--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Premanand Paul Mason" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I was posing a question... originally about the duration > of 'enlightenment' - my point was that everything must be assumed to > be impermanent (temporary) until proved otherwise. I consider that > defining enlightenment as permanent has no sound basis. On the other > hand, I think it quite reasonable to believe at least some of the > various claims of those who claim to have experienced > an 'enlightened' state, albeit briefly. > As to supernatural powers and perceptions, I don't doubt that > supernatural phenomena has occurred within the context of my own > existence, many times, however, this does not persuade me that all > claims to supernatural phenomena are honest or legitimate.
Of course not. But how do you decide which are and which aren't? > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Premanand Paul Mason" > > <premanandpaul@> wrote: > > > > > > A flying monkey and a shape shifting king of Lanka are quite > > > beautiful images to be found in the Ramayana. So too is the idea > > > that supernatural weapons might be used in warfare, in the place > of > > > conventional and crude weaponry, to be found in the Bhagavadgita. > > > But in the 21st century we tend to treat such tales as > makebelieve. > > > If talking animals do not exist, nor astral weapons, then why > > > should one choose to accept the descriptions of the powers of > > > rishis or maharshis as all factual? > > > > FWIW, there are segments of the U.S. defense and > > intelligence communities that have at times vigorously > > pursued "supernatural" (or "paranormal") approaches > > to neutralizing the enemy (including "remote viewing"). > > The Soviets also had such programs; whether Russia > > still does, I'm not sure. Whether the U.S. still does, > > I'm also not sure. > > > > At any rate, are you quite sure that "total awareness" > > would not reveal that some of these apparently make- > > believe tales are to be understood on something other > > than the literal level? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> > wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Premanand Paul Mason" > > > > <premanandpaul@> wrote: > > > > <snip> > > > > > It is of note that rather than offering reasoned argument, > you > > > resort > > > > > to making a personal attack. You make this slight, concerning > > > your > > > > > perception of my intelligence, but do not offer any cogent > > > argument > > > > > as to why one ought to believe what is contained in 'Vedic > > > > > literature' when, as I pointed out, it is so 'full of ghastly > > > wars, > > > > > vile punishments for minor crimes, talking animals and > wizardry > > > too'. > > > > > > > > Well, he did, actually: > > > > > > > > <snip> > > > > > > The centerpiece of Vedic culture is total awareness -- if > you > > > > > > seek that, the ugliness you refer to goes away: i.e., stay > > > tuned > > > > > > for the Sat Yuga. > > > > > > > > If you don't think this is "cogent," what are your > > > > reasons? > > > ------------------------ 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/
