> Tom T: > He also set up a scale of Enlightment which appears to > be quite useful since on his scale it extends from a nominal value > from 700 to 1200, Pretty broad range and a lot of insight in the third > book about that range and the cast of characters that play in it. Tom
A scale seems to be a better, though still imperfect, means to "map" the "growth" of spiritual "unfoldment". Its better than the discreet "on/off" model many seem partial to. The latter being akin to a point, the former is a one dimensional "ruler" or timelime type scale, indicating a series of continuing transitions. Better yet would be a two dimensional scale, like an xy graph. It helps dispose of the linearity and alleged necessary sequence of "happenings". For example, various peoples experience could be plotted on two characteristics of the "the experience" -- as a scatter plot. In terms of xy values, there may be individual experiences at points (1,2) (1,3) (4,4) (2,1) (2,2) (3,2) etc. While easier to simply plot visually, or draw on a blackboard, bear with me. It provides a non-ranking way of viewing various types of awakening experience. Experience (1,2) is different from (2,1) but clearly not "better". Though (4,4) is acknowledged as richer than (3,3). Much more realistic would be a three dimenional plot -- where by three different characteristics or attributes of awakening would be plotted. In such a 3-d frame, the ability to rank becomes even less, which in my view is a good thing -- getting away from some of the distortions, manipulations and cons that can occur in such discussions -- whether self-imposed or imposed by others. You can see where this is going. I hold that there are more than three "dimensions" or salient characteristics of spiritual growth. Not sure of an outside number, but its probably more than 10. Thus, mathematically, its easy to plot different peoples experiences on say 10 dimensions -- on ten specific characteristics of awakening. (Though admitedly a bit hard to visualize). On such a 10 or more multi-dimensional scale several things become apparent: 1) There is a huge variety of "growth" experiences. This perhaps parallels Tom's often remark that there are 100 million flavors. The only apparent difference with that view and this multi-dimensional scale model is that in this model, the "mapped" points are snapshots in time, not "endpoints", e.g. there are not 100 million flavors of enlightenment, but 100 milion flavors of growth trajectories (or vectors), as discussed below. 2) Growth / Refinement Continues Indefinately Enlightenment, connates, to me at least, an endpoint. The model views trajectories of growth and refinement as continuing. One level of this is "Self" is seen in more and deeper dimensions of previously "non-self". Even those claiming Brahman (or as they would say, Brahamn claiming them"), an apparent and proported endpoint, report continual reintegration of Self across more and more phenomenon and actions. Thus some level of "growth" continues, even when "all has been attained" The proposed model views the mapping of points in the multi-dimensional space as milestones or simple current mappings of ongoing trajectories -- with no necessary endpoint (or one so far "out there" is is silly to contemplate). Thus, in this models' view, saying there are 100 million different flavors of the rest stops of the many people on the "path" is correct and good. But saying there are 100 million flavors of "enlightenment" or endpoints -- that is "mu" -- none-sensical, in this open-ended framework -- where trajectories of growth can continue indefinately -- at least to rainbow body etc. 3) Cross-personal experiences are almost unrankable in 10 dimensions. While someone whose experience and attainments maps to (10,9,10,11,8,12,7,10,9,10) is a bit "further along" than someone mapped at (2,1,3,2,1,4,2,3,4,3), most such comparisions and rankings cannot be made. (2,4,3,6,9,11,15,4,11,9) and (8,12,5,12,9,,5,4,4,3) are two different people with quite differnt "progress" on the 10 dimensions of "spiritual growth", but no one can say one is "higher" than the other. 4) The saint / enlightened issue is resolved. Person A might score very high on the scales of "no I", "no doer", "witnessng sleep" "inner glow" but very low on compassion, anger management, resolving returning karma, native intelligence, speaking ill of others, being manipulative, cold.. Person B might be be highly compassionate, very loving, always suportive, always sacraficing for others, but still has some sense of "I", does not always witness sleep, and pushes themselves to DO MORE. And some one might score high or low on all dimensions. 5) Provides a wider map of human growth and development and reduces the tendency for one-dimensional views of "enlightenement" and growth. That is, subsets of the larger map have a harder time claiming superiority over other subsets. If that sounds obtuse, let me give an example. Borrowing the cases above. Person A may ridicule person B above saying, "compassion and love and actions for others are just outer things. They have nothing to do with "Consciousness". Person B is clearly not an example of spiritual growth!." Person B might say, "I love A, but without a totally melted and overflowing heart, totally serving others, all talk of Consciousness is just odd, if not sad and silly." ---- I am sure there are more "benefits" of such a model, but those are the ones that come to mind right now. Unless of course, one defines enlightenment as a verb, as a continuing process and not an endpoint. Which at least we did in the "eglukgenemnt" (or whatever) discussion. 2) Per above, ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. 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