Good example of the consideration locked in stock TM preparatory lecture
material as the all or nothing critique. TM starts early asserting that other
meditations are a waste of time.
The TM research even from way back gets used to co-opt the discussion of
meditations
trying to define what is deep or surface. Think of Keith's Scientific American
paper with the oxygen graph that was used with good sales effect back then
against the Zen Buddhist that was comparative.
And, R's life is certainly vested in TM this way now. Like some other TM
researchers and intellectuals as they possibly understand things they are hot
on it.
TM fights now for market share against what is the more dominant market force
in popular culture of Buddhism/ mindfulness by denigration of other practices.
I feel it is wonderful you are so passionate about TM.
I am too with some respect and appreciation for other spiritual practices
also. TM is a great asset to have in spiritual practice.
Hopefully we TM'ers can get along with other spiritual peoples, like practiced
mindfulness meditators too.
-JGD
A simple google search for Mindfulness and Buddhism..
Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one's attention to
experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the
practice of meditation and other training. The term "mindfulness" is a
translation of the Pali term sati, which is a significant element of Buddhist
traditions.
---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote :
just watched that clip again, there is zero disparaging Buddhism there.
most Buddhists say that mindfulness is shorn of any connection to Buddhism,
there is Christians who are trying to spread panic that mindfulness is stealth
Buddhism, there is Buddhists who complain that mindfulness is appropriation.
If anyone is stuck on disparaging it is you. You love to disparage all sorts of
good people when it serves absolutely no purpose and is even pointless,
destructive and does not help your goals.
TMers have every good reason to point of the valid and scientifically verified
differences between TM and Mindfulness which are very often muddled together in
popular media. Those differences have been validated and highlighted by highly
esteemed professionals like Dr Norman Rosenthal who have no vested interest in
TM teaching.