From: "Michael Jackson mjackso...@yahoo.com [FairfieldLife]" <FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com>
I appreciate the fact that Mr. Gilpin had no desire to become an object of adoration, a guru. Most people's egos would have made a different choice, no matter what kind of spiritual gauze they might wrap the choice in. I've never really understood those who want to "hold court" and sit on the tall chair at the front of the room, whether that seat be the Throne Of Swords or Maharishi's Sofa Of Sattva. My opinion on this may be colored by my reading of Shakespeare, where the perils of "holding court" are presented so well. It may be further colored by the fact that I've just started reading Christopher Moore's "The Serpent Of Venice," in which he reprises his character of Pocket of Dog-Snogging, known elsewhere in literature as Lear's Fool. The Fool is the *only* position in any court worth aspiring to in my opinion. He's the only one in the room who can speak his mind and yet (much of the time) be allowed to stay in the room. In my opinion, every guru should be forced to have a Fool on his or her payroll, and to listen to him. It shouldn't even be an option...more of a "required security feature," like seat belts. :-)
