[FairfieldLife] Re: Proof of Heaven - for Emily
Here is a website link to the non-profit that Dr. Alexander help found: http://www.eternea.org/index.aspx --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: Hey Emily, I have finished the book and I enjoyed it. I would characterize 'Proof of Heaven' as a big book within a little book. On one level it is a little book, it is merely one man's experience of a place, a reality that he believes was true. What he reveals about his experience is lovely in the extreme; it is very personal and I would love most aspects of what he saw and perceived to be true. The big part of the book for me is that it has permanently instilled in me a vision and a hope for what could be waiting for me after death. I believe Eben to be a courageous man who, in the male-dominated medical profession, has put himself forward for what he knows to be probable ridicule in his peers' eyes. It is very evident from his writing that his NDE is the one most substantial event in his life and because of what it has done for him personally, on all levels, he feels it vital to communicate his 'findings' while in his coma to the world. That is how positive and life altering his coma experience was, let alone the very near to dying he came with a very rare disease for someone his age. Then there is, of course, the 'miracle' of complete recovery from virtual brain death as more proof to him that he was 'chosen' to have this NDE and recovery in order to spread a message of hope and happiness for people. Plus, being a learned man in the area of the brain and its functioning, its physical makeup and how disease or health manifests as well as knowledge gained through years practicing and studying within in his profession, his opinions and scientific evidence give more clout to dispel the notion his NDE was merely a vision or brain-originating hallucination. He gives strong evidence for why it could not be that but was the EXPERIENCE OF PURE CONSCIOUSNESS unsullied by brain function or memory or projection. I also found that in his description of the various 'strata' of those worlds he visited after falling into his deep coma that they resonated with some part of me. The worm's eye view was something I felt I had some knowledge of as well as the infinite bliss and love of the deeper places, the places even closer to God. I felt in his descriptions a tickling of some deeper memory for me of some truth there so I take his NDE very seriously. Thanks for recommending the book, it was a worthwhile read and maybe as close as we can come to a scientifically backed up explanation for what might possibly exist, for some or for all, after dropping the body. No matter what, it is a lovely idea or vision to hold in one's awareness while we still clamber about this planet in the body we currently possess.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Proof of Heaven - for Emily
I began reading Proof of Heaven this week. (After I finished reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Someone on here may have mentioned that book too.) I'm a slow reader and work is busy these days, so it'll probably take me a few weeks to read it, even though it's a short book. I've just finished Chapter 10. I feel connected to the book, one reason being because I'm pretty confident that Dr. Kelly (whom the author mentions in Chapter 10) was my Dad's doctor at Wake Forest Baptist (WFB) after Dad was in a head-on collision in July, 1983, and was left paralyzed. At least I'm pretty sure it'd be the same doc. In 1983, the Dr. Kelly that treated/observed my father was a tall man, probably in his 40s at the time. I did a web search, and Dr. Kelly is now in his late 70s and was chairman of neurosurgery at WFB from 1978-2000. He's the only Dr. Kelly that came up in a google search for spinal injury at WFB. Just wanted to share that tidbit...it's one serendipitous thing that causes me to feel more connected with the author. As far as the content, what he describes so far in his coma state reminds me of tripping and/or hallucinating on psychedelics. I look forward to continuing the read. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Just ordered Proof of Heaven from Amazon. Thanks for the review Ann! ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: Nice piece of writing Ann - I just read it too. Try Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani if you have a mind to - I loved it. From: Ann awoelflebater@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 9:58 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Proof of Heaven - for Emily  Hey Emily, I have finished the book and I enjoyed it. I would characterize 'Proof of Heaven' as a big book within a little book. On one level it is a little book, it is merely one man's experience of a place, a reality that he believes was true. What he reveals about his experience is lovely in the extreme; it is very personal and I would love most aspects of what he saw and perceived to be true. The big part of the book for me is that it has permanently instilled in me a vision and a hope for what could be waiting for me after death. I believe Eben to be a courageous man who, in the male-dominated medical profession, has put himself forward for what he knows to be probable ridicule in his peers' eyes. It is very evident from his writing that his NDE is the one most substantial event in his life and because of what it has done for him personally, on all levels, he feels it vital to communicate his 'findings' while in his coma to the world. That is how positive and life altering his coma experience was, let alone the very near to dying he came with a very rare disease for someone his age. Then there is, of course, the 'miracle' of complete recovery from virtual brain death as more proof to him that he was 'chosen' to have this NDE and recovery in order to spread a message of hope and happiness for people. Plus, being a learned man in the area of the brain and its functioning, its physical makeup and how disease or health manifests as well as knowledge gained through years practicing and studying within in his profession, his opinions and scientific evidence give more clout to dispel the notion his NDE was merely a vision or brain-originating hallucination. He gives strong evidence for why it could not be that but was the EXPERIENCE OF PURE CONSCIOUSNESS unsullied by brain function or memory or projection. I also found that in his description of the various 'strata' of those worlds he visited after falling into his deep coma that they resonated with some part of me. The worm's eye view was something I felt I had some knowledge of as well as the infinite bliss and love of the deeper places, the places even closer to God. I felt in his descriptions a tickling of some deeper memory for me of some truth there so I take his NDE very seriously. Thanks for recommending the book, it was a worthwhile read and maybe as close as we can come to a scientifically backed up explanation for what might possibly exist, for some or for all, after dropping the body. No matter what, it is a lovely idea or vision to hold in one's awareness while we still clamber about this planet in the body we currently possess.
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayev, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
Hey Ann, I just now read your response here to my comment. Apologies I didn't see it before. (Sometimes I just plain old miss responses in discussion board formats. If I haven't read here in awhile I'll search my name to see if something has come up that I might want to address...thus, I just found the response.) Very well stated - your response. Part of it brought to mind restorative justice which folks and/or I have probably mentioned here before. But, like you stated, some persons don't seem to have the ability to feel empathy/hurt when they have harmed another and thus will never be able to own up. That's been a hard lesson to learn and I don't know if I've fully learned it. I battle cynicism more than I prefer these days; but I figure it's part of my current personal life curriculum and at some point I'll have a more healthy (as opposed to unhealthy) cynicism. At least I hope so. It's a funky up and down at this point. Thanks again for the response and for the kind words. ~Carol :) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I partly agree Ann. Hi Carol, I partly agree with what I said also! Nothing is ever as cut and dried as how I presented it. There will always be individual circumstances that make situations very complex and very individual. But basically, I think I believe what I wrote but know that there are exceptions to my points, there would have to be - it is life. The point where I disagree is when power differentials are at play and if the person holding the position of power ab-uses their position of trust to their advantage. This of course happens in other areas besides sexual. I believe certain individuals in positions of power can abuse that privilege of having power. But power is granted to people by others. There is no inherent power that just emerges that automatically makes one revered as a great financier, a world class artist, a wise sage or a sexy rock star. In all cases, these individuals must first present as such and certain people will gravitate to them and in so doing they often give away their own authority or power to these perceived 'greater beings', usually to gain something in return. Sometimes it is in the form of allowing the powerful one to tell you how to live your life. Sometimes it is thinking by somehow adhering oneself to the perceived 'greater human' (either in the form of physical intimacy or simply the intimacy of being as close to them as possible) that one will receive a gift, a blessing, some transfer of that power or it could simply be that it feels good. But I still assert that you have to be willing to give away a certain degree of your autonomy as a human to do this. When you give something away you can also open yourself up to something ultimately unwanted or not counted on. What makes it worse is when any harms that are exacted because of that abuse of trust are then denied or swept under the rug or minimized. For sure, and it is extra hurtful and a sign of the cowardice of the one attempting to hide what they have done. It is doubly despicable in my opinion. My rule: if you're going to do something you know is wrong or you think you may get caught out on then have the gumption to be ready to own up to it. If you've got it in you to violate or trespass against someone then you need to find it within yourself to own it. Yes, the adult-of-reasonable-sound-mind victim of such abuse of trust has to ultimately accept their responsibility for their choices, even those made under undue influence or because of indoctrination. How much is the victim responsible for and how much is the person in power responsible for? Can it even be measured? Measuring may not be useful - bottom line: it happened. Now comes the moment when both sides need to decide what to do with that. The violated needs to think about themselves first, they can not be responsible for the other person/the abuser. The violator needs to look at what would allow them to do what they did and they DO have some responsibility to the violated, to at least, in the most ideal scenario, admit, in some way, their sense of what they did. I think it is a fundamental part of the healing process for the transgressor - to feel vulnerable, wounded, appalled, horrified and to let those feelings be known to the abused. How often this happens is not often enough. But if the abuser is to ever be free from what they did they must feel, somehow and in some way, cut to the core. But often what it is that is within someone capable of great tyranny that is the very thing that disallows this sort of feeling of vulnerability or hurt as a result of having profoundly injured someone emotionally or otherwise. Sociopathy is one word for it. I'm not condoning a victim mentality
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayev, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
Excellent post Barry. Yet, I too see your hypocrisy on this board. No, you don't sexually abuse others, but you point out their faults and name call and deem some of us unworthy to communicate with and (at least in may case) have made false accusations. Instead of directly addressing those you deem below you, you speak of them in the third person, if you choose to acknowledge their existence at all. * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Jason jedi_spock@ wrote: These kind of sexual relationships are a bit of a gray area. How much interest you should show in other people's private lives is a matter of debate. As Barry pointed out, 'Groupie with standards', the phenomenon exists in all fields and 'all walks of life'. In business, in sports, in the movie industry and so on. Many young women use these guys as fodder for their growth and move on. These women were adults and they knew what they were doing. They are groupies voluntarily and to pretend that it's an one-sided affair is not accurate. You mistook my intent in saying what I said. Of course there is an element of groupie behavior in women falling onto their backs for people in positions of power or celebrity. That certainly happens. But there is ALSO behavior in which the people IN these positions of power or celebrity ABUSE their positions, and make use of them to get their rocks off with these gullible and stupid women. The TM organization was rife with this kind of abuse of position. In Europe I saw dozens of guys on International Staff who specialized in seducing the course participants, all while claim- ing to be celibate themselves. They would come on to some naive TMer or TM teacher and say things like I know that I should be celibate, but I'm just SO attracted to you. Then they'd fuck them a few times and forget them, and run the same number on someone else the next month, or the next week. When called on this behavior, many of them would claim not to even be able to remember having done the same thing the week or month before. It was *accepted* behavior, and as we all know now, modeled on the mindset of their teacher Maharishi, who did exactly the same thing. There IS such a thing as a power differential in real life. Like the one that bosses have over their secre- taries when they badger them into having sex with them. Like the one that therapists have with their vulnerable patients. Like the one that teachers in schools have with their students. Abuse these levels of trust and responsibility in those organizations and you'll get your ass fired or lose your license or go to prison. But when it happens in spiritual organizations, this same abuse of inherent power differentials and abuse of trust is largely ignored, and thus quietly sanctioned. People see it and then look the other way, to avoid dealing with the cognitive dissonance of people they assumed to be trustworthy proving themselves less than trustworthy. They pretend it never happened, because hypocrisy is easier to live with than the knowledge that their assumptions about these people in power are and have always been false. And worse, if someone dares to cry, The Emperor has no clothes, and in fact is waving his dick at every woman in town the way Edg just did, the True Believers gang up on him and try to make *him* the Bad Guy. I think it sucks. I lived with such hypocrisy in the Rama trip, and will never do so again. I saw him fuck his way through dozens of women, taking advantage of their naivete and their adoration. I saw him ruin some of these women's lives, get them pregnant and then demand that they get abortions, and then dump them as soon as he was finished with them. I knew many of these women personally, and provided a shoulder for them to cry on after being made to feel like a Kleenex that he'd jacked off into. That's WRONG. That an ABUSE OF TRUST. That's inexcusable. Trying to excuse it by saying that these women are/were adults and thus knew what they were doing just doesn't cut it. The incredible sway that spiritual teachers have over their students is never to be forgotten. Many of these women considered Rama almost as a God, and he encouraged them to think that way. Many of the TM women probably had their own reasons for bedding Hagelin (to get close to someone who was close with Maharishi, and thus possibly pick up some darshan cooties) or Maharishi himself (*direct* darshan cooties). But it was still the teachers or the people in power who took advantage of these women's naivete and their innocence to fuck them and then throw them away. Do NOT try to make me a party in condoning this kind of behavior in a spiritual setting, or in any other. I once got fired from a job for counseling a woman who had been the victim of sexual abuse by the
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayeïûÿv, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
I just wrote something in my journal last night: I don't understand how [name excluded] could do what [s/he] did. Then... Well, I don't understand it in my heart. But in my head the explanation is that [name excluded] is a sociopath. These Jekyll and Hyde type people who charm and then harm and then appear to have no conscience about it whatsoeverwell, I still don't 'understand' it. And it's still hard to accept that a person actually has no conscience. Yet, 'no-conscience sociopath' does give a surface explanation to the bizarre behavior. For years I gave ab-users the benefit of the doubt and didn't see them as abusing, but rather saw them as making mistakes or simply being human. My bad and naivety. Sometimes I long for innocence again. Though it really wasn't innocence; it was denial. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: turq, you've said that Lenz could levitate and fill a room with gold light. I'm trying to reconcile that with what you say here about his sexual abuse of women. How do you understand this seeming contradiction? I remember once before when I asked a similar question, you said that you think, and here I have to paraphrase, that he was ruined by the power. Was Lenz abusing women even at the beginning of his teaching career? From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 4:57 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayeïûÿv, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Jason jedi_spock@ wrote: These kind of sexual relationships are a bit of a gray area. How much interest you should show in other people's private lives is a matter of debate. As Barry pointed out, 'Groupie with standards', the phenomenon exists in all fields and 'all walks of life'. In business, in sports, in the movie industry and so on. Many young women use these guys as fodder for their growth and move on. These women were adults and they knew what they were doing. They are groupies voluntarily and to pretend that it's an one-sided affair is not accurate. You mistook my intent in saying what I said. Of course there is an element of groupie behavior in women falling onto their backs for people in positions of power or celebrity. That certainly happens. But there is ALSO behavior in which the people IN these positions of power or celebrity ABUSE their positions, and make use of them to get their rocks off with these gullible and stupid women. The TM organization was rife with this kind of abuse of position. In Europe I saw dozens of guys on International Staff who specialized in seducing the course participants, all while claim- ing to be celibate themselves. They would come on to some naive TMer or TM teacher and say things like I know that I should be celibate, but I'm just SO attracted to you. Then they'd fuck them a few times and forget them, and run the same number on someone else the next month, or the next week. When called on this behavior, many of them would claim not to even be able to remember having done the same thing the week or month before. It was *accepted* behavior, and as we all know now, modeled on the mindset of their teacher Maharishi, who did exactly the same thing. There IS such a thing as a power differential in real life. Like the one that bosses have over their secre- taries when they badger them into having sex with them. Like the one that therapists have with their vulnerable patients. Like the one that teachers in schools have with their students. Abuse these levels of trust and responsibility in those organizations and you'll get your ass fired or lose your license or go to prison. But when it happens in spiritual organizations, this same abuse of inherent power differentials and abuse of trust is largely ignored, and thus quietly sanctioned. People see it and then look the other way, to avoid dealing with the cognitive dissonance of people they assumed to be trustworthy proving themselves less than trustworthy. They pretend it never happened, because hypocrisy is easier to live with than the knowledge that their assumptions about these people in power are and have always been false. And worse, if someone dares to cry, The Emperor has no clothes, and in fact is waving his dick at every woman in town the way Edg just did, the True Believers gang up on him and try to make *him* the Bad Guy. I think it sucks. I lived with such hypocrisy in the Rama trip, and will never do so again. I saw him fuck his way through dozens of women, taking advantage of their naivete and their adoration. I saw him ruin some of these women's lives, get them pregnant and then demand that they
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayev, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
I partly agree Ann. The point where I disagree is when power differentials are at play and if the person holding the position of power ab-uses their position of trust to their advantage. This of course happens in other areas besides sexual. What makes it worse is when any harms that are exacted because of that abuse of trust are then denied or swept under the rug or minimized. Yes, the adult-of-reasonable-sound-mind victim of such abuse of trust has to ultimately accept their responsibility for their choices, even those made under undue influence or because of indoctrination. How much is the victim responsible for and how much is the person in power responsible for? Can it even be measured? I'm not condoning a victim mentality, but neither do I think victim is a dirty word. (Not saying anyone here thinks that.) I have been a victim (as I think most folks have sometime in their lives) and I have been an abuser. I'm not proud of either. If I can acknowledge both and admit it, I'm healthier for it. And hopefully have learned something in the process. * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Jason jedi_spock@ wrote: These kind of sexual relationships are a bit of a gray area. How much interest you should show in other people's private lives is a matter of debate. As Barry pointed out, 'Groupie with standards', the phenomenon exists in all fields and 'all walks of life'. In business, in sports, in the movie industry and so on. Many young women use these guys as fodder for their growth and move on. These women were adults and they knew what they were doing. They are groupies voluntarily and to pretend that it's an one-sided affair is not accurate. I'd have to agree with most of what you write her Jason. I don't actually think it's anyone's business who someone has an affair with, has oral sex with, has a crush on, pursues sexually or otherwise what they do in their private time. If someone high up in the TM movement is a serial 'lover' the only reason it seems to be a big deal here is because some people on this forum seem to think that such behaviour is not possible or probable of someone with a higher state of consciousness. Of course, this is balderdash. Certain activities are not appropriate or perhaps what I might term 'moral' or 'ethical' but to view the equivalent of a CEO in a corporation incapable of adultery or multiple affairs is just plain silly. It is just that because this 'CEO' is part of a 'spiritual' movement it is deemed extra offensive or, even sillier, points to the fact in some people's estimation that the whole practice of TM is invalid. And as far as 'preying' on poor women, the alleged transgressions of Hagelin, unless he bound, drugged and gagged them, were simply mutual consent relationships. I don't buy any of this poor victim stuff for women (or men) who go into a sexual situation with another person as anything other than a personal choice. If that ended up meaning their spouse and family hated them as a result then - guess what- too bad. These are adults who know how it all works. If you're married and you choose to fuck someone else it is going to create havoc in your life. Period. Deal with it, you'll have to in some form or other. --- Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: Given the behavior of leaders of the Movement through the years, it is legitimate to ask questions when behavior begins to manifest. It has been this way with spiritual movements for decades. People begin to misbehave and their disciples refuse to believe it, and the gurus and their chief sycophants deny it. Happened with Muktananda, Amrit Desai, Kriyananda - when I met J. Donald Walters, I would never have thought of him as a sexual user, but damned if he didn't turn out to be so - that's why he fled to Italy and stayed there till he died. Hagelin is one of the main guys the TMO and Lynch use to promote TM to whomever they think will bite - if he has mis-used his position as a faculty member to prey on his female students, the truth needs to be known. Since Edg had mentioned it, I wondered what the facts are. All legitimate questions and inquiry. The only problem is that some people who want to believe TM and its leaders are pure as the driven snow can't stand the light of truth to be shined on TM and its honchos. Hagelin's behavior if true needs to be made public so the people Hagelin pitches TM and his nonsense physics theories to know how credible he is - after all, TM supposedly makes all things better - and that should include behavior for those in positions of leadership. From: feste37 feste37@ Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2013 11:23 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayeïûÿv, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
I agree Feste...except for maybe the word weak. And I'm glad you noted many and not all. Perhaps ignorant would be a more agreeable term than weak for me. Some folks endure horrible circumstances. I think they'd have to be strong to endure what they do. And then maybe they are ignorant to their own weakness..or maybe I just don't want to accept that I, myself, have been weak. Hmmm... --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, feste37 feste37@... wrote: Many people who get abused are weak, and it is their weakness that attracts the abuse. The abuser instinctively smells out weakness, and it incites his cruelty. You can blame the abuser if you want, but it always takes two: one who asks to be abused, and the other who obliges. If you want to alter the pattern, get stronger. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I just wrote something in my journal last night: I don't understand how [name excluded] could do what [s/he] did. Then... Well, I don't understand it in my heart. But in my head the explanation is that [name excluded] is a sociopath. These Jekyll and Hyde type people who charm and then harm and then appear to have no conscience about it whatsoeverwell, I still don't 'understand' it. And it's still hard to accept that a person actually has no conscience. Yet, 'no-conscience sociopath' does give a surface explanation to the bizarre behavior. For years I gave ab-users the benefit of the doubt and didn't see them as abusing, but rather saw them as making mistakes or simply being human. My bad and naivety. Sometimes I long for innocence again. Though it really wasn't innocence; it was denial. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: turq, you've said that Lenz could levitate and fill a room with gold light. I'm trying to reconcile that with what you say here about his sexual abuse of women. How do you understand this seeming contradiction? I remember once before when I asked a similar question, you said that you think, and here I have to paraphrase, that he was ruined by the power. Was Lenz abusing women even at the beginning of his teaching career? From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 4:57 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayeïûÿv, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Jason jedi_spock@ wrote: These kind of sexual relationships are a bit of a gray area. How much interest you should show in other people's private lives is a matter of debate. As Barry pointed out, 'Groupie with standards', the phenomenon exists in all fields and 'all walks of life'. In business, in sports, in the movie industry and so on. Many young women use these guys as fodder for their growth and move on. These women were adults and they knew what they were doing. They are groupies voluntarily and to pretend that it's an one-sided affair is not accurate. You mistook my intent in saying what I said. Of course there is an element of groupie behavior in women falling onto their backs for people in positions of power or celebrity. That certainly happens. But there is ALSO behavior in which the people IN these positions of power or celebrity ABUSE their positions, and make use of them to get their rocks off with these gullible and stupid women. The TM organization was rife with this kind of abuse of position. In Europe I saw dozens of guys on International Staff who specialized in seducing the course participants, all while claim- ing to be celibate themselves. They would come on to some naive TMer or TM teacher and say things like I know that I should be celibate, but I'm just SO attracted to you. Then they'd fuck them a few times and forget them, and run the same number on someone else the next month, or the next week. When called on this behavior, many of them would claim not to even be able to remember having done the same thing the week or month before. It was *accepted* behavior, and as we all know now, modeled on the mindset of their teacher Maharishi, who did exactly the same thing. There IS such a thing as a power differential in real life. Like the one that bosses have over their secre- taries when they badger them into having sex with them. Like the one that therapists have with their vulnerable patients. Like the one that teachers in schools have with their students. Abuse these levels of trust and responsibility in those organizations and you'll get your ass fired or lose your
[FairfieldLife] Re: FFL Women Abusers, was John Hagelin, was BatGap Discussion
Well, I think the women on this forum are strong women and it would be rare that they would succumb to abuse. As far as Barry, I don't view him as an abuser. But he comes across as a hypocrite, from my interactions with him on this forum and from the bit I've read, But maybe that is just his 2-D life here on FFL and his 3-D life is much different. But then, that too would be hypocritical; ie: one thing in 2-D and another in 3-D. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Richard J. Williams richard@... wrote: Carol: Yet, I too see your hypocrisy on this board... So, it looks like you're thinking that Barry has been abusing some of the women on this list? Where would Barry have learned this behavior? Go figure. These kind of sexual relationships are a bit of a gray area. How much interest you should show in other people's private lives is a matter of debate. As Barry pointed out, 'Groupie with standards', the phenomenon exists in all fields and 'all walks of life'. In business, in sports, in the movie industry and so on. Many young women use these guys as fodder for their growth and move on. These women were adults and they knew what they were doing. They are groupies voluntarily and to pretend that it's an one-sided affair is not accurate. You mistook my intent in saying what I said. Of course there is an element of groupie behavior in women falling onto their backs for people in positions of power or celebrity. That certainly happens. But there is ALSO behavior in which the people IN these positions of power or celebrity ABUSE their positions, and make use of them to get their rocks off with these gullible and stupid women. The TM organization was rife with this kind of abuse of position. In Europe I saw dozens of guys on International Staff who specialized in seducing the course participants, all while claim- ing to be celibate themselves. They would come on to some naive TMer or TM teacher and say things like I know that I should be celibate, but I'm just SO attracted to you. Then they'd fuck them a few times and forget them, and run the same number on someone else the next month, or the next week. When called on this behavior, many of them would claim not to even be able to remember having done the same thing the week or month before. It was *accepted* behavior, and as we all know now, modeled on the mindset of their teacher Maharishi, who did exactly the same thing. There IS such a thing as a power differential in real life. Like the one that bosses have over their secre- taries when they badger them into having sex with them. Like the one that therapists have with their vulnerable patients. Like the one that teachers in schools have with their students. Abuse these levels of trust and responsibility in those organizations and you'll get your ass fired or lose your license or go to prison. But when it happens in spiritual organizations, this same abuse of inherent power differentials and abuse of trust is largely ignored, and thus quietly sanctioned. People see it and then look the other way, to avoid dealing with the cognitive dissonance of people they assumed to be trustworthy proving themselves less than trustworthy. They pretend it never happened, because hypocrisy is easier to live with than the knowledge that their assumptions about these people in power are and have always been false. And worse, if someone dares to cry, The Emperor has no clothes, and in fact is waving his dick at every woman in town the way Edg just did, the True Believers gang up on him and try to make *him* the Bad Guy. I think it sucks. I lived with such hypocrisy in the Rama trip, and will never do so again. I saw him fuck his way through dozens of women, taking advantage of their naivete and their adoration. I saw him ruin some of these women's lives, get them pregnant and then demand that they get abortions, and then dump them as soon as he was finished with them. I knew many of these women personally, and provided a shoulder for them to cry on after being made to feel like a Kleenex that he'd jacked off into. That's WRONG. That an ABUSE OF TRUST. That's inexcusable. Trying to excuse it by saying that these women are/were adults and thus knew what they were doing just doesn't cut it. The incredible sway that spiritual teachers have over their students is never to be forgotten. Many of these women considered Rama almost as a God, and he encouraged them to think that way. Many of the TM women probably had their own reasons for bedding Hagelin (to get close to someone who was close with Maharishi, and thus possibly pick up some darshan cooties) or Maharishi himself (*direct* darshan cooties
[FairfieldLife] Re: BatGap Panel Discussi John Hagelin, Ph.D., Igor Kufayeïûÿv, and Mark McCooey. Moderated by Rick Archer
Well stated Judy. I was thinking of weakness in the sense of a character flaw when Feste initially posted. People do what they need to do to survive. I don't think of that as weakness. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, feste37 feste37@ wrote: Many people who get abused are weak, and it is their weakness that attracts the abuse. The abuser instinctively smells out weakness, and it incites his cruelty. You can blame the abuser if you want, but it always takes two: one who asks to be abused, and the other who obliges. If you want to alter the pattern, get stronger. But sometimes the weakness is not characterological but circumstantial--e.g., if a woman is, say, a single mother who desperately needs to hold onto her job so she can feed her kids, and is given to understand by her abusive superior, at least implicitly, that if she doesn't submit to his whims or if she makes any kind of fuss, she'll be fired. He knows she's in a weak position and takes advantage of it to satisfy his desires. I think it makes a lot less sense to hold the woman equally accountable with the man in that sort of situation. There are many variations on this scenario (including reversing the genders) in which the circumstances are stacked against the victim.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Eclipse Pic
What a beautiful photo. TY! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: In this May 20, 2012 file photo, hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States.
[FairfieldLife] Forever young...rock and roll... ;)
Thought some folks here might appreciate this youtube. It left me grinnin' and bouncin'. http://youtu.be/zqfFrCUrEbY The amazing hit from the world's oldest rock band and most unlikely global superstars - The Zimmers - with a 90-year-old lead singer and a combined age of more than 3,000. This cover of The Who's My Generation is filmed in the Beatles' studio at Abbey Road. This is the band that showed the world that you're never too old to rock...
[FairfieldLife] Vermont Is 4th State to Legalize Assisted Suicide
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/proponents-hail-vt-assisted-suicide-bill-19220276#.UZuD3aI-abO Links to couple more pieces I read this morning regarding this subject. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/assisted-suicide_b_3087201.html http://www.deathwithdignity.org/2011/04/25/death-dignity-isnt-suicide I've often thought that we offer our pets assisted death with dignity. Why not have the same for the humanoid animals. I could never ask a friend or family member to end my life. Well, I don't think I could. I think I would have to administer my own remedy and let my family know ahead of time, to give them time to say good bye. But even that sounds kind of morbid. Death can be a morbid subject. Hmm...premature death can be morbid. Death as the next step along the journey is't so much morbid as it is grief-filled. I don't know what I believe about what comes after death other than I'll know when I get there.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ego distortion
Doc said: Oddly enough, if one takes the stories in my head and heart route, as a foundation for themselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to make any spiritual progress, or progress towards liberation. Despite any techniques practiced, the stories, and the attachment to them, win out. Our stories. I enjoy reading and learning about people's stories which of course are typically only brief snapshots. I don't think of the stories as foundations, but rather as simply parts of the journey. In one sense they are mystical. In what sense I wonder? Perhaps in our sense of how we perceive those stories. We experience our events in the now differently that when we look back on the experience of those same events later. During the time elapsed between the now and the later, we live more and have more contexts from which to view the past-now. To be able to detach from the story and look at it like a fly on the wall, is another aspect in relating to (or non-relating to) our stories. I like to be able to tap the different ways we perceive and relate or non-relate to our stories. I used to think that to forget the past was part of attaining spiritual oneness with 'god.' I now wish I could remember everything, all the stories. Of course, I can't...at least not in my conscious awareness. I figure the ones that I may need to remember will present themselves at such time I may need them. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Someone brought up CC, and how once attained, PC never leaves. It is true, and PC also continues to grow and become even more established. But if it doesn't, and a person has surrendered to their ego, instead, to serve as that foundation, there is one significant difference. A foundation in PC is a foundation in silence, whereas a foundation in ego, is a foundation in stories. In fact, not really a foundation at all, but a continually reinforced set of stories that tend to hold the person expressing them, in place, in a fixed context. He or she is always the hero of all the stories they tell themselves. Can also work with them always being the victim, the point being that identity is gained from self-told stories, ego, attachment, vs. pure consciousness. I was reminded of this reading over TB's comments about himself in relation to others. Always the coolest, the hippest, the most spiritual, the most discerning, the most successful, the best taste, and the greatest lover, and seducer of women (I kinda made the last one up). He is an excellent example of what I have identified above; stories, stories and more stories come out of his mouth, intensely fortifying the fables he has been telling himself for decades. Oddly enough, if one takes the stories in my head and heart route, as a foundation for themselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to make any spiritual progress, or progress towards liberation. Despite any techniques practiced, the stories, and the attachment to them, win out. So, TB's insights about spiritual life, and even the dynamics of his personality, tend to be shallow and self-congratulatory. He loves to make his bed, and then indulgently climb in, and cover himself over with warm layer after layer of stories. Funny thing - I often see him as asleep, and yet he believes otherwise, dreaming deeply on his soft, luxurious mattresses of attachment.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ego distortion
Hm. After I posted this, I clicked on a link and this quote appeared on my computer screen: Maybe stories are just data with a soul The quote is by Brene Brown. (Perhaps I should have started a different topic about 'stories.' I have not comment re TB.) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Doc said: Oddly enough, if one takes the stories in my head and heart route, as a foundation for themselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to make any spiritual progress, or progress towards liberation. Despite any techniques practiced, the stories, and the attachment to them, win out. Our stories. I enjoy reading and learning about people's stories which of course are typically only brief snapshots. I don't think of the stories as foundations, but rather as simply parts of the journey. In one sense they are mystical. In what sense I wonder? Perhaps in our sense of how we perceive those stories. We experience our events in the now differently that when we look back on the experience of those same events later. During the time elapsed between the now and the later, we live more and have more contexts from which to view the past-now. To be able to detach from the story and look at it like a fly on the wall, is another aspect in relating to (or non-relating to) our stories. I like to be able to tap the different ways we perceive and relate or non-relate to our stories. I used to think that to forget the past was part of attaining spiritual oneness with 'god.' I now wish I could remember everything, all the stories. Of course, I can't...at least not in my conscious awareness. I figure the ones that I may need to remember will present themselves at such time I may need them. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Someone brought up CC, and how once attained, PC never leaves. It is true, and PC also continues to grow and become even more established. But if it doesn't, and a person has surrendered to their ego, instead, to serve as that foundation, there is one significant difference. A foundation in PC is a foundation in silence, whereas a foundation in ego, is a foundation in stories. In fact, not really a foundation at all, but a continually reinforced set of stories that tend to hold the person expressing them, in place, in a fixed context. He or she is always the hero of all the stories they tell themselves. Can also work with them always being the victim, the point being that identity is gained from self-told stories, ego, attachment, vs. pure consciousness. I was reminded of this reading over TB's comments about himself in relation to others. Always the coolest, the hippest, the most spiritual, the most discerning, the most successful, the best taste, and the greatest lover, and seducer of women (I kinda made the last one up). He is an excellent example of what I have identified above; stories, stories and more stories come out of his mouth, intensely fortifying the fables he has been telling himself for decades. Oddly enough, if one takes the stories in my head and heart route, as a foundation for themselves, it becomes increasingly difficult to make any spiritual progress, or progress towards liberation. Despite any techniques practiced, the stories, and the attachment to them, win out. So, TB's insights about spiritual life, and even the dynamics of his personality, tend to be shallow and self-congratulatory. He loves to make his bed, and then indulgently climb in, and cover himself over with warm layer after layer of stories. Funny thing - I often see him as asleep, and yet he believes otherwise, dreaming deeply on his soft, luxurious mattresses of attachment.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
Doc stated: ...meditating among the forest of pot plants they were growing on their sun porch... I get images of purple and swirls and Ram Dass. Sorry to read about your friend Doc. :( I may have mentioned on FFL before that The Way Corps program which was/is the leadership training program for The Way International, required hitch hiking up until sometime in the early 90s (I think it was until the early 90s). In addition to the hitch hiking, we had time limits to reach our destinations and (sometimes) if we didn't make it in time, we had to turn around and hitch hike back to where we came from. On one of my hitch hiking assignments from Kansas (location of one of The Way's then campuses) to New Mexico (location of The Way's then rock climbing/outdoor academy), my partner and I were 19 minutes late. We had to turn around and hitch back to Kansas...and come up with $150(?) to do it again when we would again be assigned the trip. The price for the outdoor academy was included (so to speak) with our tuition if we arrived on time after hitching those 750+ miles; but if we didn't arrive on time, we had to cough up the $$ for next round. What a crazy requirement, but 1000s of us complied. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Yes, I had one friend lose her life that way, and my brother got picked up a few times by guys wanting BJs. One of the most perfect rides I had, though, was in 1980, when I left the TM encampment in Missouri, trying to get to Eugene, OR, from a ramp onto I-70, outside Higginsville. After a cop stopped, to let me know he was a cop, a guy picked me up and drove me to within 40 miles of Eugene! I was broke that time too, and the guy was towing a motorcycle, behind his Camaro. After I met up with my buddies in Oregon, I stayed at their place for several weeks, meditating among the forest of pot plants they were growing on their sun porch. Then off to Santa Barbara for more adventures! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: What an awesome account; love the images. :) I hitch hiked over 6000 miles as the crow flies back in the late 70s and early 80s. Wish I would have kept a journal of all the trips. I don't condone hitch hiking though. I do know some personal horror stories of others. Thankful all my experiences were good...or at least weren't bad. One time a city bus picked me up. lol --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: That was quite a trip, in 1972-ish. Trying to get from Colorado to my GF in Atlanta, I hooked up with this black guy, his cargo van, his motorcycle tied down in the back, and his Irish setter, through a ride board, when options like that were still fairy safe. We left Denver, went south through New Mexico and east into El Paso, into such a snowstorm, other cars were being blown off the road, literally. Thanks to the bike in the back, we had traction. After making it across Texas, we met these two good ol' boys around two in the morning, in Texarkana, at a gas station. Cold as f*ck outside. We brought the dog in, the guys carried out oil cartons for us to sleep on, gave us coffee, and we all talked for a long time. Later on, we'd let the dog out to run on rural roads, and that Irish Setter could pace the van forever! I was broke back then, and made the trip on very little food, literally bread and water. Did a fair amount of traveling like that, back then, always had good experiences, which I attribute more to my guardian angels, than to my wisdom at the time! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Good to hear, Doc, thanks for sharing. From: doctordumbass@ doctordumbass@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 7:45 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? Â I found the deep South to be completely counter to its stereotypes. Some of the nicest people I ever met there, complete strangers who would give me the shirt off their backs, were toothless, uneducated rednecks. I traveled through there with a black guy once, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia, we were treated with kindness and generosity, which was a good thing, cause it was the middle of winter. Spent a lot of time in North Carolina also, same deal. Had similar experiences all over the country. Once the me finds its normal size, the I Am/We Are takes over. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: martyboi, I bet a lot of people living outside of US would say that you have to be a little crazy to live here.ÃÂ For example, when I was visiting my family recently, I got exposed
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
For that contemporary TV programming, the mute button is highly favored. ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: martyboi, I bet a lot of people living outside of US would say that you have to be a little crazy to live here. For example, when I was visiting my family recently, I got exposed to contemporary TV programming. Scary! Meaning, scary in its mind numbingness. And the advertisements! Especially the drug advertisements, spouting off death as a possible side effect right up there with headaches and constipation!    Anyway, Rob Robb often says that as one travels from west to east in the US, the amount of light present decreases. As for the deep south, for example, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, don't even get me started! For one thing, I think they have the highest number of African Americans on death row. Highest obesity percentages. Very scary places.   From: martyboi martyboi@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 3:42 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?  Consensus reality is probably more accurate than the word Cult which actually means something like subculture. When you make statements like: everyone is crazy, or everyone is in a cult - you reduce the meaning of words Crazy or Cult to logical absurdities that renders them useless as terms that can be used in a rational discussion. When I ask myself questions like:Do I know anyone who is not a little crazy? or Do I know anyone who doesn't participate in a cult? The answer is always no - everyone I know seems a little crazy and everyone I know also identifies with some group or other. It's really just a matter of perspective isn't it? I mean to a west coast Bay Area person, such as myself - most people east and south of here are Obviously Insane ;-) Therefore as a practical matter, the words crazy and cult should be reserved for discussions about people and groups that have behaviors and ideas that are so variant with society at large that they are rendered dysfunctional in a major way. (i.e., can't sustain a relationship or a job.) Having preached that - I actually do think everyone is both crazy and in a cult...but you won't catch me sayin' it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coping
Barry, I too got a chuckle out of your response. Not the happy kind of chuckle, but the gotta-laugh-at-the-absurdity-and-hypocrisy kind of chuckle. At least that is my perception after the few communications you and I have had and from reading some of your responses here on FFL. Of course, I realize you care zilch about my perceptions. Our perceptions are what they are. Hopefully we as human folk are open to consider that our perceptions may be wrong; they are most always limited. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Great satire, Bee!! I especially love the part where you proclaim yourself above social interaction on the Internet! LOL - Good One! And also the bit about not caring what others think of you! F'ing Priceless! And the rant about *other people's* NEEDINESS was best of all! Rock It, my little man! You should turn this into stand-up, Barry, seriously. Perhaps next you can try to convince us how you no longer need to eat, sleep or breathe, so advanced have you become. This is great stuff, and please don't be bashful about sharing your humor as often as you like! We always appreciate a good laugh here on FFL! Whooo-eee! Good one! ROFLMAO! Thanks again, Popeye! LOL --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Ann, surely unintentionally, turq is teaching me how to love those who are indifferent to me. Big valuable lesson so I'm grateful. So easy to love those who love and or hate us! Reading his scathing posts while remembering the photo of him holding infant Maya, I conclude he's the happiest curmudgeon I've ever known, thus an enigma. Now I'm laughing as I remember that today is my first FFL anniversary. Ann, although my intention is *never* to try to teach anybody anything, if there were anything I was trying to get across here on FFL, that issue might be a candidate. I tire of the abject NEEDINESS of some FFL participants, and how offended and panicky they seem to get when people *are* indifferent to them, or don't respond to them. I admit to not getting it. If I want social interaction, I go out and hang with real-life friends. I don't depend on some pathetic cybersimulation of socializing to get feedback or interaction. Do I have a lack of tolerance for those who *are* so NEEDY, and can't seem to go more than a few hours without trolling for attention? You betcha. But do I try to teach them anything? No way. I just withhold from them that which they seem to seek the most, my attention, and allow them to react to that however they want. As for being a happy curmudgeon, I plead guilty. What you and many folks don't seem to understand, given your lack of exposure to tantra -- the peace- ful coexistence of opposites -- is that someone can be *both*, without any problems. As for claims that *I* am trolling for attention, I beg to differ. I just write about my life. Those who feel that I must either lie about it or embellish it to make it sound more interesting simply must not have much of a life themselves, to think that. I yam what I yam, as Popeye used to say. I don't really give much of a shit what other people think of what I yam. Happy anniversary... From: Ann awoelflebater@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:26 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Coping --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Susan wayback71@ wrote: Wow, Barry. NOt my area of expertise at all, but sounds as if the people who understand what you are all doing think it is really good. Congrats. Nice to be part of a field at its inception and then as it grows (computers etc) Remember Share, he is not your friend and doesn't give a shit how many compliments you give him. But carry on believin'. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: turq, if this is what you've been working on, congratulations!ÃÂ From: turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:21 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Coping ÃÂ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb wrote: These days, Steve, you're pretty much It for the Hate Brigade, since you're one of the only people who will bother even trying to interact with them as if they might have something to say. I think that's magnanimous and compassionate of you, but to them it just makes you a target. I admit Barry, I find FFL rather dull
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
I met a husband wife couple via the internet waves a couple years back. They recently spent a few days in our home so we got to meet 3-D and I learned more of their stories...rich and deep. (We all have those, I think.) https://www.facebook.com/shaneandamy Anyhoo, in 2007(?) life had dealt them a huge blow and that set out to travel the country for a year staring with $180. The husband launched the USA trek with the idea of creating a damning document of America. Well, that didn't happen. Instead, he (and his wife) discovered that people were mostly generous and kind. It changed that man's outlook on life. As he and I talked last week on the back porch about the goodness he and his wife (and dog and turtle) had found across the zip codes of the USA, we talked about how it would probably be the same anywhere on this big spinning ball...people are people. Yes, regions have their idiosyncrasies...yet if we can see beyond that or in spite of that, we can tap and connect with a part of us that is kindred. Hopefully those small ripples help make this world a better place...I think they do. I found the deep South to be completely counter to its stereotypes. Some of the nicest people I ever met there, complete strangers who would give me the shirt off their backs, were toothless, uneducated rednecks. I traveled through there with a black guy once, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia, we were treated with kindness and generosity, which was a good thing, cause it was the middle of winter. Spent a lot of time in North Carolina also, same deal. Had similar experiences all over the country. Once the me finds its normal size, the I Am/We Are takes over. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: martyboi, I bet a lot of people living outside of US would say that you have to be a little crazy to live here. For example, when I was visiting my family recently, I got exposed to contemporary TV programming. Scary! Meaning, scary in its mind numbingness. And the advertisements! Especially the drug advertisements, spouting off death as a possible side effect right up there with headaches and constipation!    Anyway, Rob Robb often says that as one travels from west to east in the US, the amount of light present decreases. As for the deep south, for example, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, don't even get me started! For one thing, I think they have the highest number of African Americans on death row. Highest obesity percentages. Very scary places.   From: martyboi martyboi@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 3:42 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?  Consensus reality is probably more accurate than the word Cult which actually means something like subculture. When you make statements like: everyone is crazy, or everyone is in a cult - you reduce the meaning of words Crazy or Cult to logical absurdities that renders them useless as terms that can be used in a rational discussion. When I ask myself questions like:Do I know anyone who is not a little crazy? or Do I know anyone who doesn't participate in a cult? The answer is always no - everyone I know seems a little crazy and everyone I know also identifies with some group or other. It's really just a matter of perspective isn't it? I mean to a west coast Bay Area person, such as myself - most people east and south of here are Obviously Insane ;-) Therefore as a practical matter, the words crazy and cult should be reserved for discussions about people and groups that have behaviors and ideas that are so variant with society at large that they are rendered dysfunctional in a major way. (i.e., can't sustain a relationship or a job.) Having preached that - I actually do think everyone is both crazy and in a cult...but you won't catch me sayin' it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
What an awesome account; love the images. :) I hitch hiked over 6000 miles as the crow flies back in the late 70s and early 80s. Wish I would have kept a journal of all the trips. I don't condone hitch hiking though. I do know some personal horror stories of others. Thankful all my experiences were good...or at least weren't bad. One time a city bus picked me up. lol --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: That was quite a trip, in 1972-ish. Trying to get from Colorado to my GF in Atlanta, I hooked up with this black guy, his cargo van, his motorcycle tied down in the back, and his Irish setter, through a ride board, when options like that were still fairy safe. We left Denver, went south through New Mexico and east into El Paso, into such a snowstorm, other cars were being blown off the road, literally. Thanks to the bike in the back, we had traction. After making it across Texas, we met these two good ol' boys around two in the morning, in Texarkana, at a gas station. Cold as f*ck outside. We brought the dog in, the guys carried out oil cartons for us to sleep on, gave us coffee, and we all talked for a long time. Later on, we'd let the dog out to run on rural roads, and that Irish Setter could pace the van forever! I was broke back then, and made the trip on very little food, literally bread and water. Did a fair amount of traveling like that, back then, always had good experiences, which I attribute more to my guardian angels, than to my wisdom at the time! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Good to hear, Doc, thanks for sharing. From: doctordumbass@ doctordumbass@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 7:45 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? Â I found the deep South to be completely counter to its stereotypes. Some of the nicest people I ever met there, complete strangers who would give me the shirt off their backs, were toothless, uneducated rednecks. I traveled through there with a black guy once, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia, we were treated with kindness and generosity, which was a good thing, cause it was the middle of winter. Spent a lot of time in North Carolina also, same deal. Had similar experiences all over the country. Once the me finds its normal size, the I Am/We Are takes over. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: martyboi, I bet a lot of people living outside of US would say that you have to be a little crazy to live here.ÃÂ For example, when I was visiting my family recently, I got exposed to contemporary TV programming.ÃÂ Scary!ÃÂ Meaning, scary in its mind numbingness.ÃÂ And the advertisements!ÃÂ Especially the drug advertisements, spouting off death as a possible side effect right up there with headaches and constipation!ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Anyway, Rob Robb often says that as one travels from west to east in the US, the amount of light present decreases.ÃÂ As for the deep south, for example, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, don't even get me started!ÃÂ For one thing, I think they have the highest number of African Americans on death row.ÃÂ Highest obesity percentages.ÃÂ Very scary places. ÃÂ ÃÂ From: martyboi martyboi@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 3:42 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? ÃÂ Consensus reality is probably more accurate than the word Cult which actually means something like subculture. When you make statements like: everyone is crazy, or everyone is in a cult - you reduce the meaning of words Crazy or Cult to logical absurdities that renders them useless as terms that can be used in a rational discussion. When I ask myself questions like:Do I know anyone who is not a little crazy? or Do I know anyone who doesn't participate in a cult? The answer is always no - everyone I know seems a little crazy and everyone I know also identifies with some group or other. It's really just a matter of perspective isn't it? I mean to a west coast Bay Area person, such as myself - most people east and south of here are Obviously Insane ;-) Therefore as a practical matter, the words crazy and cult should be reserved for discussions about people and groups that have behaviors and ideas that are so variant with society at large that they are rendered dysfunctional in a major way. (i.e., can't sustain a relationship or a job.) Having preached that - I actually do think everyone is both crazy and in a cult...but you won't catch me sayin' it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
Our old TV used to be stuck on MUET instead of MUTE. Never could get it to change from French to English. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: I have two remotes for the downstairs TV, one for the TV, and one for the antenna box. The buttons for mute and power are in mirror locations on the two remotes, so I must be careful I am not cutting power when I think I am muting. Hilarity ensues! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: For that contemporary TV programming, the mute button is highly favored. ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: martyboi, I bet a lot of people living outside of US would say that you have to be a little crazy to live here. For example, when I was visiting my family recently, I got exposed to contemporary TV programming. Scary! Meaning, scary in its mind numbingness. And the advertisements! Especially the drug advertisements, spouting off death as a possible side effect right up there with headaches and constipation!    Anyway, Rob Robb often says that as one travels from west to east in the US, the amount of light present decreases. As for the deep south, for example, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, don't even get me started! For one thing, I think they have the highest number of African Americans on death row. Highest obesity percentages. Very scary places.   From: martyboi martyboi@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 3:42 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?  Consensus reality is probably more accurate than the word Cult which actually means something like subculture. When you make statements like: everyone is crazy, or everyone is in a cult - you reduce the meaning of words Crazy or Cult to logical absurdities that renders them useless as terms that can be used in a rational discussion. When I ask myself questions like:Do I know anyone who is not a little crazy? or Do I know anyone who doesn't participate in a cult? The answer is always no - everyone I know seems a little crazy and everyone I know also identifies with some group or other. It's really just a matter of perspective isn't it? I mean to a west coast Bay Area person, such as myself - most people east and south of here are Obviously Insane ;-) Therefore as a practical matter, the words crazy and cult should be reserved for discussions about people and groups that have behaviors and ideas that are so variant with society at large that they are rendered dysfunctional in a major way. (i.e., can't sustain a relationship or a job.) Having preached that - I actually do think everyone is both crazy and in a cult...but you won't catch me sayin' it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
*chuckle* (Yes, I 'wastes' some posts with only *chuckle*) ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Duh! Obviously that's because Doc's GF was living in Atlanta when he made that momentous journey in the 70s (-: From: Richard J. Williams richard@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 10:31 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?  Share Long: Anyway, Rob Robb often says that as one travels from west to east in the US, the amount of light present decreases It all depends on from where you start: if you started out in downtown Oakland, it might get a lot lighter in suburban Atlanta. LoL!
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coping
Barry, I feel sure you will not respond to me because you never have, other than to accuse me (with false statements, btw) when I posted here with a Knapp update some months back. From my perusals here on FFL, you have mentioned more than once about how you do not interact with people whom you deem not worth your time and whom you feel are just out to manipulate you. Now certain folks are part of the Hate Brigade. (Does make others part of the Love Brigade?) Then you admonish or reprimand or point out to certain posters their (the posters') mistakes (or stupidity, if I recall correctly) in continuing to communicate with people whom you deem not worthy to communicate with. Aren't others on this board adults and able to make their own decisions regarding how they choose to interact with others on this forum? From the bit I've read the people you admonish never ask for your advice/suggestions. What's up with that? You trying to start your own little forum cult? I've read a few times where you throw out the narcissistic accusation. It seems to me that you have a bit of it going on yourself with the pronouncements of who is worth communicating with and who isn't. What good is it to dehumanize others and deem them unworthy to communicate with, putting yourself on some higher plane? It just promotes more us/them camps. Not that you care; I imagine you don't. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: It had a Robin feel to me Judy. Lately, much of what Ravi writes has a Robin feel. I can certainly see that. There is the same narcissism, and the same tendency to take words and buzz-phrases used by other people and parrot them as if they actually understood what the words meant. And they both seem to have graduated with honors from the same Bad Writing 101 class, while having skipped the How To Write Something Original And/Or Creative classes, preferring to smoke cigarettes in the schoolyard instead. :-) There is ALSO, I might mention, the same delight that they take in finding someone -- ANYONE -- who will keep replying to them on FFL, as if they were actually worth replying to. These days, Steve, you're pretty much It for the Hate Brigade, since you're one of the only people who will bother even trying to interact with them as if they might have something to say. I think that's magnanimous and compassionate of you, but to them it just makes you a target. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: Give me something Steve. You realize Ravi, that is was a common Robin refrain. Well, no, Steve, it wasn't. He never used that phrase, to anyone.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coping
PS: I imagine Barry, since you most likely won't respond to me directly and if my limited forum observations are correct and if you choose to address anything I stated, you will do so in an indirect manner with a new topic and without naming names. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Barry, I feel sure you will not respond to me because you never have, other than to accuse me (with false statements, btw) when I posted here with a Knapp update some months back. From my perusals here on FFL, you have mentioned more than once about how you do not interact with people whom you deem not worth your time and whom you feel are just out to manipulate you. Now certain folks are part of the Hate Brigade. (Does make others part of the Love Brigade?) Then you admonish or reprimand or point out to certain posters their (the posters') mistakes (or stupidity, if I recall correctly) in continuing to communicate with people whom you deem not worthy to communicate with. Aren't others on this board adults and able to make their own decisions regarding how they choose to interact with others on this forum? From the bit I've read the people you admonish never ask for your advice/suggestions. What's up with that? You trying to start your own little forum cult? I've read a few times where you throw out the narcissistic accusation. It seems to me that you have a bit of it going on yourself with the pronouncements of who is worth communicating with and who isn't. What good is it to dehumanize others and deem them unworthy to communicate with, putting yourself on some higher plane? It just promotes more us/them camps. Not that you care; I imagine you don't. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: It had a Robin feel to me Judy. Lately, much of what Ravi writes has a Robin feel. I can certainly see that. There is the same narcissism, and the same tendency to take words and buzz-phrases used by other people and parrot them as if they actually understood what the words meant. And they both seem to have graduated with honors from the same Bad Writing 101 class, while having skipped the How To Write Something Original And/Or Creative classes, preferring to smoke cigarettes in the schoolyard instead. :-) There is ALSO, I might mention, the same delight that they take in finding someone -- ANYONE -- who will keep replying to them on FFL, as if they were actually worth replying to. These days, Steve, you're pretty much It for the Hate Brigade, since you're one of the only people who will bother even trying to interact with them as if they might have something to say. I think that's magnanimous and compassionate of you, but to them it just makes you a target. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: Give me something Steve. You realize Ravi, that is was a common Robin refrain. Well, no, Steve, it wasn't. He never used that phrase, to anyone.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coping
I enjoyed this explanation Xeno. Well stated about having a description for something previously unknown to a person so one can at least have a hand hold, so to speak. From there the person can get their balance. Perhaps they will decide later that the hand hold (the descriptions) are not definitively applicable to their experience, but the descriptions at least provided aid. I do not always grasp what people are talking about when they state they (or others) are enlightened. To me, it is still a nebulous term. I kind of think that whatever state we are in, therein we are. If we are aware of that, we are enlightened because we are aware of the moment. I realize that probably isn't a definition of enlightenment, but it works for me...at the moment. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Xenophaneros Anartaxius anartaxius@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@ wrote: We all understand what it means to say everyone is enlightened, Xeno. As true as it may be on one level, some of us think it's unhelpful and counterproductive, even obfuscatory, when used in an exchange like that quoted above. [post #343925] As you present this Judy, yes. But it is not ultimately unhelpful. These kinds of statements have a purpose. They program the mind so that when awakening finally occurs, the mind has something to hold on to; gives it an anchor. Some people are very disoriented upon waking up because the character of the experience is so different from what they expected, from what they had been led to believe or what they made of what was said about it (in a reasonably decent tradition, it would be the latter). In the meantime the somewhat cryptic and seemingly irrational nature of the statement can provoke a curiosity in some to just ponder what it might mean because obviously the mind can only formulate an intellectual picture based on imagination. This kind of pondering, contemplative thinking can also push the mind to expand. Contemplative thinking seems to be less evident in the TM tradition than in some others. It comes to some people more naturally than others. So these kinds of statements, such as Maharishi saying 'in unity consciousness nothing ever happened', or the statement 'you are already enlightened', or 'if you do not see the way, you do not see it even if you walk on it' (this is from the Sandokai, a foundational poem for Zen Buddhism), kind of lie dormant, but they come to life when the individual wakes up out of their individuality. Then the mind can say 'oh, that's what that meant', and the disorientation that could have happened instead becomes recognition. I wasn't trying to bamboozle Nabby. Nabby and everyone else has the full value of being inside, outside, through and through. We could not discover it if it were not. The only difference is if you think it is something other than what you are experiencing as ordinary everyday experience, something you have to look for, you do not see it. All the practices we do are just to get the mind to stop dead and give up looking. It is so odd it can take such a long time to come to a truly persistent standstill.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
Enjoyed this piece. For me, it's a light-hearted way to shake me up a little and be more aware to endeavor to hear my own heart. I like the first comment on the blog: Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on April 26, 2013 - 1:42pm. and then freedom, or awakening becomes the 'cult' ... we never escape ... Ha! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer rick@... wrote: From: Integral Spiritual Practice [mailto:integralpractice@...] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:01 PM To: rick@... Subject: Are you in a cult? Dear Rick, Are you in a cult? Here's the short answer: You bet. And, worse, it's most likely an invisible cult! Okay, you're probably not a member of a new religious movement or other group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre by the larger society. But you're almost certainly a member in good standing of the Public Cult of the World, whose beliefs and practices are bizarre and abnormal by any objective healthy standard. After all, as the Dalai Lama has pointed out, in the Cult of the World you: ...sacrifice your health in order to make money. Then you sacrifice money to recuperate your health. Then you are so anxious about the future that you don't enjoy the present: the result being that you do not live in the present or the future; you live as if you are never going to die, and then you die having never really lived. It's a totally crazy way to live, when you look directly at it! But among us members of the ubiquitous and invisible Cult, it seems the natural order of things, unremarkable and inevitable. The Cult reinforces and conceals a great many other unwritten rules, invisible beliefs and unexamined assumptions too. (One example: the Cult inculcates you day and night with the message that you're a separate individual who must compete to succeed and build up a big, impressive ego-domain, or otherwise you're a failure.) Some of the Cult's beliefs may be crazy (and make you miserable) but as soon as you start questioning them, you're the one who's risking madness. After all, you'd be departing from the Public Cult of the World's consensus reality (which is what defines insanity). One of the strictest rules of the Cult is the taboo against acknowledging that the Cult even exists. Thus, every day while you're working hard and focusing intelligently on your priorities, you're also being lulled back into being oblivious to the Cult and its bondage. You're being drawn into what consciousness researcher Charles Tart memorably dubbed the Consensus Trance. He described it as a state of partly suspended animation, of stupor, of inability to function at [y]our maximum level... [dominated by] automatic and conditioned patterns of perception, thinking, feeling and behaving... Is there any escape from the Cult? Sure, but here's the paradox: to leave the Cult you'll have to risk being seen as...joining a cult! The official Public Cult of the World won't provide any support if you want to wake up from the consensus trance. And if you find someone who has in some sense awakened and who offers to help you wake up, or if you band together with others for mutual support in waking up from the trance so you can leave the Cultnow that's when your family might start to ask Hey, have you joined a cult? Maddeningly, your family (and critics) will probably be right! Most small groups, however healthy and intelligent their premises might be, readily develop groupthink dynamics that can easily become unhealthy, and even dangerously cultic. And yet without support and teaching, you're just going to be sucked back into the consensus trance and the mediocrity of the Public Cult of the World. What to do? Well, you can recognize that the consensus trance and the programming of the Cult is everywhere and that going in and out of trance is a constant, on-going process. As you do, it will become obvious that waking up from the trance needs to happen again and again, in many little moments of choice. This is what I mean by practice --- that choice to live deliberately, to embrace a way of life that's fully alive, always evolving, spontaneously in-the-moment, self-aware, humorous and free. (This is the core of the Integral Spiritual Practice http://click.e.evolvingwisdom.com/?qs=25c601ea8e0de1d61695affe716d537855c77 379117f20a921a45c29a6b5363e05cb13fd718cfdc9 I teach.) From this perspective, yes, you're in the big Cult, the one that keeps re-hypnotizing you back into the consensus trance. The point is this: you can leave the cult now --- in this very moment. May you do so, and may you keep leaving it, by waking up! Again and again and again --- every day, for the rest of your life. To your practice and awakening and freedom, Terry P.S. If you'd like to comment on this blog you can do so here
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
*chuckle* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: No body gets out of here alive (-: From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:14 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? Â Enjoyed this piece. For me, it's a light-hearted way to shake me up a little and be more aware to endeavor to hear my own heart. I like the first comment on the blog: Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on April 26, 2013 - 1:42pm. and then freedom, or awakening becomes the 'cult' ... we never escape ... Ha! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer rick@ wrote: From: Integral Spiritual Practice [mailto:integralpractice@] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:01 PM To: rick@ Subject: Are you in a cult? Dear Rick, Are you in a cult? Here's the short answer: You bet. And, worse, it's most likely an invisible cult! Okay, you're probably not a member of a new religious movement or other group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre by the larger society. But you're almost certainly a member in good standing of the Public Cult of the World, whose beliefs and practices are bizarre and abnormal by any objective healthy standard. After all, as the Dalai Lama has pointed out, in the Cult of the World you: ...sacrifice your health in order to make money. Then you sacrifice money to recuperate your health. Then you are so anxious about the future that you don't enjoy the present: the result being that you do not live in the present or the future; you live as if you are never going to die, and then you die having never really lived. It's a totally crazy way to live, when you look directly at it! But among us members of the ubiquitous and invisible Cult, it seems the natural order of things, unremarkable and inevitable. The Cult reinforces and conceals a great many other unwritten rules, invisible beliefs and unexamined assumptions too. (One example: the Cult inculcates you day and night with the message that you're a separate individual who must compete to succeed and build up a big, impressive ego-domain, or otherwise you're a failure.) Some of the Cult's beliefs may be crazy (and make you miserable) but as soon as you start questioning them, you're the one who's risking madness. After all, you'd be departing from the Public Cult of the World's consensus reality (which is what defines insanity). One of the strictest rules of the Cult is the taboo against acknowledging that the Cult even exists. Thus, every day while you're working hard and focusing intelligently on your priorities, you're also being lulled back into being oblivious to the Cult and its bondage. You're being drawn into what consciousness researcher Charles Tart memorably dubbed the Consensus Trance. He described it as a state of partly suspended animation, of stupor, of inability to function at [y]our maximum level... [dominated by] automatic and conditioned patterns of perception, thinking, feeling and behaving... Is there any escape from the Cult? Sure, but here's the paradox: to leave the Cult you'll have to risk being seen as...joining a cult! The official Public Cult of the World won't provide any support if you want to wake up from the consensus trance. And if you find someone who has in some sense awakened and who offers to help you wake up, or if you band together with others for mutual support in waking up from the trance so you can leave the Cultnow that's when your family might start to ask Hey, have you joined a cult? Maddeningly, your family (and critics) will probably be right! Most small groups, however healthy and intelligent their premises might be, readily develop groupthink dynamics that can easily become unhealthy, and even dangerously cultic. And yet without support and teaching, you're just going to be sucked back into the consensus trance and the mediocrity of the Public Cult of the World. What to do? Well, you can recognize that the consensus trance and the programming of the Cult is everywhere and that going in and out of trance is a constant, on-going process. As you do, it will become obvious that waking up from the trance needs to happen again and again, in many little moments of choice. This is what I mean by practice --- that choice to live deliberately, to embrace a way of life that's fully alive, always evolving, spontaneously in-the-moment, self-aware, humorous and free. (This is the core of the Integral Spiritual Practice http://click.e.evolvingwisdom.com/?qs=25c601ea8e0de1d61695affe716d537855c77 379117f20a921a45c29a6b5363e05cb13fd718cfdc9 I teach.) From this perspective, yes, you're in the big Cult, the one that keeps re
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coherent Times Magazine
*another chuckle* Boy, that'd cause some indigestion! ;D ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: That made me laugh. I did a quick google search on the health benefits of eating with gold cutlery. All I found was that gold cutlery isn't durable. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-using-gold-cutlery.htm Here's an article about other metals in cutlery. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/776ba1d4-93ee-11e1-baf0-00144feab49a.html#axzz2TMuHUnkS I have three gold crowns in my mouth. I always eat with them. Wonder if they are enlivening my heart? Seems that they are, Carol. I have a few gold ones myself and I had wondered if I had swallowed a Raja or two when I wasn't paying attention! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: I like this one better - the Ultimate Arrogant Bullshit TM My-Nose-Is-Permanently-Aimed-Toward-The-Sky-Cause-I'm-So-Much-More-Refined-Than-You Indulgence. http://coherenttimes.wordpress.com/gold/ And they even include more TM vacuous supercilious claims they never back up with facts: Normally cutlery is gold plated only for show. This process of gold plating is found to neutralize the âOjasâ enhancing effect. âJivan Super Goldâ is manufactured by a new, unique process to preserve and enhance âOjasâ. This unique process was developed by Jivan Super Products, together with Vedic health experts and is not commercially available. To enable the cutlery to be used on a practical daily basis, the hardness and strength of the gold has also been increased to the region of 18ct gold, whilst retaining the purity of 24ct gold. With this new technology we can now offer solid gold, or gold coated cutlery and eating utensils. From: merlin vedamerlin@ To: Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:15 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Coherent Times Magazine  Coherent Times Magazine coherenttimes.wordpress.com/tag/tm-england/http://coherenttimes.wordpress.com/tag/tm-england/ ...*... http://dev.invincibleeurope.eu/de/ ***_ .
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
Google that quote! ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Here_Gets_Out_Alive Interesting. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: I'm quoting but I forget who (-: From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:42 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? Â *chuckle* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: No body gets out of here alive (-: From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:14 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? ÃÂ Enjoyed this piece. For me, it's a light-hearted way to shake me up a little and be more aware to endeavor to hear my own heart. I like the first comment on the blog: Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on April 26, 2013 - 1:42pm. and then freedom, or awakening becomes the 'cult' ... we never escape ... Ha! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer rick@ wrote: From: Integral Spiritual Practice [mailto:integralpractice@] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:01 PM To: rick@ Subject: Are you in a cult? Dear Rick, Are you in a cult? Here's the short answer: You bet. And, worse, it's most likely an invisible cult! Okay, you're probably not a member of a new religious movement or other group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre by the larger society. But you're almost certainly a member in good standing of the Public Cult of the World, whose beliefs and practices are bizarre and abnormal by any objective healthy standard. After all, as the Dalai Lama has pointed out, in the Cult of the World you: ...sacrifice your health in order to make money. Then you sacrifice money to recuperate your health. Then you are so anxious about the future that you don't enjoy the present: the result being that you do not live in the present or the future; you live as if you are never going to die, and then you die having never really lived. It's a totally crazy way to live, when you look directly at it! But among us members of the ubiquitous and invisible Cult, it seems the natural order of things, unremarkable and inevitable. The Cult reinforces and conceals a great many other unwritten rules, invisible beliefs and unexamined assumptions too. (One example: the Cult inculcates you day and night with the message that you're a separate individual who must compete to succeed and build up a big, impressive ego-domain, or otherwise you're a failure.) Some of the Cult's beliefs may be crazy (and make you miserable) but as soon as you start questioning them, you're the one who's risking madness. After all, you'd be departing from the Public Cult of the World's consensus reality (which is what defines insanity). One of the strictest rules of the Cult is the taboo against acknowledging that the Cult even exists. Thus, every day while you're working hard and focusing intelligently on your priorities, you're also being lulled back into being oblivious to the Cult and its bondage. You're being drawn into what consciousness researcher Charles Tart memorably dubbed the Consensus Trance. He described it as a state of partly suspended animation, of stupor, of inability to function at [y]our maximum level... [dominated by] automatic and conditioned patterns of perception, thinking, feeling and behaving... Is there any escape from the Cult? Sure, but here's the paradox: to leave the Cult you'll have to risk being seen as...joining a cult! The official Public Cult of the World won't provide any support if you want to wake up from the consensus trance. And if you find someone who has in some sense awakened and who offers to help you wake up, or if you band together with others for mutual support in waking up from the trance so you can leave the Cultnow that's when your family might start to ask Hey, have you joined a cult? Maddeningly, your family (and critics) will probably be right! Most small groups, however healthy and intelligent their premises might be, readily develop groupthink dynamics that can easily become unhealthy, and even dangerously cultic. And yet without support and teaching, you're just going to be sucked back into the consensus trance and the mediocrity of the Public Cult of the World. What to do? Well, you can recognize that the consensus trance and the programming of the Cult is everywhere and that going in and out of trance is a constant, on-going process. As you do, it will become
[FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult?
More Jim Morrison: http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Jim_Morrison/ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Google that quote! ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_One_Here_Gets_Out_Alive Interesting. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: I'm quoting but I forget who (-: From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:42 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? Â *chuckle* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: No body gets out of here alive (-: From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 9:14 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Are you in a cult? ÃÂ Enjoyed this piece. For me, it's a light-hearted way to shake me up a little and be more aware to endeavor to hear my own heart. I like the first comment on the blog: Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on April 26, 2013 - 1:42pm. and then freedom, or awakening becomes the 'cult' ... we never escape ... Ha! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer rick@ wrote: From: Integral Spiritual Practice [mailto:integralpractice@] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:01 PM To: rick@ Subject: Are you in a cult? Dear Rick, Are you in a cult? Here's the short answer: You bet. And, worse, it's most likely an invisible cult! Okay, you're probably not a member of a new religious movement or other group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre by the larger society. But you're almost certainly a member in good standing of the Public Cult of the World, whose beliefs and practices are bizarre and abnormal by any objective healthy standard. After all, as the Dalai Lama has pointed out, in the Cult of the World you: ...sacrifice your health in order to make money. Then you sacrifice money to recuperate your health. Then you are so anxious about the future that you don't enjoy the present: the result being that you do not live in the present or the future; you live as if you are never going to die, and then you die having never really lived. It's a totally crazy way to live, when you look directly at it! But among us members of the ubiquitous and invisible Cult, it seems the natural order of things, unremarkable and inevitable. The Cult reinforces and conceals a great many other unwritten rules, invisible beliefs and unexamined assumptions too. (One example: the Cult inculcates you day and night with the message that you're a separate individual who must compete to succeed and build up a big, impressive ego-domain, or otherwise you're a failure.) Some of the Cult's beliefs may be crazy (and make you miserable) but as soon as you start questioning them, you're the one who's risking madness. After all, you'd be departing from the Public Cult of the World's consensus reality (which is what defines insanity). One of the strictest rules of the Cult is the taboo against acknowledging that the Cult even exists. Thus, every day while you're working hard and focusing intelligently on your priorities, you're also being lulled back into being oblivious to the Cult and its bondage. You're being drawn into what consciousness researcher Charles Tart memorably dubbed the Consensus Trance. He described it as a state of partly suspended animation, of stupor, of inability to function at [y]our maximum level... [dominated by] automatic and conditioned patterns of perception, thinking, feeling and behaving... Is there any escape from the Cult? Sure, but here's the paradox: to leave the Cult you'll have to risk being seen as...joining a cult! The official Public Cult of the World won't provide any support if you want to wake up from the consensus trance. And if you find someone who has in some sense awakened and who offers to help you wake up, or if you band together with others for mutual support in waking up from the trance so you can leave the Cultnow that's when your family might start to ask Hey, have you joined a cult? Maddeningly, your family (and critics) will probably be right! Most small groups, however healthy and intelligent their premises might be, readily develop groupthink dynamics that can easily become unhealthy, and even dangerously cultic. And yet without support
[FairfieldLife] Re: Coping
Oh my! He responded! ;D Thank you Barry. I plan to have good day. You too. * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: PS: I imagine Barry, since you most likely won't respond to me directly and if my limited forum observations are correct and if you choose to address anything I stated, you will do so in an indirect manner with a new topic and without naming names. Nonsense. I will ignore it -- and you -- completely. Have a nice day. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Barry, I feel sure you will not respond to me because you never have, other than to accuse me (with false statements, btw) when I posted here with a Knapp update some months back. From my perusals here on FFL, you have mentioned more than once about how you do not interact with people whom you deem not worth your time and whom you feel are just out to manipulate you. Now certain folks are part of the Hate Brigade. (Does make others part of the Love Brigade?) Then you admonish or reprimand or point out to certain posters their (the posters') mistakes (or stupidity, if I recall correctly) in continuing to communicate with people whom you deem not worthy to communicate with. Aren't others on this board adults and able to make their own decisions regarding how they choose to interact with others on this forum? From the bit I've read the people you admonish never ask for your advice/suggestions. What's up with that? You trying to start your own little forum cult? I've read a few times where you throw out the narcissistic accusation. It seems to me that you have a bit of it going on yourself with the pronouncements of who is worth communicating with and who isn't. What good is it to dehumanize others and deem them unworthy to communicate with, putting yourself on some higher plane? It just promotes more us/them camps. Not that you care; I imagine you don't. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: It had a Robin feel to me Judy. Lately, much of what Ravi writes has a Robin feel. I can certainly see that. There is the same narcissism, and the same tendency to take words and buzz-phrases used by other people and parrot them as if they actually understood what the words meant. And they both seem to have graduated with honors from the same Bad Writing 101 class, while having skipped the How To Write Something Original And/Or Creative classes, preferring to smoke cigarettes in the schoolyard instead. :-) There is ALSO, I might mention, the same delight that they take in finding someone -- ANYONE -- who will keep replying to them on FFL, as if they were actually worth replying to. These days, Steve, you're pretty much It for the Hate Brigade, since you're one of the only people who will bother even trying to interact with them as if they might have something to say. I think that's magnanimous and compassionate of you, but to them it just makes you a target. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: Give me something Steve. You realize Ravi, that is was a common Robin refrain. Well, no, Steve, it wasn't. He never used that phrase, to anyone.
[FairfieldLife] Re: MUM Question
Reading the #147 quote brings to mind speaking in tongues (SIT). Of course, SIT is different from a known written language which is what appears to be referred to in the #147 quote and the comments here. Yet I would think SIT would have a similar psychological effect/affect as chanting, if chanting is the correct terminology for what is referenced in the #147 quote. * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: OK someone who has attended MUM recently please 'splain this to me - what exactly are they doing that this person described on MUM Secrets? #147: MUM is the only place in life I was ever asked to repeat long pages of words for sound value and discouraged from asking the meaning. I feel a bit weird for following along but did it anyway. It felt like reciting confusing King James Version Bible verses and then upon asking the meaning, you're told, the meaning isn't important, you are reciting for sound value.? Come again? Excuse me... but what the fuck am I saying every day in this class with 20 other people!? I'm pretty sure everyone else in the world following a spiritual practice is aware of what they are repeating. Words are powerful and so are their meanings.
[FairfieldLife] Re: parsing a la Descartes was HITLER'S VALENTINE
Hey seventhray...Yes there is that risk. And I imagine it would take me quite a bit longer than 15 to 20 minutes. It isn't the recent discussion that would take awhile; but rather, the history behind the recent discourses. That history appears to involve multiple relationships. And I'm not one to jump to quick conclusions...so my analytical skills (as limited as they may be) take time to process and think and weigh and compare. Do I want to put that much energy into this? At this point and time, I do not. But maybe later, I will. This next statement is not directed at you seventhray. ...It occurred to me some time ago that the word analyze begins with anal. I've sometimes thought of it as anal-eyes since entering the world of internet forums in 2006. I was late to the scene. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I'm only a lurker in this dialog. I haven't read all the exchanges that have gone on in the latest conflict. Until these last few posts, I knew next to nothing about what you have expounded here Judy. Thanks for filling in some history for me. I don't know if I will go back and read all of the recent conflict or the prior history, but at least I have a place to start if I decide to. Think twice about this Carol. Going back and reading the raw feed on your own could be dangerous. You may arrive at a conclusion that could be a variance with what you have been spoon fed here. Evidently Judy was right about John Knapp, so it might be safer just to go with assumption that's she's right here, rather than putting in the fifteen to twenty minutes of examining the posts from a few days ago that might allow you to form your own opinion. They are pretty easy to find. But there is that risk of having to bring to bear your own analytical skills rather than rely on those of others. Reading the bit I have as I have lurked, the dialog is all too familiar within the anti-cult circles I've had brushes with. Projection. Sidestepping accountability for one's words. Speculating of other people's motives. As I've read, I've not been sure who to believe and wondered why I even care. I thought how I sometimes long for innocence and wish to be an ostrich...as trite and childish as that may sound. I wrote some thoughts earlier after reading Judy's initial post today, trying to work through some of the muddle in my own head as I've read bits of this recent conflict. In writing those thoughts, I wondered why am I muddled? Why does this stuff even matter to me? Should I state anything publicly? Will I sound foolish? What if I do sound foolish, what difference does it really make? Has some of the dialog 'triggered' my own stuff that I am still working through after my involvement in a 'cult' and certain anti-cult 'cults?' I questioned my own biases and fairness. Do I judge other's motives? How much do I project? How much do my biases play into reading others? Like others, my own experiences have caused me to be less trusting of others; I already had been well trained to not trust my self and was gaining much ground in that area until the Knapp crap. I have picked up many of those pieces, but reading this recent dialog brought some of that stuff up again. Years ago, Judy had read Knapp correctly and called him out. I won't go into how I had rationalized the Knapp I thought I knew when I first came to FFL in 2010(?) or maybe it was 2009(?) and read some of Judy's posts calling Knapp out. I would never (at that time) have imagined she would be so spot on. But she was. Could she be right again? I'll stop here... A few of my muddled thoughts...for what they're worth. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@ wrote: Thanks for this, you knew Curtis was twisting here since they were full of mutual admiration back then. Robin was certainly a very fascinating character but I couldn't understand Robin's fascination and admiration for Curtis when he came on board but then figured he would have to figure Curtis out for himself, which he did. Curtis was on his very best behavior, at his most charming, with Robin at first. Their dialogue was really scintillating, some of the best I've seen on any Web forum. It was beautiful to see how much Robin was enjoying himself after his bleak quarter-century in virtual exile. He just expanded like a flower. I had no clue what was going to happen down the road. Even after they first began to fall out, reading their exchanges was like watching a highly competitive contest between two extremely skilled players. After each post, you couldn't wait to see how the other guy could possibly top it. I don't
[FairfieldLife] Re: parsing a la Descartes was HITLER'S VALENTINE
Thank you Ravi. No, I do not want to be an ostrich. I was for a number of years and perhaps some of this stuff strikes a chord within me because I never want to go back to the ostrich; it was detrimental not only to my mental and emotional health, but also to my physical health. I do hope that one day there is a time when all will be naked and all be reconciled. A naive hope, perhaps. And one that I do not expect to see in this earth life. But, if there is something beyond this earth life, maybe there will be a such a time. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@... wrote: Hi Carol - this was a very beautiful post, lot of intelligence in it. I have talked about this before - the strength of Judy is her clear intellect - this amazing ability to detect inconsistencies even from online posts and her ability to not let any discomfort, bias of her own in expressing what she believes to be right. And I have actual experience, evidence of this back from Dec 2011 And to comment on one of you lines I thought how I sometimes long for innocence and wish to be an ostrich...as trite and childish as that may sound. Yes innocence will inevitably be lost - but there does exist a state where innocence is regained - a beautiful state of vulnerability where one is innocent and also totally aware of that innocence. And the way is not to be an Ostrich and not let any discomfort, bias, fear, insecurity of our own in confronting the truth and letting that pain, suffering lead us to that state. On Sat, Apr 13, 2013 at 7:32 PM, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: ** I'm only a lurker in this dialog. I haven't read all the exchanges that have gone on in the latest conflict. Until these last few posts, I knew next to nothing about what you have expounded here Judy. Thanks for filling in some history for me. I don't know if I will go back and read all of the recent conflict or the prior history, but at least I have a place to start if I decide to. Reading the bit I have as I have lurked, the dialog is all too familiar within the anti-cult circles I've had brushes with. Projection. Sidestepping accountability for one's words. Speculating of other people's motives. As I've read, I've not been sure who to believe and wondered why I even care. I thought how I sometimes long for innocence and wish to be an ostrich...as trite and childish as that may sound. I wrote some thoughts earlier after reading Judy's initial post today, trying to work through some of the muddle in my own head as I've read bits of this recent conflict. In writing those thoughts, I wondered why am I muddled? Why does this stuff even matter to me? Should I state anything publicly? Will I sound foolish? What if I do sound foolish, what difference does it really make? Has some of the dialog 'triggered' my own stuff that I am still working through after my involvement in a 'cult' and certain anti-cult 'cults?' I questioned my own biases and fairness. Do I judge other's motives? How much do I project? How much do my biases play into reading others? Like others, my own experiences have caused me to be less trusting of others; I already had been well trained to not trust my self and was gaining much ground in that area until the Knapp crap. I have picked up many of those pieces, but reading this recent dialog brought some of that stuff up again. Years ago, Judy had read Knapp correctly and called him out. I won't go into how I had rationalized the Knapp I thought I knew when I first came to FFL in 2010(?) or maybe it was 2009(?) and read some of Judy's posts calling Knapp out. I would never (at that time) have imagined she would be so spot on. But she was. Could she be right again? I'll stop here... A few of my muddled thoughts...for what they're worth. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@ wrote: Thanks for this, you knew Curtis was twisting here since they were full of mutual admiration back then. Robin was certainly a very fascinating character but I couldn't understand Robin's fascination and admiration for Curtis when he came on board but then figured he would have to figure Curtis out for himself, which he did. Curtis was on his very best behavior, at his most charming, with Robin at first. Their dialogue was really scintillating, some of the best I've seen on any Web forum. It was beautiful to see how much Robin was enjoying himself after his bleak quarter-century in virtual exile. He just expanded like a flower. I had no clue what was going to happen down the road. Even after they first began to fall out, reading their exchanges was like watching a highly competitive contest between two extremely skilled players. After each post
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Catching up on this thread now. I'm not familiar with the Saint Germain Foundation or the Ballards. I think I read an article on the Ascended Masters in the last few years; but don't recall what it stated. I'll have to do a google search. I get what your saying though about past interests (or beliefs(?)) and liking some of the concepts, even though one may no longer subscribe to the beliefs, per say. An example I think of is with my past beliefs in Christianity. I still hold some of the hymns dear. But that doesn't mean I believe the words; I do appreciate the music and the culture and the heart with which some of those hymns were written. Cool about Compton Heights and the folks that moved in. I'm sure your own children have a rich life lesson there, not to mention the fun they had. If only those old walls/houses could speak. So much history. This past Friday I visited some friends from high school whom I haven't seen in awhile. We got together at a restaurant one of them has recently opened in Hildebran, NC, near where the movie, The Hunger Games was filmed. The movie was shot at an old mill village there in Hildebran; a mill village I knew nothing about until the movie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_River_Mill_Village The locals began to bring my friend old photographs of their relatives (or themselves) that used to live in the mill village. One 8ishx10ish bw photo hanging on the wall is of a sailor, standing in some flowers in front of one of the old mill houses. I reckon it is from the 1940s. One day, in walked an elderly man - 93 years old. He was with his daughter. Daughter approached my friend and stated, The picture of that sailor is my dad. Would you like to meet him? Now there is a small 3x5 color photo of Dad sitting under the bw that hangs on the wall. Hmm...I guess walls can speak after all. BTW, her little restaurant now has photos from the locals spanning from 1901 through the present. It's becoming a little museum of sorts. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: seventhray is a carry over from the time (the few months I spent with The Saint Germain Foundation here is St. Louis)and also some of the literature I've read regarding the Ascended Masters. Now before MJ wets his pants with another (tired) tirade about Guy and Edna Ballard, or the fantasy of the Ascended Masters, it's nothing I really think about anymore, but I simply liked the concept of the seventhray. Well okay, the whole concept of Saint Germain, and the Ascended Masters is something I still keep in the back of my mind. Naturally it isn't anything I would bring up here because, you know, you bring this stuff here at your own risk. Plus, anything thoughts I have about it are quite personal. I wanted to be seventhray1, but it was taken. For a while I was seventhray2, but that ID got messed up when I changed my e-mail, so I just went with seventhray27 Ah, Roller Ball, aka Indian Ball. A couple years ago, we had a family whose house burned down in a predominantly black part of town, and their insurance payed for them to move into our neighborhood, (not that it's exclusive or anything, but its a historic neighborhood with many large homes settled by the wealthy German population who settled here. (Our home is quite a bit smaller, the original home having been destroyed in the 1900 tornado, and a smaller house built in it's place. Anyway there were about 6 kids living in that house who had never played any baseball, so that summer and fall, (before they moved back), I had fun teaching them how to ride a bike and playing catch, and hitting and throwing, riding a scooter, along with my kids of course. Good times! http://comptonheights.org/ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Those were part of our rules, seventhray. What does seventhray stand for, if you don't mind me asking? Well, I guess I'll ask about significance of 27 also? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: There was also a version where at some point, someone would lay the bat down, and someone else would roll the ball in, and if it hit the bat and bounced up, and you were able to catch the ball on the bounce, you won that round,or got some points. But I can't remember the name of that game. So, when you say roller ball that also comes to mind. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Seventhray...it is Indian Ball. I don't recall ever learning about that. Thank you. Share...fascinating about cellular memory/response and the skin cells. Do you know if this experiment was duplicated? I wonder if any responses are dependent on other factors such as individual's constitution or how much time the cells are detached from the body
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Interesting. Hmm...maybe I should look back into energy work in some of my recent health challenges. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Carol, I used to have high pressure on optic nerves, pre glaucoma. Suddenly my pressures dropped to the normal range, no eye drops involved. I am convinced daily EFT tapping contributed to the change because it increased circulation around the eyes. And when I was losing weight and had a sugar craving, tapping the heels of my hands together got rid of the craving. So I continue to do a little EFT every day, if only to keep my eyes healthy. It's interesting how different methods help different people. Or the same person but not all time.     From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 11:21 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  I think it is pretty cool too. :) BTW: I have used EFT in the past. I can't say it helped me and I didn't stick with it. I did get help from just quieting myself to perform the EFT. At the time I used it, I was seeing a holistic counselor who integrates traditional therapy (like cognitive behavioral) and alternative approaches. I know a couple folks that swear by EFT. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Thanks, Carol, this has got to be one of the very wonderful developments on our sweet planet, that the Appalachian Trail is extending overseas.àFrom: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 8:03 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight! àWhen I think of hillbilly...I think of bluegrass and The Darlins on Andy Griffith. ;) But, I also immediately thought of fiddles and bagpipes. I grew up in bluegrass country. A one of the local barbeque places (Sims in Dudley Shoals, NC), Doc Watson used to come in and play for free, no cover charge. He and some of his band would come on over when they wanted a bite to eat. They ate free and then they'd play for the local patrons. I tire of bluegrass rather quickly though. But I also tire of jazz and blues rather quickly. I need variety. I seldom tire of bagpipes or fiddles or flutes. I think it be in my Appalachia blood...them there fiddles and pipes. One of my favorite well-known fiddlers is Natalie MacMaster. As far as I know she ain't from Appalachia, but rather Canada. ;) Thanks for that snippet background of music history Curtis. Interesting. PS side note: Did you know that Appalachian Trail is now extending into Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail#Extension_to_Europe_and_North_Africa *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: -- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Oh you must be referring to Nabbie's comments. I'm always puzzled by him characterizing Mississippi delta blues as hillbilly music. To my thinking, that label would only apply to bluegrass and country. Yours is the more common distinction. The music of the hillbilly is shaped by Irish and Scottish folk music rather than black culture. They are almost direct opposites musically. I think he is using it as a euphemism for I don't like you. Growing up in the blues I made stronger distinctions between African American based blues and the white blues of say Hank Williams. In my recent research I am finding that there was more of a crossover between white and black cultures in music than I had realized, especially cowboy music. Black bluesmen were as crazy about cowboys as everyone else. When Alan Lomax went to record Muddy Waters before he went to Chicago in 1941 he knew more cowboy songs than blues songs! Alan only recorded his blues songs in that session which is kind of too bad. Tommy Johnson yodeled in his 1928 recording. I don't feel much affinity with the twang in their voices but the themes of the blues sure zoom forth in this song by Jimmy Davis who had a number one hit in '40 followed by Gene Autry's number one hit with the same song in '41. But check out the first verse for all the blues. Gene started with the chorus in his version, and it changes the blues vibe of the song completely. I play this in old folks homes, they love it. The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I
[FairfieldLife] Re: parsing a la Descartes was HITLER'S VALENTINE
Thanks Steve. You stated: I made my point that when drawing conclusions, its best to get info from the original sources and not from a second interpretation. I agree..and I think most folks would. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: Something seems to be working for you, because you come off as someone who has gone through difficult times and managed to sort it out in the end. So, not for me to make any judgements. I made my point that when drawing conclusions, its best to get info from the original sources and not from a second interpretation. That's all. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Hey seventhray...Yes there is that risk. And I imagine it would take me quite a bit longer than 15 to 20 minutes. It isn't the recent discussion that would take awhile; but rather, the history behind the recent discourses. That history appears to involve multiple relationships. And I'm not one to jump to quick conclusions...so my analytical skills (as limited as they may be) take time to process and think and weigh and compare. Do I want to put that much energy into this? At this point and time, I do not. But maybe later, I will. This next statement is not directed at you seventhray. ...It occurred to me some time ago that the word analyze begins with anal. I've sometimes thought of it as anal-eyes since entering the world of internet forums in 2006. I was late to the scene. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I'm only a lurker in this dialog. I haven't read all the exchanges that have gone on in the latest conflict. Until these last few posts, I knew next to nothing about what you have expounded here Judy. Thanks for filling in some history for me. I don't know if I will go back and read all of the recent conflict or the prior history, but at least I have a place to start if I decide to. Think twice about this Carol. Going back and reading the raw feed on your own could be dangerous. You may arrive at a conclusion that could be a variance with what you have been spoon fed here. Evidently Judy was right about John Knapp, so it might be safer just to go with assumption that's she's right here, rather than putting in the fifteen to twenty minutes of examining the posts from a few days ago that might allow you to form your own opinion. They are pretty easy to find. But there is that risk of having to bring to bear your own analytical skills rather than rely on those of others. Reading the bit I have as I have lurked, the dialog is all too familiar within the anti-cult circles I've had brushes with. Projection. Sidestepping accountability for one's words. Speculating of other people's motives. As I've read, I've not been sure who to believe and wondered why I even care. I thought how I sometimes long for innocence and wish to be an ostrich...as trite and childish as that may sound. I wrote some thoughts earlier after reading Judy's initial post today, trying to work through some of the muddle in my own head as I've read bits of this recent conflict. In writing those thoughts, I wondered why am I muddled? Why does this stuff even matter to me? Should I state anything publicly? Will I sound foolish? What if I do sound foolish, what difference does it really make? Has some of the dialog 'triggered' my own stuff that I am still working through after my involvement in a 'cult' and certain anti-cult 'cults?' I questioned my own biases and fairness. Do I judge other's motives? How much do I project? How much do my biases play into reading others? Like others, my own experiences have caused me to be less trusting of others; I already had been well trained to not trust my self and was gaining much ground in that area until the Knapp crap. I have picked up many of those pieces, but reading this recent dialog brought some of that stuff up again. Years ago, Judy had read Knapp correctly and called him out. I won't go into how I had rationalized the Knapp I thought I knew when I first came to FFL in 2010(?) or maybe it was 2009(?) and read some of Judy's posts calling Knapp out. I would never (at that time) have imagined she would be so spot on. But she was. Could she be right again? I'll stop here... A few of my muddled thoughts...for what they're worth. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@ wrote: Thanks for this, you knew Curtis was twisting here since they were full of mutual admiration back then. Robin was certainly a very
[FairfieldLife] Re: parsing a la Descartes was HITLER'S VALENTINE
Thanks for chiming in Curtis. I am making no definitive conclusions. And yes, I have more than Judy's filter to assess you (or anyone) and more than others' filters to assess Judy. I prefer to not assess at all; but alas, that is part of our humanity and we all do it in some degree each day. I know you have nothing to do with Knapp. My working through my experience with Knapp is my own; it happens to have come up as I was lurking in on the recent conversations and then when Judy brought up parts of the history behind those conversations. Knapp did a true mindfuck on me and, for good and/or bad, it affected me...especially regarding online relationships. It affected how I approach those relationships. For awhile, I dropped out of online activity; even thought about deleting all my blogs and just disappearing into 3-D life. (Which I probably will some day, but I want it to be on my timetable and not pushed there in a reaction to someone else.) I hope, in the long wrong, I am able to make Knapp's affect on my psyche a good one. That said, it would take a whole lot for me to ever trust anything (and I mean anything) the man states. I don't take Judy's perspective as some clear truth. (I'm not saying that you think I do. I'm just addressing your statement.) I do take Judy's perspective (and her digging up the history with links) into account; as stated, I trust her and her opinions do hold weight for me. Barry's opinions hold zero weight and that is not because of Judy but because of my observations of and interactions with Barry on FFL. (I'm sure Barry will loose no sleep over my statement, if he even reads it.) Your perspective holds weight with me too. You come across to me as reasonable. That said, Knapp came across to me as such...and thus I have little flags that go off. (Not that I believe those flags, but I've learned to not ignore them.) I have no place in this 'battle' (for lack of a better word). I hesitated whether or not to post anything at all. I knew I would make myself vulnerable when I did. I decided for my own growth (as selfish as that is), the vulnerability was worth any perceived so-called risk. If I want to reach definitive conclusions about all these relationships and peoples' characters, it would take much more reading on my part; something I don't have the energy or time to do currently. Even then, I don't know if I would reach a definitive judgment. There is usually a million things behind the scenes that is not expressed or known. I do take online relationships as authentically as I am able to. Behind the keyboard is a real person with a real heart and an abundance of life experiences. I can only speculate a person's intent (unless I know the person..and even then..I could be wrong). If a person means ill will and if their intent is to harm and use others as merchandise, eventually that may come out. People who have such intentions have to look in their own mirror each day. I haven't gotten the impression that your intent is ill will; nor have I gotten that impression of Judy. Thanks again. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: Carol I believe you have a much better way to asses the kind of person I am beyond Judy's filter. I have nothing to do with John Knapp or his perspective, and in fact have my own stories which I am really not interested in sharing on a public board. Robin and I really enjoyed communicating on this board for a long time and I think we both feel that period was a highlight in our posting history here. The complex reasons that lead to our falling out are not even clear to either of us, and we have both processed some of them openly here on this forum. The risk of doing that is that someone with ill will toward one of us can use specific statements for their own goals. That is the nature of a public forum and the evaluation of it's risk reward balance is always a continual assessment for me. Judy's view of what went on between Robin and me is not some clear truth about it. It is her very unflattering opinion of me which has been a consistent theme for a very long time. The topic changes, but the narrative is the same. Although I don't have a very flattering view of Judy either, I am not interested in making a case for my opinion by fighting a war of quotes with her here. That is not a statement of me conceding that her view is accurate. I thought I owed you that explanation at least. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I'm only a lurker in this dialog. I haven't read all the exchanges that have gone on in the latest conflict. Until these last few posts, I knew next to nothing about what you have expounded here Judy. Thanks for filling in some history for me. I don't know if I will go back and read all of the recent conflict or the prior history, but at least I
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Those were part of our rules, seventhray. What does seventhray stand for, if you don't mind me asking? Well, I guess I'll ask about significance of 27 also? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: There was also a version where at some point, someone would lay the bat down, and someone else would roll the ball in, and if it hit the bat and bounced up, and you were able to catch the ball on the bounce, you won that round,or got some points. But I can't remember the name of that game. So, when you say roller ball that also comes to mind. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Seventhray...it is Indian Ball. I don't recall ever learning about that. Thank you. Share...fascinating about cellular memory/response and the skin cells. Do you know if this experiment was duplicated? I wonder if any responses are dependent on other factors such as individual's constitution or how much time the cells are detached from the body. This brings to mind Donna Eden's book on Energy Medicine and one of her accounts regarding an amputated finger. I'd have to look up the details now, but it seems their was communication between the finger and the hand from which it was amputated. I know energy medicine is controversial and some (most?) scientists tout it as pseudo science. One day maybe we will have the mechanisms for more reliable hard data. Regardless, once a person experiences something, it's difficult for one to deny that experience and remain stable. I mean, to deny it can produce a cognitive dissonance which can eventually be detrimental to one's well being. I think of one of Audubon's quotes: When the bird and the book disagree, always believe the bird. [But I'd take out the word always. ;) ] I posted in another FFL thread about Paul Pearsall. I think I posted about his interviews with organ transplant patients and the cellular memory transferred to the patient. Patients (at least at the time the book was written) could not know who their donors were for one year; yet, the patients had picked up words and/or memories and/or certain behaviors and tastes that the patient didn't have previous to receiving their new organ. Come to learn a year later, that those changes coincided with their donors' memories/tastes/words/etc. Life sure is complex and rich. I was updating my poetry archive last night. It was fun reading through poems I've penned in the last 4 years. One piece reminded me of how so much life surrounds us every moment of every day; life is everywhere. And the seeds of life...such an abundance of seeds. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: I think it's what we used to call Indian Ball http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/July-2008/What-the-Is-Indian-Ball/ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Hi Carol, I always played slow pitch so I doubt I could even hit one of those fast pitches! I don't know what a rollie bat is but my Grandad played sandlot baseball so I guess it's in my genes. Speaking of which, the name of the Bruce Lipton movie is also Biology of Belief. The public library showed it here a few years ago. I remember some research about putting a few skin cells from a person in a petrie dish. When that person heard their spouse say I love you, even in the next room, their skin cells changed. Very cool stuff. Anyway, here's a question: if we were to find some cells of Copernicus, could we say I love you to them and would that benefit Copernicus? Another kind of time travel maybe. From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:14 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Women's softball pitchers are fun to watch. I never played softball much except in a few sandlot games. I played lots of sandlot rollie bat. Did ya'll play rollie bat? I wonder if kids still play that...or was it a 60s and 70s thing. Sixties thing...like running through the pesticide when the bug spray truck would drive through the hood. It's amazing we aren't more messed up. Ha. I'm not familiar with the movie you are referring to; what is the name of it? I googled Bruce Lipton. I recall hearing about his book Biology of Belief. But I haven't read it. It may behoove me to put it on my list. I have read Norman Cousins' book Head First: The Biology of Hope which I found intriguing. But it is dated compared to what is out there now. I enjoyed Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion. I really
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
When I think of hillbilly...I think of bluegrass and The Darlins on Andy Griffith. ;) But, I also immediately thought of fiddles and bagpipes. I grew up in bluegrass country. A one of the local barbeque places (Sims in Dudley Shoals, NC), Doc Watson used to come in and play for free, no cover charge. He and some of his band would come on over when they wanted a bite to eat. They ate free and then they'd play for the local patrons. I tire of bluegrass rather quickly though. But I also tire of jazz and blues rather quickly. I need variety. I seldom tire of bagpipes or fiddles or flutes. I think it be in my Appalachia blood...them there fiddles and pipes. One of my favorite well-known fiddlers is Natalie MacMaster. As far as I know she ain't from Appalachia, but rather Canada. ;) Thanks for that snippet background of music history Curtis. Interesting. PS side note: Did you know that Appalachian Trail is now extending into Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail#Extension_to_Europe_and_North_Africa *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: -- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Oh you must be referring to Nabbie's comments. I'm always puzzled by him characterizing Mississippi delta blues as hillbilly music. To my thinking, that label would only apply to bluegrass and country. Yours is the more common distinction. The music of the hillbilly is shaped by Irish and Scottish folk music rather than black culture. They are almost direct opposites musically. I think he is using it as a euphemism for I don't like you. Growing up in the blues I made stronger distinctions between African American based blues and the white blues of say Hank Williams. In my recent research I am finding that there was more of a crossover between white and black cultures in music than I had realized, especially cowboy music. Black bluesmen were as crazy about cowboys as everyone else. When Alan Lomax went to record Muddy Waters before he went to Chicago in 1941 he knew more cowboy songs than blues songs! Alan only recorded his blues songs in that session which is kind of too bad. Tommy Johnson yodeled in his 1928 recording. I don't feel much affinity with the twang in their voices but the themes of the blues sure zoom forth in this song by Jimmy Davis who had a number one hit in '40 followed by Gene Autry's number one hit with the same song in '41. But check out the first verse for all the blues. Gene started with the chorus in his version, and it changes the blues vibe of the song completely. I play this in old folks homes, they love it. The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken And I hung my head and cried. You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. I'll always love you And make you happy If you will only say the same But if you leave me To love another You'll regret it all some day; You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. You told me once, dear You really loved me And no one else could come between But now you've left me And love another You have shattered all my dreams; You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
*chuckle* To me, hillbilly isn't a derogatory term. It's rich with culture. I love the Appalachia folk. I enjoy reading some of Dave Tabler's pennings. I mainly get his updates on FB which includes lots of photos. http://www.appalachianhistory.net/ Here's one of my favorite MacMaster tunes. I love the words in the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYDNSUdn6k8 Cool about playing the bagpipes. I don't play them, just enjoy listening to them. I'd probably tire of them too if I heard them all the time. But, on the other hand, they are similar to a call of the wild. Doc Watsonnuther funny story. My mom was an encyclopedia salesperson for decades (Comptons and then Britannica). She was manager for western NC. She sold Doc his set of books. ;D He lived in Deep Gap (I think it was), which was about an hour from were I grew up. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: But I also tire of jazz and blues rather quickly. OMG I am so suspending your favorite poster status! It is not possible to tire of blues ever. I've been playing it since I was 14 and I am ramping up even more these days after all these years. Oh wait I've been deep into Malian music again lately so please ignore the above, I was totally full of it, variety in music does in fact rock. Doc Watson was kind of a hillbilly and is a total God to me so thanks for that re-frame. Now when Nabbie calls me a hillbilly I will picture hillbilly bluesman Doc Watson and smile, thanks for that connection. I have a musician/historical preservationist buddy who is schooling me on the different types of bagpipes including smaller ones for more emotional expression, more similar to blues. I am good for a song or two of the we are coming to kick some British ass bagpipe songs and them I am looking for variety. It stays in two narrow a range like some rap music that doesn't include a chick breaking in at some point with some passionate higher frequency hollering. (Last Saturday SNL had ghostface killah using an opera singer in this role and it was fantastic despite his lackluster rapping skills. The contrast was amazing.) Thanks for the tip on Natalie MacMaster, I'll check her out. When I think of hillbilly...I think of bluegrass and The Darlins on Andy Griffith. ;) But, I also immediately thought of fiddles and bagpipes. I grew up in bluegrass country. A one of the local barbeque places (Sims in Dudley Shoals, NC), Doc Watson used to come in and play for free, no cover charge. He and some of his band would come on over when they wanted a bite to eat. They ate free and then they'd play for the local patrons. I tire of bluegrass rather quickly though. But I also tire of jazz and blues rather quickly. I need variety. I seldom tire of bagpipes or fiddles or flutes. I think it be in my Appalachia blood...them there fiddles and pipes. One of my favorite well-known fiddlers is Natalie MacMaster. As far as I know she ain't from Appalachia, but rather Canada. ;) Thanks for that snippet background of music history Curtis. Interesting. PS side note: Did you know that Appalachian Trail is now extending into Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail#Extension_to_Europe_and_North_Africa *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: -- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Oh you must be referring to Nabbie's comments. I'm always puzzled by him characterizing Mississippi delta blues as hillbilly music. To my thinking, that label would only apply to bluegrass and country. Yours is the more common distinction. The music of the hillbilly is shaped by Irish and Scottish folk music rather than black culture. They are almost direct opposites musically. I think he is using it as a euphemism for I don't like you. Growing up in the blues I made stronger distinctions between African American based blues and the white blues of say Hank Williams. In my recent research I am finding that there was more of a crossover between white and black cultures in music than I had realized, especially cowboy music. Black bluesmen were as crazy about cowboys as everyone else. When Alan Lomax went to record Muddy Waters before he went to Chicago in 1941 he knew more cowboy songs than blues songs! Alan only recorded his blues songs in that session which is kind of too bad. Tommy Johnson yodeled in his 1928 recording. I don't feel much affinity with the twang in their voices but the themes of the blues sure zoom
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
I think it is pretty cool too. :) BTW: I have used EFT in the past. I can't say it helped me and I didn't stick with it. I did get help from just quieting myself to perform the EFT. At the time I used it, I was seeing a holistic counselor who integrates traditional therapy (like cognitive behavioral) and alternative approaches. I know a couple folks that swear by EFT. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Thanks, Carol, this has got to be one of the very wonderful developments on our sweet planet, that the Appalachian Trail is extending overseas. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 8:03 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  When I think of hillbilly...I think of bluegrass and The Darlins on Andy Griffith. ;) But, I also immediately thought of fiddles and bagpipes. I grew up in bluegrass country. A one of the local barbeque places (Sims in Dudley Shoals, NC), Doc Watson used to come in and play for free, no cover charge. He and some of his band would come on over when they wanted a bite to eat. They ate free and then they'd play for the local patrons. I tire of bluegrass rather quickly though. But I also tire of jazz and blues rather quickly. I need variety. I seldom tire of bagpipes or fiddles or flutes. I think it be in my Appalachia blood...them there fiddles and pipes. One of my favorite well-known fiddlers is Natalie MacMaster. As far as I know she ain't from Appalachia, but rather Canada. ;) Thanks for that snippet background of music history Curtis. Interesting. PS side note: Did you know that Appalachian Trail is now extending into Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail#Extension_to_Europe_and_North_Africa *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: -- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Alex Stanley j_alexander_stanley@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Oh you must be referring to Nabbie's comments. I'm always puzzled by him characterizing Mississippi delta blues as hillbilly music. To my thinking, that label would only apply to bluegrass and country. Yours is the more common distinction. The music of the hillbilly is shaped by Irish and Scottish folk music rather than black culture. They are almost direct opposites musically. I think he is using it as a euphemism for I don't like you. Growing up in the blues I made stronger distinctions between African American based blues and the white blues of say Hank Williams. In my recent research I am finding that there was more of a crossover between white and black cultures in music than I had realized, especially cowboy music. Black bluesmen were as crazy about cowboys as everyone else. When Alan Lomax went to record Muddy Waters before he went to Chicago in 1941 he knew more cowboy songs than blues songs! Alan only recorded his blues songs in that session which is kind of too bad. Tommy Johnson yodeled in his 1928 recording. I don't feel much affinity with the twang in their voices but the themes of the blues sure zoom forth in this song by Jimmy Davis who had a number one hit in '40 followed by Gene Autry's number one hit with the same song in '41. But check out the first verse for all the blues. Gene started with the chorus in his version, and it changes the blues vibe of the song completely. I play this in old folks homes, they love it. The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken And I hung my head and cried. You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. I'll always love you And make you happy If you will only say the same But if you leave me To love another You'll regret it all some day; You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away. You told me once, dear You really loved me And no one else could come between But now you've left me And love another You have shattered all my dreams; You are my sunshine, My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are grey. You'll never know, dear, How much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.
[FairfieldLife] Re: parsing a la Descartes was HITLER'S VALENTINE
I'm only a lurker in this dialog. I haven't read all the exchanges that have gone on in the latest conflict. Until these last few posts, I knew next to nothing about what you have expounded here Judy. Thanks for filling in some history for me. I don't know if I will go back and read all of the recent conflict or the prior history, but at least I have a place to start if I decide to. Reading the bit I have as I have lurked, the dialog is all too familiar within the anti-cult circles I've had brushes with. Projection. Sidestepping accountability for one's words. Speculating of other people's motives. As I've read, I've not been sure who to believe and wondered why I even care. I thought how I sometimes long for innocence and wish to be an ostrich...as trite and childish as that may sound. I wrote some thoughts earlier after reading Judy's initial post today, trying to work through some of the muddle in my own head as I've read bits of this recent conflict. In writing those thoughts, I wondered why am I muddled? Why does this stuff even matter to me? Should I state anything publicly? Will I sound foolish? What if I do sound foolish, what difference does it really make? Has some of the dialog 'triggered' my own stuff that I am still working through after my involvement in a 'cult' and certain anti-cult 'cults?' I questioned my own biases and fairness. Do I judge other's motives? How much do I project? How much do my biases play into reading others? Like others, my own experiences have caused me to be less trusting of others; I already had been well trained to not trust my self and was gaining much ground in that area until the Knapp crap. I have picked up many of those pieces, but reading this recent dialog brought some of that stuff up again. Years ago, Judy had read Knapp correctly and called him out. I won't go into how I had rationalized the Knapp I thought I knew when I first came to FFL in 2010(?) or maybe it was 2009(?) and read some of Judy's posts calling Knapp out. I would never (at that time) have imagined she would be so spot on. But she was. Could she be right again? I'll stop here... A few of my muddled thoughts...for what they're worth. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@ wrote: Thanks for this, you knew Curtis was twisting here since they were full of mutual admiration back then. Robin was certainly a very fascinating character but I couldn't understand Robin's fascination and admiration for Curtis when he came on board but then figured he would have to figure Curtis out for himself, which he did. Curtis was on his very best behavior, at his most charming, with Robin at first. Their dialogue was really scintillating, some of the best I've seen on any Web forum. It was beautiful to see how much Robin was enjoying himself after his bleak quarter-century in virtual exile. He just expanded like a flower. I had no clue what was going to happen down the road. Even after they first began to fall out, reading their exchanges was like watching a highly competitive contest between two extremely skilled players. After each post, you couldn't wait to see how the other guy could possibly top it. I don't believe you and I ever interfered in their correspondence, I certainly never did At one point toward the end I became a topic of their arguments, and I had to step in and correct some things Curtis said about me that were not accurate. But otherwise I just soaked up their brilliance. and had zero interest in their dialogue at that point - I used to be too high anyway. Yeah, you were doing your own thing. If you ever have a dull patch, though, go back and take a look at their exchanges. Terrifically entertaining, and heart-wrenching to watch it crash and burn.
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Not sure how to respond to that. ;) Becoming a favorite anything makes me a bit nervous. Ha. That said, thank you Curtis. BTW, from what I've seen, I count you as an artist. Yuppers. *twothumbsup* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: You are becoming my favorite poster. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Women's softball pitchers are fun to watch. I never played softball much except in a few sandlot games. I played lots of sandlot rollie bat. Did ya'll play rollie bat? I wonder if kids still play that...or was it a 60s and 70s thing. Sixties thing...like running through the pesticide when the bug spray truck would drive through the hood. It's amazing we aren't more messed up. Ha. I'm not familiar with the movie you are referring to; what is the name of it? I googled Bruce Lipton. I recall hearing about his book Biology of Belief. But I haven't read it. It may behoove me to put it on my list. I have read Norman Cousins' book Head First: The Biology of Hope which I found intriguing. But it is dated compared to what is out there now. I enjoyed Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion. I really enjoyed reading about her story as a woman in a man's field in the 60s ... I think it was the 60s. I'm more than skeptical of Emoto's claims, the little bit I've heard/read about them. But then, people were also skeptical of Copernicus in his day. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Hi Carol, I played basketball and softball, second base, in grades 5, 6, 7, 8. In 8th grade we won the DC Metro championship for Catholic grade schools. That was very cool. I only played basketball in high school because there was no softball. Half way through we switched to partial full court play which was interesting. Then in college I minored in Modern Dance. Half way through I got married and we used to play tennis doubles. But not so much because we were both working full time. Oh wait! Yeah, one season the company I worked for sponsored a women's softball team. We didn't win a championship but that season we were the only team to beat the very tough champions from the previous year. We won by one run and it was exciting right down to the final out.  Your post from Hearthmath was very interesting. I'd seen a Bruce Lipton movie once that had a lot about them in it. Plus I have their book. And I'm also familiar with Dr. Emoto's work on water crystals. We are definitely living in very cool times. From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:27 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Hey Share... Yes, he did enjoy it. It was a small camp so there were lots of one-on-one interactions with the pros. The other pro player whom I couldn't recall previously was Bobby Jones. Son played basketball and baseball through high school. He has now switched to P-90X and backpacking. :) Did you play basketball through high school or beyond? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Lefty Driesel!àNow that's a name from the distant past.àWasn't he a bit flamboyant?àActually I remember better the name Tom Nugent, UM football coach because his daughter went to the same high school I did.àCarol, it sounds like your son had a great opportunity with that David Thompson camp.àDo you remember if he enjoyed it?àDoes he still play basketball?àI don't (-: From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 3:54 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight! àSo you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic.ÃâàAnd old!ÃâàI remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved.ÃâàOne of my
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Seventhray...it is Indian Ball. I don't recall ever learning about that. Thank you. Share...fascinating about cellular memory/response and the skin cells. Do you know if this experiment was duplicated? I wonder if any responses are dependent on other factors such as individual's constitution or how much time the cells are detached from the body. This brings to mind Donna Eden's book on Energy Medicine and one of her accounts regarding an amputated finger. I'd have to look up the details now, but it seems their was communication between the finger and the hand from which it was amputated. I know energy medicine is controversial and some (most?) scientists tout it as pseudo science. One day maybe we will have the mechanisms for more reliable hard data. Regardless, once a person experiences something, it's difficult for one to deny that experience and remain stable. I mean, to deny it can produce a cognitive dissonance which can eventually be detrimental to one's well being. I think of one of Audubon's quotes: When the bird and the book disagree, always believe the bird. [But I'd take out the word always. ;) ] I posted in another FFL thread about Paul Pearsall. I think I posted about his interviews with organ transplant patients and the cellular memory transferred to the patient. Patients (at least at the time the book was written) could not know who their donors were for one year; yet, the patients had picked up words and/or memories and/or certain behaviors and tastes that the patient didn't have previous to receiving their new organ. Come to learn a year later, that those changes coincided with their donors' memories/tastes/words/etc. Life sure is complex and rich. I was updating my poetry archive last night. It was fun reading through poems I've penned in the last 4 years. One piece reminded me of how so much life surrounds us every moment of every day; life is everywhere. And the seeds of life...such an abundance of seeds. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: I think it's what we used to call Indian Ball http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/July-2008/What-the-Is-Indian-Ball/ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Hi Carol, I always played slow pitch so I doubt I could even hit one of those fast pitches! I don't know what a rollie bat is but my Grandad played sandlot baseball so I guess it's in my genes. Speaking of which, the name of the Bruce Lipton movie is also Biology of Belief. The public library showed it here a few years ago. I remember some research about putting a few skin cells from a person in a petrie dish. When that person heard their spouse say I love you, even in the next room, their skin cells changed. Very cool stuff. Anyway, here's a question: if we were to find some cells of Copernicus, could we say I love you to them and would that benefit Copernicus? Another kind of time travel maybe. From: Carol jchwelch@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:14 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Women's softball pitchers are fun to watch. I never played softball much except in a few sandlot games. I played lots of sandlot rollie bat. Did ya'll play rollie bat? I wonder if kids still play that...or was it a 60s and 70s thing. Sixties thing...like running through the pesticide when the bug spray truck would drive through the hood. It's amazing we aren't more messed up. Ha. I'm not familiar with the movie you are referring to; what is the name of it? I googled Bruce Lipton. I recall hearing about his book Biology of Belief. But I haven't read it. It may behoove me to put it on my list. I have read Norman Cousins' book Head First: The Biology of Hope which I found intriguing. But it is dated compared to what is out there now. I enjoyed Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion. I really enjoyed reading about her story as a woman in a man's field in the 60s ... I think it was the 60s. I'm more than skeptical of Emoto's claims, the little bit I've heard/read about them. But then, people were also skeptical of Copernicus in his day. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Hi Carol, I played basketball and softball, second base, in grades 5, 6, 7, 8.àIn 8th grade we won the DC Metro championship for Catholic grade schools.àThat was very cool.àI only played basketball in high school because there was no softball.àHalf way through we switched to partial full court play which was interesting.àThen in college I minored in Modern Dance.àHalf way through I got married and we used to play tennis doubles.àBut not so
[FairfieldLife] Re: Proof of Heaven - for Emily
Just ordered Proof of Heaven from Amazon. Thanks for the review Ann! ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: Nice piece of writing Ann - I just read it too. Try Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani if you have a mind to - I loved it. From: Ann awoelflebater@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 9:58 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Proof of Heaven - for Emily  Hey Emily, I have finished the book and I enjoyed it. I would characterize 'Proof of Heaven' as a big book within a little book. On one level it is a little book, it is merely one man's experience of a place, a reality that he believes was true. What he reveals about his experience is lovely in the extreme; it is very personal and I would love most aspects of what he saw and perceived to be true. The big part of the book for me is that it has permanently instilled in me a vision and a hope for what could be waiting for me after death. I believe Eben to be a courageous man who, in the male-dominated medical profession, has put himself forward for what he knows to be probable ridicule in his peers' eyes. It is very evident from his writing that his NDE is the one most substantial event in his life and because of what it has done for him personally, on all levels, he feels it vital to communicate his 'findings' while in his coma to the world. That is how positive and life altering his coma experience was, let alone the very near to dying he came with a very rare disease for someone his age. Then there is, of course, the 'miracle' of complete recovery from virtual brain death as more proof to him that he was 'chosen' to have this NDE and recovery in order to spread a message of hope and happiness for people. Plus, being a learned man in the area of the brain and its functioning, its physical makeup and how disease or health manifests as well as knowledge gained through years practicing and studying within in his profession, his opinions and scientific evidence give more clout to dispel the notion his NDE was merely a vision or brain-originating hallucination. He gives strong evidence for why it could not be that but was the EXPERIENCE OF PURE CONSCIOUSNESS unsullied by brain function or memory or projection. I also found that in his description of the various 'strata' of those worlds he visited after falling into his deep coma that they resonated with some part of me. The worm's eye view was something I felt I had some knowledge of as well as the infinite bliss and love of the deeper places, the places even closer to God. I felt in his descriptions a tickling of some deeper memory for me of some truth there so I take his NDE very seriously. Thanks for recommending the book, it was a worthwhile read and maybe as close as we can come to a scientifically backed up explanation for what might possibly exist, for some or for all, after dropping the body. No matter what, it is a lovely idea or vision to hold in one's awareness while we still clamber about this planet in the body we currently possess.
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Hey Share... Yes, he did enjoy it. It was a small camp so there were lots of one-on-one interactions with the pros. The other pro player whom I couldn't recall previously was Bobby Jones. Son played basketball and baseball through high school. He has now switched to P-90X and backpacking. :) Did you play basketball through high school or beyond? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Lefty Driesel! Now that's a name from the distant past. Wasn't he a bit flamboyant? Actually I remember better the name Tom Nugent, UM football coach because his daughter went to the same high school I did. Carol, it sounds like your son had a great opportunity with that David Thompson camp. Do you remember if he enjoyed it? Does he still play basketball? I don't (-: From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 3:54 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic.àAnd old!àI remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved.àOne of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State.àThe way he could float up to the rim of the basket!àPoetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through.àFrom: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight! àAnyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] [...] Ongoing Global Earth Changes (from Heartmaths's global coherence project)
From the Institute of Heartmath's Global Coherence Initiative research project, most of the information in the following link is about earth changes and the North magnetic pole's drift. (Of which I know little about, but thought some here might.) http://www.glcoherence.org/templates/gcp/email/e-broadcast/commentaries/2013/april/commentaries-online.php At the end of the commentary are two photos of saliva samples taken from the same person before and after a coherence exercise. I don't recall ever hearing about saliva samples that depict coherence. Interesting... Descriptive paragraph states: [...]The first photograph shows a saliva sample from a person in an incoherent state; it doesn't have any structure and looks like a blob. After five minutes of practicing heart coherence, saliva taken from the same person shows nicely formed crystals. Since we are composed of about 70% water, these saliva samples indicate that what we feel can have an impact on us.[...]
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Women's softball pitchers are fun to watch. I never played softball much except in a few sandlot games. I played lots of sandlot rollie bat. Did ya'll play rollie bat? I wonder if kids still play that...or was it a 60s and 70s thing. Sixties thing...like running through the pesticide when the bug spray truck would drive through the hood. It's amazing we aren't more messed up. Ha. I'm not familiar with the movie you are referring to; what is the name of it? I googled Bruce Lipton. I recall hearing about his book Biology of Belief. But I haven't read it. It may behoove me to put it on my list. I have read Norman Cousins' book Head First: The Biology of Hope which I found intriguing. But it is dated compared to what is out there now. I enjoyed Candace Pert's book Molecules of Emotion. I really enjoyed reading about her story as a woman in a man's field in the 60s ... I think it was the 60s. I'm more than skeptical of Emoto's claims, the little bit I've heard/read about them. But then, people were also skeptical of Copernicus in his day. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Hi Carol, I played basketball and softball, second base, in grades 5, 6, 7, 8. In 8th grade we won the DC Metro championship for Catholic grade schools. That was very cool. I only played basketball in high school because there was no softball. Half way through we switched to partial full court play which was interesting. Then in college I minored in Modern Dance. Half way through I got married and we used to play tennis doubles. But not so much because we were both working full time. Oh wait! Yeah, one season the company I worked for sponsored a women's softball team. We didn't win a championship but that season we were the only team to beat the very tough champions from the previous year. We won by one run and it was exciting right down to the final out.  Your post from Hearthmath was very interesting. I'd seen a Bruce Lipton movie once that had a lot about them in it. Plus I have their book. And I'm also familiar with Dr. Emoto's work on water crystals. We are definitely living in very cool times. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:27 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Hey Share... Yes, he did enjoy it. It was a small camp so there were lots of one-on-one interactions with the pros. The other pro player whom I couldn't recall previously was Bobby Jones. Son played basketball and baseball through high school. He has now switched to P-90X and backpacking. :) Did you play basketball through high school or beyond? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Lefty Driesel!àNow that's a name from the distant past.àWasn't he a bit flamboyant?àActually I remember better the name Tom Nugent, UM football coach because his daughter went to the same high school I did.àCarol, it sounds like your son had a great opportunity with that David Thompson camp.àDo you remember if he enjoyed it?àDoes he still play basketball?àI don't (-: From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 3:54 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight! àSo you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic.ÃâàAnd old!ÃâàI remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved.ÃâàOne of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State.ÃâàThe way he could float up to the rim of the basket!ÃâàPoetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through.ÃâàFrom: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight! ÃâÃÂ
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Well, more typosLG, you might have been at CH when my siblings were there. (early/mid 70s) (I'm dealing with chronic neuropathy these days and I swear my brain is affected...or is it effected. I'm been making more than my usual errors.) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Hey Share...David Thompson ran a basketball camp that my son attended when my son was around 8ish years old. There was another pro dude that help put on that camp. I can't recall his name now, but he was tall...6 foot 10 or something. I think we lived in Charlotte at the time, if memory serves me correctly. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
About all recall about CH in those days is the Rathskeller (?) Restaurant. I was in my early teens. My siblings are 4 and 7 years older than I. Black Mountain is part of my stomping grounds. Many fond memories and of course I still get up that way occasionally. I love the Blue Ridge. It be in my blood me thinks. I went to Montreat for a semester (1977) and then dropped out to study and serve with The Way. I was interested in counseling at the time. If you were still in that area in '77, you and I may have seen each other at some point at the health food store in Black Mountain...seems it was on Cherry Street? ;) But you had probably moved on by that time. Do you currently live in western NC, if you don't mind me asking? ___ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: Exactly Carol. Majored in biology/chemistry and haunted the basement halls of Venable! Even joined a frat out on Finley Golf Course. I loved UNC and Chapel Hill...that's where I learned to meditate. Residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Heady daze! I loved your line below regarding your siblings going to UNC...I didn't...I jointed a cult. What a sense of humor and what a nice spirit you have that comes through loud and clear in your writing here and at tossandripple.blogspot.com. (Those of you who haven't visited need to go to see what good honest writing looks like.) I wish you nothing but the very best! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
Oh...and thank you for the kind words. :) __ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: Exactly Carol. Majored in biology/chemistry and haunted the basement halls of Venable! Even joined a frat out on Finley Golf Course. I loved UNC and Chapel Hill...that's where I learned to meditate. Residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Heady daze! I loved your line below regarding your siblings going to UNC...I didn't...I jointed a cult. What a sense of humor and what a nice spirit you have that comes through loud and clear in your writing here and at tossandripple.blogspot.com. (Those of you who haven't visited need to go to see what good honest writing looks like.) I wish you nothing but the very best! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
I don't know the history of the Blue Ridge Assembly, other than it is Billy Graham territory...or was at one time. I had one one-on-one interaction with Ruth Graham at Montreat. (claim to fame, ha) She came and spoke with a small group of us college girls. Montreat was Presbyterian (maybe it still is). I went there because of its Charismatic connections. Oh well. I realize you may not want to share on here where abouts you live, but it you do, I'd be interested. I grew up in Hickory. Moved away for 6ish years after I joined The Way, and then moved back in 83 to help care for my dad after he was in a car wreck. Dad had a head-on collision up around West Jefferson (I think it was...or maybe Newland). He suffered a C-4 sever spinal cord injury. He lived 13 more years after that and he lived well in spite of his injury. I laugh now thinking about one Dad story. Since you know the area you might appreciate it. Get this...he drove from Hickory to Lenoir in his surrey. He drove on old Hwy. 321-A. My mom followed him in the van. She was a nervous wreck; Dad had a blast. ;D I wrote a snippet about that here: http://tossandripple.blogspot.com/2010/01/quadriplegia.html * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: About all recall about CH in those days is the Rathskeller (?) Restaurant. I was in my early teens. My siblings are 4 and 7 years older than I. Yes, many a Thur night (college weekends always start Thur nights, right?) at the Rathskeller over pitchers of beer. They also had great lasagna with all the greasy bread to line the stomach before a night of beer. Black Mountain is part of my stomping grounds. Many fond memories and of course I still get up that way occasionally. I love the Blue Ridge. It be in my blood me thinks. I went to Montreat for a semester (1977) and then dropped out to study and serve with The Way. I was interested in counseling at the time. If you were still in that area in '77, you and I may have seen each other at some point at the health food store in Black Mountain...seems it was on Cherry Street? ;) I only went to residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in 74/75. What religious denomination did the facility belong to? Loved those rocking chairs on the porch of the residences overlooking the mountains! But you had probably moved on by that time. By then I was a TM governor, and was just about to become full-time at the Men's Capital at Livingston Manor. Do you currently live in western NC, if you don't mind me asking? Yes. ___ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: Exactly Carol. Majored in biology/chemistry and haunted the basement halls of Venable! Even joined a frat out on Finley Golf Course. I loved UNC and Chapel Hill...that's where I learned to meditate. Residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Heady daze! I loved your line below regarding your siblings going to UNC...I didn't...I jointed a cult. What a sense of humor and what a nice spirit you have that comes through loud and clear in your writing here and at tossandripple.blogspot.com. (Those of you who haven't visited need to go to see what good honest writing looks like.) I wish you nothing but the very best! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
And yes, I recall the spaghetti was tasty at the Rathskeller. I never ate the lasagna. :) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: About all recall about CH in those days is the Rathskeller (?) Restaurant. I was in my early teens. My siblings are 4 and 7 years older than I. Yes, many a Thur night (college weekends always start Thur nights, right?) at the Rathskeller over pitchers of beer. They also had great lasagna with all the greasy bread to line the stomach before a night of beer. Black Mountain is part of my stomping grounds. Many fond memories and of course I still get up that way occasionally. I love the Blue Ridge. It be in my blood me thinks. I went to Montreat for a semester (1977) and then dropped out to study and serve with The Way. I was interested in counseling at the time. If you were still in that area in '77, you and I may have seen each other at some point at the health food store in Black Mountain...seems it was on Cherry Street? ;) I only went to residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in 74/75. What religious denomination did the facility belong to? Loved those rocking chairs on the porch of the residences overlooking the mountains! But you had probably moved on by that time. By then I was a TM governor, and was just about to become full-time at the Men's Capital at Livingston Manor. Do you currently live in western NC, if you don't mind me asking? Yes. ___ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: Exactly Carol. Majored in biology/chemistry and haunted the basement halls of Venable! Even joined a frat out on Finley Golf Course. I loved UNC and Chapel Hill...that's where I learned to meditate. Residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Heady daze! I loved your line below regarding your siblings going to UNC...I didn't...I jointed a cult. What a sense of humor and what a nice spirit you have that comes through loud and clear in your writing here and at tossandripple.blogspot.com. (Those of you who haven't visited need to go to see what good honest writing looks like.) I wish you nothing but the very best! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!
I just googled Livingston Manor to see where it is. Looks like it is in a beautiful area of New York near the Catskills. I imagine you have many stories (as do others here) about those days. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: About all recall about CH in those days is the Rathskeller (?) Restaurant. I was in my early teens. My siblings are 4 and 7 years older than I. Yes, many a Thur night (college weekends always start Thur nights, right?) at the Rathskeller over pitchers of beer. They also had great lasagna with all the greasy bread to line the stomach before a night of beer. Black Mountain is part of my stomping grounds. Many fond memories and of course I still get up that way occasionally. I love the Blue Ridge. It be in my blood me thinks. I went to Montreat for a semester (1977) and then dropped out to study and serve with The Way. I was interested in counseling at the time. If you were still in that area in '77, you and I may have seen each other at some point at the health food store in Black Mountain...seems it was on Cherry Street? ;) I only went to residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in 74/75. What religious denomination did the facility belong to? Loved those rocking chairs on the porch of the residences overlooking the mountains! But you had probably moved on by that time. By then I was a TM governor, and was just about to become full-time at the Men's Capital at Livingston Manor. Do you currently live in western NC, if you don't mind me asking? Yes. ___ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: Exactly Carol. Majored in biology/chemistry and haunted the basement halls of Venable! Even joined a frat out on Finley Golf Course. I loved UNC and Chapel Hill...that's where I learned to meditate. Residence courses at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. Heady daze! I loved your line below regarding your siblings going to UNC...I didn't...I jointed a cult. What a sense of humor and what a nice spirit you have that comes through loud and clear in your writing here and at tossandripple.blogspot.com. (Those of you who haven't visited need to go to see what good honest writing looks like.) I wish you nothing but the very best! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: LG, you might have been CH when my sblings was there. (early/mid 70s) My mom's side of the family were all Tarheel fans. Mom was one of 11 siblings, so I have lots of cousins from Mom's side, and the majority attended UNC-CH. I have one cousin who applied to UNC-CH and got accepted just to turn it down and show all the cousins. *chuckle* Both my siblings went to CH. I didn't...I joined a cult. haha One of my friends from college years made a bumper sticker: I'd rather have shit on my boots than tar on my heels. He went to NC State. :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, laughinggull108 no_reply@ wrote: So you were a Terrapin, huh, with good ol' Lefty Driesell? I was a Tarheel during the Dean Smith era and when games were played in Carmichael Auditorium. We'd line up all night for tickets to a game. NC State had Thompson, Burleson, and Towe; we had McAdoo, Kupchak, Waddell, and Hoffman; and you guys had Davis, Lucas, and Boyle. What a time that was for ACC basketball! Yes, last night's game was exciting and everything a final should be. Very enjoyable but I stayed up way past my bedtime! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Oh God, laughinggull now I feel nostalgic. And old! I remember 40 years ago when I was married and attending Univ of Maryland, we'd watch ACC basketball which I loved. One of my favorite players was David Thompson who played either for UNC or NC State. The way he could float up to the rim of the basket! Poetry in motion IMO. John correctly predicted Louisville as the winner but from the score I'd say it was an cliff hanger pretty much all the way through. From: laughinggull108 no_re...@yahoogroups.com To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 5:56 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tonight!  Anyone watching???
[FairfieldLife] Re: Easter Today, The Christ Resurrected
Enjoyed your poetry Buck, and the song in the link. Your poetry brought to mind some of the poetry of George McDonald. http://www.poemhunter.com/george-macdonald/biography/ --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Buck dhamiltony2k5@... wrote: They laid him in a tomb.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr8jPvb6HE8 As on the cross the Savior hung, And wept, and bled, and died; He poured salvation on a wretch That languished at His side. His crimes with inward grief and shame The penitent confessed, Then turned his dying eyes to Christ, And thus his prayer addressed. Jesus, Thou Son and heir of heav'n on earth, Thou spotless Lamb of the Unified Field! I see Thee bathed in sweat and tears, And welt'ring in Thy blood. Yet quickly from these scenes of woe In triumph Thou shalt rise, Burst through the gloomy shades of death, And shine above the skies. Amid the glories of that world, Dear Savior, think on me, And in the vict'ries of Thy death Let me a sharer be. His prayer the dying Jesus hears, And instantly replies, Today thy parting soul shall be With me in yonder skies. He dies! the friend of sinners dies! And He died on the cross for sinners, Lo! Salem's daughters weep around! And He died on the cross for sinners. I love my Lord, for He first loved me, And He died on the cross for sinners. A glor'ous band, the chosen few, On whom the Spirit came, Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew, And mocked the cross and flame; Through peril, toil, and pain they climbed The steep ascent to heav'n. Om Unified Field, to us may grace be giv'n To follow in their train. The Unified Field inspires my heart To sing redeeming grace; Awake, my soul, and bear a part In my Redeemer's praise. This is my dear delightful theme, That Jesus died for me. Oh, who can be compared to Him Who died upon the tree? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wgm4u no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Yifu yifuxero@ wrote: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Noel-coypel-the-resurrection-of-christ-1700.jpg (in the air version) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Yifu yifuxero@ wrote: by Rembrandt: http://www.museumsyndicate.com/images/1/924.jpg The implication is awesome, and the last enemy to be overcome is death 1 Corinthians 15:26 . Jesus resurrected his *physical* body 3 days (periods; physical, astral, causal) after death, his supreme sacrifice of love in the face of hate and prosecution is truly inspiring, (an example for us to follow), Forgive them Father, for, they know not what they do. Source-The Second Coming of Christ, Paramahansa Yogananda. What a great miracle, and the disciples testified to meeting him again IN THE FLESH. Read Autobiography of a Yogi to hear other miracles of the great masters of the past. Enlightened being have the freedom to choose to Reincarnate or not as pleases the Divine Lord of Creation, they are called Avatars.
[FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis
Enjoyed reading this and visiting the links. I've now added Sarah Jarosz to my Pandora shuffle. Enjoyed learning about Mamadou Sidibe. His work with the stringed West African instruments brought to mind Mamady Keita and his work with West African drums ... as far as bringing the instruments international. http://ttmintl.org/ I played African drums for awhile (5ish years) and trained under some of Mamady's students turned teachers. Even got to play with Mamady on one occasion..when he visited and taught some classes locally. It was fun. My kids went too...a family affair. :) Curtis...that gourd banjo...beautiful. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Nice.  I particularly like the commentary.  I looked for the Josh Thomas lyrics online as I was having trouble hearing them.  Not easy to find, but here is someone's translation.  Is this last verse the one you mean?  At Wintergrass this year, there was a guy Joe Craven who is an amazing artist and educator who is forever reinventing himself and plays an incredible array of instruments - he has previously done a one man show there, but came with his new band - Mamajowali.  This was one of the pieces they played. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgXnQpr6oJA http://joecraven.com/mamajowali Roustabout Oh you banjo roustabout When you goin to the shore I got a good gal on that other shore Baby don't you want to go If I had an old pairs of wings I'd go to Nora's town I'd sail from pine to pine Looking for my own true love I'd a listened to what my momma said I wouldn't be here today But me being young and foolish too women lead me astray Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet And who's gonna glove your hand And who's gonna do your rockabye When your man's in a distant land My wife left home last night I'll tell you where I found her Lying down in the pines A gang of boys around her Some was higgin it Some was kissin it Some was huggin it Some was near the dell There more rascal hangin round Try to tear my kingdom down Oh my lord. From: curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 9:55 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis  I loved everything about it, thanks for posting it. The lyrics totally rock, I love how she shifts from the personal to the philosophical questions. What a great model for songwriting. I especially appreciate her banjo riffs. I've been working on my African gourd banjo lately trying to expand my repertoire, and it has been really hard to find riffs that speak to me. There is so much what I call diddly dee vibe in most American banjo. I've been going to Mali Africa for inspiration but her musical choices really resonate with me. I could see making a song out of a riff like hers so that helps me focus my quest for cool riffs I can write over. Big help, thanks. Here is my beautiful gourd banjo. Pete Ross makes them for museums and musicians from paintings of plantation era gourd banjos. It has natural gut strings and the warmest tone. I plan to record on it for my next CD. http://banjopete.com/mandebanza.html Here is the late Mike Seeger who taught me this song which I perform in some of my adult shows, playing a gourd banjo. (special attention to the last verse). He learned if from a black man named Josh Thomas from VA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhokO8auCE Another version with some commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udSxPjk9EVw --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@ wrote: Hi Curtis: What do you think of this song?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQVOvRpI3rElist=ALHTd1VmZQRNqgzJoiD3jr0XCh5QpQKiJa
[FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis
I own an ashiko drum, which is similar to the djembe in size but it has a different shape and slightly different sound. I have played djembes and the dunun dumr varieties too. Dununs are a bit different from talking drums (I think...going form recollection), but they use sticks and often a bell. Yes, some of the songs were challenging, in fact very challenging...especially the dununs. We played traditional West African songs and sometimes incorporated dance and song. Bill (the head instructor) usually always shared the stories about the songs. We also played meditative drumming, but mainly we focused on traditional rhythms. I am still fascinated when the different drum rhythms are played together, how the harmony and music can take on a string-like quality. I swear there have been times I heard strings...but there were no strings. ;) Here is a link to the school where I played and learned. http://www.ttmws.com/ I was there in the early/mid 2000s when it was known as Living Rhythms and was much smaller. It has grown a lot in the past 5ish years. It's always in the back of mind to go back at some point; which I can do at any time. Maybe someday. :) I've only performed for crowds a couple times. I don't like performing; I get nervous. Bill would say, Just pretend you are playing. Playing in the sense of a child at play. Ha! Rich memories. Cool about the gourds. *thumbsup* I taught preschool music for years (and occasionally still do some sub work) so I own quite a few percussion instruments. I had to look up Son House. :) Cool. (Now I see why your name is deltablues.):) *** Here's a prose I penned about the djembe and the drum circle. Not much, but at the time, it meant much to me. http://www.poetrypages.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=50569#108eight * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: Wow! How cool is that Carol. Did you find the African rhythms challenging? Are you a Djembe player? I love the sound and have one but can't get into it too far because it wrecks my fingers for guitar. I also have a large talking drum from Ghana that uses a stick so it is easier on my hands. I have a nice big calabash gourd drum that is cool, but again I am somewhat limited in how much I can strike the hard surface with my fist and fingers. I could use sticks but I don't like the sharp sound as much. I just made my dream Shekere using a big gourd I got on Ebay and I strung it with cowerie shells ( the currency we bought African slaves with from African kings) and Rudraksha beads I bought in India on the Vedic Science course. Rudrakshas make a fantastic percussive sound and joins my personal history with the African tradition. I played it at a show recently to accompany me singing a Son House song that he clapped his hand for and it went over very well. The thing looks amazing. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Enjoyed reading this and visiting the links. I've now added Sarah Jarosz to my Pandora shuffle. Enjoyed learning about Mamadou Sidibe. His work with the stringed West African instruments brought to mind Mamady Keita and his work with West African drums ... as far as bringing the instruments international. http://ttmintl.org/ I played African drums for awhile (5ish years) and trained under some of Mamady's students turned teachers. Even got to play with Mamady on one occasion..when he visited and taught some classes locally. It was fun. My kids went too...a family affair. :) Curtis...that gourd banjo...beautiful. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@ wrote: Nice. Â I particularly like the commentary. Â I looked for the Josh Thomas lyrics online as I was having trouble hearing them. Â Not easy to find, but here is someone's translation. Â Is this last verse the one you mean? Â At Wintergrass this year, there was a guy Joe Craven who is an amazing artist and educator who is forever reinventing himself and plays an incredible array of instruments - he has previously done a one man show there, but came with his new band - Mamajowali. Â This was one of the pieces they played. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgXnQpr6oJAÂ http://joecraven.com/mamajowali Roustabout Oh you banjo roustabout When you goin to the shore I got a good gal on that other shore Baby don't you want to go If I had an old pairs of wings I'd go to Nora's town I'd sail from pine to pine Looking for my own true love I'd a listened to what my momma said I wouldn't be here today But me being young and foolish too women lead me astray Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet And who's gonna glove your hand And who's gonna do your rockabye When your man's
[FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis
Wow...Bisi Adeleke is a master at that! I am left smiling. I think the only time I heard a talking drum played was by a storyteller. I can't remember his name now. He traveled the US and I saw him on one of his tours. I have played around with steel drums too...but very limited. I used to help at a children's music camp. A couple years a steel drummer shared at the camp. That was where I first heard about the history of the steel drum. (The drummer had lived in Tobago.) Another rich story. Oh my... the stories. A one man band! Oh my. I would think that being a one man band with all those instruments simultaneously is great for mind and body...keeping one's mind (especially) agile. Do you have any videos of your perfomance(s) or teaching? In my preschool teaching my favorite(?) age group are the 3-year olds. (I don't really like to use that word teaching. I don't feel like I am teaching. I prefer to say we make music and dance together. I think I learn more than the children do.) I like to listen the little ones while they are still learning to speak and express. I have to listen with different ears and heart. And I have to think literally when listening to them, because that is how they communicate. What a wonderful contribution you live Curtis. It's good to read that schools incorporate the arts. I find it sad(?) though that our culture has to convey that the arts promote the other skills (like math and reading)in order to have a purpose for teaching the arts. I wish the arts could simply be and we could recognize their contribution without having to justify their use. I hope that makes sense. I think of a child's play...imagineering and creating. It all helps in the other areas (math, etc.), at least from the studies I've read. Somewhere along the way I read that assembling puzzles help in language skills because of recognizing shapes that go together. Maybe I'm rather old school in that way. Preferring tree houses over computer keyboards. But, I recognize that the modern world runs from these computer keyboards. Yet with the little people (children), I am of the opinion that keyboards can wait until they are older. Are you familiar with John Holt (now deceased) and unschooling? Some of his philosophy comes to mind as I think about this stuff (children and education). It's been at least 16 years since I read Summerhill by A.S. Neil...just another tangent thought along the same tangent. Thanks for the kudos on the poem. It seems kind of dead to me now. :/ And that brings a tear to my eye...not a good tear. But maybe one that will motivate me to start to explore again. Gawd, what a ramble. Oh well... *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I own an ashiko drum, which is similar to the djembe in size but it has a different shape and slightly different sound. I have played djembes and the dunun dumr varieties too. Dununs are a bit different from talking drums (I think...going form recollection), but they use sticks and often a bell. I am familiar with Dununs and played them in Malian drum circles to save my hands. They are very cool but I don't have a set. I have this kind of talking drum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4oQJZ2TEVI Yes, some of the songs were challenging, in fact very challenging...especially the dununs. We played traditional West African songs and sometimes incorporated dance and song. Bill (the head instructor) usually always shared the stories about the songs. We also played meditative drumming, but mainly we focused on traditional rhythms. I am still fascinated when the different drum rhythms are played together, how the harmony and music can take on a string-like quality. I swear there have been times I heard strings...but there were no strings. ;) Beautiful description you were really into the deep end of this pool! Here is a link to the school where I played and learned. http://www.ttmws.com/ I was there in the early/mid 2000s when it was known as Living Rhythms and was much smaller. It has grown a lot in the past 5ish years. What a great resource. I love that they do corporate drumming, that is genius. It's always in the back of mind to go back at some point; which I can do at any time. Maybe someday. :) I've only performed for crowds a couple times. I don't like performing; I get nervous. Bill would say, Just pretend you are playing. Playing in the sense of a child at play. Ha! Rich memories. Cool about the gourds. *thumbsup* I taught preschool music for years (and occasionally still do some sub work) so I own quite a few percussion instruments. Educational music is how I make my living. I couldn't be a full time musician any other way. I have a residency in a school next
[FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis
I interpreted the lyrics the same as Curtis had...a gang rape. I like Curtis' girlfriend's interpretation better. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, emilymae.reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Yahoo is so bogged down! Back to receiving posts late and out of order - email-wise. The link doesn't work - send another? Joe does some incredible things - he is a master of rhythm and plays many genres of music. Thanks for clarifying the lyrics. Interesting take from your girlfriend - I was curious as I wasn't sure how to interpret what I was reading and my first take was a more sinister nature. I prefer your girlfriend's thought and the last line = try to tear my kingdom down leaves room for exactly what she's talking about. Ha. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Fantastic. The kora is more harp like than the fretted instruments I am most interested in, but I love that sound too. I like the guitarists like Ali Farke Toure who imitate the kora on guitar. Here is a song I am working on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJUE03aeaQ4 That is such cool percussion Joe Craven was laying down. That is the kind of rhythm that I am having difficulty with since it is so far off from my natural blues sense. I was jamming with a Malian percussion guy one time and he told me: you aren't leaving any space for my rhythm to come out. It really struck home. I need to regroove rhythms that African kids grow up with like 12/8 time if I want to play this style. I beat the rhythm to death with Delta ax song rhythms and it can't breath like this. The jury is still out on that happening. The lyrics are close. It is if I had wings like Noah's dove, I'd sail from pine to pine looking for my own true love. Much more poetic. The line Some was near the dell should be Some was kneeling down. More sinister or more exciting depending on your take. I always interpreted it as sort of a gang rape until my GF suggested that she was having the the time of her life and she took it all as consensual. It fascinates me that we can have such a different take on it. (I am also cautious to keep an eye on the pines near my house whenever she stays over.) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@ wrote: Nice.  I particularly like the commentary.  I looked for the Josh Thomas lyrics online as I was having trouble hearing them.  Not easy to find, but here is someone's translation.  Is this last verse the one you mean?  At Wintergrass this year, there was a guy Joe Craven who is an amazing artist and educator who is forever reinventing himself and plays an incredible array of instruments - he has previously done a one man show there, but came with his new band - Mamajowali.  This was one of the pieces they played. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgXnQpr6oJA http://joecraven.com/mamajowali Roustabout Oh you banjo roustabout When you goin to the shore I got a good gal on that other shore Baby don't you want to go If I had an old pairs of wings I'd go to Nora's town I'd sail from pine to pine Looking for my own true love I'd a listened to what my momma said I wouldn't be here today But me being young and foolish too women lead me astray Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet And who's gonna glove your hand And who's gonna do your rockabye When your man's in a distant land My wife left home last night I'll tell you where I found her Lying down in the pines A gang of boys around her Some was higgin it Some was kissin it Some was huggin it Some was near the dell There more rascal hangin round Try to tear my kingdom down Oh my lord. From: curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 9:55 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis  I loved everything about it, thanks for posting it. The lyrics totally rock, I love how she shifts from the personal to the philosophical questions. What a great model for songwriting. I especially appreciate her banjo riffs. I've been working on my African gourd banjo lately trying to expand my repertoire, and it has been really hard to find riffs that speak to me. There is so much what I call diddly dee vibe in most American banjo. I've been going to Mali Africa for inspiration but her musical choices really resonate with me. I could see making a song out of a riff like hers so that helps me focus my quest for cool riffs I can write over. Big help, thanks. Here is my beautiful gourd banjo. Pete Ross makes them for museums and musicians from
[FairfieldLife] Re: To Curtis
Yes, I enjoyed the rap too. Wonderful read...and moving. I sent a message via the yahoo email thingee. Thank you Curtis! :) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@... wrote: Hey Carol, Please contact me through my email here so I can send some links to your email. I can't post them here because some people here are untrustworthy with that information. I definitely would like to continue our discussion off the board. I'll comment on your post below. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Wow...Bisi Adeleke is a master at that! I am left smiling. I think the only time I heard a talking drum played was by a storyteller. I can't remember his name now. He traveled the US and I saw him on one of his tours. I have played around with steel drums too...but very limited. I used to help at a children's music camp. A couple years a steel drummer shared at the camp. That was where I first heard about the history of the steel drum. (The drummer had lived in Tobago.) Another rich story. Oh my... the stories. I have a friend who takes about 50 steel drums into schools at a time and teaches kids to play in groups like that. He made them all himself. It is a great program. I work with kids who build cigar box guitars in shop (they call it the technology class now) and teach them to play them as well as use it for teaching math. A one man band! Oh my. I would think that being a one man band with all those instruments simultaneously is great for mind and body...keeping one's mind (especially) agile. Do you have any videos of your perfomance(s) or teaching? Performing everything together is a peak experience state that I am very addicted to. I'll send you some links. In my preschool teaching my favorite(?) age group are the 3-year olds. (I don't really like to use that word teaching. I don't feel like I am teaching. I prefer to say we make music and dance together. I think I learn more than the children do.) I know what you mean. There is a lot of back and forth flow. Some of my best experiences are with kids who are out of the mainstream school system because of emotional or developmental problems. They also connect on a very raw emotional level. I am about to teach a week long residency in a high school for these kids. It was one of my most moving shows last year and they invited me back for a longer course. These are discarded people in society, but their humanity shines through their problems. And they DO have problems. I am humbled by the teachers who work with them every day. It isn't easy, and this group of teenagers can be dangerous. I like to listen the little ones while they are still learning to speak and express. I have to listen with different ears and heart. And I have to think literally when listening to them, because that is how they communicate. Every developmental stage has its charms for me so I get what you are saying. One of my goals with 4th through 6th graders is to help them make the cognitive jump into figurative language through writing blues songs. It can really help them understand as they gain the cognitive skills for it. You must be a great teacher to have such an appreciation for young ones. What a wonderful contribution you live Curtis. It's good to read that schools incorporate the arts. I find it sad(?) though that our culture has to convey that the arts promote the other skills (like math and reading)in order to have a purpose for teaching the arts. I wish the arts could simply be and we could recognize their contribution without having to justify their use. Thanks and back atchya! I do believe in art for art's sake but honestly I see this integration into the curriculum as no hindrance to my artistic goals. Remember how the Griots in West African are also historians? I think of my role that way. Or the bards spreading literature. I hope that makes sense. I think of a child's play...imagineering and creating. It all helps in the other areas (math, etc.), at least from the studies I've read. Somewhere along the way I read that assembling puzzles help in language skills because of recognizing shapes that go together. Totally agree. I hope with more brain research that we will get the arts back in a big way in schools. The connections are getting stronger in hard science. That is what it will take. I am involved in a project that is doing some analysis of the test improvement and in my area that could be a game changer if we accomplish what we hope. Maybe I'm rather old school in that way. Preferring tree houses over computer keyboards. But, I recognize that the modern world runs from these computer keyboards. Yet with the little people (children), I am of the opinion that keyboards
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted
I wonder if Dee continued with the movement. I saw her once in Hickory some 15(?) years after I left TM. She was at the public library with a local lawyer...it appeared they were researching something. I deliberately avoided letting her see me. I'm not sure why now. Hmm...maybe I just didn't feel like talking or something. Yes,I've read a bit about Muktananda's escapades. When I began educating myself on group dynamics and such, it was uncanny to me reading the similarities among groups. It no longer seems uncanny to me; it seems the norm. I worked in Food Services at The Way's facilities. Comparing notes, I imagine The Way's campuses (well now former campuses) would be similar to MIU. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: I do remember Dee - she was briefly on a team of ladies who taught the Sidhi Prep Courses in NC - Lu Wiggins, Christina Howle and Gloria Waterson - Gloria went on later to become the head librarian at MIU, Lu is in Fairfield right now and Christina is living in Brevard, NC. Yeah it was re-connecting with a guy who had been in kitchen services at MIU same time I was and in sharing notes with him, it brought up stuff. That event coincided with finding FFL, and got curious as to what some folks here knew and had experienced with regards to the Movement - also watched David Wants to Fly not long before all this. After my TM time, I did run across other movements like the Ananda deal in California and still have some friends that are in it, Muktananda's outfit and others - they are all about the same, guru at the top professing special knowledge and followers who believe they are special by association who love being around the guru - guru has ego fits and acts out, but followers think it is guru doing something to break followers boundaries, and so it goes. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:21 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted  Thanks for sharing Michael. I received my mantra in 1975 in Hickory, NC, and volunteered at the TM Center there. (I was 16 years old.) Since you mention NC and Heavenly Mountain (which I think was in Boone?), do you perhaps know Dee Nelson? She was my initiator and ran the TM Center in Hickory. Do you know what may have precipitated the process(ing) some of the unprocessed energy in the past year plus? (Again, if you don't mind me asking. I understand if you don't want to answer, or if it's just too laborious.) Reading stories and accounts about the TMO (from true believers to middle believers to non-believers) is no different than reading about other organizations that has covered up their dark side and not taken accountability for their actions/non-actions. Similarities: There are the celebrities and/or well respected and well known folks associated with the group. There are the people that brush off the abuses of the leaders (and sometimes of the followers) as folks 'just being human.' There are followers that claim their group/practice is the authentic and real way to practice and that their practice/group is unique like no other practice/group is. There are the high times of those chewy caramel experiences that are supposedly unique to that group/practice. And there are other similarities which I'm sure would just bore most folks, though I have found them fascinating. I've read quite a few books regarding so-called cults, cultic thinking, brain washing, etc., since leaving my org. And probably you have too? Have you ever read Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults by Janja Lalich? Bounded Choice is one of my favorites because it goes into the history of two different groups...far apart in their beliefs but their influence tactics are the same only with different coverings. At the risk of being accused of spamming my blog...below is a link to one piece I blogged where I mention Bounded Choice. I have others, but I'll not 'spam' those. http://tossandripple.blogspot.com/2009/05/weighing-and-waying-experiences.html I hope I never become complacent in regard to hypocrisy. And like Ann said: [...] If people who experience injustice or falsehood stay silent then it would be a grim future. [...] ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson wrote: I started TM Dec. 7th, 1974 - was a real starry eyed TM'er for a few years - took my first residence course somewhere around April of 1975 and LOVED it. Got my TM med checked once a week for the first month and once a month for the first year as per the instruction of the time - did a few more residence courses in Atlanta and Charleston SC. LOVED them (except the one taught by that jack-ass Gene Speigel. Was wowed
[FairfieldLife] Re: Bad news for blissninnies
Share stated: [...] the glass is all full. It's half full of water and half full of air. [...] I like that! Hadn't thought of it that way. *thumbsup* --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Another perspective: the glass is all full. It's half full of water and half full of air. Feng shui! Anyway, thanks seekliberation I like the practical points you make. I'd like my parents to have long, happy lives. But having seen my step Dad linger miserably for years, I'd rather my parents have short, happy lives than long, miserable ones. Same for me. And FFLers too. And by happy I don't mean blissninniehood. Even the article began with the descriptor overly optimistic. Remember turq, Maharishi explains that bliss is not always blissful. Thanks for the article. It'll be fascinating to see how the Positive Psychology gang responds.   From: seekliberation seekliberation@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 1, 2013 6:18 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Bad news for blissninnies  It makes sense to me when I read the article. But I also think there is a fine line between those who look at the glass as half empty, and those who just sit around in a state of misery and do nothing to increase what's in the glass. So I guess it's not as simple as 'half-empty, half-full'. It's more complex than that. I guess it may be more like this: 1. The glass is half full, so i'll just sit on my ass for now. 2. The glass is half full, so i'll save it for later. 3. The glass is half empty, so I better start filling it up now. 4. The glass is half empty, therefore life sucks. I would say that #2 #3 are a healthy approach. So it's not just that pessimism is better, it's that DOING something to improve your situation is superior to relaxing and assuming that everything is going to work out just fine. And it's the pessimist who will percieve the need for action more so than the optimist. A lot of hippies and babyboomers are learning that painfully now. seekliberation --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb wrote: The pessimists you rag on will outlive you. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/pessimists-live-longer-lives-study_n_2781598.html
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
PS: Great about your heart rate! Mine seems to stay high, in the 70s and 80s even at rest. I wonder if that is because of all the simulants I took recreationally and later for medicinal purposes. I just hope my ticker has lots of ticks left...at least until I can thruhike the Appalachian Trail. ;) My hubby and son peck when they type. If you don't mind me asking, what has been your career in writing? * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: I'd enjoy hearing that if you care to share it. I flashed through the link to HeartMath, and there is some great stuff in there, will return for a larger meal later - liked the change in perspective, from the traditional approach, brain impulses influencing the heart, to the heart's influence, comprehensively affecting even our immediate environment. Also liked the charts comparing different emotional states with micro changes in heart voltage and regularity. I have a slow pulse - normal resting pulse is about 50 bpm, and has gone down slowly over the years. Hope that you recover quickly and completely from your surgery, and they are giving you lots of pain medication. I am always a baby when it comes to post operative pain (especially dental), and make sure I get strong meds. I don't have any carpal tunnel symptoms, possibly because I never learned to touch type - Thank God computers were invented! I've hunted and pecked my way through an entire career, focused on writing. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Here's one link to HeartMath. http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/introduction.html There is a story, of course, as to how I 'chanced' upon HeartMath's work in the early 2000s as I perused the (now obsolete, RIP) bookshelves at Borders intuitively perusing for my next book to read. Take heart! ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Thanks for the suggested materials - I haven't heard about the Institute of HeartMath. It is an enjoyable study, to watch when the heart overflows sometimes, and other times when the knife sharp intellect must organize something. The book sounds cool too. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Thanks Doc. What you state makes sense to me. Life is large. It's nice to keep it in perspective. I may have asked before if you are familiar with the Institute of HeartMath? It gets into how our hearts think...not as metaphor, but how our hearts actually help us make decisions. Which brings to mind a couple books I read some years back by Paul Pearsall. One of those books is The Heart's Code. Reading the accounts of organ transplant patients regarding cellular memory is fascinating. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. *Beautifully* put!!! Thanks! To get into technicalities, our thoughts serve the legitimate purpose of bringing our desires into being. However, in order to do this efficiently, we must attain a grace, or synchrony, with ourselves and our surroundings, so that the mind; the heart, and the discrimination, both, don't use up so much energy, just freely spinning, or getting lost in fantasies. So, life, anchored in eternity, in silence, is actually a fuller life than that imposed by the ego, dancing from thought to thought. Thoughts are amazing and powerful impulses. When we are able to witness their rising from a native bed of silence, they fulfill life's purpose for each of us. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I hope there are thoughts in eternity. Seems it'd be very boring otherwise. But, I'm probably missing your point. Or maybe part of your point is there is no point? (I vaguely recall that movie, The Point. ) So, if I understand what you are saying... our thoughts protect us from eternity (or rather work as a defense mechanism blocking ourselves to be able to experience eternity). Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. Oddly enough, a scripture verse comes to mind, ...[God] hath planted eternity in the hearts of [humankind]... http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17371/eVerseID/17371/version/amp/opt/parallel --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
Thanks Doc. What you state makes sense to me. Life is large. It's nice to keep it in perspective. I may have asked before if you are familiar with the Institute of HeartMath? It gets into how our hearts think...not as metaphor, but how our hearts actually help us make decisions. Which brings to mind a couple books I read some years back by Paul Pearsall. One of those books is The Heart's Code. Reading the accounts of organ transplant patients regarding cellular memory is fascinating. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. *Beautifully* put!!! Thanks! To get into technicalities, our thoughts serve the legitimate purpose of bringing our desires into being. However, in order to do this efficiently, we must attain a grace, or synchrony, with ourselves and our surroundings, so that the mind; the heart, and the discrimination, both, don't use up so much energy, just freely spinning, or getting lost in fantasies. So, life, anchored in eternity, in silence, is actually a fuller life than that imposed by the ego, dancing from thought to thought. Thoughts are amazing and powerful impulses. When we are able to witness their rising from a native bed of silence, they fulfill life's purpose for each of us. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I hope there are thoughts in eternity. Seems it'd be very boring otherwise. But, I'm probably missing your point. Or maybe part of your point is there is no point? (I vaguely recall that movie, The Point. ) So, if I understand what you are saying... our thoughts protect us from eternity (or rather work as a defense mechanism blocking ourselves to be able to experience eternity). Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. Oddly enough, a scripture verse comes to mind, ...[God] hath planted eternity in the hearts of [humankind]... http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17371/eVerseID/17371/version/amp/opt/parallel --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? Oddly, when there are no longer our thoughts protecting us from eternity, the nakedness (to ourselves) continues, and the reconciliation of everything continues also. With silence, vs. thoughts, as a native mental state, eternity is naturally present, because there are no marked boundaries in that state, no limitations. How could there be? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Yah. (Carol smiles) What an incredible voyage O\or, as the Grateful Dead put it...what a long, strange trip it's been... Except it's not all been; it continues on as an is. I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: The other thing that occurs to me about this process, is the self preservation that issues themselves take on, within us, within our awareness. Sort of the Alien scenario, without the exploding chest. Seriously, they form themselves such that they are protected from our examination. The physical model I came up with was that of issues taking the form of small christmas ornament sized silver reflective balls, within our awareness, so as to provide no apparent means of entry, beyond the reflective illusion. They are enhanced in size by the reflection of our anxiety and fear, in facing them. Pretty weird Maya, until each is dealt with, and found to be far less intimidating, than they first appear. Perhaps closer to The Incredible Voyage, than Alien. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Thank you - Yeah, its not an either/or for me, regarding expression of the past. However we express and *integrate* it. The interesting thing I have found is that once the past issues have been faced, they don't go away. Instead, they simply become part of the integrated memory landscape, nothing left to overtly revel in, cringe from, or castigate. The previous issue is still seen in its entirety, but without the sting and magnification. As a result, all the intense focus falls away, and we move on to other speed bumps. All the hard sledding eventually results
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
Here's one link to HeartMath. http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/introduction.html There is a story, of course, as to how I 'chanced' upon HeartMath's work in the early 2000s as I perused the (now obsolete, RIP) bookshelves at Borders intuitively perusing for my next book to read. Take heart! ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Thanks for the suggested materials - I haven't heard about the Institute of HeartMath. It is an enjoyable study, to watch when the heart overflows sometimes, and other times when the knife sharp intellect must organize something. The book sounds cool too. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Thanks Doc. What you state makes sense to me. Life is large. It's nice to keep it in perspective. I may have asked before if you are familiar with the Institute of HeartMath? It gets into how our hearts think...not as metaphor, but how our hearts actually help us make decisions. Which brings to mind a couple books I read some years back by Paul Pearsall. One of those books is The Heart's Code. Reading the accounts of organ transplant patients regarding cellular memory is fascinating. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. *Beautifully* put!!! Thanks! To get into technicalities, our thoughts serve the legitimate purpose of bringing our desires into being. However, in order to do this efficiently, we must attain a grace, or synchrony, with ourselves and our surroundings, so that the mind; the heart, and the discrimination, both, don't use up so much energy, just freely spinning, or getting lost in fantasies. So, life, anchored in eternity, in silence, is actually a fuller life than that imposed by the ego, dancing from thought to thought. Thoughts are amazing and powerful impulses. When we are able to witness their rising from a native bed of silence, they fulfill life's purpose for each of us. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: I hope there are thoughts in eternity. Seems it'd be very boring otherwise. But, I'm probably missing your point. Or maybe part of your point is there is no point? (I vaguely recall that movie, The Point. ) So, if I understand what you are saying... our thoughts protect us from eternity (or rather work as a defense mechanism blocking ourselves to be able to experience eternity). Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. Oddly enough, a scripture verse comes to mind, ...[God] hath planted eternity in the hearts of [humankind]... http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17371/eVerseID/17371/version/amp/opt/parallel --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? Oddly, when there are no longer our thoughts protecting us from eternity, the nakedness (to ourselves) continues, and the reconciliation of everything continues also. With silence, vs. thoughts, as a native mental state, eternity is naturally present, because there are no marked boundaries in that state, no limitations. How could there be? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Yah. (Carol smiles) What an incredible voyage O\or, as the Grateful Dead put it...what a long, strange trip it's been... Except it's not all been; it continues on as an is. I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: The other thing that occurs to me about this process, is the self preservation that issues themselves take on, within us, within our awareness. Sort of the Alien scenario, without the exploding chest. Seriously, they form themselves such that they are protected from our examination. The physical model I came up with was that of issues taking the form of small christmas ornament sized silver reflective balls, within our awareness, so as to provide no apparent means of entry, beyond the reflective illusion. They are enhanced in size by the reflection of our anxiety and fear
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Steve stated: As for Carol, I detect a selective bias on her part, and I am just voicing it. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I have attempted to hi-light in a previous post. Maybe I am wrong about it. I'll have to ponder it...regarding having a selective bias. I possibly (probably?) do have selective biases. But I think all humans have those; it's a matter of determining which ones they helpful or not helpful in any given circumstance. Thanks again... --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: Er, Steve, you seem to be getting a tad defensive here and it seems it is because you have this need to run to somehow divert what you perceive as some sort of attack aimed at Share. I think you should give Share some respect/credibility and the chance to reply and figure out her own dynamics with Carol here. By jumping in like this it makes you look like you don't think Share is capable of a one on one dialogue with someone exploring possibilities of a subject. You have a very hair trigger protective mechanism. Check it out, what are you afraid of? I do feel slighted that I was not breast fed, and that my mother probably smoked during her entire pregnancy with me, and likely my three sisters. That's what coming to mind right now. As for Carol, I detect a selective bias on her part, and I am just voicing it. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I have attempted to hi-light in a previous post. Maybe I am wrong about it
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Share stated: My main point is that our issues can often cloud our current moment thinking and it's helpful to be aware of that. I agree. Thinking back, this discourse got started with me when I brought upthe subject of that because Oz endorses TM that must mean that TM is a good thing (when other equally intelligent people have other opinions) with the comparison of Collins as a scientist endorsing Christianity as a good thing (when other equally intelligent people have other opinions). That was all. And my communication is probably not the greatest. I'm not an academic or a debater, and never will be. And I don't excel at clever comebacks and such. I find it draining...and moreso after having carpal tunnel surgery on February 18. Typing is still a bit laborious. Yes..that bug is beautiful. :) *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Hi Carol, that has got to be the most beautiful bug I have ever seen! Thanks so much for including him (-: My main point is that our issues can often cloud our current moment thinking and it's helpful to be aware of that. Especially if we're wanting to communicate convincingly to others, which Michael has said is his goal. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 8:57 AM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol  Does Dr. Oz endorse TM specifically or does he endorse meditation in general? I have never watched Dr. Oz's show, but the other week I chanced upon him as I was channel surfing. He stated something to the effect that if anyone ever says he endorses a product, to please not believe that he endorses that said product. (The context was in regard to weight loss.) He stated he makes a point to not endorse products even though various products will claim he endorses them. So...I'm just wondering if he really does endorse TM, or rather does he endorse meditation (in any form) in general and that his choice of meditation (at this point in his life) is TM? Share stated, [...] can all these smart and creative people be so deluded about the efficacy of TM? [...] Apparently, TM works for them. That isn't a delusion; it is their reality. That said, they may be deluded (fooled or ignorant) or choose to be complacent regarding the TMO and its colored history; or maybe that just don't have the energy/time to learn about it. Smart and creative people tout other practices/beliefs/products too. I don't think they are deluded, but rather that they like said product/practice. That doesn't mean I or the next person will like said product/practice. I may even have a horrible experience with the said product/practice. Hopefully I am somewhat smart and creative. I am suspicious when anyone pushes anything as the one true technique to bring peace and resolution and absolute health to humanity. I'm not saying any celebrities push TM as such; I don't keep up with that sort of information. As far as Micheal and any of his issues, I think he is the authority on that and he can decide to share or not to share. I have no desire to scrutinize his (or anyone's) issues publicly or even privately. (I'm not saying you want to do that either.)I have enough on my issue plate already. Thanks for the response! Gekkos are cool. And so is this beetle dude/dudette...Chrysolina cerealis https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477780895608805set=a.260816317305265.74666.187139094672988type=1 * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long wrote: Hi Carol, my Mom loves the gekko too.àOf course the fact that Dr. Oz practices TM doesn't negate MJ's bad experiences with it.àJust as Fr Keating's Batgap interview does not negate my somewhat bad experiences with the Catholic Church.àBut again, I'm not continuing to speak against Catholicism, etc.àWhereas Michael does continue to speak against TM, etc. and seems to have quite a charge when he does so.àFrom my own experience with charges, I'd say there's a deeper issue going on that just what appears on the surface.àJust yesterday Michael expressed the wish that Dr. Oz who seems pretty savvy to me, stop being deluded about TMO.àThis was in addition to saying that Dr. Oz is afraid to disagree with Oprah.àThis latter statement especially indicates to me that there's a deeper issue present.àI've got my issues too so I'm not saying it's a bad thing.àBut I give less weight to what someone says if it seems to me that there are other deeper issues present.àAnd I realize when people are overly positive, that too can indicate a deeper issue present.àIf someone's energy feels off in either direction, then I take their opinions with a bigger grain of salt. So I have been
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
BTW...thanks for the kind words Ann. I miss some posts on here and sometimes catch up a bit later...and still will miss some posts. Cheers! :) ~carol --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: Er, Steve, you seem to be getting a tad defensive here and it seems it is because you have this need to run to somehow divert what you perceive as some sort of attack aimed at Share. I think you should give Share some respect/credibility and the chance to reply and figure out her own dynamics with Carol here. By jumping in like this it makes you look like you don't think Share is capable of a one on one dialogue with someone exploring possibilities of a subject. You have a very hair trigger protective mechanism. Check it out, what are you afraid of? I do feel slighted that I was not breast fed, and that my mother probably smoked during her entire pregnancy with me, and likely my three sisters. That's what coming to mind right now. Slighted? Oh, you mean because your mother didn't protect you in the womb you are more likely to protect others now?! Did you feel like you craved a Marlborough when you emerged? That would have been a Kent and vodka martini. As for Carol, I detect a selective bias on her part, and I am just voicing it. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I have attempted to hi-light in a previous post. Maybe I am wrong about it I think you have an innate protective tendency towards those you feel might be being singled out and challenged. Okay, I do get riled up when I see something akin to bullying*** Not that we are seeing bullying here, but as a tendency on my part, yes I acknowledge that. *** 1970's definition in force here.Not a terrible character flaw but in this case a grown woman like Share can probably handle whatever Carol is likely to bring up in conversation.Uh, really has nothing to do with Share fighting her own battles. She doesn't need my help in that regard. I thought Share brought up a salient point that Carol chose not to include in here reasons why the eminent Dr. Oz would choose to embrace TM. I hardly see Carol as some malevolent, unreasonable poster here. Nor do I. But as I said, I thought she chose to selectively consider possibilities, choosing not include perhaps the most reasonable explanation. As these things go, I would call it a small infraction, but I chose to comment on it anyway. And I accept that people might feel I am full of sh*t about it. Share will probably say otherwise, but I think you should have a little more confidence in her ability to respond/deal with interactions here, especially with someone as reasonable as Carol. You will have to take that up with Share. I think she weighs the cost/reward ratio of who she interacts with. Personally, I greatly enjoy your contributions here.
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Thanks for sharing that Judy. Interesting article. I have never watched Oz's
show or really read much at all by or about him. Interesting that the one
surgeon that knows Oz (I think it was a surgeon) would not recommend someone
going to Oz for surgery.
I wonder where Dr. Oz his wife will be 10 years from now?
***
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@... wrote:
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote:
(snip)
Just yesterday Michael expressed the wish that Dr. Oz who
seems pretty savvy to me, stop being deluded about TMO.
This was in addition to saying that Dr. Oz is afraid to
disagree with Oprah. This latter statement especially
indicates to me that there's a deeper issue present. I've
got my issues too so I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But
I give less weight to what someone says if it seems to me
that there are other deeper issues present.
Hmmm, sounds like Share is insinuating that Michael is
a racist.
{snip)
I doubt that Dr. Oz, who seems to me to have integrity,
endorses TM only because he was asked to do so.
As I've already pointed out, there are some serious
questions about his integrity. Oz fans might want to read
this profile in The New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/02/04/130204fa_fact_specter
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
PS: If I were to base my opinion of Oz by what is in this article, I'd lean
toward he is another snake in a suit. Not saying he is, but this article leaves
me with that impression.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote:
Thanks for sharing that Judy. Interesting article. I have never watched Oz's
show or really read much at all by or about him. Interesting that the one
surgeon that knows Oz (I think it was a surgeon) would not recommend someone
going to Oz for surgery.
I wonder where Dr. Oz his wife will be 10 years from now?
***
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@ wrote:
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote:
(snip)
Just yesterday Michael expressed the wish that Dr. Oz who
seems pretty savvy to me, stop being deluded about TMO.
This was in addition to saying that Dr. Oz is afraid to
disagree with Oprah. This latter statement especially
indicates to me that there's a deeper issue present. I've
got my issues too so I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But
I give less weight to what someone says if it seems to me
that there are other deeper issues present.
Hmmm, sounds like Share is insinuating that Michael is
a racist.
{snip)
I doubt that Dr. Oz, who seems to me to have integrity,
endorses TM only because he was asked to do so.
As I've already pointed out, there are some serious
questions about his integrity. Oz fans might want to read
this profile in The New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/02/04/130204fa_fact_specter
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted
Thanks for sharing Michael. I received my mantra in 1975 in Hickory, NC, and volunteered at the TM Center there. (I was 16 years old.) Since you mention NC and Heavenly Mountain (which I think was in Boone?), do you perhaps know Dee Nelson? She was my initiator and ran the TM Center in Hickory. Do you know what may have precipitated the process(ing) some of the unprocessed energy in the past year plus? (Again, if you don't mind me asking. I understand if you don't want to answer, or if it's just too laborious.) Reading stories and accounts about the TMO (from true believers to middle believers to non-believers) is no different than reading about other organizations that has covered up their dark side and not taken accountability for their actions/non-actions. Similarities: There are the celebrities and/or well respected and well known folks associated with the group. There are the people that brush off the abuses of the leaders (and sometimes of the followers) as folks 'just being human.' There are followers that claim their group/practice is the authentic and real way to practice and that their practice/group is unique like no other practice/group is. There are the high times of those chewy caramel experiences that are supposedly unique to that group/practice. And there are other similarities which I'm sure would just bore most folks, though I have found them fascinating. I've read quite a few books regarding so-called cults, cultic thinking, brain washing, etc., since leaving my org. And probably you have too? Have you ever read Bounded Choice: True Believers and Charismatic Cults by Janja Lalich? Bounded Choice is one of my favorites because it goes into the history of two different groups...far apart in their beliefs but their influence tactics are the same only with different coverings. At the risk of being accused of spamming my blog...below is a link to one piece I blogged where I mention Bounded Choice. I have others, but I'll not 'spam' those. http://tossandripple.blogspot.com/2009/05/weighing-and-waying-experiences.html I hope I never become complacent in regard to hypocrisy. And like Ann said: [...] If people who experience injustice or falsehood stay silent then it would be a grim future. [...] ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: I started TM Dec. 7th, 1974 - was a real starry eyed TM'er for a few years - took my first residence course somewhere around April of 1975 and LOVED it. Got my TM med checked once a week for the first month and once a month for the first year as per the instruction of the time - did a few more residence courses in Atlanta and Charleston SC. LOVED them (except the one taught by that jack-ass Gene Speigel. Was wowed to hear of the sidhis in spring of 1976 - lusted after them and did 6 weeks of sidhi preps and worked paid for 2 weeks I think and worked for the credit to take the others working for the governors who taught the sidhi prep courses in North Carolina. Finally got the sidhis in I forget what year - it was the year after Marshy had all the TM teachers over to India. Wound up doing a two year incarceration at MIU in kitchen services - in charge of the serving and dining areas first then got into the bakery and ran the bakery for a year. Got kicked out in July of 1987 and went back to SC - had had enough of the Movement but still thought I might like to round once in awhile - but in the 1990's the crap I was hearing out of Heavenly Mountain was enough to open my eyes and heart to the fact that I could no longer support or be involved with an organization like the TM Movement - not with my time, effort, energy and money. Then a year or so I began to process some of the unprocessed energy I had around TM and found this group and discovered the TMO and Mar-chee were so much darker and more screwed up than I ever imagined. I continued to use the TM mantra pretty regularly till about 1996 when I got the Chopra mantra, used both back and forth for a while then eased of the TM mantra probably 1998 and did other stuff. That's it in a nutshell but I will share more details if you like. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 10:34 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted  Michael, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been out of the TM movement and how long were you involved? (You probably shared that on here somewhere. If you have a link to where you shared, I'd like to read it as time allows.) I was involved in a group (not TM) for 28 years. I left the group in 2005. It was a big deal, leaving... and I wrote a lot...a lot. I actually wrote a lot before I left writing my way out of the group (in private journals). After I left, I began to write
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Does Dr. Oz endorse TM specifically or does he endorse meditation in general? I have never watched Dr. Oz's show, but the other week I chanced upon him as I was channel surfing. He stated something to the effect that if anyone ever says he endorses a product, to please not believe that he endorses that said product. (The context was in regard to weight loss.) He stated he makes a point to not endorse products even though various products will claim he endorses them. So...I'm just wondering if he really does endorse TM, or rather does he endorse meditation (in any form) in general and that his choice of meditation (at this point in his life) is TM? Share stated, [...] can all these smart and creative people be so deluded about the efficacy of TM? [...] Apparently, TM works for them. That isn't a delusion; it is their reality. That said, they may be deluded (fooled or ignorant) or choose to be complacent regarding the TMO and its colored history; or maybe that just don't have the energy/time to learn about it. Smart and creative people tout other practices/beliefs/products too. I don't think they are deluded, but rather that they like said product/practice. That doesn't mean I or the next person will like said product/practice. I may even have a horrible experience with the said product/practice. Hopefully I am somewhat smart and creative. I am suspicious when anyone pushes anything as the one true technique to bring peace and resolution and absolute health to humanity. I'm not saying any celebrities push TM as such; I don't keep up with that sort of information. As far as Micheal and any of his issues, I think he is the authority on that and he can decide to share or not to share. I have no desire to scrutinize his (or anyone's) issues publicly or even privately. (I'm not saying you want to do that either.)I have enough on my issue plate already. Thanks for the response! Gekkos are cool. And so is this beetle dude/dudette...Chrysolina cerealis https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477780895608805set=a.260816317305265.74666.187139094672988type=1 * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Hi Carol, my Mom loves the gekko too. Of course the fact that Dr. Oz practices TM doesn't negate MJ's bad experiences with it. Just as Fr Keating's Batgap interview does not negate my somewhat bad experiences with the Catholic Church. But again, I'm not continuing to speak against Catholicism, etc. Whereas Michael does continue to speak against TM, etc. and seems to have quite a charge when he does so. From my own experience with charges, I'd say there's a deeper issue going on that just what appears on the surface. Just yesterday Michael expressed the wish that Dr. Oz who seems pretty savvy to me, stop being deluded about TMO. This was in addition to saying that Dr. Oz is afraid to disagree with Oprah. This latter statement especially indicates to me that there's a deeper issue present. I've got my issues too so I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But I give less weight to what someone says if it seems to me that there are other deeper issues present. And I realize when people are overly positive, that too can indicate a deeper issue present. If someone's energy feels off in either direction, then I take their opinions with a bigger grain of salt. So I have been asking: can all these smart and creative people be so deluded about the efficacy of TM? Maybe they simply choose to use what's useful about it and leave the rest. I doubt that Dr. Oz, who seems to me to have integrity, endorses TM only because he was asked to do so. If indeed that is how it happened. Maybe he approached them. Maybe he had good experiences and liked what the research said, etc. and decided he wanted to share something valuable with others. I think most people want to help others. Then it's up to others to figure out whose opinion can actually be helpful to them. Thanks for taking the time to reply. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 9:48 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Michael and Carol  Share stated: Hi Carol, the crucial difference is that I don't continually have or express negative opinions about Christianity, Christian churches or Jesus Christ. So there is nothing for me to reconcile. I can easily believe that a smart, successful and healthy person might practice Christianity. Good point. I'm around some folks who regularly do criticize Christianity and belief in God(s). For me that's where the comparison comes in between Collins and Christianity with Dr. Oz and TM. Sorry I wasn't clear about that. :) What is there to reconcile with Oz and TM? I don't get what needs to be reconciled. Just because Dr. Oz
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
Great post Doc. I've asked myself many times over How long does *this* take? Why the eff does it keep coming up to haunt me? I've often wished for a don't-give-a-damn switch, in the sense of be able to 'get over' something. Like other folks who've lived some life, I have techniques in my tool box (one of those being mindfulness / meditation) that help along that path. I'm not of the opinion that if someone chooses to write about or express in other ways (dance, visual arts, etc) their life experiences from their distant or recent past (as that is all we have until the next moment) as an indication that they have not moved on. I don't see expression as being stuck in something. It could mean that; but only that person or someone who is intimately close with that person can really know if that is the case. I like the word integrate (like you stated) more than the phrases getting over or moving on. (Though you did later in your comment use the phrase move on.) Cul-de-sac syndrome...I'll have to adopt that term and recognize when I'm there. It's a good mind pic. Thank you! ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Yeah, exactly the way I feel too - How long does it take to integrate something you no longer do? Valid question, and something I grapple with a fair amount these days, now that I finally have the time to do so. My obvious take on it is that stuff comes up in life, for all of us, sometimes challenge after challenge after challenge, to the point of near exhaustion. Processing it through reflection, becoming aware of all we go through, and how it changes us is a vital part of life, something critical to staying ALIVE, and present. But, whatever the current issue is, cult experience in this case, it is not our identity, or our singular cause. Nothing really is. Nothing defines us once and forever. That is a stale model, of the old culture of labels. So it is a wonderful thing to hear someone express even the most negative insights, if growth is apparent. However, if it just the ego getting trapped in a cul-de-sac, it is worth pointing out, and moving on. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: On second thought, you are right Dr Dummy - I hereby announce that I officially revoke everything I said about Marshy and TM and I am gonna program my Ipod to play only that goddamn funny, funny Maharishi Vedic Honey video over and over and over - I hope one day to wear the white (meaning become a raja) Jai Guru Dr. Dumbass!!! Hey MJ. I will throw my small thought into the mix here. I have read and appreciated much of what you have written of your experiences at MIU, within the various phases of your different roles within the Movement as a meditator, member of staff and all the other ways in which you participated. I especially enjoyed reading what you had to say a few months ago when you first started posting about your disappointment/disillusionment/disgruntlement with MMY and with many others in positions of power and authority within the TMM. Although I was a meditator for almost 20 years and graduated from MIU I have no hard feelings about my time there or the technique. However, this does not stop me from considering all that you have to say about your own, very different, experience. And it does not mean I don't respect and consider all that you have to say as far as I can do that without having gone through or seen what you did. I am not sure how much further you can go with your unearthing of the slimier aspects of what has gone on within the movement and around MMY and even with MMY himself. I, for one, have a pretty clear picture of what you know and how you feel. Your audience has been reading what you have to say for weeks now and I am pretty sure we could, individually, write an essay on how MJ feels about MMY and the Movement and the practice of TM. What is happening now is that some are getting tired of reading, of being exposed to, what is starting to sound a little like a broken record. What you have to say isn't going anywhere past where it has been for a while now. It is evidently important to you to use this forum, and other places, as a sounding board for how you feel. But it seems as if you are having to defend your position a little harder now, that there is not the same empathy or support for your position. It seems you are starting to look like a man standing alone on a hilltop defending his patch of land to an ever-increasing number of those unsympathetic to your 'cause'. I am not saying that what you have to say is less valid than it was three months ago it is just that if you test the wind direction and the barometer it is telling you your audience here
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Thanks Nab! Dr. Oz obviously does specifically endorse. *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 no_reply@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Does Dr. Oz endorse TM specifically or does he endorse meditation in general? I have never watched Dr. Oz's show, but the other week I chanced upon him as I was channel surfing. He stated something to the effect that if anyone ever says he endorses a product, to please not believe that he endorses that said product. (The context was in regard to weight loss.) He stated he makes a point to not endorse products even though various products will claim he endorses them. So...I'm just wondering if he really does endorse TM, or rather does he endorse meditation (in any form) in general and that his choice of meditation (at this point in his life) is TM? Dr. Oz on why he uses and endorse Transcendental Meditation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1M4GwIbKjM
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
Yah. (Carol smiles) What an incredible voyage O\or, as the Grateful Dead put it...what a long, strange trip it's been... Except it's not all been; it continues on as an is. I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: The other thing that occurs to me about this process, is the self preservation that issues themselves take on, within us, within our awareness. Sort of the Alien scenario, without the exploding chest. Seriously, they form themselves such that they are protected from our examination. The physical model I came up with was that of issues taking the form of small christmas ornament sized silver reflective balls, within our awareness, so as to provide no apparent means of entry, beyond the reflective illusion. They are enhanced in size by the reflection of our anxiety and fear, in facing them. Pretty weird Maya, until each is dealt with, and found to be far less intimidating, than they first appear. Perhaps closer to The Incredible Voyage, than Alien. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Thank you - Yeah, its not an either/or for me, regarding expression of the past. However we express and *integrate* it. The interesting thing I have found is that once the past issues have been faced, they don't go away. Instead, they simply become part of the integrated memory landscape, nothing left to overtly revel in, cringe from, or castigate. The previous issue is still seen in its entirety, but without the sting and magnification. As a result, all the intense focus falls away, and we move on to other speed bumps. All the hard sledding eventually results in a much greater sense of presence, individual freedom, evenness, and confidence. How do you digest the Universe? One bite at a time. Chew thoroughly. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Great post Doc. I've asked myself many times over How long does *this* take? Why the eff does it keep coming up to haunt me? I've often wished for a don't-give-a-damn switch, in the sense of be able to 'get over' something. Like other folks who've lived some life, I have techniques in my tool box (one of those being mindfulness / meditation) that help along that path. I'm not of the opinion that if someone chooses to write about or express in other ways (dance, visual arts, etc) their life experiences from their distant or recent past (as that is all we have until the next moment) as an indication that they have not moved on. I don't see expression as being stuck in something. It could mean that; but only that person or someone who is intimately close with that person can really know if that is the case. I like the word integrate (like you stated) more than the phrases getting over or moving on. (Though you did later in your comment use the phrase move on.) Cul-de-sac syndrome...I'll have to adopt that term and recognize when I'm there. It's a good mind pic. Thank you! ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Yeah, exactly the way I feel too - How long does it take to integrate something you no longer do? Valid question, and something I grapple with a fair amount these days, now that I finally have the time to do so. My obvious take on it is that stuff comes up in life, for all of us, sometimes challenge after challenge after challenge, to the point of near exhaustion. Processing it through reflection, becoming aware of all we go through, and how it changes us is a vital part of life, something critical to staying ALIVE, and present. But, whatever the current issue is, cult experience in this case, it is not our identity, or our singular cause. Nothing really is. Nothing defines us once and forever. That is a stale model, of the old culture of labels. So it is a wonderful thing to hear someone express even the most negative insights, if growth is apparent. However, if it just the ego getting trapped in a cul-de-sac, it is worth pointing out, and moving on. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: On second thought, you are right Dr Dummy - I hereby announce that I officially revoke everything I said about Marshy and TM and I am gonna program my Ipod to play only that goddamn funny, funny Maharishi Vedic Honey video over and over and over - I hope one day to wear the white (meaning become a raja) Jai Guru Dr. Dumbass!!! Hey MJ. I will throw my
[FairfieldLife] Re: The key to overcoming cult thinking
Judy stated: [...] rigid, black-and-white, all-or-nothing, us-vs.-them thinking--the kind of thinking that is said to be characteristic of cultists.[...] Those are main parts of my definition/understanding of a cult. When I was in The Way and I would be out witnessing (recruiting) and a potential recruitee would respond something like, The Way is a cult. I'd respond, Well how do you define cult? If the person(s) chose to dialog with me and answer my question (rather than run from me like I was some sort of devil-possessed entity), I'd then let them know if The Way was a cult according to their definition. Of course at the time my Way experiences were framed as a proper true believer. I like this excerpt from one of Deikman's book. Us and Them: Cult Thinking and the Terrorist Threat http://www.deikman.com/wrong.html Part of the excerpt states: Some degree of cult behavior can be seen in all groups, so instead of asking Is this group a cult?, a more useful inquiry is: How much cult behavior is taking place here? This question has special urgency as we face the reality of a present-day terrorism whose destructive possibilities have been fearfully magnified by modern technology. Although it is not hard to spot cult behavior in al Qaeda, we are not inclined to notice it in ourselves as we respond to the threat. Yet, we had better be able to do so, because the price of cult behavior is diminished realism. We cannot afford that now. To heighten our awareness, Them and Us identifies four basic cult behaviors that influence our thinking: 1) compliance with a group, 2) dependence on a leader, 3) avoiding dissent, and 4) devaluing the outsider. These forces operate in all aspects of society. The core process is devaluing the outsider, resulting in Them-versus-Us behavior. [...] * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend authfriend@... wrote: It's interesting how mired Barry and Michael are in rigid, black-and-white, all-or-nothing, us-vs.-them thinking--the kind of thinking that is said to be characteristic of cultists. Here, Barry chooses to equate flawed with just fine, even though the meaning of flawed is NOT just fine. And Michael left a post indicating he believes that to say corporations' behavior is at least as bad as that of the TMO is the same as not holding the TMO responsible for its misdeeds. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Over these 9 months I've been on FFL I realize that what has always been the demarcation line for me, but I wasn't aware of it, is the use of physical violence or the threat of physical violence. For example, the final straw for me in ref to Catholic Church was learning about the Inquisition when I was a freshman at the Univ of Maryland and sat in on my boyfriend's World History class. Physical violence or the threat of it is where I draw the line in any relationship whether it be with an individual or with a group. That would include some individual or group forcing me to commit suicide. All else is an organization consisting of flawed individuals being a flawed and sometimes silly part of this flawed but beautiful world. I see. So fraud, money laundering, the seduction of students by a supposedly trusted teacher, lying, mis- representation to the public *and* to the students, gross misappropriation of funds, forcing students to live a lifestyle counter to their wishes, slavery (what else can you call the pundits), etc. are all just FINE with you, so long as it doesn't come to physical violence. Good to know.
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Carol
Seventhray stated: I guess you conveniently forgot the point that Share made, that perhaps they embrace the positive aspects of the technique, and feel that those positive aspects outweigh the negative parts of the organization. Sorry if that skews your preconceived notions. I don't follow what you are saying by saying I conveniently forgot that point, which I didn't conveniently forget. I really didn't think about that point a lot; to me that point is just part of the mix and a somewhat obvious point...now that I think about it. It could also be that Dr. Oz, et al, rationalize the negatives of the org due to the benefits they receive from the practice. I don't know. What preconceived notions do you think I have? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, seventhray27 steve.sundur@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Does Dr. Oz endorse TM specifically or does he endorse meditation in general? I have never watched Dr. Oz's show, but the other week I chanced upon him as I was channel surfing. He stated something to the effect that if anyone ever says he endorses a product, to please not believe that he endorses that said product. (The context was in regard to weight loss.) He stated he makes a point to not endorse products even though various products will claim he endorses them. So...I'm just wondering if he really does endorse TM, or rather does he endorse meditation (in any form) in general and that his choice of meditation (at this point in his life) is TM? Share stated, [...] can all these smart and creative people be so deluded about the efficacy of TM? [...] Apparently, TM works for them. That isn't a delusion; it is their reality. That said, they may be deluded (fooled or ignorant) or choose to be complacent regarding the TMO and its colored history; or maybe that just don't have the energy/time to learn about it. I guess you conveniently forgot the point that Share made, that perhaps they embrace the positive aspects of the technique, and feel that those positive aspects outweigh the negative parts of the organization. Sorry if that skews your preconceived notions. Smart and creative people tout other practices/beliefs/products too. I don't think they are deluded, but rather that they like said product/practice. That doesn't mean I or the next person will like said product/practice. I may even have a horrible experience with the said product/practice. Hopefully I am somewhat smart and creative. I am suspicious when anyone pushes anything as the one true technique to bring peace and resolution and absolute health to humanity. I'm not saying any celebrities push TM as such; I don't keep up with that sort of information. As far as Micheal and any of his issues, I think he is the authority on that and he can decide to share or not to share. I have no desire to scrutinize his (or anyone's) issues publicly or even privately. (I'm not saying you want to do that either.)I have enough on my issue plate already. Thanks for the response! Gekkos are cool. And so is this beetle dude/dudette...Chrysolina cerealis https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477780895608805set=a.2608163173\ 05265.74666.187139094672988type=1 * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: Hi Carol, my Mom loves the gekko too. Of course the fact that Dr. Oz practices TM doesn't negate MJ's bad experiences with it. Just as Fr Keating's Batgap interview does not negate my somewhat bad experiences with the Catholic Church. But again, I'm not continuing to speak against Catholicism, etc. Whereas Michael does continue to speak against TM, etc. and seems to have quite a charge when he does so. From my own experience with charges, I'd say there's a deeper issue going on that just what appears on the surface. Just yesterday Michael expressed the wish that Dr. Oz who seems pretty savvy to me, stop being deluded about TMO. This was in addition to saying that Dr. Oz is afraid to disagree with Oprah. This latter statement especially indicates to me that there's a deeper issue present. I've got my issues too so I'm not saying it's a bad thing. But I give less weight to what someone says if it seems to me that there are other deeper issues present. And I realize when people are overly positive, that too can indicate a deeper issue present. If someone's energy feels off in either direction, then I take their opinions with a bigger grain of salt. So I have been asking: can all these smart and creative people be so deluded about the efficacy of TM? Maybe they simply choose to use what's useful about it and leave the rest. I doubt that Dr. Oz, who seems to me to have integrity, endorses TM only because he was asked to do so. If indeed that is how it happened. Maybe he approached them. Maybe he had good
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted - to Doc
I hope there are thoughts in eternity. Seems it'd be very boring otherwise. But, I'm probably missing your point. Or maybe part of your point is there is no point? (I vaguely recall that movie, The Point. ) So, if I understand what you are saying... our thoughts protect us from eternity (or rather work as a defense mechanism blocking ourselves to be able to experience eternity). Eternity abides at all times in the silence within each of us; it is the nakedness of who we are and is continually reconciling all that exists. Oddly enough, a scripture verse comes to mind, ...[God] hath planted eternity in the hearts of [humankind]... http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/17371/eVerseID/17371/version/amp/opt/parallel --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? Oddly, when there are no longer our thoughts protecting us from eternity, the nakedness (to ourselves) continues, and the reconciliation of everything continues also. With silence, vs. thoughts, as a native mental state, eternity is naturally present, because there are no marked boundaries in that state, no limitations. How could there be? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Yah. (Carol smiles) What an incredible voyage O\or, as the Grateful Dead put it...what a long, strange trip it's been... Except it's not all been; it continues on as an is. I wonder if there is an eternity and if there will be a time when all is naked and when all is somehow reconciled? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: The other thing that occurs to me about this process, is the self preservation that issues themselves take on, within us, within our awareness. Sort of the Alien scenario, without the exploding chest. Seriously, they form themselves such that they are protected from our examination. The physical model I came up with was that of issues taking the form of small christmas ornament sized silver reflective balls, within our awareness, so as to provide no apparent means of entry, beyond the reflective illusion. They are enhanced in size by the reflection of our anxiety and fear, in facing them. Pretty weird Maya, until each is dealt with, and found to be far less intimidating, than they first appear. Perhaps closer to The Incredible Voyage, than Alien. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Thank you - Yeah, its not an either/or for me, regarding expression of the past. However we express and *integrate* it. The interesting thing I have found is that once the past issues have been faced, they don't go away. Instead, they simply become part of the integrated memory landscape, nothing left to overtly revel in, cringe from, or castigate. The previous issue is still seen in its entirety, but without the sting and magnification. As a result, all the intense focus falls away, and we move on to other speed bumps. All the hard sledding eventually results in a much greater sense of presence, individual freedom, evenness, and confidence. How do you digest the Universe? One bite at a time. Chew thoroughly. :-) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Great post Doc. I've asked myself many times over How long does *this* take? Why the eff does it keep coming up to haunt me? I've often wished for a don't-give-a-damn switch, in the sense of be able to 'get over' something. Like other folks who've lived some life, I have techniques in my tool box (one of those being mindfulness / meditation) that help along that path. I'm not of the opinion that if someone chooses to write about or express in other ways (dance, visual arts, etc) their life experiences from their distant or recent past (as that is all we have until the next moment) as an indication that they have not moved on. I don't see expression as being stuck in something. It could mean that; but only that person or someone who is intimately close with that person can really know if that is the case. I like the word integrate (like you stated) more than the phrases getting over or moving on. (Though you did later in your comment use the phrase move on.) Cul-de-sac syndrome...I'll have to adopt that term and recognize when I'm there. It's a good mind pic. Thank you! ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Yeah, exactly the way I feel too - How long does it take
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Michael
Share stated: So again, if you are able, how do you explain that someone like Dr. Oz, smart, successful and healthy, practices and promotes TM? That's like saying, How do you explain that someone like Dr. Francis Collins who is smart, successful, healthy, and a respected scientist that helped discover the human genome practicing prayer and sharing about Christianity and his belief in God? Point being, there are smart, successful, healthy people all over the planet that practice/believe different things. And now I think of Keith Richards. He sure seems to be keeping keeping on in spite of his practices. I wonder if he does TM? ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: What I notice is how you evade the real point. Which I'll elucidate by saying that I don't consider The Donald as healthy. So again, if you are able, how do you explain that someone like Dr. Oz, smart, successful and healthy, practices and promotes TM? I'm also noticing that none of the anti TM people can answer this one. And so they are evading it. From: Michael Jackson mjackson74@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 11:28 AM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Emily and Michael  I don't take the amount of money or fame someone has as an edict to do what they recommend. If I did, I would have Donal Trump as my guru From: Share Long sharelong60@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Emily and Michael  Michael, I'm genuinely curious: how do you reconcile all that you believe about TM with the fact that someone as smart and successful and healthy as Dr. Oz practices TM and endorses it? I'm thinking that for famous people like Lynch and Paul McCartney, Howard Stern and Seinfeld, etc. they're just grateful to have found a technique that enables them to not only survive but thrive in the very demanding entertainment field.  PS to Emily, thanks for your reply smile. From: salyavin808 fintlewoodlewix@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 3:40 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Buck wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend wrote: How about Jack Forem? He just got added at the top. From NYTimes page: Jack Forem Boise, Idaho I recently released an updated version of a book on TM written in the 1970s. I thought the update would take me a couple of months, but the process of sorting through the vast amount of published, top-quality, peer-reviewed scientific research, and the number of compassionate and helpful programs such as those cited in the article on David Lynch's foundation, kept me engaged in research and writing for two years. I have practiced TM since 1967, taught it, and helped to train TM teachers. Yet I must say I was overwhelmed â and I do not use that word lightly â by the extent and depth of the benefits I uncovered in my research. From greatly improved health, better educational outcomes, stress reduction, and the awakening to higher states of consciousness, to replicated interventions in war-torn areas that resulted in calm and peace, the benefits of TM are thoroughly demonstrated and truly extraordinary. I find it sad that some misinformed and/or angry people find it necessary to attack such a good thing, that has helped, and is helping, so many. I would urge them to investigate more deeply and re-think their position. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html?pagewanted=all_r=1; But all of these angry people are TMers for whom it didn't work or who got fed up with the way the organisation operated after working there for years and thus can't really be said to be misinformed. But their story was somehow neglected from his research?
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Michael
I should proof read better... That's like saying, 'How do you explain that someone like Dr. Francis Collins (who is smart, successful, healthy, and a respected scientist that helped discover the human genome) practices prayer and shares about Christianity and his belief in God?' --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Share stated: So again, if you are able, how do you explain that someone like Dr. Oz, smart, successful and healthy, practices and promotes TM? That's like saying, How do you explain that someone like Dr. Francis Collins who is smart, successful, healthy, and a respected scientist that helped discover the human genome practicing prayer and sharing about Christianity and his belief in God? Point being, there are smart, successful, healthy people all over the planet that practice/believe different things. And now I think of Keith Richards. He sure seems to be keeping keeping on in spite of his practices. I wonder if he does TM? ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@ wrote: What I notice is how you evade the real point. Which I'll elucidate by saying that I don't consider The Donald as healthy. So again, if you are able, how do you explain that someone like Dr. Oz, smart, successful and healthy, practices and promotes TM? I'm also noticing that none of the anti TM people can answer this one. And so they are evading it. From: Michael Jackson mjackson74@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 11:28 AM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Emily and Michael  I don't take the amount of money or fame someone has as an edict to do what they recommend. If I did, I would have Donal Trump as my guru From: Share Long sharelong60@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 5:10 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Emily and Michael  Michael, I'm genuinely curious: how do you reconcile all that you believe about TM with the fact that someone as smart and successful and healthy as Dr. Oz practices TM and endorses it? I'm thinking that for famous people like Lynch and Paul McCartney, Howard Stern and Seinfeld, etc. they're just grateful to have found a technique that enables them to not only survive but thrive in the very demanding entertainment field.  PS to Emily, thanks for your reply smile. From: salyavin808 fintlewoodlewix@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 3:40 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back  --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Buck wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend wrote: How about Jack Forem? He just got added at the top. From NYTimes page: Jack Forem Boise, Idaho I recently released an updated version of a book on TM written in the 1970s. I thought the update would take me a couple of months, but the process of sorting through the vast amount of published, top-quality, peer-reviewed scientific research, and the number of compassionate and helpful programs such as those cited in the article on David Lynch's foundation, kept me engaged in research and writing for two years. I have practiced TM since 1967, taught it, and helped to train TM teachers. Yet I must say I was overwhelmed â and I do not use that word lightly â by the extent and depth of the benefits I uncovered in my research. From greatly improved health, better educational outcomes, stress reduction, and the awakening to higher states of consciousness, to replicated interventions in war-torn areas that resulted in calm and peace, the benefits of TM are thoroughly demonstrated and truly extraordinary. I find it sad that some misinformed and/or angry people find it necessary to attack such a good thing, that has helped, and is helping, so many. I would urge them to investigate more deeply and re-think their position. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html?pagewanted=all_r=1; But all of these angry people are TMers for whom it didn't work or who got fed up with the way the organisation operated after working there for years and thus can't really be said to be misinformed. But their story was somehow neglected from his research?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement.
[...] Maharishi Vedic Organic Honey which came from somewhere in the rainforest (location unspecified) and was packaged in a singing container.[...] Wonder what a singing container is? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: Just had to reproduce a comment posted on the David Lynch article * Griffin * Iowa I used to work in a TM store in Iowa City, close to the home base of Fairfield. The name kept changing from Maharishi to Enlightenment to finally Invincibility Center before closing in 2007. Including the in sale terminal was the price list for becoming a true TM-er: $3500 for the introductory course, another $3500 for the next level, $5000 to learn how to yogic fly, which looked incredibly painful from the videos, and then there was the supplemental vitamins, organic cotton clothing of low quality, and, my personal favorite, Maharishi Vedic Organic Honey which came from somewhere in the rainforest (location unspecified) and was packaged in a singing container. Can't afford the classes? Go to Maharishi University and use Stafford loans to pay for it was what I was to tell customers. Those research studies proving effectiveness? The authors don't know the difference between r and r^2 in statistics. And they're self-published. When higher-ups came to inspect the store, I found out why the prices were so high--men with self-proclaimed doctorates in TM showed up in white linen robes with gold crowns, chauffeured about in white limousines. I'm glad that Lynch found some peace from TM, but it ain't his (or the Beatles') old ways. TM-ers have gone full-on Scientology, and Lynch can't see it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement.
That's hilarious. :D TY for sharing that! I think I'll go have some toast honey. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Rick Archer rick@... wrote: From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Carol Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 4:23 PM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement. [...] Maharishi Vedic Organic Honey which came from somewhere in the rainforest (location unspecified) and was packaged in a singing container.[...] Wonder what a singing container is? I believe it sang this song when you opened the lid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7ffGdfbqs
[FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement.
I was laughing too. As I watched it I thought, This sure is cheesy! Cheesy honey! ;) I might have to post that link on FB. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@... wrote: Damn Rick, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard - especially from the comments posted - here is my favorite: So what exactly is the taste of Vedic Technology, anyway? I finally shelled out nearly ten dollars for almost an ounce of Maharishi Honey, and listen, people: THIS STUFF IS INEDIBLE. It came discolored, gummy, and rancid. Honey can't really go bad, but somehow those Maharishis made it happen. (Where is your Natural Law now?) Out of my family of four, I was the only one that managed to get it down. Two others had to spit it out. The fourth, after seeing our reactions, refused to go near it. From: Rick Archer rick@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 6:14 PM Subject: RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement.   From:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Carol Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 4:23 PM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Snapshot of the Movement.   [...] Maharishi Vedic Organic Honey which came from somewhere in the rainforest (location unspecified) and was packaged in a singing container.[...] Wonder what a singing container is? I believe it sang this song when you opened the lid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7ffGdfbqs
[FairfieldLife] Re: TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted
Michael, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been out of the TM movement and how long were you involved? (You probably shared that on here somewhere. If you have a link to where you shared, I'd like to read it as time allows.) I was involved in a group (not TM) for 28 years. I left the group in 2005. It was a big deal, leaving... and I wrote a lot...a lot. I actually wrote a lot before I left writing my way out of the group (in private journals). After I left, I began to write publicly. I'm not sure why that is and have wondered about it - why one writes publicly about their experiences. Anyway..I'd be interested to read more about your story if you care to link or share. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@... wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Jackson mjackson74@ wrote: On second thought, you are right Dr Dummy - I hereby announce that I officially revoke everything I said about Marshy and TM and I am gonna program my Ipod to play only that goddamn funny, funny Maharishi Vedic Honey video over and over and over - I hope one day to wear the white (meaning become a raja) Jai Guru Dr. Dumbass!!! Hey MJ. I will throw my small thought into the mix here. I have read and appreciated much of what you have written of your experiences at MIU, within the various phases of your different roles within the Movement as a meditator, member of staff and all the other ways in which you participated. I especially enjoyed reading what you had to say a few months ago when you first started posting about your disappointment/disillusionment/disgruntlement with MMY and with many others in positions of power and authority within the TMM. Although I was a meditator for almost 20 years and graduated from MIU I have no hard feelings about my time there or the technique. However, this does not stop me from considering all that you have to say about your own, very different, experience. And it does not mean I don't respect and consider all that you have to say as far as I can do that without having gone through or seen what you did. I am not sure how much further you can go with your unearthing of the slimier aspects of what has gone on within the movement and around MMY and even with MMY himself. I, for one, have a pretty clear picture of what you know and how you feel. Your audience has been reading what you have to say for weeks now and I am pretty sure we could, individually, write an essay on how MJ feels about MMY and the Movement and the practice of TM. What is happening now is that some are getting tired of reading, of being exposed to, what is starting to sound a little like a broken record. What you have to say isn't going anywhere past where it has been for a while now. It is evidently important to you to use this forum, and other places, as a sounding board for how you feel. But it seems as if you are having to defend your position a little harder now, that there is not the same empathy or support for your position. It seems you are starting to look like a man standing alone on a hilltop defending his patch of land to an ever-increasing number of those unsympathetic to your 'cause'. I am not saying that what you have to say is less valid than it was three months ago it is just that if you test the wind direction and the barometer it is telling you your audience here is not quite as receptive to your message as it once was. This is, of course, only my opinion. I respect your need to voice how you feel and admire your courage to do just that but I think I have gotten the message now. From: doctordumbass@ doctordumbass@ To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 8:35 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] TM Critics on FFL - the blind leading the sighted  Just such a strange thing, that the fiercest critics of TM on here, are those with no recent experience of the technique. Sure, they had their heyday - a few decades ago. Now, looking back hazily on those times, they stand up as those to be believed, the DEFINITIVE VOICES regarding the technique, its founder, and any other pearls that spew forth. Its just so much tripe. Being ordinarily skeptical, doubting stuff I am told, is second nature to me - an excellent survival tool, imo. So I can appreciate airing doubts about...anything. However, how long does it take to integrate something THAT YOU NO LONGER PRACTICE into your life? Why the public fixation on something that no longer has value to you? Are you warning us? (how condescending) Are you saving us? (how laughable) Are you opening our eyes? (see above) Why are you *devoting* your time and thought, to something you no longer do? Color me Puzzled.
[FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Michael and Carol
Share stated: Hi Carol, the crucial difference is that I don't continually have or express negative opinions about Christianity, Christian churches or Jesus Christ. So there is nothing for me to reconcile. I can easily believe that a smart, successful and healthy person might practice Christianity. Good point. I'm around some folks who regularly do criticize Christianity and belief in God(s). For me that's where the comparison comes in between Collins and Christianity with Dr. Oz and TM. Sorry I wasn't clear about that. :) What is there to reconcile with Oz and TM? I don't get what needs to be reconciled. Just because Dr. Oz (or anyone else) likes and practices TM and touts its benefits doesn't negate another person's bad or toxic experiences with TM or the TMO. Of course, any business/corporation likes to have well known folks endorse them. Sells more product, practice, whatever the goods are. Dr. Oz's endorsement of TM and the TMO (if he does endorse them) is good PR for the TMO. The gekko endorses Geiko. And then there's Flo for Progressive. But I'm still with Nationwide; I like my agent and the service. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Share Long sharelong60@... wrote: Thanks for your reply Michael. Just a couple of points: I don't know that Dr. Oz is unwilling to disagree with Oprah. Do you know that for a fact? He seems pretty independent to me. I don't know enough about mantras to comment on that. And I don't think TM is superior because anyone said so. I think it is unique in the effortlessness of it process. My own logic tells me that this effortlessness is what makes it the best meditation technique that I know of. I am happy with it so don't feel compelled to look for another. Hi Carol, the crucial difference is that I don't continually have or express negative opinions about Christianity, Christian churches or Jesus Christ. So there is nothing for me to reconcile. I can easily believe that a smart, successful and healthy person might practice Christianity. From: Michael Jackson mjackson74@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 5:55 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: David Lynch Is Back to Michael  Let's see - there are a whole bunch of people who practice and tout TM who could variously be characterized as Bliss Ninny's and other such names, I should start TM again because he agrees with them? Should I take his word for it when he agrees with, hmmm let's see, the German Purusha guys I have read about here on FFL who wear swastikas under their ties and party when it is Hitler's birthday? Or should I continue to chart my own course? The bottom line answer to your question is six fold, Shary. One - I am confident enough in my own experience and ability to decide things for myself that I do not suddenly reverse course on the word of a celebrity who owes his fame to Oprah and is unwilling to disagree with her. Two - I agree he is intelligent and the fact that he thinks TM is a good thing, I don't hold against him. One day I trust he will come out of that particular delusion. Three - Other intelligent people, like me, were deluded by Marshy and TM sales pitches, cuz that is exactly what they have always been, sales pitches. Therefore I don't hold it against him that he too is deluded about TM. Four - This is speculation, but I do not believe he has the benefit of the experiences of seeing some of the things I have seen in TM - abusive behavior on the part of TM longtimers especially the popinjay Governors with a little bit of TM authority and the unstressing phenomenon, particularly that seen on long rounding courses. Were he aware of these things, I trust he would be intelligent enough to alter his opinion of TM and its pimps. Five - He is unaware the TMO treats himself and all TM celebrities far differently than they treat rank and file meditators, sidhas and Governors who have no money, celebrity or TM authority within the Movement. As an aside, I must admit that the TMO is an equal opportunity abuser. Those donkeys will abuse anyone whom they think they have authority over, be they meditators or Governors. The difference in treatment of celebrities and money people on the one hand and regular folks on the other were he to see it, I am sure his magnificent intelligence would enable him to question the efficacy of TM. Six - I agree that the simple practice of TM itself can make one feel refreshed and rested under the right circumstances (i.e. - the TM meditator generally has to have had a good night's sleep the night before, can't be hung over, kapha, pitta and vata has to be balanced just right, has to sleep in a vastu ved house, had the proper amount of Amrit Kalash upon arising, had the proper
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hey Doc....Regarding psychedelic/hallucinogen drug experiences -
If I'm not mistaken, MDMA is an offspring of MDA. I reckon I'll go google it and find out. ;) MDA was the drug of choice typically...among the circle of folks with whom I 'expanded'. Microdot...was another one. And Window Pane. Oh my...I wish I could recall the nuances of each of those tiny little pieces of paper that could cause the entire universe to be at one and where it seemed our little tripping circle could communicate telepathically. I was reading again today on jimson weed. Someone asked about the long term effects and wondered if it would cause Alzheimers onset. It's been almost 38 years since my jimson weed experience. I don't think I have early Alzheimers. I hope I never develop it. I've written a few memoir pieces about some of my drug daze. Jimson weed is still the most vivid memory, I think. It was decades before I overcame my deathly fear of cock roaches. http://parchmentanthology.blogspot.com/2008/12/datura-stramonium-to-dance-with-devil.html --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Seraphita s3raphita@... wrote: Totally agree with you about mescaline: never enjoyed myself so much as on the stuff. I used to find everything absurdly hilarious. For example, a fish-and-chip shop owner was the Platonic archetype of all other fish-and-chip shop owners. Every other fish-and-chip shop owner you ever saw was just a pale imitation of this guy. I laughed hysterically virtually non-stop - except when police cars cruised past! Pity it became so hard to find - much better than MDMA or other alternatives. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Hey Doc, Sometime in this past week I read one of your responses on a thread. I forget the thread now. But I recall the essence of your response. (I couldn't respond at the time because I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Monday, 2/18, and wasn't able to really type and now can't remember where you commented. Sorry bout that.) Anyhoo...you stated something to the effect that a person's experience when under the influence of a psychedelic drug mirrored that person's internal state. (Again, going by memory ... so if I mis-understood, please correct me.) In my experience that isn't always true. An example would be the drug/herb jimson weed. Every experience I've ever read/heard has always been horrid hallucinations. (I danced with jimson weed when I was 15 years old and can atest to its horrors.) As far as other psychedelics, they each had their own nuance in my experiences. For example: Mescaline often made me laugh a lot. MDA made me horny. LSD afforded psychedelic sensory distortions. I'm of the opinion that different chemicals evoke various hormones (or whatevers) to respond...and thus a certain drugs/herbs can cause bad effects (bad trips) or good effects (good trips). I do think whatever one experiences within the good trip or the bad trip comes from somewhere in the person's psyche...but the drug used helps determine if what is pulled from the psyche is pleasurable or not pleasurable. (Hope that makes sense.) Eventually all my trips tuck a turn toward the dark side, which was probably a blessing because I gave up tripping. Hmmmthat is when I turned to TM by the way. Ha.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hey Doc....Regarding psychedelic/hallucinogen drug experiences -
Well stated. :) The paranoia was horrid in those last days. I thought I was going crazy...and I probably was. My saving thought as I sat alone rocking back and forth on my bed at 16 years old...my saving thought was, If I was crazy, I wouldn't know it. I cling to that thought of logic. I found my way down the stairs at my parents home and pulled out the local newspaper in search for help. There was an add for TM. I made the phone call and was soon receiving my mantra. I'm not sure if TM was what helped me specifically or if simply taking some sort of action and replacing the drugs helped. Regardless, that action did help save my mind and my sanity. (Though some may disagree. haha) :) *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Seraphita s3raphita@... wrote: I also agree with you about trips eventually taking a turn toward the dark side. I'm convinced that taking a top-end psychedelic can give one a genuine experience of the divine - a gnosis of the divine Mind. The trouble is, when you take the drugs you're also trying to escape your everyday self and its everyday boring routine. You want to squeeze the maximum pleasure from the experience and twist it to serve your own desires and fantasies. The divine is indifferent to our ego games and one's repressed fears can't be held back for long and so come to the surface nightmarishly magnified by the effect of the psychedelic. Me too: when I'd had a bellyful of taking acid then trying TM seemed like the next natural step. And so it proved . . . --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Hey Doc, Sometime in this past week I read one of your responses on a thread. I forget the thread now. But I recall the essence of your response. (I couldn't respond at the time because I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Monday, 2/18, and wasn't able to really type and now can't remember where you commented. Sorry bout that.) Anyhoo...you stated something to the effect that a person's experience when under the influence of a psychedelic drug mirrored that person's internal state. (Again, going by memory ... so if I mis-understood, please correct me.) In my experience that isn't always true. An example would be the drug/herb jimson weed. Every experience I've ever read/heard has always been horrid hallucinations. (I danced with jimson weed when I was 15 years old and can atest to its horrors.) As far as other psychedelics, they each had their own nuance in my experiences. For example: Mescaline often made me laugh a lot. MDA made me horny. LSD afforded psychedelic sensory distortions. I'm of the opinion that different chemicals evoke various hormones (or whatevers) to respond...and thus a certain drugs/herbs can cause bad effects (bad trips) or good effects (good trips). I do think whatever one experiences within the good trip or the bad trip comes from somewhere in the person's psyche...but the drug used helps determine if what is pulled from the psyche is pleasurable or not pleasurable. (Hope that makes sense.) Eventually all my trips tuck a turn toward the dark side, which was probably a blessing because I gave up tripping. Hmmmthat is when I turned to TM by the way. Ha.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hey Doc....Regarding psychedelic/hallucinogen drug experiences -
Someone introduced me to the Erowid Vault a couple years ago. It's an interesting site regarding psychedelics. http://www.erowid.org/ I just googled the difference between MDA MDMA. Here's one of the links: http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/drugs-health/difference-between-mda-and-mdma/ * --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: If I'm not mistaken, MDMA is an offspring of MDA. I reckon I'll go google it and find out. ;) MDA was the drug of choice typically...among the circle of folks with whom I 'expanded'. Microdot...was another one. And Window Pane. Oh my...I wish I could recall the nuances of each of those tiny little pieces of paper that could cause the entire universe to be at one and where it seemed our little tripping circle could communicate telepathically. I was reading again today on jimson weed. Someone asked about the long term effects and wondered if it would cause Alzheimers onset. It's been almost 38 years since my jimson weed experience. I don't think I have early Alzheimers. I hope I never develop it. I've written a few memoir pieces about some of my drug daze. Jimson weed is still the most vivid memory, I think. It was decades before I overcame my deathly fear of cock roaches. http://parchmentanthology.blogspot.com/2008/12/datura-stramonium-to-dance-with-devil.html --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Seraphita s3raphita@ wrote: Totally agree with you about mescaline: never enjoyed myself so much as on the stuff. I used to find everything absurdly hilarious. For example, a fish-and-chip shop owner was the Platonic archetype of all other fish-and-chip shop owners. Every other fish-and-chip shop owner you ever saw was just a pale imitation of this guy. I laughed hysterically virtually non-stop - except when police cars cruised past! Pity it became so hard to find - much better than MDMA or other alternatives. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Hey Doc, Sometime in this past week I read one of your responses on a thread. I forget the thread now. But I recall the essence of your response. (I couldn't respond at the time because I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Monday, 2/18, and wasn't able to really type and now can't remember where you commented. Sorry bout that.) Anyhoo...you stated something to the effect that a person's experience when under the influence of a psychedelic drug mirrored that person's internal state. (Again, going by memory ... so if I mis-understood, please correct me.) In my experience that isn't always true. An example would be the drug/herb jimson weed. Every experience I've ever read/heard has always been horrid hallucinations. (I danced with jimson weed when I was 15 years old and can atest to its horrors.) As far as other psychedelics, they each had their own nuance in my experiences. For example: Mescaline often made me laugh a lot. MDA made me horny. LSD afforded psychedelic sensory distortions. I'm of the opinion that different chemicals evoke various hormones (or whatevers) to respond...and thus a certain drugs/herbs can cause bad effects (bad trips) or good effects (good trips). I do think whatever one experiences within the good trip or the bad trip comes from somewhere in the person's psyche...but the drug used helps determine if what is pulled from the psyche is pleasurable or not pleasurable. (Hope that makes sense.) Eventually all my trips tuck a turn toward the dark side, which was probably a blessing because I gave up tripping. Hmmmthat is when I turned to TM by the way. Ha.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Hey Doc....Regarding psychedelic/hallucinogen drug experiences -
i clung not cling... though it might be a freudian slip, or skirt. ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@... wrote: Well stated. :) The paranoia was horrid in those last days. I thought I was going crazy...and I probably was. My saving thought as I sat alone rocking back and forth on my bed at 16 years old...my saving thought was, If I was crazy, I wouldn't know it. I cling to that thought of logic. I found my way down the stairs at my parents home and pulled out the local newspaper in search for help. There was an add for TM. I made the phone call and was soon receiving my mantra. I'm not sure if TM was what helped me specifically or if simply taking some sort of action and replacing the drugs helped. Regardless, that action did help save my mind and my sanity. (Though some may disagree. haha) :) *** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Seraphita s3raphita@ wrote: I also agree with you about trips eventually taking a turn toward the dark side. I'm convinced that taking a top-end psychedelic can give one a genuine experience of the divine - a gnosis of the divine Mind. The trouble is, when you take the drugs you're also trying to escape your everyday self and its everyday boring routine. You want to squeeze the maximum pleasure from the experience and twist it to serve your own desires and fantasies. The divine is indifferent to our ego games and one's repressed fears can't be held back for long and so come to the surface nightmarishly magnified by the effect of the psychedelic. Me too: when I'd had a bellyful of taking acid then trying TM seemed like the next natural step. And so it proved . . . --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: Hey Doc, Sometime in this past week I read one of your responses on a thread. I forget the thread now. But I recall the essence of your response. (I couldn't respond at the time because I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Monday, 2/18, and wasn't able to really type and now can't remember where you commented. Sorry bout that.) Anyhoo...you stated something to the effect that a person's experience when under the influence of a psychedelic drug mirrored that person's internal state. (Again, going by memory ... so if I mis-understood, please correct me.) In my experience that isn't always true. An example would be the drug/herb jimson weed. Every experience I've ever read/heard has always been horrid hallucinations. (I danced with jimson weed when I was 15 years old and can atest to its horrors.) As far as other psychedelics, they each had their own nuance in my experiences. For example: Mescaline often made me laugh a lot. MDA made me horny. LSD afforded psychedelic sensory distortions. I'm of the opinion that different chemicals evoke various hormones (or whatevers) to respond...and thus a certain drugs/herbs can cause bad effects (bad trips) or good effects (good trips). I do think whatever one experiences within the good trip or the bad trip comes from somewhere in the person's psyche...but the drug used helps determine if what is pulled from the psyche is pleasurable or not pleasurable. (Hope that makes sense.) Eventually all my trips tuck a turn toward the dark side, which was probably a blessing because I gave up tripping. Hmmmthat is when I turned to TM by the way. Ha.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Internet Chat Groups As Aikido Dojos
Turq asked: That's my theory, anyway. What is yours? The cyberstalker (Barry's title) Carol answers: Perhaps thou spendest too much time in internet chat rooms? Regardless, I think of internet communication the same as in 3-D life. I endeavor to be me as authentically as I'm able in any given moment, in both realms of 2-D 3-D. I seldom think or view communication in terms of attacks and/or tactics to disarm or neutrialize or whatever the person with whom I am communicating. That isn't communicating really...it's more like competing. That kind of 'communication' drains my soul. Perhaps it doesn't affect others in the same way. Though I don't expect an answer from you Barry, as you have never(?) answered anything I've asked you: Do you picture your internet communication as distinctly different than your communication in 3-D life? Is 3-D life like a continual martial arts experience for you? ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@... wrote: Aikido is an interesting martial art. When Master Ueshiba invented it, he did so on the basis of having previously mastered half a dozen other Japanese martial arts. As he became older and wiser, however, he found himself philosophically seeking an artform that did not require him to descend to the level of the attacker in order to defeat him. So he invented Aikido, a martial art that is *completely* defensive, in that there are NO offensive moves. The idea put forth in the Subject line is a bit of an in joke, in that in an Aikido dojo there would never be a match unless someone precipitated it, as part of a training regimen. You *have* to wait for someone to attack you before you can use any Aikido move. Part of the training is to avoid having to do even that. If you can ignore or laugh off the attacker's attack, it is far better to do so. LET the sorry bastid insult you all he wants; YOU don't have to respond. Unless the sorry bastid actually takes a swing at you, that is. And even then, you DON'T HAVE TO STRIKE BACK. Most of Aikido is spent learning the Art Of Getting The Fuck Out Of The Way. The rest is spent learning NOT how to respond in kind and throw a counterpunch or counterkick the attacker's way, but to use his OWN energy to defeat him. Almost by definition, anyone who throws a punch *also* throws himself off balance. He is no longer centered, no longer in balance. Therefore, if you merely take advantage of that always already falling off-balanced-ness, you can artfully steer the attacker's fall in a real faceplant, and have him wind up on the floor rather than still standing in front of you making an ass of himself. Having studied some Aikido, I'm of the opinion that it has its parallels in how to artfully navigate the Internet. Many Internet chat groups become ego dojos, in which people try to assert their Badness and impose it on others. LET them. The alternative is to have to get into some kinda dick-size contest with someone who actually believes that it's impressive to wave his around. ( For the record, this applies equally to the dickless, those of the feminine persuasion, who occasionally feel the need to wave their envy around. :-) If the dick-waver persists, rather than whip yours out and wave it, too, Aikido teaches us that there are Other Options. For example, one could just artfully step out of the way of some dweeb's earnest penis posturing and allow him to fall on his own engorged member. Nothing is quite as...uh...deflating as that. :-) Another Aikido tactic is to use the attacker's OWN energy to defeat him. That is, if he's *really* caught up in the dick-waving, not only allow him to keep waving it, but *encourage* him to do so. The more he waves that tiny thing around, the more people get to notice how small it really is, and laugh. That's my theory, anyway. What is yours? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky5u6vm44ak http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky5u6vm44ak
[FairfieldLife] Hey Doc....Regarding psychedelic/hallucinogen drug experiences -
Hey Doc, Sometime in this past week I read one of your responses on a thread. I forget the thread now. But I recall the essence of your response. (I couldn't respond at the time because I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Monday, 2/18, and wasn't able to really type and now can't remember where you commented. Sorry bout that.) Anyhoo...you stated something to the effect that a person's experience when under the influence of a psychedelic drug mirrored that person's internal state. (Again, going by memory ... so if I mis-understood, please correct me.) In my experience that isn't always true. An example would be the drug/herb jimson weed. Every experience I've ever read/heard has always been horrid hallucinations. (I danced with jimson weed when I was 15 years old and can atest to its horrors.) As far as other psychedelics, they each had their own nuance in my experiences. For example: Mescaline often made me laugh a lot. MDA made me horny. LSD afforded psychedelic sensory distortions. I'm of the opinion that different chemicals evoke various hormones (or whatevers) to respond...and thus a certain drugs/herbs can cause bad effects (bad trips) or good effects (good trips). I do think whatever one experiences within the good trip or the bad trip comes from somewhere in the person's psyche...but the drug used helps determine if what is pulled from the psyche is pleasurable or not pleasurable. (Hope that makes sense.) Eventually all my trips tuck a turn toward the dark side, which was probably a blessing because I gave up tripping. Hmmmthat is when I turned to TM by the way. Ha.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily
I got goose bumples when I read your response Emily Home for sure. I wonder sometimes if there isn't some ancestral cell memory that calls one to the trails. My son and I have often remarked, Why do we like this? It's lonley. It's hard work. It's painful. But alas, I love it intensely. I think the simplicity and knowing I have what I need on my back are two factors...but even those reasons are 'surface' stuff. Have you ever read about Grandam Gatewood? One of the many trail people from the past. Her story inspires me. But I wont' be wearing Keds sneakers when I thru-hike the AT. http://www.trailtherapy.org/Grandma_Gatewood.html Yes, it would be great to meet some day on a trail! Thanks for the kudos re my daughter. Yes, she is very present and a wonderful young lady. She is currently finishing up her studies in anthropology and history. Hope she gets to put to use those degrees. So cool about the cairns. 3 Talk about transcendence. :) The AT in the Smokies is not well marked and it's easy to get off trail. It's also easy to get off trail when I'm so into hiking I don't look for markers and all of a sudden I find myself 'unmarked.' I little panic oh shit happens. But all turns out well. No, I don't have a trail name. My son's name is grocery cart because he eats a lot. His backpacking partner's name is chef because he does most of the cooking. :D --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Carol, thank you so much for sharing this.  I love the line people pack their fears.  I am afraid of being cold and not having enough socks!  I always pack too many layer options and too many socks.  I'll think of that next time.  Beautiful website and beautiful daughter; makes me want to cry, she's so present and connected.  One thing I loved in Utah this summer were the cairns that other hikers and rangers had put up marking the trail in places where it disappeared into the canyons and landscape; my friend and I built some too.  This is the opposite of a great escape; feels like home.  I will remember this.  I would love to meet up with you on a trail someday.  I don't have a trail name yet - yours?  From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:09 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily  Wow EmilyI know you must have lots of trail tales. :) My first trip out I was way too heavy. Lightened up when I took a zero day in Danville, VA. By the time I do my thru hike, I want to get really light. One thru-hiker I met on my 71-mile debut was trekking his 7th(I think it was) thru hike. I think it was his third thru hike on the AT. We talked for a good 45 minutes as my son and I and he took a break on the trail. He lit his pipe (tobacco) and stated, People pack their fears. I thought it was a great line. When I reached Danville a day later, I lightened my load...mainly medical supplies; that was my fear. On a section hike in NY with my daughter, we met a couple who are doing a project (or at least were doing it) entitled Journey of Dreams. They were hikiing and biking 10,000 miles and in the process video taping dreams from 10,000 hikers and bikers. I just now checked there website... http://journeyofdreams.com/ My daughter appears in their Webisode #6. You can see and hear my daugher at minute 5:26. http://journeyofdreams.com/appalachian-trail-video/webisode-6-njny/ At some point I'll have to see if I can catch up with Ron Diane and find out where they are. (My time is stretched pretty thin these days.) I wrote a poem about meeting Ron Diane...and the day they videoed my daughter and I as we shared our dream for their camera... Here's a link to the poem: http://parchmentanthology.blogspot.com/2010/09/progeny.html Some of my most favorite folks are hikers and backpackers. Just in my few short trips I've gained rich memories of the good in people. Plus, I've had some trail angels leave food and water here and there. ;) Maybe I'll see you on a trail one day Emily. Do you have a trail name? :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn wrote: Hi Carol: àI grew up in the Northwest and backpacked most of my childhood - 15 years old. àThese were family trips with cousins ranging from mostly long weekend jaunts to a 2-week long trip in the high sierras at about 15. àThen I took a long hiatus and left home for college and a wild ride through my 20's. àPicked it up again with my kids and friends and did 3-5 day trips in the Cascade mountains. àHave been on many of the hikes in the 100 hikes book. àI upgraded finally and bought all new lighter-weight gear, as toughing it out old-school became too much for me in my mid-40's. àI don't like to feel like a mule
[FairfieldLife] Re: New Sexual Revolution: Polyamory May Be Good for You
*chuckle* They sound like lots of fun!! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Reminded me of yesterday when I called my daughter, who lives in San Francisco, and asked her what she was doing for Valentine's Day, and she said she was going out to dinner with three girlfriends, and then added matter-of-factly that they were going to pretend to be lesbian couples, to get the free champagne. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, obbajeeba no_reply@ wrote: Yes, Ann! He sounds depressed because he watches two women give to one man and they ain't inviting him in! He waits for a rebound bonk, but will not be successful. Poor guy. heh Oh Obba, are you flirting with me? Watch out 'cuz it just might get me going and then couldn't we just give Barry an eyeful, that is if we'd let him watch, which I highly doubt. Now get going you little sassy-pants, no more of your lip for today - I'd like you to save them both for me tomorrow. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Your comments are hilarious Ann!! Barry is not making much sense here, granted. He seems to focus on the very worst prejudices in others, and take that as the basis for argument. Sounds depressed. Hope you had a great Valentines Day! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, obbajeeba wrote: Oh yeah, baby, free love if you let me. Lick that extra wet lick lick lick your face and all. Oh, don't forget that rubber! Hey, give me a full physical for everyone who swings and I will be a millionaire! Did you know that venereal disease is pretty common among the aging population? They like to wank the wong to barren wombs of the love canal! No pregnancy and viagra..whoopie! If it ain't good enough, time to wonder what her snatch feels like..and hers and his is bigger and turns to the left a bit more.. Good for you my ass. It means you are fucking bored with your partner. I shall allow this idiocy to stand on its own as an example of why obba has never succeeded in her attempts to flirt with guys on FFL. Who could even *imagine* getting it on with someone that ignorant? Whoa, why the extreme reaction here Barry? Did you know that there are ways to address a difference of opinion with reason, class, openness and diplomacy? Yes indeed, it's true. Instead I'll focus in one of my last posts for the week on the excellent article that Alex found and posted. It's about bloody time that someone did some real studies on polyamorous relationships, to help overcome the idiotic ideas that monogomaphobes have about them. We get the picture, anyone who is a monogomaphobe (which, of course is not even close to being a real word) is an idiot. Oh, and you are about to enlighten all of us on why and how open minded and enlightened you are on the subject. Let's take a look: Living as I do as a non-involved fly on the wall in a polyamorous household, I have a more realistic picture of what is involved in nonmonogamous relationships than most. If there is a single word that characterizes the successful ones I've seen, that word is *honesty*. Oh, you are amazing. And what an original conclusion. Honesty who would have thought? And all this time I thought it was about how good looking the other partner was that kept a relationship intact. It's not about the sex, or as the idiot above suggests, about being bored with one's partner. It's about having the freedom to have more than one partner if one is drawn that way. Claiming that there can be only one is as stupid in romantic relationships as it is for the people who claim that seeing other teachers is suffic- ient grounds to excommunicate someone from a spiritual organization. And even in that parallel, as we all know from the history of the TMO, people are willing to *overlook* straying to other teachers AS LONG AS THOSE WHO DO IT *LIE* ABOUT IT. It's the *openness* and the *non-willingness* to lie about one's actions or apologize for them that the sexual prudes and the spiritual fascists hate. Let's see now, how sophisticated is Barry's rebuttal? How do his words here beckon us, entice us to read and take what he says seriously due to their reasonable nature and sense of empathy for the reader? He uses in the
[FairfieldLife] Re: New Sexual Revolution: Polyamory May Be Good for You
Sweet. :) My daughter is still in college. I think it she could, she'd make a career out of being a student. Ha! That said, I do hope she continues as a lifelong learner. What is your daughter studying, if you don't mind me asking and if she wouldn't mind you sharing? Both my children were home schooled (through I prefer the term eclectic schooled) from birth thru high school. I hope I didn't damage them too much. Haha. And I hope they picked up on being life-long learners. Never too old... :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@... no_reply@... wrote: Turned out to be Proseco, but, yeah she had a good time. We had lunch yesterday - She is in her final year of school, so studying like a maniac, and then party time on weekends, so she had been up 'til 4:30 and sort of tired, but always fun to see her. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol jchwelch@ wrote: *chuckle* They sound like lots of fun!! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Reminded me of yesterday when I called my daughter, who lives in San Francisco, and asked her what she was doing for Valentine's Day, and she said she was going out to dinner with three girlfriends, and then added matter-of-factly that they were going to pretend to be lesbian couples, to get the free champagne. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, obbajeeba no_reply@ wrote: Yes, Ann! He sounds depressed because he watches two women give to one man and they ain't inviting him in! He waits for a rebound bonk, but will not be successful. Poor guy. heh Oh Obba, are you flirting with me? Watch out 'cuz it just might get me going and then couldn't we just give Barry an eyeful, that is if we'd let him watch, which I highly doubt. Now get going you little sassy-pants, no more of your lip for today - I'd like you to save them both for me tomorrow. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, doctordumbass@ no_reply@ wrote: Your comments are hilarious Ann!! Barry is not making much sense here, granted. He seems to focus on the very worst prejudices in others, and take that as the basis for argument. Sounds depressed. Hope you had a great Valentines Day! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ann awoelflebater@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, turquoiseb no_reply@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, obbajeeba wrote: Oh yeah, baby, free love if you let me. Lick that extra wet lick lick lick your face and all. Oh, don't forget that rubber! Hey, give me a full physical for everyone who swings and I will be a millionaire! Did you know that venereal disease is pretty common among the aging population? They like to wank the wong to barren wombs of the love canal! No pregnancy and viagra..whoopie! If it ain't good enough, time to wonder what her snatch feels like..and hers and his is bigger and turns to the left a bit more.. Good for you my ass. It means you are fucking bored with your partner. I shall allow this idiocy to stand on its own as an example of why obba has never succeeded in her attempts to flirt with guys on FFL. Who could even *imagine* getting it on with someone that ignorant? Whoa, why the extreme reaction here Barry? Did you know that there are ways to address a difference of opinion with reason, class, openness and diplomacy? Yes indeed, it's true. Instead I'll focus in one of my last posts for the week on the excellent article that Alex found and posted. It's about bloody time that someone did some real studies on polyamorous relationships, to help overcome the idiotic ideas that monogomaphobes have about them. We get the picture, anyone who is a monogomaphobe (which, of course is not even close to being a real word) is an idiot. Oh, and you are about to enlighten all of us on why and how open minded and enlightened you are on the subject. Let's take a look: Living as I do as a non-involved fly on the wall in a polyamorous household, I have a more realistic picture of what is involved in nonmonogamous relationships than most. If there is a single word that characterizes the successful ones I've seen, that word is *honesty*. Oh, you are amazing. And what an original conclusion. Honesty who would have thought? And all this time I thought it was about how good looking
[FairfieldLife] Re: New Sexual Revolution: Polyamory May Be Good for You
Cluck, cluck. Corn(stalk), Corn(stalk). ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@... wrote: On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 1:28 AM, turquoiseb no_re...@yahoogroups.comwrote: ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@ wrote: Uncle Tantra will get back to you drama queens and your humiliating pile-ons, these get-Barry fests and get-Barry orgies. Why do you think I posted what I did at the end of last week and the beginning of this one? A few posts calculated to push buttons, and then I can just sit back and watch people demonstrate to the lurkers how attached and reactive they are. :-) Yes these women - they can't help being reactive, drama queens, all of them - Obba, Ann, Emily, Rauchy, Judy. I just tolerate them because they praise me you know - wink, wink - why don't they recognize that they are just stupid c#nts as you rightly put it, and that new cyber-stalker chick Carol - they get threatened by a real man like you.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily
Wow EmilyI know you must have lots of trail tales. :) My first trip out I was way too heavy. Lightened up when I took a zero day in Danville, VA. By the time I do my thru hike, I want to get really light. One thru-hiker I met on my 71-mile debut was trekking his 7th(I think it was) thru hike. I think it was his third thru hike on the AT. We talked for a good 45 minutes as my son and I and he took a break on the trail. He lit his pipe (tobacco) and stated, People pack their fears. I thought it was a great line. When I reached Danville a day later, I lightened my load...mainly medical supplies; that was my fear. On a section hike in NY with my daughter, we met a couple who are doing a project (or at least were doing it) entitled Journey of Dreams. They were hikiing and biking 10,000 miles and in the process video taping dreams from 10,000 hikers and bikers. I just now checked there website... http://journeyofdreams.com/ My daughter appears in their Webisode #6. You can see and hear my daugher at minute 5:26. http://journeyofdreams.com/appalachian-trail-video/webisode-6-njny/ At some point I'll have to see if I can catch up with Ron Diane and find out where they are. (My time is stretched pretty thin these days.) I wrote a poem about meeting Ron Diane...and the day they videoed my daughter and I as we shared our dream for their camera... Here's a link to the poem: http://parchmentanthology.blogspot.com/2010/09/progeny.html Some of my most favorite folks are hikers and backpackers. Just in my few short trips I've gained rich memories of the good in people. Plus, I've had some trail angels leave food and water here and there. ;) Maybe I'll see you on a trail one day Emily. Do you have a trail name? :) ** --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Hi Carol:  I grew up in the Northwest and backpacked most of my childhood - 15 years old.  These were family trips with cousins ranging from mostly long weekend jaunts to a 2-week long trip in the high sierras at about 15.  Then I took a long hiatus and left home for college and a wild ride through my 20's.  Picked it up again with my kids and friends and did 3-5 day trips in the Cascade mountains.  Have been on many of the hikes in the 100 hikes book.  I upgraded finally and bought all new lighter-weight gear, as toughing it out old-school became too much for me in my mid-40's.  I don't like to feel like a mule any longer. Smile. Last summer I did 2 long camping trips (14 days and 10 days) on the WA coast and Utah, respectively, with long day hikes, but no backpacking.  I love being out there though - I had to step back a few years ago as I had back and knee injuries from skiing to recover from.  I hope to go again this summer. I've never hiked on the AT, but read the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, which was humorous.  Seventy-one miles is a great accomplishment; must have been a fabulous trip.  Emily.  From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 2:18 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily  Hey Emily... Thought I'd bump this in case you missed it before. Cheers! ~Carol :) *** Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have backpacked? [...] --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol wrote: Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have back packed? I just started backpacking in 2009. I've always loved the woods and have been a day hiker all my life, but my health (in the past) kept from being able to back pack. Finally (at age 49) I was well enough to give it a go. I've only done a little bit and my longest trip was only 71 miles. I've done other short trips for a night or two. I live on the east coast in North Carolina, so the Appalachian Trail is in my back yard and I feel at home there. I have backpacked a small portion of the AT in New York. My high school dream was to thru-hike the AT some day. I got chronically sick at age 22 and was stuck in that chronic ill health for a few decades. But now my high school dream is alive again. I want to thru-hike the AT the year I turn 60 or before if life circumstances fall into place prior to the big six zero. But, I'm thinking I'll hike the upper half (Harper's Ferry to Katahdin) and then take a bus back to Harper's Ferry and hike the lower half (Harper's Ferry to Springer). So technically it may be just two giant section hikes with a week or so off in between.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily
Thanks Ravi. :) I'm pretty much still an 'outsider' on this group. But do pop in and enjoy perusing from time to time. (Not to mention my cyberstalking career here on FFL. I wouldn't want to disappoint Barry (or Fiest, I think it was Fiest) too much. [sarcasm]) ;) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@... wrote: Welcome back Emily Carol !!! On Feb 14, 2013, at 4:51 PM, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Hi Carol: I grew up in the Northwest and backpacked most of my childhood - 15 years old. These were family trips with cousins ranging from mostly long weekend jaunts to a 2-week long trip in the high sierras at about 15. Then I took a long hiatus and left home for college and a wild ride through my 20's. Picked it up again with my kids and friends and did 3-5 day trips in the Cascade mountains. Have been on many of the hikes in the 100 hikes book. I upgraded finally and bought all new lighter-weight gear, as toughing it out old-school became too much for me in my mid-40's. I don't like to feel like a mule any longer. Smile. Last summer I did 2 long camping trips (14 days and 10 days) on the WA coast and Utah, respectively, with long day hikes, but no backpacking. I love being out there though - I had to step back a few years ago as I had back and knee injuries from skiing to recover from. I hope to go again this summer. I've never hiked on the AT, but read the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, which was humorous. Seventy-one miles is a great accomplishment; must have been a fabulous trip. Emily. From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 2:18 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily Hey Emily... Thought I'd bump this in case you missed it before. Cheers! ~Carol :) *** Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have backpacked? [...] --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol wrote: Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have back packed? I just started backpacking in 2009. I've always loved the woods and have been a day hiker all my life, but my health (in the past) kept from being able to back pack. Finally (at age 49) I was well enough to give it a go. I've only done a little bit and my longest trip was only 71 miles. I've done other short trips for a night or two. I live on the east coast in North Carolina, so the Appalachian Trail is in my back yard and I feel at home there. I have backpacked a small portion of the AT in New York. My high school dream was to thru-hike the AT some day. I got chronically sick at age 22 and was stuck in that chronic ill health for a few decades. But now my high school dream is alive again. I want to thru-hike the AT the year I turn 60 or before if life circumstances fall into place prior to the big six zero. But, I'm thinking I'll hike the upper half (Harper's Ferry to Katahdin) and then take a bus back to Harper's Ferry and hike the lower half (Harper's Ferry to Springer). So technically it may be just two giant section hikes with a week or so off in between.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily
Have fun Emily! And maybe one day...we'll meet along a highland bald. I love balds. I probably would like cotton candy space ships too! :) --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote: Hey Ravi.  Thanks for the thought.  Here is an update for you.  I left FFL and jumped quickly into my waiting space ship, concealed in a pink, cotton candy cloud of the finest spun sugar, headed to a final, undisclosed, vacation location on a warm sandy beach, where I was intending to meditate peacefully on my next employment opportunity.  Unfortunately, it turns out that I had not atoned for as many sins here as I had hoped and in fact, I may have banked a few more.  I'm currently on trial for being a new-age version of a Rakshasa and expect to be sentenced to purgatory and many hours of service to others to atone for my sins.  So...long story short, it'll be a little while.  Now, I *am* an escape artist of the highest order (and kind of proud of that fact), but this time, thanks to having outed myself here on FFL, my jailers have asked not just the one GOD, but many Gods, to watch over me and make sure I tow the line.  My ego is surrendering - too many gods, too little time.  I am allowed an hour a day to amuse myself as I please.  I have enjoyed yours and Obba's contributions of late.  Obba, my love, stick around. Loved the Onion piece, Judy!  Ann, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye as you were undoubtedly making your way through one fabulous museum or maybe gazing serenely up at Big Ben, if the London thing worked out, but thank you always for being your wonderful self.  The bell tolls, they are calling me back. Love, Emily    From: Ravi Chivukula chivukula.ravi@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 5:46 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily  Welcome back Emily Carol !!! On Feb 14, 2013, at 4:51 PM, Emily Reyn emilymae.reyn@... wrote:  Hi Carol:  I grew up in the Northwest and backpacked most of my childhood - 15 years old.  These were family trips with cousins ranging from mostly long weekend jaunts to a 2-week long trip in the high sierras at about 15.  Then I took a long hiatus and left home for college and a wild ride through my 20's.  Picked it up again with my kids and friends and did 3-5 day trips in the Cascade mountains.  Have been on many of the hikes in the 100 hikes book.  I upgraded finally and bought all new lighter-weight gear, as toughing it out old-school became too much for me in my mid-40's.  I don't like to feel like a mule any longer. Smile. Last summer I did 2 long camping trips (14 days and 10 days) on the WA coast and Utah, respectively, with long day hikes, but no backpacking.  I love being out there though - I had to step back a few years ago as I had back and knee injuries from skiing to recover from.  I hope to go again this summer. I've never hiked on the AT, but read the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, which was humorous.  Seventy-one miles is a great accomplishment; must have been a fabulous trip.  Emily.  From: Carol jchwelch@... To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 2:18 PM Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Backpacking --- Emily  Hey Emily... Thought I'd bump this in case you missed it before. Cheers! ~Carol :) *** Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have backpacked? [...] --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Carol wrote: Emily, you mentioned in another post that you backpack. Have you done much backpacking and where are some of the places you have back packed? I just started backpacking in 2009. I've always loved the woods and have been a day hiker all my life, but my health (in the past) kept from being able to back pack. Finally (at age 49) I was well enough to give it a go. I've only done a little bit and my longest trip was only 71 miles. I've done other short trips for a night or two. I live on the east coast in North Carolina, so the Appalachian Trail is in my back yard and I feel at home there. I have backpacked a small portion of the AT in New York. My high school dream was to thru-hike the AT some day. I got chronically sick at age 22 and was stuck in that chronic ill health for a few decades. But now my high school dream is alive again. I want to thru-hike the AT the year I turn 60 or before if life circumstances fall into place prior to the big six zero. But, I'm thinking I'll hike the upper half (Harper's Ferry to Katahdin) and then take a bus back
