Ok, I don't even know what reddit means (I've asked Alex) but will wade in here anyway.
This is my 3rd "spiritual" forum and I've read lots of "spiritual" blogs, websites, etc. during the last 2 1/2 years. A few books like Adya's and Perfect Brilliant Stillness, etc. Plus doing TMSP since 1977. MA in SCI. What I've noticed, she said inching out onto the limb, is that men seem way more interested in the whole question of Am I Enlightened Yet than women do. Hmmm, maybe I'll leave it at that (-: ________________________________ From: salyavin808 <fintlewoodle...@mail.com> To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 1:45 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Yet another reddit thread started by yours truly --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <LEnglish5@...> wrote: > > http://www.reddit.com/r/neurophilosophy/comments/v6why/what_do_people_think_of_the_tm_concept_of/ > > (as always up-vote or down-vote it as you deem appropriate) > > > What do people think of the TM concept of enlightenment? > > Are people even familiar with it? > In a nutshell: > There are seven major states of consciousness: > waking, dreaming and sleeping, > a foundational state sometimes called "pure consciousness" which underlies > the three above, > a state which fully integrates the first three with pure consciousness, also > known as the first stage of enlightenment, which is simply a nervous system > sufficiently stress-free to not disrupt what SHOULD be the default perception > that pure consciousness IS the basis of the first three, > two further states beyond that, which build upon the first enlightened state. > The claim is that just as waking, dreaming and sleeping have physiological > correlates, so do the rest in the list. > comments? Good topic but perhaps wasted on those who haven't experienced it. As someone who has I can definitely say that, yes there are different states of consciousness but I draw the line at saying they are higher as I see no evidence of improved behaviour from those claimed to be in that state. I also dislike the idea that it is our default state and that it's simply stress that keeps us away from it. This seems like a clever bit of self serving propaganda, it keeps you devoted to both your own development and that of society as it's part of the dogma that once, a long time ago, everyone was like this all the time and it's only stress that stops us all from living as a perfect society again. Aint nuthin wrong with daydreams but it does tend to keep the true believers on the foam instead of doing something useful with their lives. Each to their own but all those chemical imbalances can be addictive, and I know as I've done it. If it really was our default state we would all be in it or have it during childhood at least. but we don't. This whole age of enlightenment belief is another "legend of the fall" that every single human culture has developed. That doesn't mean there is something to the AofE, garden of eden etc. what it really pertains to something common to all peoples lives that of seperation from the mother and the growth of awareness of difference we develop in childhood. You'd think that someone in an actual higher state of perfect knowledge would have realised that but no, they don't seem to have any useful, verifiable insights at all it's all a defualt hindu belief like their crappy incomplete astrology that doesn't even use the right number of planets. You'd think perfect knowledge would see the others? Makes the siddhi for knowing motions of planets seem inadequate don't you think? I think enlightenment is one of the many states of mental disorder that can happen due to various genetic variation or social pressure. I knew someone with schizophrenia who went through many stages of mania, depression and even a "jesus mode" (as I called it then) whereby he would radiate an amazing peace and calm and be the most pleasant, involving person to talk to. Everyone in a room would sit just soak up the atmosphere he created. Therefore, that's how I see enlightenment as working, it's due to how our brains construct the picture that we call reality inside our heads i would say there are many components involved in the various stages, hearing, spacial awareness etc. and these can be jumbled up or switched off at various times - drugs, illness, meditation. Sometimes these changes can be permanent for a while, ask Robin Carlsen for details. Enlightenment, good fun but don't take it too seriously......
