--- In [email protected], "L B Shriver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In [email protected], "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "L B Shriver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > [...] > > > > > > Nevertheless, I think that the greatest source of outrage against movement excesses > is > > the > > > pain of waking from a murky slumber, induced by a sleeping potion heavily laced with > > > denial. In my own case, for example, there were certain assumptions about the nature > of > > > the organization that I clung to far beyond any evidence for their usefulness. I would > > > guess that the broadest general category of such misimpressions has to do with the > cult > > > nature of the TMO. To deny that it is a cult is to place oneself outside the domain of > > > mainstream rationality. Once it is acknowledged to be a cult, however, it can be > allowed > > > that some of its policies may in fact be reasonable, given that context. However, > almost > > no > > > assertion of irrationality can be dismissed out of hand. It must be considered on the > > basis > > > of the evidence. > > > > TM isn't a cult. TM is a meditation "practice." > > @@@@@@@@ > > I did not assert that TM is a cult, neither in this message nor any other that I am aware of. > I was referring specifically and explicity to the organization.
Sorry, my bad. > > @@@@@@@@ > > > > > > > > This is often difficult to do from a distance. To live in Fairfield, however, is to have > > access > > > to a great number of disturbing reports which would normally not circulate outside of > > > Jefferson County. Some of them turn out to be false and unfounded, but on the whole > > they > > > paint a picture that resembles a giant version of those plastic tokens that look like > one > > > thing when looked at one way, and something entirely different when looked at from > a > > > different angle. > > > > In other words, you've got a distorted view of the TMO by being TOO close to it. > > @@@@@@@@ > > Both kinds of distortion are common, and I have been subject to each at different times. > > @@@@@@@@ And outsiders who hear about the excesses of the TMO often laugh at the poeple complaining about them. This suggests a certain level of bias on the part of the people who complain so vigorously... > > > > > > > > Personally, I feel that the "purity of the teaching" as I have understood it has already > > been > > > lost. There is very little there left preserving, and that which is worthy of preserving > can > > > best be saved outside the context of the organization. > > > > > > > So which branch of Christianity has done the best at preserving the oral tradition? > > @@@@@@@@ > > I am not discussing Christianity here, so I will not bother responding to this question. You're complaining about oral traditions and their preservation and about the lousy job of this that the TMO has done. > > @@@@@@@@ > > > > The TMO has been set up specifically to preserve its oral tradition. That is NOT the case > > for ANY major branch of the Christian religion, and it shows, IMHO. > > > > Whether or not the TMO approach will work for any length of time remains to be seen. > > What we CAN be sure of is that most, if not all, other approaches have not seemed to > > work. > > > > Look at Benson's Relaxation Response, based on numerous interviews with TMers. Look > at > > Chopra's own meditation technique, and how he presents it to people. We can see the > > results of the telephone effect immediately (within a generation of second-handness). > > > > Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's techniques, useful or not, aren't deemed central to his > organization, > > as far as I can tell, because his charitable works are the only pretty much the only thing > > discussed here. > > @@@@@@@@ > > Your penchant for straw man arguments could take up a lot of band width at this rate. Your inability to address my points takes up at least as much if not more. > > @@@@@@@@ > > > > MMY has always been consistent in his representation of what he believes is important, > > and I find it amusing that people criticize him for building an organization specifically > > designed to preserve that which he deems most important. > > @@@@@@@@ > > Surely you jest! Maharishi has changed his game plan more times than I can recall, as has > been observed time and again in this forum. At the most obvious level, what has become > of the priority to have large numbers of ordinary people meditating, or large numbers of > Sidhas flying together, etc, etc.? And so? Its HIS game plan to change, and his teaching method to change. "Purity of the teaching" is his to define, as well... 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/
