Perfect excerpt Judy.
--- In [email protected], "authfriend" <jstein@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In [email protected], awoelflebater <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > The operative words here are "stability" and "simplicity".
> L Having made the odyssey Robin has and still, apparently, is,
> > coming back to the beginning does not imply some sort of
> > having gone nowhere. Lots of us come out of the womb better
> > than we are twenty years subsequent to our birth. All those
> > mistakes, those transgressions, those trespasses are what we
> > are all guilty of and finding our way back to an innocence,
> > a deeper simplicity is very hard in my experience. It is not
> > a sign of stasis but a real of success after negotiating the
> > land mines of just living.
>
> We shall not cease from exploration
> And the end of all our exploring
> Will be to arrive where we started
> And know the place for the first time.
>
> --T.S. Eliot
>
>
>
> > --- In [email protected], "seventhray1" <steve.sundur@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I am perplexed. Who would want to go back to how they were before their
> > > journey started? The journey is an adventure, frought with tests and a
> > > lot of uncertainty that may or may not get clearer as we move along.
> > > But usually some things do become clearer, and there are occassional
> > > milestones that give us some confidence that we are on the right path.
> > >
> > > So, this notion of retreating back to where we once were? I'm not
> > > getting that. Perhaps you can elaborate a little.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In [email protected], awoelflebater <no_reply@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Susan, upon reading your response to Robin's open letter I think your
> > > sensitivity and wisdom shines out particularly in this statement:
> > > >
> > > > I wonder if there is any way of finding the stability and simplicity
> > > of how you were before
> > > > all this "enlightenment" happened? For all I know, that could be what
> > > you are
> > > > aiming for. I am just thinking out loud here........... but I can't
> > > morally
> > > > judge you on this one.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In [email protected], "Susan" wayback71@ wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hey Robin,
> > > > >
> > > > > It took some bravery and guts to write what you did below. It was
> > > written in your signature Baroque style, but you dealt with some
> > > difficult old events.
> > > > >
> > > > > I feel confused in my own response. On the one hand, I think you
> > > went through a terribly disorienting process when you experienced your
> > > "Enlightenment" in Arosa. It sounds as if your brain/nervous system got
> > > pushed into a state that must have been a wild mix of religion and
> > > spirituality, intense energy, huge confidence in your state and
> > > abilities. Combine that with your already devoted involvement with a
> > > belief system like TM, and you were primed for unusual times. The usual
> > > checks and balances on our behavior in society were not there for you -
> > > you were part of a small subset of spiritual seekers - out of the
> > > mainstream. Not part of a grounded, traditional community that might
> > > have gotten you back to the structure of the requirements of daily
> > > living. I know that the TMO made some efforts to curtail your
> > > activities, but I know they did not know how to handle your situation,
> > > and you did not have the personal guidance of Maharishi. Perhaps no one
> > > could have changed it. And you were around loads of eager seekers who
> > > had the means and time and mindset to suspend material concerns and go
> > > for for anything that would have given them spiritual growth. So you
> > > found followers and played out your experiences with them.
> > > > >
> > > > > On the other hand, your followers found you and played out their
> > > hopes under your belief system. From what little I know, it sounds very
> > > intense for everyone. Certainly some who were involved seem to look back
> > > with amazement and fascination, still. Others might have gotten hurt.
> > > > >
> > > > > I know you then moved on to Catholicism with, again, great certainty
> > > and intensity of belief - all probably a carryover from your
> > > Enlightenment changes. And then you moved on from that, too. I am not
> > > sure where you stand now. It sounds as if you like to write about it all
> > > to put it in its place. I wonder if there is any way of finding the
> > > stability and simplicity of how you were before all this "enlightenment"
> > > happened? For all I know, that could be what you are aiming for. I am
> > > just thinking out loud here........... but I can't morally judge you on
> > > this one.
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In [email protected], maskedzebra <no_reply@> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > How Robin Struck PeopleAnd Lied About it: An Open Letter to
> > > Barry Wright
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Dear Barry Wright,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It is true that before I ever gave an official seminar I did, in
> > > fact, apply in a more Western sense, the Zen Roshi method of shocking
> > > someonethat is, I did on occasion, strike someone physically. Vaj
> > > said there was a video of my acting in this way. I know that no such
> > > tape exists. And if it did (as Vaj claims) it would be a simple matter
> > > of contradicting my avowal here. You will naturally ask: But Robin, by
> > > denying that you did in fact strike someone during a seminar, you are in
> > > effect implyingsurely you know thisthat you *never* struck
> > > anyone. This was your intent, right, Robin?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It was not, Barry. For me to have on the one hand denied this
> > > accusation knowing it was falseif it had been true, Vaj would be
> > > able to convince me very easily of thisand yet, then and there,
> > > admitted that I did engage in this practise, or rather *had* engaged in
> > > this practise, would mean disclosing something about me which would tend
> > > to be interpreted in an entire vacuum of understanding of just what the
> > > context of this metaphysical theatre was. I chose, since you are so
> > > hostile and prejudiced, to withhold admitting that in fact I had struck
> > > peopleon rare occasionsinside the other, more intimate and
> > > personal context of what chronologically preceded the formal seminars.
> > > When almost all the persons who were convinced of my enlightenment lived
> > > in the same residence. By itself, separated from the spiritual context
> > > within which it is practised, the Zen Roshi's blow would seem primitive
> > > and brutal and outrageous. But we must assume even Leonard Cohen
> > > accepted that this was part of the spiritual methodology to which he was
> > > subjugating himself in having determined he had a real Teacher. Now what
> > > I did resembled not at all what is the classic Zen Flesh Zen Bones move.
> > > See if you can stay with me while I try to explain the context within
> > > which this act did in fact occur. Inside a seminar setting, however, it
> > > was never necessary or appropriate. At least this is my sincere and I
> > > believe truthful recollection.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now my purported enlightenment, as I came to understand it, Barry,
> > > came about through not just my own efforts, and my devotion to the
> > > Master (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi); it was effected by the Vedic gods, these
> > > impulses of Creative Intelligence, the devas. This was shown to me in
> > > the form of a revelation once I realized that my enlightenment could not
> > > be compatible with the description of the universe and the human soul as
> > > taught to me by Thomas Aquinas and my learning of the Catholic
> > > catechism. It was not that Catholicism forced this revelation upon me;
> > > it was more the tremendous shock of having the whole context I had
> > > created [or had been created *through* me] since I returned from
> > > Switzerland come apart, and eventually disintegrate. Once I realized
> > > that certain invisible beings had had a hand in my ultimate liberation I
> > > immediately realized that these very beings were not beneficent, were
> > > not interested in my happiness. *They had deceived me*.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From that point on, early in 1987, I became determined to vanquish
> > > my enlightenment, to destroy the biochemical and intellectual basis of
> > > my Unity Consciousness. I knew that if my enlightenment was an
> > > hallucination, however real it was experientially, that my actions
> > > flowing from this assumed state of consciousness, were also flawed,
> > > defective, and problematic. And this included that infrequent instance
> > > where I would, seemingly under supernatural inspiration and authority,
> > > strike someone. Why strike someone, Robin? Well, here we get to the crux
> > > of the matter, Barry.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > These same celestial beings who created my enlightenment, and then
> > > pretty much inspired the context out of which I then actedthey
> > > evidently knew both the inherent and unrecognized weaknesses of each
> > > individual, as well as what the Western Tradition represented in terms
> > > of individuation of one's experience through a true existential
> > > willingness to allow life to 'make' one's soul:Also*this is
> > > the key point, Barry*these same celestial beings made me see each
> > > human being as existing inside a context where actual fallen angels
> > > warred with the good forces in the universe to take away a human being's
> > > innocence, determined as they were to make an individual a tool of their
> > > purposes by subtly inducing that person to compensate for some weakness
> > > or distortion inside of them *through behaving in a particular mode*.The
> > > mode so chosen was the creation of the fallen angel. Each person's mode
> > > was unique. 'Mode' here representing the inauthentic presentation of
> > > themselves.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The specific pattern of an individual's mode, then, revealed the
> > > influence of these fallen angels (or rather, one specific and unique
> > > fallen angel) upon this person, and it was my evident destiny to
> > > interrupt, to challenge, to confront the fallen angels as they battled
> > > with me, and the person's soul for domination over that person.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You understand, then, Barry, that the beings who had created my
> > > enlightenment made me actually apprehend each human being who I
> > > encountered as being subject to this fearsome temptation and tyranny.
> > > And those who had not passed through the seminar, or pre-seminar
> > > experience, were dupes of this hegemonic power of these fallen angels.
> > > Now, as it happens, almost every person I knew was a victim to some
> > > extent of unwittingly identifying with these fallen angels, falsely
> > > assuming that what the fallen angel insinuated who they were, and how
> > > they had to act, was actually originating in the substance and integrity
> > > of their own individuality. The person, then, never suspected there was
> > > a preternatural conspiracy going on which was the attempt to force a
> > > person to falsify themselves (and each person came to sense this
> > > dissimulation deep from within themselves) such as to cover up and
> > > conceal their weakness, their ultimate flaw. To transcend one's
> > > compensatory mode became the desideratum.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > A seminar and before that the pre-seminar reality, was the process
> > > precipitated inside the context of reading off reality such as to create
> > > the actual metaphysical context within which *all that I have described
> > > here became a physical perception for everyone present*. This meant that
> > > the context was not actually under my control at all. It was a
> > > contextI suppose like TM is subject to the mantras (or what
> > > Maharishi refers to earlier in his history as the Vedic gods)that
> > > imposed itself on all of us. Even myself. What unfolded in front of our
> > > eyes was the actual opening up of creationseeminglyand what I
> > > was doing was merely a systematic, mechanical, and objective process
> > > whereby the truth of what was actually the casewith each individual
> > > soul intrinsically subject to this explorationbecoming intricately
> > > and physically revealed before everyone. There were no individual
> > > differences in what we all experienced. It was as clear and unmistakable
> > > as a change in perception effected by hallucinogens, only in this case,
> > > what happened to everyone's consciousness in that room was virtually
> > > identical. Everyone experienced the same thing. Everyone saw,
> > > understood, recognized what I was doing in confronting someone. It all
> > > occurred very naturally as it were, very intelligibly, with ultra
> > > metaphysical clarity, and the process obeyed laws of its own. Far more
> > > compelling than even the laws which would have protected or sustained
> > > someone in that state which would presumably not be susceptible to this
> > > kind of context.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We simply broke open the reality which was there. Once we did,
> > > reality took over and conducted the course of the drama through my
> > > enlightened state of consciousness, and presumed consummated
> > > individuation. (As it would turn out, there was more wrong with me than
> > > anyone who "came to the microphone". But no one got to see this. But I
> > > did, during this 25 year ordeal of de-enlightening myself.)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now under the irresistible and inexorable inspiration of this
> > > processconducted by powers beyond myself, but enabled to articulate
> > > themselves through this orchestration of reality through my Unity
> > > Consciousnessthe actual fallen being which had control over a given
> > > personobstructing, inhibiting, interfering with the ability of that
> > > person to truly individuate themselves within the authenticity of who
> > > they actually wereindependent of this fallen angelwould make
> > > its presence known, even coming right out and making itself visible in
> > > the face of the person.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This produced what became the classic state of "having gone
> > > cosmic". And a person in this state was 'seen' unavoidably,
> > > choicelessly, in terms of their unique problem in standing up to the
> > > power and influence of the fallen angel which was attempting to keep
> > > them from becoming 'innocent', becoming the person they actually were
> > > destined to be. Separated from that fallen angel.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If the person seemed so identified with this deceitful
> > > representation of themselves through the malice of this fallen angel
> > > that they were in fact defending or upholding the integrity of themelves
> > > in resisting the beneficent and merciful inspiration of my
> > > enlightenmentconsciously as it were, or unconsciously colluding
> > > with the fallen angelI might, on occasion shock that person out of
> > > such an identification. And this took the form sometimes of striking
> > > them. Maybe in total 4 or 5 persons were struck. I hardly think it was
> > > more than this. And this was not something that happened on a regular
> > > basis. It was in extremis. But we shall see if this testimony is
> > > contradicted by someone who was there.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This was not anger, punishment, retaliation, ritualistic violence.
> > > It was an inspiredand much resisted (I hated it)response in me
> > > in order to facilitate the process whereby a person could experience
> > > liberationeven momentarilyfrom their trance caused by their
> > > being identified with the particular fallen angel which had been chosen
> > > somehow to present this formidable and ultimate existential challenge to
> > > this person's soul, and their whole sense of who they really were.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now I have come, in having repudiated and deconstructed my
> > > enlightenment, to see that once I became enlightened on that mountain
> > > above Arosa, that my perception had been played such that I could only
> > > apprehend each human being in terms of this cosmic battle between good
> > > and evil. Now I am able to see each person absolutely on their own,
> > > without respect to 'the demonic'. And therefore I am sorry for all that
> > > I did which amounted to being determined by this hallucination. Which
> > > especially included on occasion trying to shock the person out of his or
> > > her identification with the fallen angel which was tormenting and
> > > deceiving them, even if they appeared oblivious to this truth.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Of course, you will realize from this analysis, that whenever this
> > > event happened, no one so much as winced. Not because they were
> > > brainwashed, but rather became everyone present sensed the intelligence
> > > and inspiration behind this act. The act, then, simply occurred with a
> > > complex process which made itself understood as being inevitable and
> > > salutary in the extreme. It was harrowing, it was exhilarating, it was
> > > dangerous, it was mysterious, it was terrifying. But for everyone
> > > present it was very very real. And, I have to say it: right.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Although of course everyone realizes in retrospect it was wrong.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When Vaj first accused me of hitting someone at a seminar, I knew
> > > it was not true. After all, many persons were there for the first time.
> > > Had I done what I was accused of, a majority of those who had never
> > > before attended a seminar would have walked out. I don't remember a
> > > single person leaving a seminar.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It was just not ripe for me to explain all this. I did not deny
> > > something I knew was true. I denied what I was accused of. And knew,
> > > probably, eventually the truth would come out, which might have the
> > > appearance of my having at the very least equivocated on this matter.
> > > But my conscience is clear. I never hesitated for a moment in knowing it
> > > was premature of me to on the one hand deny having done what I was
> > > accused of in one contextwhich was true: I did not strike anyone
> > > during a seminarwhile at the same time feeling an obligation to
> > > acknowledge that this indeed did in fact happenon rare
> > > occasionsin a quite different and more intimate context.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I will leave it to the readers of FFL to determine whether I am
> > > morally culpable in having acted as I have.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Robin
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
