--- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Michael, I actually appreciate much of what you have > to say. And, *unlike you*, I *respect* your spiritual > path. You do *not* respect mine.
That's not true. > If you go back and look at the recent threads in which > we have exchanged views, I have *gone out of my way* to > say that I felt your path was just *fine*. Like saying: Whatever floats your boat? > I did *not* > try to put it down as lesser than mine, or lesser on > some imaginary cosmic scale than any other. I merely > presented some alternative points of view on the > subjects we were discussing. I had thought we had gone beyond this > You, on the other hand, seem to be so *threatened* > by these alternative points of view that you go into > reactive mode, and seem compelled to put my particular > point of view down. Actually no. I just defend POV's which you put down. Like the true blue believer who believes in some kind of scripture for whatever reason. I didn't attack you or your path. I did though say, that missing certain experiences will hamper your understanding of people with a different path and mindset. Let's face it: whenever cornered you admit that the Bhakti path may be just the right thing for me. (thereby putting Bhakti actually in a box as if it was only relevant on a Bhakti path and not on any other). But when it comes to things that go along with this you are pure cynicism with an air of superiority. People who believe in scriptures believe in scriptures, whats so bad about it? Why can't they have experiences. Why must their beliefs be rationally founded or quetsioned? Wherever there is an element of belief and trust, which are all part and parcel for any bhakti related path, all you have for it is contempt. Most religions have strong Bhakti elements. Why make fun of islamic symbols, when the people put their heart to it? Oh no, they should learn detachment we hear from you. They shall just swallow the insults, they should learn to deal with our freedom. Bhakti means respect for Love for Love's sake, and not asking for spiritual results. Yet this is what you constantly do and urge others to do as well. > Think about your first posts to me > after my weekend away. You *started* by (in your own > words) making a couple of "nasty side remarks." Okay, it was provocative, but I had my point. I wasn't personal. > > I think that bhakti and a devotional approach to > the spiritual path are just *neat*, *for the people > for which they are appropriate*. And for the others who 'chose' it? Its not appropriate for everyone who choses so? > You seem to be one > of those people. I wish you well with your chosen > path. But I don't think it's going to take you very > far if your first reaction to someone who doesn't > share your approach is to attempt to put their point > of view down as "lesser" than yours, and say outright > that something is *wrong* with them and "missing" > from their life if they don't think the way that > you do. I think I clarified that. You cannot appreciate other peoples path if you don't share some very basic sentiments in this way. And, according to my own experience and those sages which I respect, like Ramakrishna and Ramana, they all agree, that Bhakti and Jnana merge. They are both complementary. If you missed that I don't put you (or anybody) down, but I feel sorry for you. But don't reject Bhakti elements in anybody else. Not in ANYBODY, most likely what you consider TB naive religious beliefers of any path. I am going to defend them and mock at your short-sightedness. > That's spiritual elitism, dude, not some kind of > spiritual "truth." If you got past it, it might be > fun to have discussions with you. It is fun to have discussions with me, otherwise, why would you do it? > But you show no > indication that you *can* get past it, and discuss > ideas as merely ideas, without the weighting of > "better" and "best." ------------------------ 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/
