Good material in here for a letter to the editor. I' hoping you'll write one.
on 8/21/05 3:05 AM, TurquoiseB at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Judy points out similarities between Kirkpatrick's > rant to the Fairfield Ledger and Kai's recent rant > here about Jeezus. I noticed another similarity > buried in his dissertation: > >> When someone claims total knowledge as Maharishi has, it gives >> us a great epistemological advantage. How can anyone claim total >> knowledge unless he either has it or is a fake? Can you think of >> anything in between? If you consider saints, none of less than >> the highest knowledge would claim to have it. (That, apparently >> is the unexamined conclusion about Maharishi of many who claim >> to respect him.) that leaves non-saints. But any non-saint who >> claimed to have the highest knowledge would be a fake and evil. > > Ok, here's the start of it. The only two possibilities > offered are saint (with "total knowledge") or non-saint > (without). This is the start of what this gentleman > considers an "epistemological advantage." > >> Hence, we have two choices. Maharishi is either everything he >> says he is or he is a fake and evil. Those who reject Maharishi >> as fake and evil at least show internal consistency. Those who >> claim respect for Maharishi but seriously pursue other gurus do >> not. One cannot respect someone who claims total knowledge unless >> one believes he has it. Therefore, if one respects Maharishi one >> must believe everything he says. > > This last statement is spurious enough just on its > own, but look at the *further* implication and > assumption in this amazing rant. > > It doesn't allow that there could possibly be TWO > saints, EACH with "total knowledge." > > This possibility is neither examined or presumed to > be exist. Clearly, in this person's mind, there can > only be ONE saint with "total knowledge." Therefore, > one must believe everything HE says. Anyone else > suggesting that they also have "total knowledge" is, > almost by definition, a liar or a fake. > > Think about what a belief like this structures on > the level of the believer's own consciousness. If > he really does believe that there can only be ONE > person with "total knowledge," and that position is > already held by Maharishi, HOW WILL HE EVER REALIZE > HIS OWN ENLIGHTENMENT? > > The guy has created a belief system for himself that, > in my estimation, is similar to dualistic Christian > beliefs. In that world view, one can NEVER *become* > what Christ was; one can only be his follower, forever. > The belief structures are not in place for becoming > like Christ or living one's life on the level that > Christ led his. > > In this particular True Believer rant, Kirkpatrick > seems to be suggesting a similar belief system among > the "real" TMers. He seems to assume that no one can > ever be what Maharishi is (to him), possessed of "total > knowledge." After all, if visiting saints can't > possibly have "total knowledge" because Maharishi's > got a monopoly on it, how can Maharishi's own > students ever attain "total knowledge?" > > The world view presented here is of the eternal follower, > who cannot conceive of ever being an equal to that which > he is following, only an obedient subordinate forever. > > It's sorta like believing that self discovery is like > the line from Highlander, "There can only be one." > > Self-defeating self-discovery. Weird. > > > > > > > > > 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 > > > > > > -- Rick Archer SearchSummit 1108 South B Street Fairfield, IA 52556 Phone: 641-472-9336 Fax: 815-572-5842 http://searchsummit.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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/
