Well said. The seeds of later unfolding petals of knowledge (to use an inelegant time-lapse metaphor) were planted right at the beginning, I agree. The spiritual agenda was broached at the beginning, however it wasn't emphasized. You have to realize that we had to soften the general audience up for the preparatory lecture where we showed them the picture of Guru Dev for the first time, and touch, ever so delicately, on the Holy Tradition stuff. I mean, if they were going to be intitiated in a day or two, they had to be somewhat prepared for the the puja.
But for those, like Curtis, myself, and many others at that time, we were looking for some hardcore hinduism and the teachers gave us enough reassurance that this was da kine to bring us in, as well. It was really well crafted at the time, for the time. Now, not so much. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jst...@...> wrote: > > But Marek, the agenda *wasn't* hidden. In my intro lecture, > the teacher was explicit that TM was a spiritual practice. > I can't remember for sure exactly when I first heard the > phrase "spiritually regenerate the world," but I'm pretty > sure it was during the three days of checking, most likely > the third day. > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> wrote: > > > > Deceptive in the sense that there was a hidden agenda. > > > > Maharishi's original and lasting intention was to spiritually regenerate > > the world. TM was the original and fundamental vehicle to accomplish that > > intention. With more exposure to the greater world outside India, and with > > the fortuitous results of Keith Wallace's doctoral research, Maharishi > > re-crafted the message, but the intention remained the same and, as Curtis > > so accurately depicted, many or most of the TM teachers understood that > > they were spreading a message and a practice that was greater and more > > important than the initial message we told potential inititates and new > > meditators. > > > > The first step (meditation) was necessary, but it was just the start. > > > > Again, I don't feel that it was all wrong, or done with bad intentions, but > > it wasn't very honest. I was willing to be dishonest for what I believed > > was a higher principle. I feel differently about that position now. > > > > ** > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Marek Reavis" <reavismarek@> wrote: > > > > > > > > The picture of Guru Dev has a halo, too, sitting on a > > > > throne decorated with specific religious symbols. > > > > > > > > One of the great pleasures of teaching TM, for me > > > > personally, was gently guiding an initiate from a > > > > purely material, scientific POV of the world, into the > > > > wonderfully rich metaphysical structure and philosophy > > > > underlying the meditation. At least getting them > > > > comfortable with the discussion. > > > > > > > > That wasn't necessarily a bad thing (even in hindsight), > > > > but it was more than a little deceptive > > > > > > In what way was it deceptive? > > > > > >
