--- In [email protected], Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- tomandcindytraynoratfairfieldlis > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > TorquiseB writes: snipped > > > > > > Those who say > > > that they have experienced the goal that is shared > > > by pretty much the entire group (for example, > > > enlightenment) are regularly dissed by those in > > > the group who have not had such an experience. > > > One would think they'd be happy that someone is > > > actually getting what they paid for, but the > > > reality is sadly often the opposite. > > > > Particularly here. If I ain't got it how dare you > > even insinuate that > > you even have a whiff of it. You are not worthy nor > > do you have all > > the requirements that has been heard on numerous > > courses 30 long years > > ago forgotten are all the details of even where this > > course was but > > the exact way it has to be, to be awake has been > > memorized in > > concrete. Go figure. Quite funny actually. > > And sad. A collective cheer should go up for > realization, not a hiss. The kiss of Mara.
The 'hiss' is the sound of self-loathing. I'm not talking just about the manifestation of this phenomenon in the TM world, but about what it seems to be like in *all* of the groups I've seen it appear in. The things that the critics harp on when lash- ing out at those who report enlightenment experiences are always the same. The "faults" they home in on are always the things that the critics believe are wrong with *themselves*. The critics believe that these traits are the things that "keep them" from realization, so when they encounter someone who claims to have experienced realization and yet still has some of the traits that they loathe in themselves, it creates a strong sense of cognitive dissonance. At this point, the critics have a choice -- either they can accept that the things they believe "keep them" from their own realization are fictions in their own minds, with no basis in reality, or they can reject the enlightenment of their fellow seekers who display these traits. The choice is simple. The ego would *much* rather attack than admit it made a fundamental error (*much less* that it doesn't even exist). So the more visible and vocal the seekers who have experienced enlightenment get, the more abrasive and abusive the critics get. The critics' quest becomes a sick form of Vaj's "pin-sticking test." The critics start to badger the seekers who claim realization, doing whatever they can think of to make them angry, to get them to react in some way so they can turn to their fellow critics and say, "See! Look at that anger! I *told* you so-and-so wasn't enlightened." It's really the same scene in *every* organization I've ever encountered in which someone was open about their enlightenment experiences. The cycle of criticism and abuse continues until -- all too often -- the person who has claimed the realization experiences is driven out of the organization. Then the critics have "succeeded." There is no longer anyone around to point out that all their excuses for not being enlightened are just that, excuses. They can go back to hiding from realiz- ation, hiding behind the faults they think keep enlightenment at bay, when in reality, it is their own fear that keeps enlightenment away. ------------------------ 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/
