[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog raunchy...@... wrote: [snip] Conclusion: Many uncertainties surround the practice of meditation. Scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by poor methodological quality. Firm conclusions on the effects of meditation practices in healthcare cannot be drawn based on the available evidence. Future research on meditation practices must be more rigorous in the design and execution of studies and in the analysis and reporting of results. Thinking about that though, and the vacillating results of scientific research we are bombarded with daily: Take aspirin regularly. No cancel that. Drink red wine daily. No, avoid alcohol altogether. Caffeine is bad for you. Tea/Coffee is an elixir etc etc. I wonder how far the statement you quoted is more generally true? For any T, where T is some theory, Scientific research on T does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by poor methodological quality. Firm conclusions on the effects of T cannot be drawn based on the available evidence. Future research on T must be more rigorous in the design and execution of studies and in the analysis and reporting of results? Are we suffering from a collective gullibility when we see the label science? (Hugo - that's not to denigrate Science. It's just against the view that thinks the ice we're skating on is much, much, much thicker than it really is. Which is perhaps just another symptom of the Scientism pathology). (Just poor old Richard M banging on about his hobby horse again)
[FairfieldLife] Etymology of the day: smorgasbord
smorgasbord: from Swedish 'smörgåsbord' bord [pronounce: boord] -- table (cognate to English board?) gås [ ~ gaws ] -- goose [sic!] smör [~ smir] -- butter smörgås -- bread with butter [!]
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
no comparable scientific type research of spirituality of Islamic Prayer? Five times a day by half the world and there is not research on that spiritual practice to compare with the others? No comparable has been done on Christian prayer either Well, seems there are comparables in 'Centering Prayer' taught widely now as a spiritual meditation practice by many x-ian denominations. No rigor on Muslim prayer that anything is going on? Just wondering. Jai Adi Shankara, -D in FF but a bunch of white male conservative idiots on the Hill decided it was important to put a provision in the healthcare bill requiring that insurers cover Christian Science prayer treatments the same as they would medical care. Fortunately, Pelosi stripped it from the House Bill, which she could have done for the Stupak amendment BTW. Members argued it was unconstitutional, since it violated separation of church and state. These are the same jackasses plus 64 Democrats who threw women under the bus voting for the Stupid Stupak amendment, which denies women access to abortion.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
no comparable scientific type research of spirituality of Islamic Prayer? Five times a day by half the world and there is not research on that spiritual practice to compare with the others? No comparable has been done on Christian prayer either Well, seems there are comparables in 'Centering Prayer' taught widely now as a spiritual meditation practice by many x-ian denominations. No rigor on Muslim prayer that anything is going on? Would be nice if what they are doing is really spiritual like some these other meditations. Should bring in some muslims on their blankets and hook them up the same as these other practices. Treat them fair in scientific protocol and dignity. Might just help discern what in the world they are doing and the consequences there of. If it is not the same, then evidently they just might want to also learn meditation for all the good reasons. -D in FF but a bunch of white male conservative idiots on the Hill decided it was important to put a provision in the healthcare bill requiring that insurers cover Christian Science prayer treatments the same as they would medical care. Fortunately, Pelosi stripped it from the House Bill, which she could have done for the Stupak amendment BTW. Members argued it was unconstitutional, since it violated separation of church and state. These are the same jackasses plus 64 Democrats who threw women under the bus voting for the Stupid Stupak amendment, which denies women access to abortion.
Re: [FairfieldLife] TM and Blood Pressure
On Nov 8, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: http://www.box.net/shared/static/eycqy25sh2.jpg SBP is Systolic Blood Pressure. Depends on the mantra used doesn't it? Some will be stimulating and actually raise the blood pressure while others lower it. My teacher was put on high blood pressure medicine since he registered that way during a physical. Then he started getting light headed and almost passed out once. Turned out the medication was giving him extremely low blood pressure. His teacher told his doctor he couldn't have such medication because tantric blood pressure can rise and fall but generally never anything dangerous. Agni mantras can make the blood pressure rise. Good thing for me because I have a history of low blood pressure. I also have another friend who is not a meditator but once his doctor gave him blood pressure medicine and he also had light headedness and had to be taken off it. Apparently when he went for his checkup he had high blood pressure but it was not common with him. I also bought one of little finger blood pressure devices which are more expensive than the wrapper type but also consider not quite as accurate but for my purposes close enough and also much more convenient. Possibly, anyone predisposed to high pitta could get overheated and mantra-yoga could raise their BP. But in general TM mantras seem lightly cooling (i.e. pitta pacifying) for most. SO you get some slight, very minimal benefit is some people when poor controls ar eused. Independent researchers have known TM is not good at lowering BP, when compared to good controls, since the early 80's--and in fact those independent studies have never been shown to be false. If the TMO wanted to prove them wrong, all they would have had to do is get a group of independent scientists to repeat the early independent studies and show they were errant. They still, after all these decades, never have. Perhaps that's why TM is NOT taught in Medical Centers in the US. It's just not that effective and way over-priced. TM, it turns out, is the worst meditation method for lowering blood pressure. That's why TM TB's are so desperate to crunch some new numbers and fabricate some new statistics. If they can, this unethical group can try to gain access to our healthcare system and our school system. Really, it's more like a Hindu version of Scientology at this point. At this point they're concentrating on low income people who can't fight back (Blacks and Native Americans) or who don't have access to independent info on TM and/or exist in second world countries that don't speak English.
[FairfieldLife] Wannabe Millionaires Worshiping Corporate Wealth and Power
American's Just Think They Are Conservative It's a conversation I have all to frequently. And one I had just the other day. How much do you make a year? About $35-40k. You work hard for your money? Hell yeah, I'm in the landscaping business. But my taxes are too high. The government takes too much of my money to pay for welfare and gives it to immigrants. Who are your best customers? Mostly people who live in Westlake and Tarrytown. (The wealthy areas of Austin.~spk) Do you have a retirement plan? Social Security but that needs to be privatized so I can get better returns. Just look at the markets! I had a 401(k) but it got creamed after I got laid off. And you're business has a good health care plan? No, I'm self-employed. But I'm going to get a health care plan soon. I don't want socialized medicine. I don't want to wait in line to see a doctor. There's more, lots more. But this snippet of the conversation is a good jumping off point. I often wonder why the irony of this guy's life is lost on him. Here is a guy who slaves away for the richest people in town and thinks he pays too much in taxes. Never mind the folks he works for get tax breaks that equal or exceed his annual income. Never mind that they probably have excellent health care plans, visit the best doctors. Never mind that the stock in his 401(k) got creamed after the people he works for took all their money out of the market, right? And never mind that the one program he is relying on now is in essence socialism. They guy is living off the scraps the wealthy toss him. He has a college education, but doesn't use it. So, where does his conservatism come from? Here in Texas I'm pretty convinced that the lower middle classes are so conservative due to patriot porn. We've had at least 40 years of it. And it shows. Guys like this are going to root for the party that cater to the prevailing myths of the day. And those myths can be boiled down into one simple line, really: America is the greatest country in the world. That hoary chestnut leaves zero room for improvement. Hence, the prevalence of conservatism in these parts. It's also the reason why Ian Welsh is right: http://www.ianwelsh.net/one-more-time-reality-is-liberal-and-rewards-li\ beral-policy/ More to the point, if Obama does not do effective policy, which is to say liberal policy, because reality is much closer to how liberals describe it than how conservatives describe it, his policies will be ineffective. No one is going to care whether he followed moderate, conservative or liberal policies if they're unemployed or poorer than they were when he took office. Conversely, if he followed actual liberal policies, and they worked, and everyone was prosperous, he'd get reelected. If you enact policies that improve people's lives, as opposed to those that just cater to their innate prejudices, you show them, prove to them that liberal policies will make their life better. But that requires leadership, not golden-throated rhetoric. Something I don't expect to see anytime soon. Sean Paul Kelley http://agonist.org/user/sean_paul http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20091105/americans_just_think_they_a\ re_conservative
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual vs Spiritism
Probably within the Dome attending community, if people are hearing voices and it is a problem, then they usually get rooted out with/for mental disturbance. Administratively referred to mental health people otherwise. That's the way you'd see it on the ground here in FF. -D That of course is the movement, they would have to handle it that way administratively or they'd get haunted by legal reprisal. So they stay to the `mental health'administrative aspect of a practical necessity. However, on a practical level amongst a practicing and spiritual meditating community, when some folks do get in to astral troubles of too much spiritism, there is local folklore advice that runs towards the adept folks. Some places for those afflicted to go for help of a spiritual nature again bad spiritism: http://www.timeportalpubs.com/ http://youdeservetobeclear.com/index.htm 'safety first' practical home remedy advice does gets e-mailed around the FF transcendental meditating community like this below. In addition to the SBS Guru Dev quote and some guiding scriptural reference further back in this thread, for perspective about folks afflicted with negative energies or overly afficted spiritists this is one that gets shared, paste THE TOWER OF LIGHT MEDITATION Yes, and we would like to walk you through a meditation called The Tower of Light. This is one of the most delicious, and brief, meditations you can do to charge up your energy in the morning and to put a fully protective shield around yourself. Are you all willing to learn this? [All assent.] Good, and if you would, please, stand. Is there anyone here who's not particularly visual? It's more kinesthetic. [One person affirmed that she's more kinesthetic.] Okay. It's primarily visual, but you will probably be able to feel even more interesting things than the others. Okay. Now please take some big, deep in-breaths as is comfortable for you. Don't force it. Make the out-breath go all the way out; the in-breath, all the way in. Let your arms dangle comfortably at your sides. We would like you to visualize a beautiful, blue light surrounding your body and permeating your body, so that it's about 9 inches out-in front and behind and all around-and about 16 inches above your head and about 16 inches below your feet. You'll find out the reason for this in a moment. Feeling it is important too. One kind of channeling is also clairsentience--clear sensing, and so try to feel that blue light and the frequency of that. It's not as dark as indigo. It will be your own particular frequency that you like and that will come to you naturally. Are you all surrounded by that ellipsoid of blue light? Good. Now, about 16 inches above your head, within that blue but not touching your crown, is a beautiful globe of brilliant white light that is like burning magnesium. Are you able to visualize this there? Now feel showering down out of that globe of white light (which happens to be your Higher Self) that globe, showering little specks of that burning magnesium all down into the center of this ellipsoid. Are some of you feeling that as well as seeing it? Good. Now, out of that same white, burning-magnesium-type, light, beautiful silvery sparkles are showering down until they fill with those white snowflake-type particles the entire inside, so that only a blue outline surrounds that ellipsoid. Tell us when that is happening for you. That should be feeling pretty good right now. This is the power of Light. Know that this is protection. Know that this connects you directly with your Higher Self--and fills you and rejuvenates you with life force and, again, through a bi-directional communication with your Higher Self. Enjoy that for another moment. Then just let that fade from your vision and experience, knowing that it has not faded in reality. When you can tear yourself away, please be seated again. Good, and we suggest you do this in the morning--if you remember: especially in the morning--and, if you wish, at night right before you go to sleep, surround yourself with this beautiful, exquisite energy. It's one of the most powerful protections you can do. [End of meditation.] AT LIGHTHOUSE BOOKSTORE IN SUPERIOR, CO (4/13/07)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Stupak Amendment may be stripped from House Bill
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rf...@... wrote: From an anti-choice website: http://www.lifenews.com/nat5632.html Democrats Won't Commit to Keeping Stupak Amendment to Stop Abortion Funding Open Left indicates that President Barack Obama may have given his personal assurance to strip the Stupak amendment from the bill down the road. To my knowledge, no pro-choice Democrats have threatened to vote against the bill as a result of this, the blog notes. Apparently, this is because of a rumor going around Congress that President Obama promised Henry Waxman that he will 'personally' work to remove the language in conference. I never read the Orange Cheeto, the cesspool of sexist piggery, but pronin2's diary Stupak May be in Sen Bill, DeGette to Lead Fight for Choice! is an excellent diary that explains why the Stupak's amendment will be in the Senate bill. I find it interesting that pronin2 writes her diary on DKos using pronin2 but she uses texan4hillary on Taylor Marsh's blog. I suspect if she posted under her preferred name, texan4hillary, the Cheeto boyz would savage her diary and not take her seriously. DKos has a much bigger readership than Taylor. The comments on DKos are excellent. I'm providing links to DKos as well as Taylor Marsh: DKos http://tinyurl.com/yebg9dk or Stupak May be in Sen Bill, DeGette to Lead Fight for Choice! by pronin2 Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 10:08:19 PM PST There is a very good reason why we needed the House to produce the strongest bill possible. A Medicare PO. No further compromises. Many thought the great battle would be over the public option in the Senate. It now appears it will be the abortion funding issue. Rep DeGette, Deputy Whip of the House and Chair of the Pro Choice Caucus tonight tells the WaPo she has growing numbers of members ready to say NO to the final bill if the Stupak provision remains. DeGette she has already 40- enough to nix the final bill if needed. Anti Choice groups hail the Stupak win- the greatest blow to choice seen in a generation in America. Women who currently can receive abortion services via their private insurance plans will find, if Stupak passes, their ability to choose gone. * pronin2's diary :: :: * All plans would be forbidden to cover abortions deemed elective. As PP head Richards says this is a de facto ban on a woman's right to choose. Rep DeGette will be the leader of pro choice forces on the Hill to get Stupak stripped from the conf bill. Oh and to those who thought at least our ever so wondrous Senate wouldn't have in its bill the Stupak amendment you are wrong. Sens. Casey and Nelson vow to put Stupak in the Sen version. Reid is still drafting his bill. My fear is he will work this in to avoid a floor fight. Nelson promises to not only attack choice, but go after the anti trust provisions in the House bill. He is telling Reid he won't vote for the bill pretty much, but anti trust in the Sen bill would lead to a NO vote. Reid is indicating according to NYT that he will drop this provision to suite Nelson. If he is so willing to drop a key part of the bill like that want to bet Reid will adopt Stupak! We have a huge fight ahead of us. What started as a battle to cover all Americans is becoming one to ensure women have the right to choose- the right over their bodies. Let's support Rep De Gette in her fight leading the 190 member Pro Choice Caucus in killing this outlandish de facto ban on abortion in America. Call the Hill and tell her your thanks and support. She will need it! WaPo: ...The House passed its version of health-care legislation Saturday night by a vote of 220 to 215 after the approval of an amendment that would sharply restrict the availability of coverage for abortions, which many insurance plans now offer. The amendment goes beyond long-standing prohibitions against public funding for abortions, limiting abortion coverage even for women paying for it without government subsidies. Although House liberals voted for the bill with the amendment to keep the process moving forward, Rep. Diana DeGette (Colo.) said she has collected more than 40 signatures from House Democrats vowing to oppose any final bill that includes the amendment -- enough to block passage. There's going to be a firestorm here, DeGette said. Women are going to realize that a Democratic-controlled House has passed legislation that would prohibit women paying for abortions with their own funds. . . . We're not going to let this into law. After a compromise foundered, the amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) emerged as the leading alternative, Under that language, abortion coverage would be unavailable not only to working-class women buying coverage with government subsidies, but probably also to women buying coverage on the new marketplace without federal assistance. The amendment
[FairfieldLife] Re: Will Religious Fundamentalism Implode?
John wrote: Are you a fundamentalist? LOL- you got kicked out of the ashram! To personally single out; insult and mock others who do not hold your views is an example of 'spiritual growth' in TM? You, *ALL* of you who have supported this, express your *lack* of spiritual 'results' with TM. How obvious it is, where you're coming from. Guru Dev would kick you out of his ashram... From: John Manning Subject: Re: Super Petrus Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental Date: August 6, 2002
[FairfieldLife] Krugman: G.O.P. has been taken over by the people it used to exploit
Paranoia Strikes Deep by Paul Krugman Back in 1964 the historian Richard Hofstadter published an essay titled, The Paranoid Style in American Politics, which reads as if it were based on today's headlines: Americans on the far right, he wrote, feel that America has been largely taken away from them and their kind, though they are determined to try to repossess it and to prevent the final destructive act of subversion. - - Last Thursday there was a rally outside the U.S. Capitol to protest pending health care legislation, featuring the kinds of things we've grown accustomed to, including large signs showing piles of bodies at Dachau with the caption National Socialist Healthcare. It was grotesque and it was also ominous. For what we may be seeing is America starting to be Californiafied. The key thing to understand about that rally is that it wasn't a fringe event. It was sponsored by the House Republican leadership in fact, it was officially billed as a G.O.P.press conference. Senior lawmakers were in attendance, and apparently had no problem with the tone of the proceedings. True, Eric Cantor, the second-ranking House Republican, offered some mild criticism after the fact. But the operative word is mild. The signs were inappropriate, said his spokesman, and the use of Hitler comparisons by such people as Rush Limbaugh, said Mr. Cantor, conjures up images that frankly are not, I think, very helpful. What all this shows is that the G.O.P. has been taken over by the people it used to exploit. The state of mind visible at recent right-wing demonstrations is nothing new. Back in 1964 the historian Richard Hofstadter published an essay titled, The Paranoid Style in American Politics, which reads as if it were based on today's headlines: Americans on the far right, he wrote, feel that America has been largely taken away from them and their kind, though they are determined to try to repossess it and to prevent the final destructive act of subversion. Sound familiar? But while the paranoid style isn't new, its role within the G.O.P. is. When Hofstadter wrote, the right wing felt dispossessed because it was rejected by both major parties. That changed with the rise of Ronald Reagan: Republican politicians began to win elections in part by catering to the passions of the angry right. Until recently, however, that catering mostly took the form of empty symbolism. Once elections were won, the issues that fired up the base almost always took a back seat to the economic concerns of the elite. Thus in 2004 George W. Bush ran on antiterrorism and values, only to announce, as soon as the election was behind him, that his first priority was changing Social Security. But something snapped last year. Conservatives had long believed that history was on their side, so the G.O.P. establishment could, in effect, urge hard-right activists to wait just a little longer: once the party consolidated its hold on power, they'd get what they wanted. After the Democratic sweep, however, extremists could no longer be fobbed off with promises of future glory. Furthermore, the loss of both Congress and the White House left a power vacuum in a party accustomed to top-down management. At this point Newt Gingrich is what passes for a sober, reasonable elder statesman of the G.O.P. And he has no authority: Republican voters ignored his call to support a relatively moderate, electable candidate in New York's special Congressional election. Real power in the party rests, instead, with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin (who at this point is more a media figure than a conventional politician). Because these people aren't interested in actually governing, they feed the base's frenzy instead of trying to curb or channel it. So all the old restraints are gone. In the short run, this may help Democrats, as it did in that New York race. But maybe not: elections aren't necessarily won by the candidate with the most rational argument. They're often determined, instead, by events and economic conditions. In fact, the party of Limbaugh and Beck could well make major gains in the midterm elections. The Obama administration's job-creation efforts have fallen short, so that unemployment is likely to stay disastrously high through next year and beyond. The banker-friendly bailout of Wall Street has angered voters, and might even let Republicans claim the mantle of economic populism. Conservatives may not have better ideas, but voters might support them out of sheer frustration. And if Tea Party Republicans do win big next year, what has already happened in California could happen at the national level. In California, the G.O.P. has essentially shrunk down to a rump party with no interest in actually governing but that rump
[FairfieldLife] Word fun: compersion
This was a new word for me. It seems to have arisen in the polyamory community, where it is defined as The feeling of joy associated with seeing a loved one love another; contrasted with jealousy. Me, given my bent as a religious sociologist, I find it a more interesting term when applied to religions and spiritual traditions and spiritual teachers -- in other words, in settings in which the phenomenon of non-jealousy is probably even more rare than in romantic relationships. Quick, off the top of your head, name three spir- itual traditions in which the teachers or your fellow students would feel good about you finding fulfillment or benefit in something that doesn't come *from* that tradition. I can do this, because I've experienced such traditions. In them, the teachers not only did not discourage their students from seeing other teachers or reading books or taking courses from other traditions, they encouraged them to do so. In those traditions, the teachers actually walked the walk of compersion, in that when one of their students began to visibly benefit from something they had learned elsewhere, they commented on it positively and encouraged the students to continue doing something that was obviously working for them. Compare and contrast to the jealousy approach, in which straying to other traditions and teach- ings is characterized as cheating, in pretty much the same way that it would be in jealously monog- amous romantic relationships. Anyone who has paid his or her dues in the TM organization has seen the jealous approach, and in spades. You pretty much know that your marriage to the TMO is over if you get caught cheating on Maharishi with another teacher. At the same time, look at the number of posters to this forum alone who have talked about the *benefits* that they gained from studying or practicing something they learned from a different tradition than TM's. Compersion. An interesting concept. And one missing from many if not most spiritual traditions throughout history. Could this possibly have something to do with the rarity of enlightenment in those traditions?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual vs Spiritism
#137460 Edg --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, dhamiltony2k5 dhamiltony...@... wrote: Probably within the Dome attending community, if people are hearing voices and it is a problem, then they usually get rooted out with/for mental disturbance. Administratively referred to mental health people otherwise. That's the way you'd see it on the ground here in FF. -D That of course is the movement, they would have to handle it that way administratively or they'd get haunted by legal reprisal. So they stay to the `mental health'administrative aspect of a practical necessity. However, on a practical level amongst a practicing and spiritual meditating community, when some folks do get in to astral troubles of too much spiritism, there is local folklore advice that runs towards the adept folks. Some places for those afflicted to go for help of a spiritual nature again bad spiritism: http://www.timeportalpubs.com/ http://youdeservetobeclear.com/index.htm 'safety first' practical home remedy advice does gets e-mailed around the FF transcendental meditating community like this below. In addition to the SBS Guru Dev quote and some guiding scriptural reference further back in this thread, for perspective about folks afflicted with negative energies or overly afficted spiritists this is one that gets shared, paste THE TOWER OF LIGHT MEDITATION Yes, and we would like to walk you through a meditation called The Tower of Light. This is one of the most delicious, and brief, meditations you can do to charge up your energy in the morning and to put a fully protective shield around yourself. Are you all willing to learn this? [All assent.] Good, and if you would, please, stand. Is there anyone here who's not particularly visual? It's more kinesthetic. [One person affirmed that she's more kinesthetic.] Okay. It's primarily visual, but you will probably be able to feel even more interesting things than the others. Okay. Now please take some big, deep in-breaths as is comfortable for you. Don't force it. Make the out-breath go all the way out; the in-breath, all the way in. Let your arms dangle comfortably at your sides. We would like you to visualize a beautiful, blue light surrounding your body and permeating your body, so that it's about 9 inches out-in front and behind and all around-and about 16 inches above your head and about 16 inches below your feet. You'll find out the reason for this in a moment. Feeling it is important too. One kind of channeling is also clairsentience--clear sensing, and so try to feel that blue light and the frequency of that. It's not as dark as indigo. It will be your own particular frequency that you like and that will come to you naturally. Are you all surrounded by that ellipsoid of blue light? Good. Now, about 16 inches above your head, within that blue but not touching your crown, is a beautiful globe of brilliant white light that is like burning magnesium. Are you able to visualize this there? Now feel showering down out of that globe of white light (which happens to be your Higher Self) that globe, showering little specks of that burning magnesium all down into the center of this ellipsoid. Are some of you feeling that as well as seeing it? Good. Now, out of that same white, burning-magnesium-type, light, beautiful silvery sparkles are showering down until they fill with those white snowflake-type particles the entire inside, so that only a blue outline surrounds that ellipsoid. Tell us when that is happening for you. That should be feeling pretty good right now. This is the power of Light. Know that this is protection. Know that this connects you directly with your Higher Self--and fills you and rejuvenates you with life force and, again, through a bi-directional communication with your Higher Self. Enjoy that for another moment. Then just let that fade from your vision and experience, knowing that it has not faded in reality. When you can tear yourself away, please be seated again. Good, and we suggest you do this in the morning--if you remember: especially in the morning--and, if you wish, at night right before you go to sleep, surround yourself with this beautiful, exquisite energy. It's one of the most powerful protections you can do. [End of meditation.] AT LIGHTHOUSE BOOKSTORE IN SUPERIOR, CO (4/13/07)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Will Religious Fundamentalism Implode?
Are you a fundamentalist? No are you? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rf...@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: You are a one trick poney Are you a fundamentalist? What's a poney? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rflex@ wrote: Why fundamentalism will fail A seemingly unstoppable force is being undone from the inside By Harvey Cox http://search.boston.com/local/Search.do?s.sm.query=Harvey+Coxcamp=loc\ alsearch:on:byline:art The very nature of human religiousness is changing in a way inimical to fundamentalist thought. The most rapidly growing spiritual groups today focus not on someone else's authority, but on a direct encounter with the divine. Whatever else it may mean that so many people call themselves spiritual but not religious, it suggests they still yearn for contact with the sacred, but are suspicious of the scaffolding, the doctrines, and hierarchies through which it has often been conveyed. Excerpts: IN 1910, A COHORT of ultra-conservative American Protestants drew up a list of non-negotiable beliefs they insisted any genuine Christian must subscribe to. They published these fundamentals in a series of widely distributed pamphlets over the next five years. Their catalog featured doctrines such as the virgin birth, the physical resurrection of Christ, and his imminent second coming. The cornerstone, though, was a belief in the literal inerrancy of every syllable of the Bible, including in matters of geology, paleontology, and secular history. They called these beliefs fundamentals, and proudly styled themselves fundamentalists - true believers who feared that liberal movements like the social gospel and openness to other faiths were eroding the foundation of their religion... As the 20th century ended and a new one began, fundamentalism has taken on more formidable shapes, both politically and religiously. Though most of its adherents work through spiritual and educational channels, the small minority that turn to violence have caught the media's attention. If some seem ready to die for faith, others are ready to kill for it, gunning down abortion doctors in church, hijacking planes, and exploding bombs at weddings. For plenty of thoughtful people, fundamentalism has come to represent the most dangerous threat to open societies since the fall of communism. However, the truth is that for all its apparent strength, the fundamentalist sun is setting on all horizons. Throughout the Muslim world growing numbers of people are becoming impatient with violent groups that, in the name of Allah, seem capable of killing but incapable of producing jobs, food, or health care. Observers on the ground report that popular support for the jihadist wing of the Taliban is falling off as it fails to address the real life problems that afflict people in Afghanistan. (The other parts of the Taliban are inspired less by fundamentalism than by tribal loyalties and a traditional aversion to foreigners.) Al Qaeda faces a similar dismal prospect. Dr. Audrey Kurth Cronin, a professor at the National War College in Washington and author of a new book, How Terrorism Ends, says, I think Al Qaeda is in the process of imploding. That is not necessarily the end. But the trends are in a good direction. In Iran, the fact that the clerics have resorted to beating and imprisoning their critics reveals the shakiness of their hold. IN AMERICA, the religious right, which started as a crusade, is becoming a niche. Randall Terry's Operation Rescue, which stages demonstrations at abortion clinics, has just announced that it is nearly bankrupt. The shrillest TV evangelists are losing audiences to more moderate evangelical-lite preachers. Fundamentalist congregations are ceding ground to Pentecostals and mega-churches, which embrace a wider social agenda and teach the spiritual authority - not the literal inerrancy - of the Bible. Surveys have shown that the rapid growth of evangelical Protestantism in Latin America has not produced a replication of the American religious right, but rather a moderate leftward tilt. A majority of Brazilian evangelicals, for example, voted for President Lula, who ran as a Workers Party candidate. In South Korea, Christianity has grown faster than anywhere in the world and now accounts for over a third of the population. But its theology tends toward moderate evangelicalism with an ecumenical bent. The fading of fundamentalism marks a decisive change in global society. It has already freed Christians, Muslims, and Jews
[FairfieldLife] Thom Hartmann on the Health Care Bill
Since his name was brought up by some posters here and I listen to him daily, this morning he is saying he doesn't think this bill is very good. It's a windfall for the for profit insurance companies. He also doesn't like the abortion amendment. I think it isn't a very good bill either. Any idea that people should be forced to buy insurance especially if they can't afford it is bad. Now I haven't had a chance to wade through the bill. Often when you do that you find that there are some misconceptions being spread by the public. I think you should have health care without paying an extra cent. Just shut down those worthless global police actions and bring the troops home and we'll have plenty of money for health care.
[FairfieldLife] A tasty little movie
Last night I watched Food, Inc. which is about the corporatizing of our food. There is much about Iowa and corn there. It is a wonder we aren't all developing corn allergies. Plus a lot about e coli, salmonella and their sources. Most of our food is produced by four mega corporations, Tyson being the largest (Bill Clinton's main supporter in the 1990 elections). It is disgusting to see what these greedy SOBs have done. And of course there is a section on Monsanto probably the most fascist company in the world and their seed patents and how they run farmers who won't use their seeds out of business. It truly is Kali Yuga http://www.foodincmovie.com/
Re: [FairfieldLife] TM and Blood Pressure
Vaj wrote: On Nov 8, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: http://www.box.net/shared/static/eycqy25sh2.jpg SBP is Systolic Blood Pressure. Depends on the mantra used doesn't it? Some will be stimulating and actually raise the blood pressure while others lower it. Possibly, anyone predisposed to high pitta could get overheated and mantra-yoga could raise their BP. But in general TM mantras seem lightly cooling (i.e. pitta pacifying) for most. SO you get some slight, very minimal benefit is some people when poor controls ar eused. I bet the studies don't discriminate between which TM mantras used and whether they were first or advanced techniques. That would also make a difference. Many TM mantras are considered agni mantras and therefore are stimulating. It is unusual to give the general public agni mantras because they have a stimulating effects. Remember that TM claims to increase energy. Generally calming soothes and refreshes the sympathetic nervous system. Sometimes the sympathetic system needs a kick in the butt so stimulating mantras can be good for that. ;-)
[FairfieldLife] The fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago today
Request from audiance: I want the Berlin Wall to come down and Germany to become unified Your wish has been granted - Maharishi, Seelisberg, Guru Purnimah 1982 (Not a direct quote but how I remembered His words, this is +- 98 % correct) Now that communism is gone the next to go is capitalism - Maharishi, Germany, 1989 A new Wall has been erected by the rascist Israelis, it will also have to come down. Nothing is impossible ! All glory to Maharishi and the Masters of Wisdom ! Jai Guru Dev
[FairfieldLife] Re: Forward, Into The Past
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB no_re...@... wrote: snip I was commenting yesterday on another forum how pleasant it was there to log on and find zero stalkers. Try to imagine what a change that is for me. *Sixteen years*, and I know that no matter what I do, every week a sizable portion of the posts on FFL will be spewing hatred at me. Oy. Poor innocent Barry, himself the very model of sweetness, light, compassion, and positive vibes, who loves everybody and would never descend to attacking them, constantly victimized by the hatred of evil feminists! Talk about *whining*. Note that Barry views criticism of him and his behavior as hatred. But of course it isn't hatred when he attacks the folks he doesn't like. Yes, we criticize him no matter what he does. That's because he can't seem to make himself do the right thing. What I don't understand is how the spewers live with the sense of *importance* that their obsession projects onto me. One would think that if their goal was to minimize me and my ideas they would obsess on me *less*. Go figure. Our criticisms (and not just ours by any means) of Barry's many and various faults have already *reduced* him significantly. What we're doing is working very nicely indeed. We *want* him to be nervously looking over his shoulder whenever he pens one of his poisonous diatribes, knowing he's going to be called on the carpet for it. He's become fearful of confronting us directly; that has limited the number of his attacks. But if he wants to no longer be a target himself, he knows what he has to do. If he feels that would amount to being minimized, he needs to think about how that reflects on how he chooses to participate on this forum: inflating his own self-image and self-importance by putting other people down. It isn't his ideas (I use the term loosely) that we criticize, of course. It's his incredibly arrogant behavior and attitude, his propensity to viciously and gratuitously attack others for the ideas *they* hold, to fatuously exalt his perceived superiority while projecting his own flaws onto those he puts down, and especially his compulsion to lie about them. That's what needs to be minimized, but clearly it ain't gonna happen if Barry is left to spew his egotism and rage and unhappiness unhindered. If he can't control himself, he'll have to *be controlled*.
[FairfieldLife] Re: NIH provides $ 1 million for new study
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jst...@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog raunchydog@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajradhatu@ wrote: snip The TMO is now publishing research in UFO journals. No, it isn't. Vaj is lying. Geez, Judy you caught Vaj in three whopper in a row. Jackpot! I *do* not understand the liar's mentality, especially that of the casual, reflexive liars like Vaj and Barry. snip Speaking of Vaj's endless stream of casual lies, I came across one by accident the other day when I was looking through the archives for something else. It's in his post #226539 of August 4, 2009: That they have members of the TM Org scouring the web has been known for some time. For example, I've heard a number of people comment that TM org plants and volunteers have for a long time taken control of all Wikipedia articles related to TM or the Maharishi. While there are TMers who work on editing the TM- related Wikipedia articles, and it's certainly not impossible they've been assigned to do so by the TMO, it's also just as likely they're doing so on their own hook. But as I pointed out at the time, that they've taken control of the editing process is a flat-out lie. Anybody can check that for themselves; the editing process for every Wikipedia article takes place in the Discussion and Talk sections, which you can access at the top of the article page. All edits are recorded in the History section, likewise available at the top of the page. What you'll find (as I noted in my original response to Vaj's post) is extensive and largely cordial *interaction* among TMers, neutral parties (sometimes including Wikipedia editorial administrators), and TM critics as they work on hammering out a consensus about an article. It's quite impossible for anyone to take control of the process; it simply wouldn't be permitted. This is what I had missed the first time around, the last sentence of the paragraph quoted above: One is even alleged to be a certain editor. At the time, I thought Vaj meant that one of the Wikipedia editorial administrators was alleged to be a TMer. I doubt that's the case, but I have no knowledge either way, so I didn't comment specifically. Now I realize I had misread what he was saying. Vaj was suggesting that *I*--a certain editor--was one of the people who had taken control of the Wikipedia TM-related articles. In fact, the only person who alleges that is Vaj, and he has *zero* basis for saying so. His allegation is made up out of whole cloth solely for the purpose of sliming me. I have never participated in editing a TM-related Wikipedia article (or any other Wikipedia article, for that matter, with the exception of a very minor bit of copy editing some years ago that I did on impulse; I don't even remember what that article was about, but it wasn't anything TM-related). So just one more reflexive, casual, gratuitous lie from Vaj to add to the accumulating steaming pile.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog wrote: These are the same jackasses plus 64 Democrats who threw women under the bus voting for the Stupid Stupak amendment, which denies women access to abortion. National Public Radio reported this morning that removing abortion from the bill was the tradeoff required to get the support of American Catholic bishops, who've been calling for universal healthcare for a long time; decades, I believe.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: Vaj wrote: On Nov 8, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: http://www.box.net/shared/static/eycqy25sh2.jpg SBP is Systolic Blood Pressure. Depends on the mantra used doesn't it? Some will be stimulating and actually raise the blood pressure while others lower it. Possibly, anyone predisposed to high pitta could get overheated and mantra-yoga could raise their BP. But in general TM mantras seem lightly cooling (i.e. pitta pacifying) for most. SO you get some slight, very minimal benefit is some people when poor controls ar eused. I bet the studies don't discriminate between which TM mantras used and whether they were first or advanced techniques. That would also make a difference. Many TM mantras are considered agni mantras and therefore are stimulating. It is unusual to give the general public agni mantras because they have a stimulating effects. Remember that TM claims to increase energy. Agni? Isn't that the digestive fire in AyurVeda? So the TM mantras stimulate appetite or something? Seems a bit unlikely to me. Why would you think that? I can't say that's my experience at any rate. Then again I am an AV low-life (but thinking I should learn more). Vaj claims the TM mantras are pitta pacifying. Vaj claims a lot of things. But am I right in thinking that you have said that folks using the TM mantras have over-stimulated pitta (especially on FFL)? Having said that, my recall isn't all it should be, and I can't get any sense out of FFL search. Leaving all that aside, if (just for the sake of argument) one DID achieve restful alertness during TM, ain't it reasonable to assume that that would be like a sort of tridosha balancing effect? It certainly couldn't be Vata, could it. If not tridosha, then Kapha I would guess? But my money's on balancing all the same. BTW - where are you getting your dosha/mantra correlations from? [snip]
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, jpgillam jpgil...@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog wrote: These are the same jackasses plus 64 Democrats who threw women under the bus voting for the Stupid Stupak amendment, which denies women access to abortion. National Public Radio reported this morning that removing abortion from the bill was the tradeoff required to get the support of American Catholic bishops, who've been calling for universal healthcare for a long time; decades, I believe. Well, that's just dandy. Universal healthcare has never been ON the table, which means Stupid Stupak bargained away women's reproductive rights for the hell of it. In fact Stupak did it for bipartisan support, not the bishops. Big deal they got ONE friggen' Republican to vote for the House Bill, Joe Cao, who Obama begged to vote against his party at the eleventh hour.
Re: [FairfieldLife] TM and Blood Pressure
On Nov 9, 2009, at 12:38 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: On Nov 8, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: http://www.box.net/shared/static/eycqy25sh2.jpg SBP is Systolic Blood Pressure. Depends on the mantra used doesn't it? Some will be stimulating and actually raise the blood pressure while others lower it. Possibly, anyone predisposed to high pitta could get overheated and mantra-yoga could raise their BP. But in general TM mantras seem lightly cooling (i.e. pitta pacifying) for most. SO you get some slight, very minimal benefit is some people when poor controls ar eused. I bet the studies don't discriminate between which TM mantras used and whether they were first or advanced techniques. That would also make a difference. Many TM mantras are considered agni mantras and therefore are stimulating. It is unusual to give the general public agni mantras because they have a stimulating effects. Remember that TM claims to increase energy. That certainly would explain why TM performs so poorly on lowering BP compared to all other meditation forms. TMers also have long been observed to store hot energy in the head or chest: the wrong place to store it. It certainly isn't helpful for overall health. But then TMers are not taught how to yogicly handle the energy their meditation creates at all.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, jpgillam jpgil...@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog wrote: These are the same jackasses plus 64 Democrats who threw women under the bus voting for the Stupid Stupak amendment, which denies women access to abortion. National Public Radio reported this morning that removing abortion from the bill was the tradeoff required to get the support of American Catholic bishops, who've been calling for universal healthcare for a long time; decades, I believe. Furthermore, abortion was never IN the House bill. In 1976 the Hyde Amendment barred the use of federal funds to pay for abortions through funds allocated by the annual appropriations bill for Health and Human Services. That should have been sufficient for the anti-women's health contingent in Congress, but n... What Stupid Stupak did was make extra sure that abortion wouldn't be covered. Even by private plans!
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
PaliGap wrote: Agni? Isn't that the digestive fire in AyurVeda? So the TM mantras stimulate appetite or something? Seems a bit unlikely to me. Why would you think that? I can't say that's my experience at any rate. Then again I am an AV low-life (but thinking I should learn more). Thank Maharishi for leaving TM'ers in the dark when it comes to the deeper yoga of mantras. You'll have to go outside TM to find out how mantras work and their specific effects. You are correct agni is digestive fire but there are also agni mantras which are fiery and stimulating. Vaj claims the TM mantras are pitta pacifying. Vaj claims a lot of things. But am I right in thinking that you have said that folks using the TM mantras have over-stimulated pitta (especially on FFL)? Having said that, my recall isn't all it should be, and I can't get any sense out of FFL search. A certain TM will pacify pitta but not all of them. ;-) Leaving all that aside, if (just for the sake of argument) one DID achieve restful alertness during TM, ain't it reasonable to assume that that would be like a sort of tridosha balancing effect? It certainly couldn't be Vata, could it. If not tridosha, then Kapha I would guess? But my money's on balancing all the same. BTW - where are you getting your dosha/mantra correlations from? Most commonly used bij mantras for ayurveda are hoom for kapha, shring for pitta and ram for vata. You'll find these mentioned in any number of books as well as online.
Re: [FairfieldLife] TM and Blood Pressure
Vaj wrote: On Nov 9, 2009, at 12:38 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: On Nov 8, 2009, at 2:52 PM, Bhairitu wrote: Vaj wrote: Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: http://www.box.net/shared/static/eycqy25sh2.jpg SBP is Systolic Blood Pressure. Depends on the mantra used doesn't it? Some will be stimulating and actually raise the blood pressure while others lower it. Possibly, anyone predisposed to high pitta could get overheated and mantra-yoga could raise their BP. But in general TM mantras seem lightly cooling (i.e. pitta pacifying) for most. SO you get some slight, very minimal benefit is some people when poor controls ar eused. I bet the studies don't discriminate between which TM mantras used and whether they were first or advanced techniques. That would also make a difference. Many TM mantras are considered agni mantras and therefore are stimulating. It is unusual to give the general public agni mantras because they have a stimulating effects. Remember that TM claims to increase energy. That certainly would explain why TM performs so poorly on lowering BP compared to all other meditation forms. TMers also have long been observed to store hot energy in the head or chest: the wrong place to store it. It certainly isn't helpful for overall health. But then TMers are not taught how to yogicly handle the energy their meditation creates at all. I think that is also why so people on rounding courses had problems with roughness and SLEEP! I had problems sleeping and being lactose intolerant couldn't do the warm milk thang. A capsule of calcium, magnesium and zinc would have also done the trick plus keeping some jatamansi or valerian root on hand.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Thom Hartmann on the Health Care Bill
Bhairitu wrote: Since his name was brought up by some posters here and I listen to him daily, this morning he is saying he doesn't think this bill is very good. It's a windfall for the for profit insurance companies. He also doesn't like the abortion amendment. I think it isn't a very good bill either. Any idea that people should be forced to buy insurance especially if they can't afford it is bad. Now I haven't had a chance to wade through the bill. Often when you do that you find that there are some misconceptions being spread by the public. I think you should have health care without paying an extra cent. Just shut down those worthless global police actions and bring the troops home and we'll have plenty of money for health care. Ed Schultz also had Dennis Kucinich on his show and he voted against the bill because it was a $70 billion giveaway to the insurance companies.Let's keep lobbying for what we want. We seem to have a bunch wussy Democrats that aren't willing to do the right thing. BTW, months after the local progressive station took Thom Hartmann off in the morning I was able to listen to Thom on my morning walk using my new Android phone via his web stream. Of course MUCH clearer than the local power starved station ever was.
Re: [FairfieldLife] TM and Blood Pressure
On Nov 9, 2009, at 2:51 PM, Bhairitu wrote: I think that is also why so people on rounding courses had problems with roughness and SLEEP! I had problems sleeping and being lactose intolerant couldn't do the warm milk thang. A capsule of calcium, magnesium and zinc would have also done the trick plus keeping some jatamansi or valerian root on hand. There's been some recent discussion offlist on some of the longer rounding courses. At Mallorca, and Fiuggi there were rows of people who developed tics, weird spasmodic jerking and/or grunting. For some they never went away. Apparently some people were later diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. Mahesh just claimed they were heavy unstressers. In any event it seems pretty clear that in certain people, something as simple as TM can be quite damaging to the human nervous system, causing permanent damage and requiring anti- psychotic medication to control the heavy unstressing. As far as I am aware, no other meditation technique does this. Even the Muktananda people, who would get very specific kriyas and mudras, they would eventually resolve. I have friends who when they even think of yogic flying twitch or jerk. WTF?
[FairfieldLife] Boston schoolboy named Buddhist high priest
Boston schoolboy named Buddhist high priest To his old classmates in Boston, Jigme Wangchuk is a normal 11-year-oldschoolboy - but in India he is worshipped by thousands of Buddhists whoconsider him the reincarnation of one the faith's holiest figures. By Dean Nelson in New Delhi [Jigme Wangchuk: Boston schoolboy named Buddhist high priest ] Jigme Wangchuk: His parents have also given up their restaurant business to be near his Drukpa Sangag Choeling Monastery. Photo: EUROPICS[CEN] He has traded his American life for a monastery in the Himalayan hill townDarjeeling to fulfil his destiny as a spiritual leader and liveamong his followers throughout Bhutan, Nepal and India's Himalayan states. His parents have also given up their restaurant business to be near his DrukpaSangag Choeling Monastery. They say they discovered their son was not like other children two years agowhen he started talking about his past life. At first, they dismissed it as a childish fantasy, but began taking it seriously during atrip to a monastery in Mysore, southern India. He used to always talk of his past life but we did not take it seriously, dubbing it as a child's fantasies, said his mother Dechen. At one point she claims he stopped playing and went into a trance in whichhe recounted the story of his former life as His Holiness the SecondGalwa Lorepa lama who died in 1250 in Tibet. While in a trance he described a celebrated Buddhist monastery with a 35ftdragon on the roof. After hearing his description of the temple he had notvisited, the monks proclaimed he was the reincarnation of the 'Rinpoche' orhigh priest Galwa Lorepa, the founder of one of the four main schools ofTibetan Buddhism. Now he will spent the next ten years in virtual seclusion and only be able tocommunicate with his former school friends by email. It has been a very difficult period for us over the past two years. I have been crying for the past five months, but have, at last, come to termswith it, said his mother Dechen. When we were in New Delhi on our way to Darjeeling, I asked him whether he would like to go back to Boston. He said he has to fulfil his responsibilities to his people. But for 'His Holiness' Jigme, there's no regrets. I will miss my school days but I am happy in my new role. I like it here, he said. http://snipurl.com/t5o6t [www_telegraph_co_uk]
[FairfieldLife] Re: Thom Hartmann on the Health Care Bill
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: Bhairitu wrote: Since his name was brought up by some posters here and I listen to him daily, this morning he is saying he doesn't think this bill is very good. It's a windfall for the for profit insurance companies. He also doesn't like the abortion amendment. I think it isn't a very good bill either. Any idea that people should be forced to buy insurance especially if they can't afford it is bad. Now I haven't had a chance to wade through the bill. Often when you do that you find that there are some misconceptions being spread by the public. I think you should have health care without paying an extra cent. Just shut down those worthless global police actions and bring the troops home and we'll have plenty of money for health care. Ed Schultz also had Dennis Kucinich on his show and he voted against the bill because it was a $70 billion giveaway to the insurance companies.Let's keep lobbying for what we want. We seem to have a bunch wussy Democrats that aren't willing to do the right thing. BTW, months after the local progressive station took Thom Hartmann off in the morning I was able to listen to Thom on my morning walk using my new Android phone via his web stream. Of course MUCH clearer than the local power starved station ever was. The House healthcare bill sucks. By the time it merges with the Senate bill it's going to be suckier. Dollars to donuts the Stupid Stupak amendment stays in the bill. I am really disgusted that Obama and the Democrats are patting themselves on the back for passing a bill that sacrifices a woman's right to choose and mandates insurance without a decent public option. The public option won't go into effect until 2013 and end up serving maybe 6 million people. In other words the public option is NOT an option, plus you'll have to pay for health insurance starting NOW whether you like it or not. Obama should have twisted arms LBJ style and swung for the fences for single payer from the start of the debate. Yeah. Right. I knew that would never happened but had he the balls to do it, I'll bet we would have had a better bill than this piece of shit.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj vajradh...@... wrote: On Nov 9, 2009, at 2:51 PM, Bhairitu wrote: I think that is also why so people on rounding courses had problems with roughness and SLEEP! I had problems sleeping and being lactose intolerant couldn't do the warm milk thang. A capsule of calcium, magnesium and zinc would have also done the trick plus keeping some jatamansi or valerian root on hand. There's been some recent discussion offlist on some of the longer rounding courses. At Mallorca, and Fiuggi there were rows of people who developed tics, weird spasmodic jerking and/or grunting. For some they never went away. Apparently some people were later diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. Mahesh just claimed they were heavy unstressers. In any event it seems pretty clear that in certain people, something as simple as TM can be quite damaging to the human nervous system, causing permanent damage and requiring anti- psychotic medication to control the heavy unstressing. As far as I am aware, no other meditation technique does this. Even the Muktananda people, who would get very specific kriyas and mudras, they would eventually resolve. I have friends who when they even think of yogic flying twitch or jerk. WTF? Oh what a lot of happy horseshit. Once again Vaj treats us to a barrage of undocumented claims, just so he can say TM is dangerous. Thank you so much Mr. Concern Troll.
[FairfieldLife] Men Who Stare At Goats True Story
Men Who Stare At Goats - The True Story Behind The Film By Dick Allgire 11-8-9 It was some thirty years ago on the big screen that we watched Darth Vader kill a subordinate with sheer force of will. Displeased with the performance of Admiral Ozzel because he brought his ships out of hyperspace too soon, alerting the Rebels to their presence, Darth Vader held up his hand and pinched the air. Moviegoers will recall the hapless admiral choking for air and falling over dead. Darth Vader killed the admiral with a look, employing some unseen force of Mind. It was pure science fiction. Or was it? At about this same time, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier was felling goats in much the same manner. Now this story is coming to the big screen. The Men Who Stare At Goats is a soon to be released major motion picture starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and Ewan McGregor. It is a lighthearted look at how the U.S. Army explored paranormal powers, new age parapsychology and psychic functioning in the late 1970's and early 80s. The film portrays all of this in a whimsical and comical tone, but the real story is deadly serious. The character portrayed by George Clooney is based on retired Special Forces Intel First Sergeant Glenn Wheaton. In real life Wheaton is a character far too complex to portray in a two-hour movie. In his Army career Wheaton was a stone cold killer, a Green Beret door-knocker as well as a remote viewer, a type of psychic spy who could readily displace his awareness to remote locations across space and time to bring back actual intelligence grade data using only his mind. He's also a boy from the Louisiana Bayou, a southern gentleman, a kind and caring teacher. The title of the upcoming movie, The Men Who Stare at Goats is based on an incident in which a Green Beret instructor killed a goat by staring at it. Glenn Wheaton witnessed the event and recounted it to author Jon Ronson, who wrote about it in his book The Crazy Rulers of the World. Glenn Wheaton sat down and talked about the goat incident recently during an interview for a documentary planned for release in conjunction with the movie The Men Who Stare at Goats. His interview will also be included in the Extras in the home DVD version of the movie. At the Special Warfare Center and School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina they had what the Green Berets called The Goat Lab. Special Forces medics were required to learn how to treat gunshot wounds, trauma cases, broken bones, and other types of battlefield injuries. It may sound cruel to members of PETA, but they shot goats and subjected them to numerous traumatic injuries, and then tried to revive and stabilize them. Soldiers also slaughtered the goats, learning so they would be able to teach people in third world countries how to butcher and dress an animal and prepare it for food. So they brought in goats from Honduras, and at least one of the goats became a victim of a Darth Vader type mental energy killing. I was there the day the first goat died, recalls Glenn Wheaton. He remembers it was in the dead of winter at Ft. Bragg. The Special Forces students had finished their usual ten to fifteen mile predawn run and headed to the woods for hand-to-hand combat training. At that time the 5th Special Forces Group hand-to-hand combat instructor was a martial arts expert named Mike Echanis. We got to the training area, Wheaton says, and there was a dagger stuck in a tree. That meant Echanis was in the Bear Pit. The Bear Pit was hole in the sandy North Carolina soil, 8 to 10 feet deep and 60 to 80 feet wide. The instructor would wait in the pit. The students couldn't see him. It wasn't that he was actually invisible, but he could blend in, using both camouflage and mental trickery, that they couldn't spot him. He was able to adapt and blend into the environment so well that those looking down into the pit just could not see him. A trainee would jump into the pit, and suddenly Echanis would come out of nowhere and be upon him, and the hand-to-hand combat would ensue. The students were certain to endure a severe beating. On this particular day, Echanis had brought a goat with him down into the pit. As the soldiers fought the goat would scamper and jump about, trying to avoid the combatants being hurled around the pit. At the completion of the class, Echanis challenged the soldiers: Where is your mind? Then the demonstration none of them would ever forget. Wheaton recalls that the instructor grabbed the goat by the horns. He dragged him to the middle of the pit, pushing a green stake to the bottom of the pit, attaching the goat to it. Then he asked us again 'Where are your minds?' Michael had recently completed a lot of training in Qigong, the force you couldn't see that moves like a train. Glenn Wheaton witnessed the incredible feat. The instructor never touched the goat. Michael focused on the goat pretty
[FairfieldLife] Cat banned from visiting Buddhist bank robber in jail
Cat banned from visiting Buddhist bank robber in jailBy Allan Hall in Berlin A Buddhist bank robber has had his request for his cat to have visiting rights to him in jail turned down by a court despite his plea that it is the reincarnation of his mother. Peter Keonig, 46, is serving five-years for armed robberies in Werl, Germany. He went to court this week demanding the right for his cat Gisela to be allowed to visit him in jail because she is my dead mum. [BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400191827073705490] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_f98opUNuVXc/SvFV2vOyJhI/LIk/wyE56dAKO\ 4g/s1600-h/buddha.jpg Buddhists believe that people come back as other animals after death. He said: I know it is mummy. She looks after me just the way she did. I need to see her like other prisoners see their wives and children. But the court turned him down. While we respect the religious freedom of individuals, the accused has not been able to furnish proof that his deceased mother has been reborn in a cat. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6495562/Cat-ban\ ned-from-visiting-Buddhist-bank-robber-in-jail.html The court did say he would be allowed to write to the cat. Therefore, the request for visiting rights for the feline is rejected. http://snipurl.com/t5olp [www_telegraph_co_uk]
[FairfieldLife] Re: Cat banned from visiting Buddhist bank robber in jail
Now *that* is a Mom who knows how to keep her son tightly in her clutches. She's got him pussy-whipped from beyond the grave. :-) Re the last two paragraphs, if the cat is able to read the letters this guy writes to it, would that constitute the proof they want? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, do.rflex do.rf...@... wrote: Cat banned from visiting Buddhist bank robber in jail By Allan Hall in Berlin A Buddhist bank robber has had his request for his cat to have visiting rights to him in jail turned down by a court despite his plea that it is the reincarnation of his mother. Peter Keonig, 46, is serving five-years for armed robberies in Werl, Germany. He went to court this week demanding the right for his cat Gisela to be allowed to visit him in jail because she is my dead mum. Buddhists believe that people come back as other animals after death. He said: I know it is mummy. She looks after me just the way she did. I need to see her like other prisoners see their wives and children. But the court turned him down. While we respect the religious freedom of individuals, the accused has not been able to furnish proof that his deceased mother has been reborn in a cat. The court did say he would be allowed to write to the cat. Therefore, the request for visiting rights for the feline is rejected.
[FairfieldLife] At Last
Can Christina Aguillera sing the blues or what? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njph0QyXcKsfeature=related
Re: [FairfieldLife] Men Who Stare At Goats True Story
It's a funny movie. Reminded me of M freaking out about the CIA trying to take over the movement or whatever the charge. It also reminded me of FFL and crew. From: Rick Archer r...@searchsummit.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, November 9, 2009 12:33:38 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Men Who Stare At Goats True Story Men Who Stare At Goats - The True Story Behind The Film By Dick Allgire 11-8-9 It was some thirty years ago on the big screen that we watched Darth Vader kill a subordinate with sheer force of will. Displeased with the performance of Admiral Ozzel because he brought his ships out of hyperspace too soon, alerting the Rebels to their presence, Darth Vader held up his hand and pinched the air. Moviegoers will recall the hapless admiral choking for air and falling over dead. Darth Vader killed the admiral with a look, employing some unseen force of Mind. It was pure science fiction. Or was it? At about this same time, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier was felling goats in much the same manner. Now this story is coming to the big screen. The Men Who Stare At Goats is a soon to be released major motion picture starring George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, and Ewan McGregor. It is a lighthearted look at how the U.S. Army explored paranormal powers, new age parapsychology and psychic functioning in the late 1970's and early 80s. The film portrays all of this in a whimsical and comical tone, but the real story is deadly serious. The character portrayed by George Clooney is based on retired Special Forces Intel First Sergeant Glenn Wheaton. In real life Wheaton is a character far too complex to portray in a two-hour movie. In his Army career Wheaton was a stone cold killer, a Green Beret door-knocker as well as a remote viewer, a type of psychic spy who could readily displace his awareness to remote locations across space and time to bring back actual intelligence grade data using only his mind. He's also a boy from the Louisiana Bayou, a southern gentleman, a kind and caring teacher. The title of the upcoming movie, The Men Who Stare at Goats is based on an incident in which a Green Beret instructor killed a goat by staring at it. Glenn Wheaton witnessed the event and recounted it to author Jon Ronson, who wrote about it in his book The Crazy Rulers of the World. Glenn Wheaton sat down and talked about the goat incident recently during an interview for a documentary planned for release in conjunction with the movie The Men Who Stare at Goats. His interview will also be included in the Extras in the home DVD version of the movie. At the Special Warfare Center and School at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina they had what the Green Berets called The Goat Lab. Special Forces medics were required to learn how to treat gunshot wounds, trauma cases, broken bones, and other types of battlefield injuries. It may sound cruel to members of PETA, but they shot goats and subjected them to numerous traumatic injuries, and then tried to revive and stabilize them. Soldiers also slaughtered the goats, learning so they would be able to teach people in third world countries how to butcher and dress an animal and prepare it for food. So they brought in goats from Honduras, and at least one of the goats became a victim of a Darth Vader type mental energy killing. I was there the day the first goat died, recalls Glenn Wheaton. He remembers it was in the dead of winter at Ft. Bragg. The Special Forces students had finished their usual ten to fifteen mile predawn run and headed to the woods for hand-to-hand combat training. At that time the 5th Special Forces Group hand-to-hand combat instructor was a martial arts expert named Mike Echanis. We got to the training area, Wheaton says, and there was a dagger stuck in a tree. That meant Echanis was in the Bear Pit. The Bear Pit was hole in the sandy North Carolina soil, 8 to 10 feet deep and 60 to 80 feet wide. The instructor would wait in the pit. The students couldn't see him. It wasn't that he was actually invisible, but he could blend in, using both camouflage and mental trickery, that they couldn't spot him. He was able to adapt and blend into the environment so well that those looking down into the pit just could not see him. A trainee would jump into the pit, and suddenly Echanis would come out of nowhere and be upon him, and the hand-to-hand combat would ensue. The students were certain to endure a severe beating. On this particular day, Echanis had brought a goat with him down into the pit. As the soldiers fought the goat would scamper and jump about, trying to avoid the combatants being hurled around the pit. At the completion of the class, Echanis challenged the soldiers: Where is your mind? Then the demonstration none of them would ever forget. Wheaton recalls that the instructor
[FairfieldLife] Re: participate in Maharishi's Global Plan
It's amazing what a make believe world can create --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, michael vedamer...@... wrote: enjoy... - Weitergeleitete Mail Von: Global Country Switzerland globalcountryswitzerl...@... An: 14 Maharishi Jyotish and Yagya Programmes globalcountryswitzerl...@... Gesendet: Sonntag, den 8. November 2009, 22:57:36 Uhr Betreff: FW: participate in Maharishi's Global Plan Dear Friends, The spiritual counterpart for your country lies in India. Each country is connected to one of the twelve jyotir lingas in India, the seat of Shiva, the eternal silence at the basis of creation. Reviving the age-old knowledge about the spiritual connection of every country with the Jyotirlingas in India and the creation of 48 Brahmananda Saraswati Nagars is Maharishi¹s greatest gift for humanity. The following website gives you more information about Maharishi¹s global plan to transform every country into a Vedic country: http://www.mgcwp.org/jyotir_ling/POWERPOINT/JYOTIRLING.htm You are cordially invited in Maharishi¹s global plan to create a Vedic society everywhere and enjoy Maharishi¹s blessings and the support of all the Laws of Nature. If you have any questions or you want to participate in this grand undertaking please contact us via globalcountryswitzerl...@... Bowing before Maharishi and the Holy Tradition of Vedic Masters we send you our best wishes for life in fulfilment. Jai Guru Dev
[FairfieldLife] Post Count
Fairfield Life Post Counter === Start Date (UTC): Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 2009 End Date (UTC): Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 2009 180 messages as of (UTC) Mon Nov 09 23:43:54 2009 27 raunchydog raunchy...@yahoo.com 26 authfriend jst...@panix.com 13 Bhairitu noozg...@sbcglobal.net 12 WillyTex willy...@yahoo.com 12 Vaj vajradh...@earthlink.net 11 nablusoss1008 no_re...@yahoogroups.com 10 do.rflex do.rf...@yahoo.com 9 TurquoiseB no_re...@yahoogroups.com 9 ShempMcGurk shempmcg...@netscape.net 8 dhamiltony2k5 dhamiltony...@yahoo.com 6 shukra69 shukr...@yahoo.ca 6 off_world_beings no_re...@yahoogroups.com 5 sgrayatlarge no_re...@yahoogroups.com 5 PaliGap compost...@yahoo.co.uk 3 Hugo richardhughes...@hotmail.com 2 cardemaister no_re...@yahoogroups.com 2 azgrey no_re...@yahoogroups.com 2 wle...@aol.com 2 Rick Archer r...@searchsummit.com 2 John jr_...@yahoo.com 2 Duveyoung no_re...@yahoogroups.com 1 m 13 meowthirt...@yahoo.com 1 jpgillam jpgil...@yahoo.com 1 Sal Sunshine salsunsh...@lisco.com 1 Mike Dixon mdixon.6...@yahoo.com 1 It's just a ride bill.hicks.all.a.r...@gmail.com 1 Alex Stanley j_alexander_stan...@yahoo.com Posters: 27 Saturday Morning 00:00 UTC Rollover Times = Daylight Saving Time (Summer): US Friday evening: PDT 5 PM - MDT 6 PM - CDT 7 PM - EDT 8 PM Europe Saturday: BST 1 AM CEST 2 AM EEST 3 AM Standard Time (Winter): US Friday evening: PST 4 PM - MST 5 PM - CST 6 PM - EST 7 PM Europe Saturday: GMT 12 AM CET 1 AM EET 2 AM For more information on Time Zones: www.worldtimezone.com
[FairfieldLife] Something for us guys to worry about?
*2007 - Chinese Year of the Chicken* *- Bird Flu Pandemic devastates parts* *of Asia ** 2008 - Chinese Year of the Horse* *- Equine Influenza decimates Australian racing ** 2009 - Chinese Year of the Pig * *- Swine Flu Pandemic kills hundreds of people around the globe ** Next year is ... 2010 * *- Chinese Year of the Cock. (**Is it too early to panic?)* -- WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
[FairfieldLife] Re: At Last
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, John jr_...@... wrote: Can Christina Aguillera sing the blues or what? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njph0QyXcKsfeature=related There's no doubt Christina sings sexy smokin' hot blues. She has amazing control of her voice. However, IMO her fancy vocalizing loses the lyrics. Her performance is more of an exercise in virtuosity than in phrase and meaning. Here's how Beyonce sang it at the Obama's inauguration for his first dance with Michelle. It was a very romantic moment for the first couple and for everyone who watched it. Beautiful. Beyonce's version was more about feeling the love than showing off her vocal skills. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/20/the-obamas-first-inaugura_n_159522.html At Last Lyrics by Etta James At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over And life is like a song Oh, yeah, at last The skies above are blue My heart was wrapped up in clovers The night I looked at you I found a dream that I could speak to A dream that I can call my own I found a thrill to rest my cheek to A thrill that I have never known Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile Oh, and then the spell was cast And here we are in heaven For you are mine At last Here's how Etta sings her signature song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVI254QGSQ4feature=related
Re: [FairfieldLife] Men Who Stare At Goats True Story
Jon Ronson, who wrote Men Who Stare at Goats is interviewed in the third hour of the Alex Jones show today: http://xml.nfowars.net/Alex.rss Mike Dixon wrote: It's a funny movie. Reminded me of M freaking out about the CIA trying to take over the movement or whatever the charge. It also reminded me of FFL and crew.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu wrote: Thank Maharishi for leaving TM'ers in the dark when it comes to the deeper yoga of mantras. You'll have to go outside TM to find out how mantras work and their specific effects. Can't we just look around to see the effects of TM mantras? Among ourselves and our friends, we have thousands of people who've been using TM mantras for dozens of years. What have you noticed?
[FairfieldLife] Re: At Last
Bravo! Beyonce's rendition is excellent. The beat was better too. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, raunchydog raunchy...@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, John jr_esq@ wrote: Can Christina Aguillera sing the blues or what? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njph0QyXcKsfeature=related There's no doubt Christina sings sexy smokin' hot blues. She has amazing control of her voice. However, IMO her fancy vocalizing loses the lyrics. Her performance is more of an exercise in virtuosity than in phrase and meaning. Here's how Beyonce sang it at the Obama's inauguration for his first dance with Michelle. It was a very romantic moment for the first couple and for everyone who watched it. Beautiful. Beyonce's version was more about feeling the love than showing off her vocal skills. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/20/the-obamas-first-inaugura_n_159522.html At Last Lyrics by Etta James At last, my love has come along My lonely days are over And life is like a song Oh, yeah, at last The skies above are blue My heart was wrapped up in clovers The night I looked at you I found a dream that I could speak to A dream that I can call my own I found a thrill to rest my cheek to A thrill that I have never known Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile Oh, and then the spell was cast And here we are in heaven For you are mine At last Here's how Etta sings her signature song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVI254QGSQ4feature=related
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
jpgillam wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu wrote: Thank Maharishi for leaving TM'ers in the dark when it comes to the deeper yoga of mantras. You'll have to go outside TM to find out how mantras work and their specific effects. Can't we just look around to see the effects of TM mantras? Among ourselves and our friends, we have thousands of people who've been using TM mantras for dozens of years. What have you noticed? No, that's not what I mean. Every mantra has a different qualities. They enliven different aspects. There is some method in the madness of TM. Other traditions and teachers use different approaches. Some guru pick a mantra that balances the personality of the individual. The deities represent the qualities. They were invented to explain abstract concepts to the masses. People who have developed sufficient inner quietness can observe the qualities of the different mantas. Mantras are sort of like spices. Some are stimulating, some cooling, some calming, etc. Swami Sivananda wrote on this as have others. Maharishi to my knowledge never did.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual vs Spiritism
This one gets sent around the community too on the subject of spiritism affliction. Seems more directly the transcendental perspective. paste Of Negative Energy, in Method Un-edited without attribution or permission -anonymous Love is a form of insight. If someone says something to you and they have some observation about you, you can watch yourself thinking, I don't know whether I want to take that in. If the person doesn't do it perfectly, if they don't say it exactly the way your mind wants to hear it, you just reject it. You can't pull the kernel of truth out of a stone. The purpose of insight meditation is to get that kernel of truth to come out of the stone, and to particularly get it out of people who have no skillful means, that is, they're abrupt and they don't know how to do it nicely, they're not poised, they don't have good delivery. The purpose of insight meditation is to see the truth coming from people who you perceive as enemies or that are ruthless in some way. The purpose of insight meditation is to turn your enemies into friends. It means that you have to have insight into how their enmity can be friendly to you. They can teach you about yourself. The result of that, ideally, is that you don't insulate yourself and always surround yourself with supporters. You are courageous enough to be in the presence of people who are not of skillful means, doing the right thing at the right moment, and you're able to pull truth even out of that stone. That makes it possible to pull love out of anything, out of a dead branch. That is the nature of insight meditation. There are a lot of situations in life in which love is not so easily seen. There are people who, for whatever reason, make themselves into your enemy, who throw stuff at you that is really hurtful, and not even stuff that's unconscious but rakshasic, demonic stuff. Those rakshasas, those demons, those bad guys are there to help you practice. That's their job, that's what they do. The way they help you practice is that you see them for what they are. You realize that if there's negative energy coming your way from another person which is not allowing you to experience the field of love between you and them, it is not only them doing that but there is an entity doing that, a negative force that is blocking the love. It doesn't want the love to be there, it's invested in that, it's employed by the devil, if you want to call it that, the dark side, the shadow. When you recognize that something is getting in the way between you loving another person, it is one of those or a cluster or aggregate of those. In both the Hindu and the Buddhist tradition the idea is to shoot them in the foot, to cut through, to completely annihilate their power, to debilitate them, to get them out of your life. How do you get rid of those demonic beings that are breaking up the love, that are destroying the love between you and your family, your relations, your lover? This is another important point about insight meditation. It teaches you that they exist, that it's not your imagination, and what to do with them. What do you do with them? When you see that another person is emanating a powerful negative energy and they may not even know it, then you have a job to do. As a spiritual person you're on call. Your job is to shoot this thing, get rid of it, take it out, annihilate it, blast it, explode it. How do you do that? When you have an enemy of this rakshasic nature, which it isn't always, sometimes it's at a personality structure level, but if it is, if that's what's coming at you, you have to get rid of it. If its job is to create fear, it will generate more fear. If its job is to create anger, it will generate more anger. That's what rakshasas do. That's their job. According to a lot of scriptures, they don't have a choice, they're slaves, essentially, of the dark side, they are made to do that, they don't have free will. Basically they are there to fight you into sadness, into fear, into anger, into jealousy, but ultimately they are there to cause you to break from practice. They're sadhana breakers. They're there to stop you from practicing, from doing what you know is the best thing for your evolution. How do you stop them from stopping you? From a transcendent point of view, the way that you stop rakshasas is that you get deeper into the transcendent that they are sourced from. If they're here and they have a pipeline into the transcendent and it's this far down and that's where they're getting their rakshasa juice from, you go down lower. You have to go underneath them to get at them. It's like what Maharishi said, you can't solve a problem on the level of the problem. You have to go underneath where they're sourced. However, their job is to keep you from doing that. They don't want you to get underneath them because they know that when you do that their jig is up. They will do
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: snip The deities represent the qualities. They were invented to explain abstract concepts to the masses. No kidding. Funny thing, whenever I or some other TMer points this out, we're accused of being brainwashed and parroting what we've been told to believe, so as to cover up the evil deception that TM is a religion because it involves worshipping all those Hindu deities.
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM and Blood Pressure
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu noozg...@... wrote: jpgillam wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu wrote: Thank Maharishi for leaving TM'ers in the dark when it comes to the deeper yoga of mantras. You'll have to go outside TM to find out how mantras work and their specific effects. Can't we just look around to see the effects of TM mantras? Among ourselves and our friends, we have thousands of people who've been using TM mantras for dozens of years. What have you noticed? No, that's not what I mean. Every mantra has a different qualities. They enliven different aspects. You're speaking to deaf ears, Bhairitu. Mainly because you are speaking to grown men and women who are still terrified of speaking their mantras alound for fear that Bad Things would happen to them. :-) There can never be any mantra science in TM because that would violate the holy Thou shalt never speak thy mantra aloud rule. We are talking about a group of people who have been trained to be so incurious as to have never wondered what the mantra they think to themselves hundreds of times a day was intended to do to them. Sometimes I think that Maharishi's ability to convince otherwise smart people to adhere to stupid behavior was so great that he could have given everyone the mantra gullible and after 30 years they would never have noticed its English meaning. :-)
