Peter: Any concept of "enlightened behavior" is more a reflection of a cultural/psychological boundary of the individual than some assessment of enlightenment. By the way, I just realized, the term "enlightened behavior" is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as enlightened behavior. There's just behavior, period.
------------- Akasha: Enlightened behavior implies "perfect" behavior. But its not dichotomous: uneveloved behavior vs. perfect behavior. There is a huge spectrum of possible "improved behaviors" releative to ones own starting point. The third benefit of Intro lectures is (was) "improved social behavior". It does not imply "perfect" behavior, but improved behavior relative to ones starting point. Among causitive factors -- from the script -- are less stress and more love (compassion). IME less "stress" left me less reactive. External triggers -- essentially ego threats, such as insults, attempts to guilt-trip or shame me, jealousies, envy, had much less power to evoke an immediate or viseral response. I was more flexible and able to absorb a lot of crap before responding to such. Such responses IMO are a major source or poor social behavior -- flaring out in anger, hurt or jealousy. On the positive front, increased happiness and love brought more sharing of that. I would say that meditation has improved my behavior in the long run and also short runs -- after meditating. The long run could also be attributed to maturity, education, etc. But I look to family members and friends who did not meditate and they still appear to have reactive behaviors and similar levels of love and compassion as 30 years ago. Since I believe that "enlightenment" is not a useful label, I hold that "enlightened behavior" is also not a useful label -- ending up with a similar conclusion as you, though via a different path. However, I think, and have observed, that "improved" behavior" is quite real and a positive offshoot of sadhanas. Do you find the same, or do you hold that sadhana have not effect on behavior? Decreased anger, guilt, embarassment, jealousy, envy, and reactiveness, along with increased happiness, sparkle, crativity, love, tolerance, flexibility and compassion seem not only to be positive correlated with sadhanas but a causitive result of such. If one were to postulate or articulate an ultimate state of growth and evolution -- as some texts and "authorities" do -- something I don't see much value in, but who knows -- then it seems reasonable, from that angle, that improved behavior may also reach its pinnacle or its trajectory: minimal (or perhaps even zero) anger, guilt, embarassment, jealousy, and reactiveness, along with maximum happiness, sparkle, love, tolerance, flexibility and compassion. Do you find such a trajectory absurd? Just a small aside. Byron Katie (in her second book) states that enlightenment is available through her teachings. That may simply be an indication that the term has become more diluted, further losing much of any usefulness with the current onslought of neo-advaitan and new-age abuse of the word and concept. Regardless, without trying to map her use of the word with others', for her, its at a minimum, some state of inner light and freedom. And her techniques specifically affect action / behaviors, inner and outer. Inner being thought patterns and behaviors and outer being action in the world. Thus, at least on current example comes to mind where behavior is said to be "vastly" improved in "enlightenment" compared to non-enlightenment. ------------------------ 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/
