking one is an ego. My woman has the heart of Mother Mary and couldn't resist giving/loving for a nanosecond -- it's so hard wired in her that my low self-esteem simply writhes from her hot blue flames of love with which she ceaselessly tsunamis me. I'm a narcissist, so natch, I welcome all forms of appreciation, but I'm here to tell ya that this woman's adoration is agony -- the pain, the pain -- when she blows past my egoic attachment to me-me-me with nary a sideways glance as she hones in on my heart. See? She cheats! Yet, even she is satisfying an inner need to manifest as a person -- a loving person, but, still just a person, a mask for the soul. She gets off scott-free of course cuz she hardly adulterates the blasts of light with faint pastels of ego, and most folks can't even look at such love without sunglasses on. I'm a dead duck over here. Edg --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, claudiouk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Judy you said you always got your money's worth, as it were, from doing good, in the form of feeling better (or less bad) about yourself--there was always some reward, as you suggest, some element of selfishness involved, no matter how profound one's capacity for empathy. Surely with altruism there is a polarity from the conscious, calculated, devious intentionality on the one hand (I better do X so as to benefit from Y) to the more spontaneous flow of good intentions (X just is the appropriate thing to do, even if this means discomfort or some personal sacrifice). The fact that the latter makes one feel good does not invalidate altruism, surely.. The key point is not that some good feeling reward contaminates the process but that the good intention/action came NATURALLY, as an impulse (selfishness is firstly an impulse which is then indulged in, in spite of our better judgement). Just a thought/reaction I thought I'd share. Not thoroughly thought through, of course.. but something I've noticed within myself. What one feels naturally, spontaneously that is good may well be affected by all sorts of unconscious processes and defence mechanisms which ultimitely might seem selfish, but then it becomes tautological - a denial of the possibility of goodness, just a world view based on one permissable principle, of badness! It doesn't have to be like that necessarily, in my view.. but the spontaneity and naturalness of the emerging feeling is the key. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: snip There are many who say some variant of good works are not the way to heaven. I think that they are wrong, or at least wrong in implying that good works are not a necessary part of the path. Martin Luther said (paraphrased): Good works do not make a good person, but a good person will do good works. Which is pretty much Maharishi's perspective. (Good person = enlightened person; good works = spontaneous right action. By [his] definition, you can't do *spontaneous* right action if you aren't enlightened.) Yes, I have heard this before. I think that both can be true. A good person will do good works. But a person can learn goodness by doing good works. Why do we teach our children to share? To give? To say please and thank you? We are teaching them to do good and to be good. For people with intact empathy, doing good is rewarding and encourages you to do more good. In the end, you are a good person. But for people without any empathy, doing good probably is just a means to an end. I don't know that it's quite so simple. I remember in junior high school we had to write an essay on altruism. I said I didn't think there was such a thing; you always got your money's worth, as it were, from doing good, in the form of feeling better (or less bad) about yourself--there was always some reward, as you suggest, some element of selfishness involved, no matter how profound one's capacity for empathy. Obviously that doesn't mean doing good based on empathy is a *bad* thing, but it's not the same as spontaneous right action as long as there's some expectation of a quid pro quo, even if it's just getting to feel magnanimous. Of course, when I wrote the essay I didn't know anything about the nature of enlightenment, but I think my reasoning holds up with regard to those in ignorance. Luther, in any case, was thinking in terms of salvation, not just
[FairfieldLife] YouTube appeal from MUM - please vote
MUM video among top favorites on YouTube We discovered today that Peace from the Quantum Level http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsvEkPNitdQ is #20 on the Youtube's All Time Top Favorites list for Nonprofits Activism. [this video features David Lynch and John Hagelin] The favorites are based on how many people have favorited the video. Our video has been favorited 584 times and the current #1 video has been favorited 2,278 times. We can quickly take the #1 slot for this remarkable video ... this would be great to announce on the M.U.M. website and publicize to the media. Please watch this video -- and if you like it -- add it as a favorite by clicking on Favorite next to the red heart directly under the video. Also, please invite your friends to watch it and select it as a favorite if they like it. To select a favorite, a Youtube account (free) is needed ... which takes 15 seconds to create. Many thanks! Ron Barnett
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
Curtis, this is the main thing that has bothered me about MMY and the TMO--how could he (they) do that? How could they take the good will and good intentions of so many really nice people and treat them like that? You aren't the only one! And think of how puzzling this behavior must be for those closest to him that got unceremoniously dumped.Keeping Jerry Jarvis out of the history of the movement book and exiling him was pretty far out there IMO. But as a TB I didn't give it much thought. The inconsistencies become problems only once you have revoked Maharishi's enlightened-guys-can-do-anything pass. That is where information about how some people process their world so differently helps me. It allows me to reconcile that Maharishi may have been sincere, but was functioning from a different play book and set of ethical standards. It is sort of like opposite world to the TB's view of him as a magical person. But his uniqueness stays intact. Speculation using this model is similar to how people speculate that Maharishi was living in a higher state of consciousness that includes definitive knowledge about what happens to human consciousness when we die. We are all just guessing from outside with the tools we have. Remember when we read the Sociopath Next Door? That gave me much more compassion and understanding about exploitive people. I think the narcissist definition is a better match, but both give an insight that we need to know that some people are functioning fundamentally differently. And within that there can be a lot of gradations of good and bad in their life. Just because Maharishi might have had a narcissistic personality disorder doesn't invalidate whatever good he did accomplish or his own sincerity in accomplishing it. It's just means he is not a good guy to hand your PIN number to, or... like... your whole life! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 3:29 AM, george_deforest wrote: curtisdeltablues wrote: I got a lot of peace from the article in the Skeptical Inquirer in 89 or 90 that compared these personality traits with popular gurus... It explained how he could use and discard people as he unfolded his mission. I don't see this as a putdown. Curtis, this is the main thing that has bothered me about MMY and the TMO--how could he (they) do that? How could they take the good will and good intentions of so many really nice people and treat them like that? I think I may spend a long time pondering that question. I look forward to any revelations along the way. Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:52 AM, do.rflex wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajranatha@ wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 11:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: I think that John has bought into the propaganda spread by Nabby and others that you have never practiced TM or been a TM teacher. His phrasing above seems to imply that. If I'm not mistaken, neither is true. Like many of us here, you both learned TM and spent some time on the front lines as a TM teacher before moving on to other studies, including some that involved working with teachers in the *real* Shankaracharya lineage. Oh, ok thanks. I'll just ignore his post then like Nabby's! Life's too short. Caught with his pants down the complainer runs. LOL! Actually I'm still here, just not into playing games with naive assholes! Calling me a naive asshole is not a substitute for any relevant credentials you need to have to justify the legitimacy of your 'opinions' about those who've been mentioned or the TM itself. And it isn't playing games to expect you to give solid reasons for anyone to believe what you say.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
On Feb 8, 2008, at 10:06 AM, do.rflex wrote: Scientology? ...or what? What qualifies you to determine and/or to be a final arbiter of the validity of the saints, especially ones you've never met or 'experienced'? No interest in scientology or being a final arbiter. I've trained and practiced in both Hindu and Buddhist mantrayana lines, including practices for death and dying.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snip There are many who say some variant of good works are not the way to heaven. I think that they are wrong, or at least wrong in implying that good works are not a necessary part of the path. Martin Luther said (paraphrased): Good works do not make a good person, but a good person will do good works. Which is pretty much Maharishi's perspective. (Good person = enlightened person; good works = spontaneous right action. By [his] definition, you can't do *spontaneous* right action if you aren't enlightened.) Of course, it isn't always easy to know what right action or good works are. Some are obvious--feeding the poor, etc. Others may not be. Even the person doing them may not recognize them as such.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
Judy you said you always got your money's worth, as it were, from doing good, in the form of feeling better (or less bad) about yourself--there was always some reward, as you suggest, some element of selfishness involved, no matter how profound one's capacity for empathy. Surely with altruism there is a polarity from the conscious, calculated, devious intentionality on the one hand (I better do X so as to benefit from Y) to the more spontaneous flow of good intentions (X just is the appropriate thing to do, even if this means discomfort or some personal sacrifice). The fact that the latter makes one feel good does not invalidate altruism, surely.. The key point is not that some good feeling reward contaminates the process but that the good intention/action came NATURALLY, as an impulse (selfishness is firstly an impulse which is then indulged in, in spite of our better judgement). Just a thought/reaction I thought I'd share. Not thoroughly thought through, of course.. but something I've noticed within myself. What one feels naturally, spontaneously that is good may well be affected by all sorts of unconscious processes and defence mechanisms which ultimitely might seem selfish, but then it becomes tautological - a denial of the possibility of goodness, just a world view based on one permissable principle, of badness! It doesn't have to be like that necessarily, in my view.. but the spontaneity and naturalness of the emerging feeling is the key. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: snip There are many who say some variant of good works are not the way to heaven. I think that they are wrong, or at least wrong in implying that good works are not a necessary part of the path. Martin Luther said (paraphrased): Good works do not make a good person, but a good person will do good works. Which is pretty much Maharishi's perspective. (Good person = enlightened person; good works = spontaneous right action. By [his] definition, you can't do *spontaneous* right action if you aren't enlightened.) Yes, I have heard this before. I think that both can be true. A good person will do good works. But a person can learn goodness by doing good works. Why do we teach our children to share? To give? To say please and thank you? We are teaching them to do good and to be good. For people with intact empathy, doing good is rewarding and encourages you to do more good. In the end, you are a good person. But for people without any empathy, doing good probably is just a means to an end. I don't know that it's quite so simple. I remember in junior high school we had to write an essay on altruism. I said I didn't think there was such a thing; you always got your money's worth, as it were, from doing good, in the form of feeling better (or less bad) about yourself--there was always some reward, as you suggest, some element of selfishness involved, no matter how profound one's capacity for empathy. Obviously that doesn't mean doing good based on empathy is a *bad* thing, but it's not the same as spontaneous right action as long as there's some expectation of a quid pro quo, even if it's just getting to feel magnanimous. Of course, when I wrote the essay I didn't know anything about the nature of enlightenment, but I think my reasoning holds up with regard to those in ignorance. Luther, in any case, was thinking in terms of salvation, not just everyday goodness. To him, a good person was one who had achieved righteousness through faith, and good works were an effect, not a cause. He even thought striving for righteousness through works was detrimental to salvation.
[FairfieldLife] the bathtub test
During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director how they determined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. 'Well,' said the Director, 'we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.' 'Oh, I understand,' said the visitor. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.' 'No.' said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?' - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fall of the Roman Empire, much like the USA today, why?
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 12:23 PM, Napoleon Lupei wrote: I can say drought water pollution did it. Somewhat like Global Warming. Same thing for this--post #2 I think. He's sending this to over 45 groups. Spam alert. Thing is, Napoleon Lupei has responded to posts, which means he's not just a spammer. Rick seems to have a certain amount of patience for canned material as long as the poster makes some effort to engage in discussion. So, I'm gonna have to let Rick decide whether he stays or goes.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Replay of Bevan's Wonderful Call Tomorrow Afternoon
Putting aside for a moment the content of Bevan's message, whoever told Bevan (and Hagelin) to speak in that pasty puffy toad faced limp-wristed fake tri-tone sissy style? They come off like they could benefit from being robbed at gun point - or getting the crap beat out of them. I never heard Maharishi speak like that. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Dick Mays [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Bevan made such a wonderful call to us in Fairfield Wednesday night! To me it was the best of his that I've ever heard. I've just learned it's going to be replayed tomorrow, Saturday afternoon in the Dome at 2:15. I'm checking to see if a current badge is also required.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MMY lecture on death in CC - Humboldt
Caught with his pants down the complainer runs. LOL! Oh yeah!!! Caught with his pants down the complainer runs. LOL! I don't trust TM because I don't trust MMY. I feel that there is some weird stuff going on with him on the inner planes that is maybe evil. Read more: Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental From: John Manning Date: Wed, Nov 14 2001 6:32 pm Subject: Re: Well John, no reply? http://tinyurl.com/yvde5b
[FairfieldLife] More on Maharishi's India Memorial
HYPERLINK http://newspostindia.com/News Post India Mahesh Yogi's Body To Reach Allahabad For Cremation Friday 08th of February 2008 The body of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who popularised meditation across the world, will be flown in here from the Netherlands Saturday for his cremation. An entourage of over 500 of his disciples is slated to accompany the guru's body to attend his last rites in this city on the bank of the Ganga Monday. The Indian guru, who took yoga and transcendental meditation to the world outside India, died of natural causes Tuesday at his Dutch retreat of Vlodrop. He was thought to be 91. 'Since Allahabad airport does not have customs facility, the plane would first land at the international air terminal in Varanasi and then arrive here at about 9.30 a.m.,' a spokesman of the Maharishi Ved Vidyapeeth here told IANS. The Vidyapeeth was set up by the Maharishi as a part of his mission to promote Vedic teachings. Spread across a huge campus on the outer banks of the Ganga, the Vidyapeeth has over 2,500 students pursuing a 'gurukul' type of education. The boarding and lodging on the campus is absolutely free. The Maharishi had studied at the K.P. Intermediate College here and later completed his Masters in Physics from the Allahabad University. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Ashok Singhal and retired High Court Justice Shambhu Nath Srivastava have urged President Pratibha Patil to accord state honours to the Maharishi. 'I have requested the president to accord a state funeral to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and I am hopeful that she would concede this request,' Singhal told reporters. 'Thousands of sadhus from different parts of the country will be converging in Allahabad to participate in the Maharishi's funeral,' he said. Justice (retd) Srivatsava said: 'The Maharishi's body would be taken through the city streets in a procession and kept initially at the ashram of swami Vasudevanand in Alopi Bagh area on Saturday to enable people to pay their homage.' He added: 'The body will be shifted to the Vidyapeeth in the evening and would be thrown open to public again on Sunday.' The last rites, which were to be performed at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, may now be held at the Vidyapeeth on account of an ongoing festival at the banks. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1265 - Release Date: 2/7/2008 11:17 AM
[FairfieldLife] Why Does Allah create the human being?
Why Does Allah create the human being?
Does Allah create us in vain?
The brain is aware of the existence of Allah Almighty by the use of the signs
in the universe. The human brain recognizes that the Creator of the universe is
Knowledgeable and Wise. Thus, it is quite impossible that He creates us in vain
and without a special target. Otherwise, this fact would not be in tandem with
His wisdom, Glory be to Him.
- {{ Did you think that We had created you in play (without any
purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us? . So Exalted be Allâh,
the True King, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),
the Lord of the Supreme Throne!!}}, (Holy Qur'an 23: 115-116).
Though, we cannot know what does the Creator want from us, How to worship Him
as He really wants us to do? How to thank Him? This is why He has sent to us
messengers to tell us about Himself (Allah Almighty) and the reason He has
created the universe. Why he has created us? What is the life-style He has
depicted for us to follow? And what He has preserved to us whether it is a
reward or a punishment?
{{ Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that
mankind should have no plea against Allâh after the Messengers. And Allâh is
Ever Allshy;Powerful, Allshy;Wise. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4: 165)
The messengers, whom Allah has picked out from the best of His creatures, were
under the custody and the protection of Allah. They have brought miracles from
Allah Almighty to give evidence of their truthful message. Allah has sent down
to them the procedure of life which must be performed by the humankind. As it
is, he who has obeyed Allah and his messengers will be perfectly rewarded by
Allah Almighty; and he has disobeyed Allah will be punished for sure.
{{ And whoso obeys Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will be in the
company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the
Siddiqûn (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to
believe in them.), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these
companions are!. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4: 69).Furthermore, Allah Almighty has
confirmed in the Holy Qur'an: {{ And whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger
(Muhammad), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to
abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment. }}, (Holy Qur'an 4:14 )
Allah Almighty has explained to us that the creation is certainly for specific
wisdom:{{ And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between
them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then
woe to those who disbelieve (in Islâmic Monotheism) from the Fire! }}.(Holy
Qur'an 38:27)
Allah Almighty has made it clear to us to know the reason behind the creation
of the humankind:{{ And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they
should worship Me (Alone).}} (Holy Qur'an 51: 56 ).
It goes without saying that worshiping Allah is not only praying, genuflecting,
and fasting, but it contains also all the deeds and the behavior which Allah
loves us to do. Taking care of the orphan is considered as worshipping.
Visiting a sick person is part of worshipping. Taking away anything that might
hurt the others in the road is a way of worshipping. Greeting the others is
also worshipping
.etc.
Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah has confirmed:
Worshipping is a name that is connected to everything Allah Almighty loves and
agrees on whether it is related to sayings, interior and exterior deeds.
Prayer, giving alms, fasting, doing the pilgrimage, saying the truth, loyalty,
filial devotion, good contact with one's relatives, fulfillment of the pact,
Ordering to work out kindness and avoiding badness, striving against the
unbelievers and hypocrites, the philanthropy to the neighbors, orphans,
indigent, vagabond, slaves, animals, invocation of Allah, reading
are all kinds
of worshipping Allah Almighty.
The love of Allah and His messenger, the fear of Allah, deputation to His
Almighty, keeping loyalty to His religion, being patient to his orders, being
thankful to His beneficence, the contentment towards His fate, the reliance on
him, Beseeching His mercy and apprehending his excruciation, and the like are
all kinds of worshipping Allah Almighty.
http://www.islamtoday.com
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[FairfieldLife] islam in briefattributes of God
Attributes of God ( Allah )
To Allah belong the most beautiful names. The Holy Qur'an says: {{ Say (O
Muhammad): Invoke Allâh or invoke the Most Beneficent (Allâh), by whatever
name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names. And
offer your Salât (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way
between. }}, ) Holy Qur'an 17:110 (.
Sources of Islam give no less than ninety-nine different attributes to Allah
Almighty. The Holy Qur'an refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman (Most Gracious),
Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful) and Hakeem (All Wise) among many other names.
God does not take human form:
Many religions at some point believe, directly or indirectly, in the philosophy
of anthropomorphism i.e. God is palatable to become a human. Their contention
is that God Almighty is so pure and holy to the extent that He is unaware ( It
is true that Allah is not like us, but this does not mean that He is unaware of
our situations!!!?- I would rather say: is far away) of the hardships,
shortcomings and feelings of human beings. In order to set the rules for human
beings, He came down to earth as a human. Let us now analyze this argument and
see if it stands to reason.
Suppose I manufacture a videocassette recorder (VCR). Do I have to become a VCR
to know what is good or what is bad for the VCR? What do I do? I write a manual
instruction. In order to watch a video cassette, you should insert the
cassette and press on the play button. In order to stop, press on the stop
button. If you want to fast forward press on the FF button. Do not drop it from
a height or it will get damaged. Do not immerse it in water or it will get
ruined. These manual instructions list the various dos and donts for the
machine. Similarly, our Lord and Creator, Allah does not need to take the human
form so as to know what is good or bad for the human being. He chooses to
reveal the manual instructions. The last and final manual instruction that is
sent down to the human beings is the Glorious Qur'an whose do's and donts
are mentioned to the human beings through the Holy Verses. If you allow me to
compare human beings with machines, I would say humans are
more complicated than the most complex machines in the world. Even the most
advanced computers, which are extremely complex, are pale in comparison to the
physical, psychological, genetic, and social factors that affect individuals
and collective human life. The more advanced the machine is, the greater the
need for its manual instruction is. By the use of the same criteria, don't the
human beings require a manual instruction by which it is easy to govern their
own lives?
Therefore, Allah does not come down personally to give the manual instruction.
He chooses a man amongst men to deliver the message and communicates with him
at a higher level through the medium of revelations. Such chosen men are called
messengers and prophets of God.
God does not perform ungodly acts:
The attributes of Almighty God preclude any evil since God is the source of
justice, mercy and truth. God can never be thought of as doing an ungodly act.
Hence, we cannot imagine God telling a lie, being unjust, making a mistake,
forgetting things, or having any such human failings. Similarly, God can do
injustice if He chooses to, but He will never do it because being unjust is an
ungodly act. The Holy Qur'an says: {{ Surely! Allâh wrongs not even of the
weight of an atom (or a small ant) , but if there is any good (done), He
doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward..}},( Holy Qur'an 4:40). God can
be unjust if He chooses to be so, but the moment God does injustice, He ceases
to be God.
God does not make mistake:
God can make mistakes if He wants to, but He does not make mistakes, because
making a mistake is ungodly act. The Holy Qur'an says: {{
My Lord is neither
unaware nor He forgets, .}},) Holy Qur'an 20:52). The moment God makes a
mistake, he ceases to be God.
God does not forget:
God can forget if He wants to. But God does not forget anything because
forgetting is an ungodly act, which reeks of human limitations and failings.
The Holy Qur'an says:
{{
My Lord is neither unaware nor He forgets, .}},) Holy Qur'an 20:52).
http://www.islamhouse.com
-
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Re: [FairfieldLife] the bathtub test
Glad you enjoyed it, Sal. Sal Sunshine [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Feb 8, 2008, at 12:50 PM, Ben Gilberti wrote: During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director how they determined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized. 'Well,' said the Director, 'we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub.' 'Oh, I understand,' said the visitor. 'A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.' 'No.' said the Director, 'A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?' LOL--funny, Ben! Sal - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
On Feb 8, 2008, at 2:54 PM, authfriend wrote: Was that before or after he said this, about witches: Uh, Sal, I wasn't endorsing Luther. Take a breath. Where did I say you were, Judy? Non-sequitur. Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a spiritual context
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ruthsimplicity ruthsimplicity@ wrote: snip There are many who say some variant of good works are not the way to heaven. I think that they are wrong, or at least wrong in implying that good works are not a necessary part of the path. Martin Luther said (paraphrased): Good works do not make a good person, but a good person will do good works. Which is pretty much Maharishi's perspective. (Good person = enlightened person; good works = spontaneous right action. By [his] definition, you can't do *spontaneous* right action if you aren't enlightened.) Yes, I have heard this before. I think that both can be true. A good person will do good works. But a person can learn goodness by doing good works. Why do we teach our children to share? To give? To say please and thank you? We are teaching them to do good and to be good. For people with intact empathy, doing good is rewarding and encourages you to do more good. In the end, you are a good person. But for people without any empathy, doing good probably is just a means to an end. I don't know that it's quite so simple. I remember in junior high school we had to write an essay on altruism. I said I didn't think there was such a thing; you always got your money's worth, as it were, from doing good, in the form of feeling better (or less bad) about yourself--there was always some reward, as you suggest, some element of selfishness involved, no matter how profound one's capacity for empathy. Obviously that doesn't mean doing good based on empathy is a *bad* thing, but it's not the same as spontaneous right action as long as there's some expectation of a quid pro quo, even if it's just getting to feel magnanimous. Of course, when I wrote the essay I didn't know anything about the nature of enlightenment, but I think my reasoning holds up with regard to those in ignorance. Luther, in any case, was thinking in terms of salvation, not just everyday goodness. To him, a good person was one who had achieved righteousness through faith, and good works were an effect, not a cause. He even thought striving for righteousness through works was detrimental to salvation. Maybe our difference is that I do not know that I believe in spontaneous right action. The problem with spontaneous right action is one another poster pointed out. You don't know it was right until you die. I sometimes shudder when I hear the words because I have heard people who firmly believe that what they are doing is right and good because they had a vision, or just came back from a course, or whatever. Certitude can be dangerous. Vaj, I think, said he trusts his experience. I take the opposite view. I have seen in the course of my life many people whose experiences have led them astray. Serendipity happens and suddenly it is a sign and all subsequent experiences are interpreted in that context. Feedback is vital. I think maybe children do good things in large part because they are rewarded for it, maybe first directly from positive feedback and then through feeling good about it. I think one sign of being an adult is that you do good whether or not there is a perceptible reward. Even if there is a touch of selfishness in altruism, I don't think it is the primary driver of altruism in adults. After all, some die for others. You could argue even that is selfish as it may preserve your genes (in the case of family) or preserve the social order. But, at least today, I am not inclined to take evolutionary biology that far. I strongly disagree with Martin Luther that striving for righteousness through works is detrimental to salvation. A hypothetical: If Hitler instead of committing suicide began meditating, could he have reached enlightenment in this life? I say no. I say that he was incapable of spontaneous right action and incapable of good.
[FairfieldLife] Re: What are other groups saying about Maharishi?
---Used car salesman. Would that be Werner Erhard of est fame? In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Richard J. Williams [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: TurquoiseB wrote: I'm on a few spiritual forums, and on only one of them has Maharishi's name even come up. Hey, Barry, you forgot to mention your other favorite spiritual forum: It is a real blessing that now we can read the full text of the self-serving little used-car salesman's efforts to make a name for himself at the expense of Guru Dev and everything good that Guru Dev once stood for. TM-Free Blog: http://tmfree.blogspot.com/
[FairfieldLife] Rare 16mm Maharishi Film
Age of Enlightenment Productions Rare 16mm Maharishi Film Very good condition. $1,000.00 US ebay, Standard Flat Rate Shipping Service http://tinyurl.com/34bmdm http://tinyurl.com/34bmdm http:
[FairfieldLife] Re: What we have here.... is a failure to communicate.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, srijim1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You actually sound like a pretty good guy, so I won't take serious offense at you repeatedly calling me an asshole... You are incorrect on both counts. I am NOT a good guy, and I call you an asshole because you're acting like one. Your assessment of me is as off as your initial assessment of who Rick Archer is and what his intention was in reposting an announcement. You're clueless. Either shut up and learn something, or go away.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Yoga Vasishta
Ken Hassman wrote: I notice there is a new version of Yoga Vasishta, also by Swami Venkatesananda, called Vasishta's Yoga. Maharishi with Swami Ventkatesananda: http://www.rwilliams.us/archives/images/
