> John > > I was referring to you. You gave up TM how many years ago yet it seems > to have quite a grip on you now. > > Instead of just moving on with your life, even though you may not be > participating in the TM world/programs, you are spending quite a bit > of time in TM world via all these discussions. > > KN
KN, Couple of things. Moving on doesn't mean forgetting. At least in any meaning of "moving on" that I'm aware of. Taking responsibility for the happiness, comfort, and productivity of one's life -- from this point forward -- is my idea of moving on. Do you disagree? Making a career out of helping people who experienced damage to oneself is considered noble in many quarters. Whether it is or not, many people find helping others very fulfilling. I know I do. It's my career. Most mental health professionals that I know are either recovering from challenges themselves or have a close relative who has suffered mental illness or abuse. Every cult counselor I know either left a cultic relationship or had a family member involved in one. But my career is only part of my life. I have a very full life. I'm married, three step-kids, two grandchildren, read science fiction, listen to Leonard Cohen and Emily Lou Harris and Neil Young, raise chocolate labs, garden, a career I really love, play Scrabble, download music, have a rich spiritual life, meet my financial obligations, have tons of friends, have many people I love, have ties to my upstate New York community, have an interest in progressive politics..... I also enjoy discussing my take on TM and the Movement with others who find it interesting. To do otherwise would be a form of character suicide, I think. TM was the most important thing in my life for 23 years. I have wonderful memories of my time in TM. I know extraordinary people in TM. I very much want to keep those memories lively in my life. One of my criticisms of some cult counselors is that they encourage cutting out any connection to one's old group. I think this is black/white thinking: "ugh, cult bad, noncult good, ugh." In my life -- and practice -- I encourage *integration.* Keeping the best of the group, no matter how abusive, *consciously* discarding the parts that no longer meet your needs, never forgetting. I think cutting out that time in my life would impoverish my life. And probably wouldn't be healthy. I am very pleased with the fullness of my life. I wish the same for anyone reading this post! My TM involvement is a small part of my life. That's one answer to your concern. Another is: What difference does it make? My character flaws really have no bearing whatsoever on what I have to say. Martin Luther King was a womanizer. Yet he accomplished great things. I'm neither a womanizer nor have I accomplished anything great. But my flaws, and I have many, do not obscure the little I do achieve. Do you believe you can't learn from someone who has serious character defects? I feel I learned from everyone in my life. Certainly including the Maharishi. The world just isn't black and white. Concern about my character just serves to distract from my one substantive post here on reform in the TM movement. J.
