Dear Matthew: I like Don's reply, but wish to cArify something he didn't address.
--- Matthew Cawood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When this spirit-world > is referred to, it seems to me to be usually in reference to what > Steiner has said, not what the speaker has personally experienced. Steiner's erudition and exprience is so vast, it is frequently an intimidating influence, rather than a liberating one - esp. as it comes across in print. If one works against this it is a great fulcrum for appreciating his influence - which demands participation in the process. > Enlightenment is described in common terms across all religious > traditions. So are the "demons" wrestled with by the enlightened on > their way to enlightenment, although the demons are described in terms > of the meditator's religious background. But cosmic beings? Did Steiner > pay too much heed to the shadows of his own mind? If we accept > biodynamics, do we have to accept Steiner's religious outlook? As Don said, accepting the datum of one's experience does not have to be a <religious> trip, even if those percepts are non-physical, or are the same beings also described by religion tradition. Steiner differs from the general Eastern attitude, which is, in broad terms, to refuse the reality of phenomena and goe straight for the <All>. Steiner fully accepts the evidence of the senses, but requires training of the senses and discipline in discrimination and judgement, and cultivation of moral sensibility. Under such scrutiny, some beings turn out to be personal fantasy or hallucinations of the bodily organs. Some remain as allies, some as testers, some merely other. It's a abig world, and just as in daily life, one needs to be able to separate out the helpful from the distracting influences. And you said: <Enlightenment is described in common terms across all religious traditions> I don't know about that.... From what I've read and studied, there seems to be absolutely no agreement whatsoever about the meaning of the word, not to mention whatever it is that it refers to. Unless it is used with such unspecific and vague suggestivity as to be semantically useless: <Stop the mind and you will become enlightened>: that's crap. Spiritual growth in the West is allied with the cultivation of individuality and creativity, not the extinguishing of a sense of Self. According to this format, if the Self becomes freer from false associations and identifications, it is then more able to relate in a more free and unconditioned and appropriate manner to its relations in the world as in comes in touch with its total uniqueness. These relations include a myriad of other beings. Just some ideas... Stephen ===== Just cooperate and everything will be OK: The Authorities Only the small secrets need to be protected. The big ones are kept secret by public incredulity. Marshall McLuhan In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com
