Compulsive response below: **
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: **snip** > > As you do, I think, I sometimes evaluate a teacher and teaching > org/method by its adherents. And organization. Does the thing result > in happier, friendlier, more caring, smarter, wiser, flexible, in the > moment and less tied to, or (frustrated by) past things and future > unfulfilled desires, do they read, speak and think clearly, do they > see the best in you and spontaneously bring that out, is their > reasoning logical, do they seem pretty clear of major cognitive biases > ? Are they successful in their lifes work and personal lives? Are > they fit and healthy, have a healthy glow? Are people laughing, > sweetly funny, providing useful insights? > > Or are the people self-righteous, petty, muddled in understanding > about what others say, or what they read, illogical? Do they attribute > odd and bizarre motivations and inner structures to people, fumbling > deep within cognitive biases, seem to have a stick up their ass, are > "me" directed, are socially judgemental, toot superfical politics and > ontologies, don't seem like they would be fun people to hang with, are > dismissive, haven't achieved much, seem hung up on a lot of stuff, are > vindictive, fearful, etc > > I tend to like "teachings" that produce the former types of people and > organizations. > > And some say such criteria is silly. "You can't tell anything about a > persons inner development from their outer actions. There is > absolutely no connection, (And you are very ignorant for even thinking > that)". Thats fine if that works for them. It doesn't work for me. I > like group A people and what ever it is they do that helps cultivate > and nurture those qualities. I tend to shy away from Group B people, > their schtick, and their organizations. > **end** New, the above is (IMO) absolutely right on. And, although one may not be able to say anything about any specific individual's state of consciousness by any discrete actions they perform, it seems obvious that in an organization of many individuals, all more or less following the same practices and philosophy, you can look to the overall performance and behavior of the group and discern trends and charateristics from which you would be able to form some pretty accurate opinions and conclusions. The criterion of "would I want to hang out with this person" is a fundamentally valid one as suitable for one's guru as the girl or guy next door.
