T:I was never a part of the TMO when you were around
and doing your thing, but from what others have
said here, you might have felt that the things you
were saying then and the claims you were making
then were sincere and genuine, too. Now, in retro-
spect, you might not think the same of them.
RESPONSE: I certainly don't think the same of them (their ultimate metaphysical
merit) now. But as for the sincerity and genuineness of those claims THEN, even
now I would recognize them to be this (albeit objectively false).
> But the threat to my self-prestige (my necessary egoism)
> seems to have come to nothing after reading this.
T:That's the thing about the folks on this forum who
are into this form of behavior. Their credo seems
to be "Bash thy enemy's ego so that they will react
*the way I would* if someone bashed mine." The thing
about this credo, however, is that it falls apart
if one merely "considers the source" and laughs off
their taunts as the demonstrations of attachment
they are. Some wise man once said, "Living well is
the best revenge." My version of this is, "Ignoring
the pissants as if they don't even exist is the
best revenge." Doing so feeds their fears of impo-
tence and that nothing they say or do makes any
difference at all.
RESPONSE: The sentiment expressed here ("threat to my self-prestige etc") was
deliberately ironic. I have taken under consideration your views about "the
folks on this forum who are into this form of behaviour". I felt Ravi Yogi was
reacting strongly (once I viewed the BatGap video) to my criticism of his
gurumy comments there (responding to the account of an Amma Retreat) struck
him hardand he had say something.
As for my philosophy regarding those who views clash with one's own, I rather
like the idea of having my beliefs influenced, even altered by the give and
take of this kind of debate. To tell the truth I just put my beliefs out there,
and see how reality reacts to them (through my critics), for I have the
confidence that I can more or less sense whether someone is occupying the great
ground of reality than I am. And if they are not, then either my sincerity or
my irony kicks in. You have to be vigilant as to when you are
beingunconsciouslydefensive. I never want to get caught dead in that posture.
> Those Indian gods, they play their music on the instruments
> of human beings.
T:Either that or they don't exist at all, and every-
one just plays their own music. Some play well, and
others...uh...not so much. :-)
RESPONSE: Well, this is in the final analysis an empirical question, is it not?
And certainlyin my belief anywaywe will get the absolute lowdown when we go
through the death experience. I am trying to get prepared for that one. And I
don't believe TMno matter how far one has 'evolved'will be of much help then.
My reading of death is it is very personal. [And it is my strongest hunch that
even MMY found this outwhich traumatized him right out of his enlightenment.]
State of consciousness doesn't enter into it. But as for what you stated here,
well I have experimental knowledge that those Vedic gods Maharishi kept
referring to, they really exist. Because I have seen them.
T:If you're really curious who was trying to push your
buttons, use the Advanced Search feature on the FFL
web version and look up the name he was posting under
when he first landed here, 'Ravi Chivukula'. Warning:
if you peruse some of his posts from June and July
of 2010, you will see a psychotic meltdown the likes
of which you may never have seen, even in Fairfield.
He got a little attention from Rick's BATGAP inter-
view and got really, really bent behind it. It got
to the point where most posters here were calling
for some kind of psychological intervention, out of
fears for his sanity and his ex-wife's safety.
And you know what the really scary part was? Even at
the height of this meltdown madness, there were prob-
ably a few people here who believed that he was
self realized, *for no other reason than he had
claimed to be*.
RESPONSE: I have viewed the first 50 minutes of the BatGap video; and then I
have learned about what happened in the aftermath of that video. I have got a
pretty good handle on things now regarding the very Hindu-committed Ravi Yogi.
I won't be surprised by anything he might say. Although I say again: God bless
him. To repeat: I found his answers (n the BatGap video with RA) regarding the
developing spiritual experiences originating in his encounter with Amma,
convincing (at least in terms of the EXPERIENCES he was having). Thanks for
this.
