In the spirit of new.morning's recent post, but different in a way, here's a start at a list of things that I tend to call "core assumptions."
They are the pieces of dogma that are *so* prev- alent and *so* assumed by the teacher or teachers who found a spiritual tradition that they become equally assumed -- and never challenged -- by the students who study in that tradition. I like to pinpoint these core assumptions, the never-challenged ones, and then challenge them. I do this for fun, with myself and my own assumptions, but every so often I think it's fun to do with other people's as well. So here is a start at a list of such "core assumptions" that I've perceived in the TM organization over time. You may add to the list or challenge it...whatever...I'm just making the list off the top of my head, for fun. * Meditation is all that you need to change your life for the better. "Capture the fort" and all that. * TM is an ancient technique, lost over time and revived by Maharishi. * Maharishi knows what he's talking about, spirit- uality-wise, and is probably enlightened. * Guru Dev was definitely enlightened. * TM is not in any way a religion, but out of respect for Indian tradition we're going to have celebrations from time to time and offer rice and wave burning camphor for Hindu gods and goddesses, right in the TM centers. But TM is not in any way a religion. :-) * The TM-siddhis as taught by Maharishi are the same as (or are in some way related to) the ones that Patanjali wrote about in the Yoga Sutras. * Bouncing on one's butt is the first stage of true levitation. * It is not only OK to charge money for meditation, it is in the students' benefit to do so. * God exists, and has a Plan for all of creation. * Creation had a start, and will have an end. * There are such things as Laws Of Nature, and as living in accord with them. * Enlightenment has an "end point," which humans can define and describe. * The evolution along the continuum of enlightenment can equally be described, with significant "roadside markers" to indicate progress such as CC, GC, UC, & BC. * The Vedas are not only true, but Truth. * The Vedas were the *first* codified spiritual know- ledge on the planet, and probably the purest. * The Vedas really were cognized by seers, and not just made up by human beings like all other writing. * A "more perfect" age -- what we call "Vedic times" once existed, and life was not only different then than it is now, it was better. * We can recreate that golden age through the power of our Woo Woo Rays...uh...I'm sorry...through the emanations of the Maharishi Effect. * The Maharishi Effect is real. * The Age Of Enlightenment, as described by Maharishi, will actually happen someday. * It is not in the student's benefit to "mix teachings," to do much reading from other traditions, or to see other teachers. It may, in fact, be detrimental and cause confusion. * Someone who "leaves TM" after doing it a long time has lost their way, and is to be pitied and often shunned. Their confusion might rub off on you. * Such people are often still envious of TMers, and do their best to try to seduce the still-faithful away from the "highest path." * TM *is* the "highest path." * TM is the best, most effective technique of medi- tation. Period. We know that because we were told it. * Concentration and effort are antithetical to trans- cending. If a person practices techniques of concen- tration and claims that they transcend regularly, it's because their minds "lose focus" and relax, and in those moments transcendence sneaks up on them. * Enlightenment is related to stress. If you're not enlightened, it's because you still have stress. * Almost everything in creation *can* be described and defined intellectually, and fairly accurately. * Things that are sattvic are somehow "better" and better for you than things that are rajassic or tamassic. (A corollary of this, of course, is that things can be actually *classified* as purely sattvic, rajassic, or tamassic, and with any semblance of reality.) * A good checking will fix most problems in life. * Doubts are bad for you. * Doubts are a sign of weakness. * A viable response to someone who *does* have doubts is to say, "You're just unstressing," because clearly, they are. If they were On The Program, they wouldn't have doubts, would they? * *Being* On The Program is good for you, and doesn't just mean that you have capitulated to group pressure, intimidation, and brainwashing. * When I become enlightened, my perceptions will be 100% accurate and I will cognize Truth directly. * When I become enlightened, my life will be free from problems because I will have the total Support Of Nature. I'm sure there are more. Have fun... :-)
