--- In [email protected], "jim_flanegin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <no_reply@> > wrote: > > > > I'm not arguing that there aren't charlatans out > > there; there are. But even the charlatans may teach > > valuable stuff, just as the "real" teachers may > > teach garbage. The key to me seems to lie in > > preserving that tendency to evaluate each thing > > that one's teacher says on its own merit, here and > > now, in real-time, *without regard for* the things > > the teacher may have said in the past. > > > > Easier said than done. We're all creatures of > > habit, and tend to take the easy path rather > > than the one that requires a little effort. > > > Agreed. Spiritual growth is no different than our > body's growth. First, we need the teacher like a > parent and unquestioningly follow what they say. > And we look for that parental figure to guide us. (I > personally never followed a teacher for more than > a day if I didn't sense they were right for me.) > > Then I continued to follow Maharishi as a child > follows his parent. Until it was clear by the > direction I was taking this was no longer possible. > Then it was time to leave home, to go Home. > > Bye, bye Baby, bye bye...
Yup. And in my book, the real "test" of the teacher is how gracefully or non-gracefully they deal with someone moving on when they feel it is their time to move on. Some handle this well, and others...well they sometimes declare the "unfaithful" devotee an apostate and treat him or her like shit. Think Chopra, or how people who found other teachers tend to be treated by TMTBs. One of the things I've come to look for in spiritual trips is whether there are any "graduates." That is, if the organization preaches enlightenment, is any- one *allowed* to be openly enlightened? Are they *accepted* as enlightened by the teacher, and encouraged to teach? Or (more common) are they treated as if they've done something wrong? It's an issue to be aware of... ------------------------ 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/
