--- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I don't allege that he was homeless, that is a fact. I have my > own opinion about his mental state just as you do. I sincerely > believe that he needed medical attention as a boy. I think his > folks needed a check up from the neck up also. Whatever he was > able to achieve with such a deplorable beginning in life is > amazing. > > The aspect that you raise considering his humble beginnings, > that he rose to such heights in the Hindu religion is amazing. > It is a heroic tale of survival worthy of a movie. The fact > that his position of power we instrumental in upholding social > values that I find repugnant is another issue. But I appreciate > your perspective that he was a spiritual Horatio Alger story. > That is an aspect I was not appreciating fully.
And, at the same time, that "aspect" is Just Another My-Guru-Is-Special Story. > --- In [email protected], "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > If one of Curtis's street people were successful > > > in these respects, it would be awfully difficult > > > not to view them as "special." > > > > > > (Or let's say "remarkable," since "special" has > > > acquired such negative baggage on this forum.) > > > > > > I think we are missing each other on this point. He was a > > fascinating > > > guy. I probably would connect with him on his love of nature. I > > don't > > > see any evidence for him being more amazing then a lot of other > > > religious leaders upholding the status quo even if it includes the > > > cruelty of the caste system. I think you are over focusing on my > > > bringing up the fact of his homelessness. > > > > And not getting the medical attention he needed, > > as I recall. > > > > Curtis, when you suggest that a very prominent > > spiritual leader was mentally ill and homeless, > > it's such astonishing assertion, particularly when > > it goes against everything we know about Guru > > Dev, that it's going to be the focus of attention > > as long as you continue to start from that notion > > in your evaluation of him. > > > > That doesn't make him less > > > interesting, it makes him more. Especially when coupled with your > > > point about how he pulled of the Shankaracharya gig. > > > > > > So I'll give him special and remarkable (although not > > > necessarily for the reasons he is revered in TMO), but > > > he doesn't' get divine. Is that fair? > > > > I think you ought to withdraw the "homeless" and > > "mentally ill" allegations. > > > > "Divine," I don't care about one way or the other. > > >
