Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: 'Was John Lennon Right About Maharishi?'

[Vaj]

On Jul 22, 2006, at 2:53 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: How sad that some people consider him [Dana] an "expert" in this regard.  He doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. And obviously you don't either, if you think what you quoted from him in these last few posts is somehow definitive.  It's just pathetic. Not to start an argument but to ask a question I feel is relevant, how is Vaj considering Dana a credible authority any different than you consider- ing Maharishi a credible authority? Dana is not only an experienced TM teacher who clearly understands the mechanics of TM (although not necessarily by relying on TM-speak, something very upsetting to TBs) he's also a practitioner and teacher of Zen, Shamatha and other styles of meditation, often with experienced high lamas. In addition to being a practitioner, he's also an academic in this field and spends a lot of time with the people in these traditions in India. As I've always stated, it's important to understand how manasika-japa (mental mantra meditation) from the perspective of mantra-shastra. Why? Because it's explained in exquisite detail, rather than in a watered down, simplified fashion and that IS the highest authority of mantra theory and practice. So listening to people argue about details of what they've been taught to parrot on the "mechanics of TM" has little meaning, it's like listening to 1st graders who know basic math argue algebra to someone conversant in advanced algebra.  It seems to me that what *both* of you do is play "dueling authorities" here. I don't see a lot of differences between the two approaches except in which sources you consider authoritative enough to quote to support the things you've chosen to believe. I just go to the source.:-) This tradition has credible and extant pundit and scriptural sources on mantra meditation. It's an exquisitely detailed and beautiful science. We do it it a great disservice if we downgrade it to TM being the end-all and be-all of meditation though. The parallel goes further. When those beliefs  are challenged, both of you tend to reply by  calling the "authority's" credentials or character into question. So where's the difference? The depth is lacking in the "Maharishi sez" claims. It's superficial and elementary, that all. It's a smaller picture. I prefer the whole picture, the big picture, the whole story. It's a wonderful science. __._,_.___ 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  Visit your group "FairfieldLife" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. __,_._,___