turq, I once heard Maharishi say that fear is the last negative emotion to go. From my own experience, I'd say this is right on target. Different people have different ways of dealing with fear, especially the fear of death. Go figure (-:
On Friday, January 31, 2014 9:44 AM, TurquoiseB <turquoi...@yahoo.com> wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long wrote: > > That's ok, turq, I don't take it personally. Good. It's just the concept I'm objecting to. I mean, who could possibly equate being completely dependent on the TMO and no other source for all of one's spiritual teachings and techniques -- and paying Big Bucks for them -- with "self-sufficiency?" This just does not compute. It sounds like total dependency to me. I mean, imagine you've got a weekend off and want to spend a little more time in meditation than usual. I still know people who started TM when I did (46 years ago) who are still deathly afraid of doing this at home, or just renting a mountain cabin to do it in. It wouldn't be "safe," y'know? You *have* to be in a supervised TM environment (and of course pay money for it) before you can do "extra meditations." How "self-sufficient" is that? Not to mention "advanced techniques" (which, as Bhairitu and others have pointed out, are "beginner's techniques" in many other traditions). Either you pay for them (last I checked, the same exorbitant price charged for TM), or you're stuck with the same old same old "basic TM" for the rest of your life. That sure sounds like "self-sufficiency" to me. Not! > On Friday, January 31, 2014 7:29 AM, TurquoiseB turquoiseb@... wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long wrote: > > > > Xeno, according to Maharishi, self sufficiency is a quality of the unified > > field. As such, I don't think it's a bad word in the TMO. Quite the > > opposite. In practical terms, I've noticed over the decades that some of > > the most self sufficient people in the TMO are those who are what I call on > > the TM straight and narrow. Meaning that they don't use any other systems > > of self development. > > You'll have to forgive my bluntness, Share, but that's one of the dumbest > things I've ever heard. > > > On Friday, January 31, 2014 6:11 AM, "anartaxius@" anartaxius@ wrote: > > > > One phrase in movement jargon is 'self-sufficiency'. I find it interesting > > that when it comes to 'self-sufficincy' on the movement's spiritual path, > > it is a bad word. It means you are on your own. It doesn't mean ego, but it > > does mean that eventually you have to give up the herd, herd mentality, and > > all that goes with that. The herd mentality will get you a certain distance > > in your growth (almost all our learning is based in herd mentality), but at > > some point it becomes a liability and will hold you back, and at that point > > you need to reclaim the direction of your life and form an independent > > understanding. You cannot be creative if you are hemmed in by others' rules > > and concepts. > > > > > > ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb@ wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, salyavin808 wrote: > > > > >> Perhaps but maybe having such a mythos also helps keep people together > > >> in one place where they can reinforce each others beliefs. If everyone > > >> is spread out it gets hard to keep reality at bay. I remember moving > > >> into an academy and it was a rapid and steep lesson in the TM language > > >> and customs. Probably something about it in Cults 101, which doesn't > > >> mean it was done deliberately to brainwash the newbies, but living with > > >> others in a strong belief system does have the effect of making you > > >> conform or be cast out. > > >> > > >> And if everyone shares a town and worldview, what better way to keep > > >> the money coming in! Very easy to frame world events through your own > > >> prism and have everyone see the rainbow the same way. > > >> > > >> And people are less likely to raise tricky questions if their social > > >> and family life depends on staying part of the herd. > > >> > > >> It's all jolly clever. > > > > > >Especially if you've created a myth -- pretty much since Day One -- of the > > >terrible things that will happen to you if you ever "leave the herd." > > >Think about the phrases "Off The Program" and "off the path" and "losing > > >one's way" that we heard so often. Think of the *shunning* that took place > > >whenever someone "left." Think how they were treated, and referred to: > > >"Someday he/she will realize his/her mistake and 'come back'." > > > > This mindset is part and parcel of Buck's whole schtick. It feels weird to > > those of us who no longer think that way because it's based in fear: "Never > > leave the herd." > > > > > > > > > > > ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb@ wrote: > > >> > > >> --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, salyavin808 wrote: > > >> > > > >> > Why not just be happy that you've got a nice little technique that > > >> > makes you feel happy and relaxed, why does it have to be the most > > >> > ultimate thing of any kind ever? > > >> > > >> In one phrase, because Maharishi's idea of enlightenment was always "my > > >> enlightenment." > > >> > > > > > >
