Good morning Uncle T: On May 13, 2005, at 9:11 AM, TurquoiseB wrote:
> That's actually one reason I asked. There are some > schools of thought (like TM, when I was around) that > suggest that once realized, enlightenment is perma- > nent. There are others that believe that it can come > and go. I tend to believe the latter, for many reasons. Well the question is, "how do you know it is permanent" if you believe that? There is a good answer to this, but to be honest, these methods aren't even taught in an intro-type meditation like TM! Nonetheless, some claim this. None seem to understand the way of telling this or why this can happen. I have observed time and time again that if I point out some element that seems flawed in their View--instead of admitting this, they just come back a day or a week later claiming some new experience that includes it. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad. In every single case where someone has claimed to enlightened a la "TM" their View (their inner POV/cosmology) matched precisely the vague definitions MMY has given, often slightly embellished with a sprinkling of Neo-Vedanta or some Byron Katie thrown in--but none...NONE...give the full View of these states as more generally described. So far none could demonstrate the ability to perform all the Siddhis (or one for that matter). I realize this is unpopular to say, but it is my true observation. > > Now, if the latter were true, and one had begun to have > enlightenment experiences, had announced them to the > world, and then those experiences faded, what does > one do? Hopefully find a cave. > > How many would have the strength of character to go > back to all those people one had announced one's > enlightenment to and say, "Ooops?" It's unheard of. > > In several traditions this situation has come up often > enough that they don't recommend talking about one's > experiences as permanent until they have been present > 24/7 for ten years or so. That makes sense. The state of Unity can be quite stable and can last hours, days, months, etc. This is why I emphasize "gaining certainty of the View" rather than constant attachment to the idea of enlightenment. IME TM'ers are very attached to the Fruit. 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 <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
