--- In [email protected], Sal Sunshine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Jan 24, 2006, at 4:13 PM, wayback71 wrote: > > > We are on the same page, Sal. I too stopped giving ( and i never gave > > all that much), and > > one reason was the lack of honesty, the sense that everyone was > > pretending to one degree > > or another. The other reason I stopped is because I felt the entire > > TMO was off-track > > regarding money on every level and in every endeavor and for many > > many many years. I > > don't want to be a part of that or enable that. > > Nor did I. And it wasn't really just the $$ aspect of it, it was > pretty much the whole crazy ball of wax. > > > I like the idea that some people can help the world by being in a > > monastery-like > > environment, though. And for some the years of intensive > > meditation/yoga/quiet ought to > > help them grow and hopefully help world consciousness. Still, I > > heard MMY say on several > > occasions that NO westerners were cut out to be monks. It would be a > > stressful strain > > because it was not part of our culture or tradition. > >
>Yes, the whole concept of people living in supposedly rarified spiritual environments supported by others turns out to be quite a lie, in the case of the 'P' or 'MD' groups, for example. I like what Rick said about being more comfortable about the Trappist model, delivering bread and stuff. And I have no problem whatsoever with someone choosing to live a monastic life. Its just that we have all heard of liberated beings doing whatever they choose to do, and it surely wasn't their habits that got them there, or prevented their liberation. It is a dreamy and sugary thought to associate some sort of gentle pious life with liberation, but in fact there is no connection at all. None. I have grown the most spiritually by doing *exactly* what I choose to, whether that meant smoking or drinking or eating meat or contemplating such actions. All of this false piety leads to suffering in many cases, and does no good whatsoever, because it doesn't resolve the bonds of attachment, it only strengthens them through denial. Resolve attachment through transcendence, not denial. So as the phrase says-- eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/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/
