--- In [email protected], "seventhray1" <steve.sundur@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Not exactly related, but my "moment" came at Livingston Manor around
> 1977 or 78 when I got interviewed by Reed Martin for going on a
> "mission" to Zambia. I was rejected, for relating what was a pretty
> good experience, but one which I guess scared him. And at that moment
I
> realized I had to leave. I went to NYC with no money. My parents
wired
> me some money but for some reason it was too late for the Western
Union
> office to get it.
>
> There was a women there who saw that I was "homeless" for the moment
and
> offered to let me stay in her apartment. It was tiny and terribly
> cluttered, and she had what I recall was a big dog. I found a place
to
> bed down on a large chair. I left early in the morning, and traveled
> back home.
>
> And yes, I have come to realize that it is only by rigorous (and
> unflinching) self examination that one can make progress on the
> spirtiual path. But I have also found that the practice of meditation
> has helped lubricate that process. I don't feel bitterness towards my
> time in TMO, partly becasuse I don't think that I ever bought into
that
> notion that "meditate and everything would fall into place". But like
> you I found the eastern schools of thought and POVs fascinating, (and
> still do for that matter), but I have ceased following a teacher, or
> ascribing to a particular "teaching". Net, Net, my experience in TMO
is
> one I wouldn't trade.
>
Thanks for sharing that and yes rigorous unflinching self examination is
definitely needed.
> I could elaborate more, but think I'll stop here.
>
You didn't have to :-)
