RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
Turq's gonna get pissed again and say that what I claim as being my life is not believable. Well, damn, a Chinese monk did teach me that what Rick says is right. Silence is dynamic and silence isn't an aid in tantric lovemaking, it's indispensable. --- Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of curtisdeltablues > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:40 AM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve > Martin of Wilmington > > > > > It was as though I were in deep meditation > throughout the whole dynamic, > > noisy experience. Not withdrawn or passive in the > least just > > imperturbable. > > I'm glad you weighed in Rick. > > Sorry I dont have time to follow the discussion > more closely. > > >I think your example illustrates that > the usefulness of these states is context dependent. > In a situation > like you mentioned, a detached silence is a real > asset. But I believe > that this state is not useful for making love. > > Our difference is that you regard these states as > relative perspectives, > whereas I regard them as openings to universal > realities. That makes sense, > since you doubt the existence of subtler realities. > You also imply in your > last sentence above that higher states make one > emotionally numb. I think > there is evidence for that in the TMO, but there is > also evidence throughout > the larger spiritual community that greater > emotional richness accompanies > development of consciousness. I dont know much > about tantra, but I gather > that tantrics regard the ability to maintain inner > silence as a great aid to > love making. > > Neuro-linquistic > programming (NLP) looks at these different states in > relationship to > the usefulness in a specific context. Their goal is > to be able to > shift fluidly between the options. I think they are > related to the > states produced by meditation. Where I differ with > traditional yogic > theory is that they seem to feel that you can't have > too much silence > along with activity. I think you can depending on > what you are doing. > > I agree with you, but I think that too much would > only be a temporary > state, due to inadequate integration. Also, the > people I know who seem to be > speaking from experience say that the whole > witnessing/silence thing is a > stage, and that silence is eventually perceived to > be full of dynamism. Im > a little out of my league discussing this, but the > point Im trying to make > is that there may be some undesirable aspects to > certain stages in the > development of consciousness, but these stages are > transitional, and as one > moves on, the undesirable aspects drop off and one > is grateful to have > persisted in the journey. > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1298 - > Release Date: 2/25/2008 > 8:45 PM > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
Bull's eye again, Mr. Archer, in my humble opinion. --- Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of curtisdeltablues > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:40 AM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve > Martin of Wilmington > > > > > It was as though I were in deep meditation > throughout the whole dynamic, > > noisy experience. Not withdrawn or passive in the > least just > > imperturbable. > > I'm glad you weighed in Rick. > > Sorry I dont have time to follow the discussion > more closely. > > >I think your example illustrates that > the usefulness of these states is context dependent. > In a situation > like you mentioned, a detached silence is a real > asset. But I believe > that this state is not useful for making love. > > Our difference is that you regard these states as > relative perspectives, > whereas I regard them as openings to universal > realities. That makes sense, > since you doubt the existence of subtler realities. > You also imply in your > last sentence above that higher states make one > emotionally numb. I think > there is evidence for that in the TMO, but there is > also evidence throughout > the larger spiritual community that greater > emotional richness accompanies > development of consciousness. I dont know much > about tantra, but I gather > that tantrics regard the ability to maintain inner > silence as a great aid to > love making. > > Neuro-linquistic > programming (NLP) looks at these different states in > relationship to > the usefulness in a specific context. Their goal is > to be able to > shift fluidly between the options. I think they are > related to the > states produced by meditation. Where I differ with > traditional yogic > theory is that they seem to feel that you can't have > too much silence > along with activity. I think you can depending on > what you are doing. > > I agree with you, but I think that too much would > only be a temporary > state, due to inadequate integration. Also, the > people I know who seem to be > speaking from experience say that the whole > witnessing/silence thing is a > stage, and that silence is eventually perceived to > be full of dynamism. Im > a little out of my league discussing this, but the > point Im trying to make > is that there may be some undesirable aspects to > certain stages in the > development of consciousness, but these stages are > transitional, and as one > moves on, the undesirable aspects drop off and one > is grateful to have > persisted in the journey. > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1298 - > Release Date: 2/25/2008 > 8:45 PM > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fooling people with meditation research, TMO-style.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "matrixmonitor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ---Thanks. The best way for the TMO to attain success in its ventures > is to abandon all such research and put Wolfgang Puck at the head of > the Organization. Then turn all the Peace Palaces into restaurants. > http://www.wolfgangpuck.com > not a chance; have you actually *eaten the food* that is served on courses?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Archer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of curtisdeltablues > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:40 AM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington > > > > > It was as though I were in deep meditation throughout the whole dynamic, > > noisy experience. Not withdrawn or passive in the least just > > imperturbable. > > I'm glad you weighed in Rick. > > Sorry I don't have time to follow the discussion more closely. > > >I think your example illustrates that > the usefulness of these states is context dependent. In a situation > like you mentioned, a detached silence is a real asset. But I believe > that this state is not useful for making love. > > Our difference is that you regard these states as relative perspectives, > whereas I regard them as openings to universal realities. That makes sense, > since you doubt the existence of subtler realities. You also imply in your > last sentence above that "higher" states make one emotionally numb. I think > there is evidence for that in the TMO, but there is also evidence throughout > the larger spiritual community that greater emotional richness accompanies > development of consciousness. I don't know much about tantra, but I gather > that tantrics regard the ability to maintain inner silence as a great aid to > love making. > > Neuro-linquistic > programming (NLP) looks at these different states in relationship to > the usefulness in a specific context. Their goal is to be able to > shift fluidly between the options. I think they are related to the > states produced by meditation. Where I differ with traditional yogic > theory is that they seem to feel that you can't have too much silence > along with activity. I think you can depending on what you are doing. > > I agree with you, but I think that "too much" would only be a temporary > state, due to inadequate integration. Also, the people I know who seem to be > speaking from experience say that the whole witnessing/silence thing is a > stage, and that silence is eventually perceived to be full of dynamism. I'm > a little out of my league discussing this, but the point I'm trying to make > is that there may be some undesirable aspects to certain stages in the > development of consciousness, but these stages are transitional, and as one > moves on, the undesirable aspects drop off and one is grateful to have > persisted in the journey. > exactly right Rick, in my experience. witnessing is nothing more than the first glimpses of ceding the individual ego to the cosmic ego. after awhile the cosmic ego predominates and the individual ego disappears. just as you said, it is all a matter of integration. The companion of silence which initially seems foreign is later found to be true identity. seeing these experiences of growing awareness as discrete and unrelated is similar to taking a car ride from Boston to San Francisco, exiting the vehicle in upstate New York, and declaring the path fragmented.
RE: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of curtisdeltablues Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:40 AM To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington > It was as though I were in deep meditation throughout the whole dynamic, > noisy experience. Not withdrawn or passive in the least – just > imperturbable. I'm glad you weighed in Rick. Sorry I don’t have time to follow the discussion more closely. >I think your example illustrates that the usefulness of these states is context dependent. In a situation like you mentioned, a detached silence is a real asset. But I believe that this state is not useful for making love. Our difference is that you regard these states as relative perspectives, whereas I regard them as openings to universal realities. That makes sense, since you doubt the existence of subtler realities. You also imply in your last sentence above that “higher” states make one emotionally numb. I think there is evidence for that in the TMO, but there is also evidence throughout the larger spiritual community that greater emotional richness accompanies development of consciousness. I don’t know much about tantra, but I gather that tantrics regard the ability to maintain inner silence as a great aid to love making. Neuro-linquistic programming (NLP) looks at these different states in relationship to the usefulness in a specific context. Their goal is to be able to shift fluidly between the options. I think they are related to the states produced by meditation. Where I differ with traditional yogic theory is that they seem to feel that you can't have too much silence along with activity. I think you can depending on what you are doing. I agree with you, but I think that “too much” would only be a temporary state, due to inadequate integration. Also, the people I know who seem to be speaking from experience say that the whole witnessing/silence thing is a stage, and that silence is eventually perceived to be full of dynamism. I’m a little out of my league discussing this, but the point I’m trying to make is that there may be some undesirable aspects to certain stages in the development of consciousness, but these stages are transitional, and as one moves on, the undesirable aspects drop off and one is grateful to have persisted in the journey. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1298 - Release Date: 2/25/2008 8:45 PM
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fooling people with meditation research, TMO-style.
---Thanks. The best way for the TMO to attain success in its ventures is to abandon all such research and put Wolfgang Puck at the head of the Organization. Then turn all the Peace Palaces into restaurants. http://www.wolfgangpuck.com In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Hagen J. Holtz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ...So...where would you people go to find out.what research has > been done and by whom? > > I think there is no final reliable source other than you in the role of a premature scientist. Hypothesis, theory and practice have to match, that is all. And if you have a theory, get it verified through experiments. And by the results of your experiments get your theory refined. And if someone criticizes you, get him do it in a way that you are able to follow his arguments and the other way round. Do not get insecured by polemics and do not insecure your counterpart with polemics unless being the last means of your defense ! Follow the idea of greek philosophers, who put the search for truth higher than any ego issues. The egos contribute, the truth gets crystallized. > > And if someone has a better theory, fine. Let him do. But to repudiate TM-research across-the- board is not more convincing than uncritical believe in it. The founding of an independent institute for research on human consciousness may help. >
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Fooling people with meditation research, TMO-style.
...So...where would you people go to find out.what research has been done and by whom? I think there is no final reliable source other than you in the role of a premature scientist. Hypothesis, theory and practice have to match, that is all. And if you have a theory, get it verified through experiments. And by the results of your experiments get your theory refined. And if someone criticizes you, get him do it in a way that you are able to follow his arguments and the other way round. Do not get insecured by polemics and do not insecure your counterpart with polemics unless being the last means of your defense ! Follow the idea of greek philosophers, who put the search for truth higher than any ego issues. The egos contribute, the truth gets crystallized. And if someone has a better theory, fine. Let him do. But to repudiate TM-research across-the- board is not more convincing than uncritical believe in it. The founding of an independent institute for research on human consciousness may help.
[FairfieldLife] Ang Lee's latest flick
Shriver stopped by and brought me a movie to watch. We often share when we rent one. This time it was Ang Lee's "Lust Caution." I recommend this movie. Shriver warned me, telling me the improbable story that when this flick came out in China, the government issued a health warning, telling people that all the sexual positions you see in this movie are not for trying at home. Shriver being Shriver and China being China, there is no way to know how to take any of that. Anyway, the sex was unusually graphic and unusually violent for a regular movie, but, unlike usual sex in usual movies, it was necessary for the plot. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
PS: Ruth, you're never offensive. As for my complicated post on witnessing, here's the short version: as far as my own experience is concerned, witnessing is a phenomenon that is infinitely various. it isn't like this or like that. It's more ways than all of us put together can ever describe exhaustively. --- ruthsimplicity <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela > Mailander > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > So, here for what they're worth are some thoughts > > about witnessing, based on my experience which > > includes living, reading, and talking to others. I > > know my credibility is zilch in this forum, and so > be > > it. I am completely aware of the fact (and have > been > > for some time) that my life is not fucking > believable. > > All I can really say about that, though, is that > it's > > not my fault that the rest of yuns live such > > predicable and tame lives. I am a fourth > generation > > refugee, and it is abundantly clear to me what > Isaiah > > is talking about when he refers to "escapees from > the > > nations of earth." > > Angela, of all the people here you are the only one > I simply do not > understand. Sometimes you say things that are very > perceptive, but > other times you seem to miss the mark by a mile. You > seem tough yet > fragile. Some things you say are not logically > believable, but yet you > don't really come off to me as a liar. Yesterday > you mentioned that you > posted the Obama/Clinton record comparison to see > the reaction and I > understood you even less. Oh well, I am puzzled. > I hope I haven't > given offense. > > > > But before even getting into witnessing, a word > about > > dissociation. I have a daughter who is dealing > with > > dissociative personality disorder. . . . > > > > Cat and I were talking about stuff one day, and I > > said, "You know, Cat, the only way to deal with > your > > problem is to be nobody." > > > > She said,"Mom--you have it backwards, as usual. > The > > only way to deal with my problem is to be > everybody." > > Now this is perceptive on Cat's part, because she is > everybody. It > makes your story ring true. > > > So, with that intro, witnessing, in my experience, > > takes more than one form, as it must, since there > are > > two "entities" implicit in the very word. If > there > > are two, then there is a relationship between > them, a > > relationship which can change or, from a certain > point > > of view, it can be said to evolve. Moreover, the > > attention can shift from one to the other, > increasing > > the possibilities exponentially. > > > > Now, when it is my experience that I am eternal > > knowingness, then I notice that one of the things > that > > has kept me from knowing it always is the way > human > > languages use personal pronouns. > > > > If you're programmed from childhood to use > personal > > pronouns the way all humans normally do, then it > > becomes easy to forgot that I am always one, and > so > > far as I can tell, indestructible. And yet, I am > not, > > as Angela, omnipotent--apparently, but that > appearance > > changes when I no longer experience that Angela is > all > > I am. > > > > Now notice that I am not now using the pronoun "I" > to > > designate a small self. I am using it as if I > really > > am the one immortal giver of form, giving form > through > > Angela's words at this instance, angela being > nothing > > more than a hollow reed. > > > > There is a profound taboo against talking this way > in > > all cultures including those, by the way, which > posit > > a philosophical monism, and therefore ought to > teach > > all children to talk this way from the get-go if > > they're serious about wanting enlightenment for > > everyone. > > > I got lost in your pronoun discussion. > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "ruthsimplicity" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" > wrote: > > > > This thread has really brought up some interesting points. Turq's > > point about lucid dreaming and Vaj's description of different > > varieties of sleep witnessing were especially fascinating for me. > > > > I think it is time to clear the whole thing up from the perspective of > > an enlightened master. And you'll notice that the Yogananda people > > use the same video "expert" as TMO. BTW you have all been sleeping > > "wrong" so far so listen up: > > > > http://youtube.com/watch?v=feh3wPk3oCo&feature=related > > > Lay on your back! > > Don't worry! > > Go to sleep! > > You muthafuckin westerners! > > Well that was a little frightening. I have never heard Yagananda in > "real life" before. Something of a downer. Kind of up there with my > pundits are better than your pundits. > is everybody feeling white enough yet?
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
Well, I don't try to be foggy. And for the most part, I am truthful. My life really has been very unusual. Though, that's from the perspective of most people. >From my own perspective my life has been just what the doctor ordered. --- ruthsimplicity <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela > Mailander > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > So, here for what they're worth are some thoughts > > about witnessing, based on my experience which > > includes living, reading, and talking to others. I > > know my credibility is zilch in this forum, and so > be > > it. I am completely aware of the fact (and have > been > > for some time) that my life is not fucking > believable. > > All I can really say about that, though, is that > it's > > not my fault that the rest of yuns live such > > predicable and tame lives. I am a fourth > generation > > refugee, and it is abundantly clear to me what > Isaiah > > is talking about when he refers to "escapees from > the > > nations of earth." > > Angela, of all the people here you are the only one > I simply do not > understand. Sometimes you say things that are very > perceptive, but > other times you seem to miss the mark by a mile. You > seem tough yet > fragile. Some things you say are not logically > believable, but yet you > don't really come off to me as a liar. Yesterday > you mentioned that you > posted the Obama/Clinton record comparison to see > the reaction and I > understood you even less. Oh well, I am puzzled. > I hope I haven't > given offense. > > > > But before even getting into witnessing, a word > about > > dissociation. I have a daughter who is dealing > with > > dissociative personality disorder. . . . > > > > Cat and I were talking about stuff one day, and I > > said, "You know, Cat, the only way to deal with > your > > problem is to be nobody." > > > > She said,"Mom--you have it backwards, as usual. > The > > only way to deal with my problem is to be > everybody." > > Now this is perceptive on Cat's part, because she is > everybody. It > makes your story ring true. > > > So, with that intro, witnessing, in my experience, > > takes more than one form, as it must, since there > are > > two "entities" implicit in the very word. If > there > > are two, then there is a relationship between > them, a > > relationship which can change or, from a certain > point > > of view, it can be said to evolve. Moreover, the > > attention can shift from one to the other, > increasing > > the possibilities exponentially. > > > > Now, when it is my experience that I am eternal > > knowingness, then I notice that one of the things > that > > has kept me from knowing it always is the way > human > > languages use personal pronouns. > > > > If you're programmed from childhood to use > personal > > pronouns the way all humans normally do, then it > > becomes easy to forgot that I am always one, and > so > > far as I can tell, indestructible. And yet, I am > not, > > as Angela, omnipotent--apparently, but that > appearance > > changes when I no longer experience that Angela is > all > > I am. > > > > Now notice that I am not now using the pronoun "I" > to > > designate a small self. I am using it as if I > really > > am the one immortal giver of form, giving form > through > > Angela's words at this instance, angela being > nothing > > more than a hollow reed. > > > > There is a profound taboo against talking this way > in > > all cultures including those, by the way, which > posit > > a philosophical monism, and therefore ought to > teach > > all children to talk this way from the get-go if > > they're serious about wanting enlightenment for > > everyone. > > > I got lost in your pronoun discussion. > > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Netflix: The Darjeeling Limited
HYPERLINK "http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Darjeeling_Limited/70075312?trkid=222336&l nkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=385029875_0_0"http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Darjee ling_Limited/70075312?trkid=222336&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=385029875_0_0 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1298 - Release Date: 2/25/2008 8:45 PM
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > So, here for what they're worth are some thoughts > about witnessing, based on my experience which > includes living, reading, and talking to others. I > know my credibility is zilch in this forum, and so be > it. I am completely aware of the fact (and have been > for some time) that my life is not fucking believable. > All I can really say about that, though, is that it's > not my fault that the rest of yuns live such > predicable and tame lives. I am a fourth generation > refugee, and it is abundantly clear to me what Isaiah > is talking about when he refers to "escapees from the > nations of earth." Angela, of all the people here you are the only one I simply do not understand. Sometimes you say things that are very perceptive, but other times you seem to miss the mark by a mile. You seem tough yet fragile. Some things you say are not logically believable, but yet you don't really come off to me as a liar. Yesterday you mentioned that you posted the Obama/Clinton record comparison to see the reaction and I understood you even less. Oh well, I am puzzled. I hope I haven't given offense. > But before even getting into witnessing, a word about > dissociation. I have a daughter who is dealing with > dissociative personality disorder. . . . > > Cat and I were talking about stuff one day, and I > said, "You know, Cat, the only way to deal with your > problem is to be nobody." > > She said,"Mom--you have it backwards, as usual. The > only way to deal with my problem is to be everybody." Now this is perceptive on Cat's part, because she is everybody. It makes your story ring true. > So, with that intro, witnessing, in my experience, > takes more than one form, as it must, since there are > two "entities" implicit in the very word. If there > are two, then there is a relationship between them, a > relationship which can change or, from a certain point > of view, it can be said to evolve. Moreover, the > attention can shift from one to the other, increasing > the possibilities exponentially. > > Now, when it is my experience that I am eternal > knowingness, then I notice that one of the things that > has kept me from knowing it always is the way human > languages use personal pronouns. > > If you're programmed from childhood to use personal > pronouns the way all humans normally do, then it > becomes easy to forgot that I am always one, and so > far as I can tell, indestructible. And yet, I am not, > as Angela, omnipotent--apparently, but that appearance > changes when I no longer experience that Angela is all > I am. > > Now notice that I am not now using the pronoun "I" to > designate a small self. I am using it as if I really > am the one immortal giver of form, giving form through > Angela's words at this instance, angela being nothing > more than a hollow reed. > > There is a profound taboo against talking this way in > all cultures including those, by the way, which posit > a philosophical monism, and therefore ought to teach > all children to talk this way from the get-go if > they're serious about wanting enlightenment for > everyone. > I got lost in your pronoun discussion. >
[FairfieldLife] Obama Wows Iowa Meditators
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/05/politics/politico/main3022171. shtml?source=search_story
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
Who would have thought that Yogananda would have a vibe like Bela Lugosi, eh? That's my vote for quote of the week. Thanks Turq. --- TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > "curtisdeltablues" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > This thread has really brought up some interesting > points. Turq's > > point about lucid dreaming and Vaj's description > of different > > varieties of sleep witnessing were especially > fascinating for me. > > > > I think it is time to clear the whole thing up > from the perspective of > > an enlightened master. And you'll notice that the > Yogananda people > > use the same video "expert" as TMO. BTW you have > all been sleeping > > "wrong" so far so listen up: > > > > > http://youtube.com/watch?v=feh3wPk3oCo&feature=related > > Way cool. Great find. Who would have thought > that Yogananda would have a vibe like Bela > Lugosi, eh? > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] New file uploaded to FairfieldLife
Hello, This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the FairfieldLife group. File: /Audio Files/Maharishi_laughing_2.17.08.WMA Uploaded by : rick_archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Description : Maharishi Laughing You can access this file at the URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/files/Audio%20Files/Maharishi_laughing_2.17.08.WMA To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.htmlfiles Regards, rick_archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
Yes, yes, Flowering Maple (why did you choose this name, Abutilon?), caring for a dying loved one is a great gift. --- abutilon108 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela > Mailander > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I've noticed the same thing whenever I've worked > with > > the dying. > > I've also noticed that sometimes there is amazing > > grace and the dying person drops being the person > and > > becomes radiant loving and light. Have you seen > that? > > > > > > My mother was the queen bitch from hell, and > caring > > for her during her last eight years of life (she > was > > utterly paralyzed) was maha tapas for me but well > > worth it in the end as she dropped her > "personhood" > > and became pure love. > > I've seen people die in all kinds of ways, and in > some cases there is > "amazing grace". As the body is dropping away, > sometimes there is a > dropping away of the "ego" as well (for want of a > better word). So > often, there was an atmosphere charged with > celestial energy and > light, and when I'd be near a dying person it would > feel as if I'd > entered the most holy place. But not always... The > most inspiring > thing was that often deeply moving reconciliations > would happen among > family members, and painful things could finally be > resolved. > > How wonderful to hear about your mother. I nursed > my mother through > her dying process (she chose to stop eating) and it > was one of the > most difficult and yet rewarding things I've ever > done. There was a > lot of surrender happening for her and she was able, > after a lifetime > of tight self-controls and an inability to depend on > others, to give > in and be totally cared for. > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
Thanks Ruth. I, too, couldn't grok that thing Vaj sent. It was either a really lousy translation, or it was total BS. No one experiencing anything talks like that about it. This is how academicians talk when they're living in their heads and don't know what experience is actually like. So, here for what they're worth are some thoughts about witnessing, based on my experience which includes living, reading, and talking to others. I know my credibility is zilch in this forum, and so be it. I am completely aware of the fact (and have been for some time) that my life is not fucking believable. All I can really say about that, though, is that it's not my fault that the rest of yuns live such predicable and tame lives. I am a fourth generation refugee, and it is abundantly clear to me what Isaiah is talking about when he refers to "escapees from the nations of earth." But before even getting into witnessing, a word about dissociation. I have a daughter who is dealing with dissociative personality disorder. According to her and her shrink, she's got a wardrobe of about fifteen different personalities to get her through this life. And, again for what it's worth, her jyotish chart says, "enlightenment this life-time." We figure she's burning off fifteen different lives all at once like your average feline that always has a minimum of at least nine lives. And, by some cosmic coincidence, by some synchronicity engineered by the giver of form, my daughter's name is Cat. Cat is zooey--no doubt about that, but she is also brilliant in most--though not all--of her personalities, and she's fun. Because of her unusual circumstances, she and I both got fairly well educated in what the field of psychology thinks it knows about her condition--but we both also know enough to realize that knowledge--all knowledge is necessarily a construct only. Who's constructing this, is always a good question. She and I have often talked about stuff, and the upshot is that we can't really tell the difference between dissociation and witnessing in some of its manifestations. That's by way of intro. Now here's my experience with "witnessing." I can't remember a time when witnessing wasn't my regular experience, but, I wouldn't always have called it that, and there were also times when I forgot (apparently) and got lost in thinking a personality, a small self, was somehow the source of my reality and its sum total, and not only its sum total, but something to be clung to at all cost. But a little consideration tells you that personalities, like knowledge, are also merely constructs. Yet, like all good actors, one knows the difference between a Self eternal and a mask, or to put it another way, one knows the difference between form and the giver of form. So I ask myself, what is the reality--these shifting forms transforming forever, posing as knowledge or as personalities on the one hand, or this eternal knowingness beyond all form. Cat and I were talking about stuff one day, and I said, "You know, Cat, the only way to deal with your problem is to be nobody." She said,"Mom--you have it backwards, as usual. The only way to deal with my problem is to be everybody." So, with that intro, witnessing, in my experience, takes more than one form, as it must, since there are two "entities" implicit in the very word. If there are two, then there is a relationship between them, a relationship which can change or, from a certain point of view, it can be said to evolve. Moreover, the attention can shift from one to the other, increasing the possibilities exponentially. Now, when it is my experience that I am eternal knowingness, then I notice that one of the things that has kept me from knowing it always is the way human languages use personal pronouns. If you're programmed from childhood to use personal pronouns the way all humans normally do, then it becomes easy to forgot that I am always one, and so far as I can tell, indestructible. And yet, I am not, as Angela, omnipotent--apparently, but that appearance changes when I no longer experience that Angela is all I am. Now notice that I am not now using the pronoun "I" to designate a small self. I am using it as if I really am the one immortal giver of form, giving form through Angela's words at this instance, angela being nothing more than a hollow reed. There is a profound taboo against talking this way in all cultures including those, by the way, which posit a philosophical monism, and therefore ought to teach all children to talk this way from the get-go if they're serious about wanting enlightenment for everyone. --- ruthsimplicity <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela > Mailander > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > there are basically two choices: > > 1. You can legalize abortion > > 2. You can live with the needless brutality and > loss > > of life entailed by illegal abortions. > > > > Ang
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Well that was a little frightening. I have never heard Yagananda in > "real life" before. Something of a downer. Kind of up there with my > pundits are better than your pundits. > You should listen to the tape of Yogananda singing devotional songs. That made a lasting impression on me.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "lurkernomore20002000" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Are you sure that wasn't Herman's Hermits When I think Herman's Hermits, I think: "This door swings both ways It's marked 'In' and 'Out' Some days you'll want to cry And some days you will shout. . . " Which grosses me out in a Borat kind of way. > > > > And a fire ant bites my belly and I get up and go in the house to make > > supper. > > I think you have the makings of a good haiku Karen softly sings the ants tickle my belly Time for supper ruth. Nah.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fooling people with meditation research, TMO-style.
...So...where would you people go to find out.what research has been done and by whom? Is there a comprehensive reference resource on this topic? I've made progress at libraries and by googling and such but If you really wanted to know what credible conlusions have gone from hypothesis to theory and so on...where would you guys look? I've read "studies" done by people who've concluded that global warming was a liberal extremist propaganda ploy. "Icecapped mountain and glaciers and ice shelves all over the world melt ALL THE TIME" Know what I mean? It's always good to know who's funding the research. I'm looking for actual unbiased independent conclusions. Where do you guys go for this if you do? Any suggestions? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "uns_tressor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" wrote: > > > > Vaj has his own agenda concerning TM research. > > > Yes. He has his brand of Buddhism to sell. In the meanwhile, > he is hoping to prove that honey is salty to people who > have stuck their fingers in a honeypot and sucked them. > Uns. >
[FairfieldLife] Ishvara Witness
I've followed the writing of Erik Davis at www.techgnosis.com for years. A while back he had one of the coolest descriptions of ishvara-shaksi, the creator witness. Pretty wild. Reminds me of Garuda-consciousness.[Excerpt]Diamond SolitaireWashing Beets with GodNovember 28, 2007A little over a decade ago, I had a bona-fide, Grade A, no-shit “mystical” experience—or at least something that felt a hell of a lot like a mystical experience. I have never written about it before, don't talk about it much, but I’ve been thinking about it lately and thought I’d give it a shot here, ineffability and scare quotes and all.The deal went down, absurdly enough, during a month-long retreat at a Zen center in northern California; even more absurdly, it happened while I was washing a bunch of beets in the garden. I had come to the center to recover and reorient after the agony of finishing the final draft of Techgnosis. I was pretty wrung out. During work period one afternoon, I found myself alone in a shady corner field, rinsing a pile of freshly unearthed beets in a free-standing outside basin. I stood there, in the cool but sunny air, washing big clumps of moist, fragrant mud from the red roots. I hadn’t had any alcohol or drugs in weeks.What happened next is tough to describe, and I think I need to lay down a bit of background first. One idea you’ll find in esoteric psychology (and elsewhere) is the notion that there is a vital difference between the content of consciousness—sensations, feelings, perceptions, thoughts, etc—and the subject that perceives or, better, witnesses these feelings and perceptions. (I discuss this idea in the weird light of Descartes and the Matrix here.) On the surface, the Witness might seem to be needlessly “dualistic”—a redeployment of the Cartesian split between mind and body that everybody is always bitching about. But its still kind of true, and meditation, to say nothing of rigorous self-observation, helps clarify the Witness by loosening identification with the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that enmesh our being without entirely defining it.So I’m rinsing the beets, minding my own business, vaguely enjoying the cool water washing away the moist and pungent mud, when my “I” suddenly rockets like a SciFi space elevator into the highest, most barren and serene realms of Witness consciousness. I became the watcher of the watcher of the watcher of the watcher of the watcher of the watcher..., a bootstrapping eensy-weensy spider of observer and observation that shed layers of identification as it flip-flopped up the water spout into ever more rarified levels of subjectivity, until there was not much left.What did this feel like? The analogy that arose most forcefully a few moments later, when I was able to reflect again, was of some sea-farer’s spyglass rapidly being drawn open, an action which extends the reach of the eye even as it, in some sense, increases the distance between the eye and the surface medium where the world inscribes its traces. My eye, my I, was now peering into my experience from Olympian climes. (...)Whole entry here.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Akiane-child prodigy, artist, muscian, composer, mystic, age 9.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "BillyG." wrote: > > > > The best argument for Reincarnation: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSGK5lvYMY > > > Impressive child, indeed. > Here's another one I really enjoyed. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/17/60minutes/main3841251.shtml
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
On Feb 25, 2008, at 9:20 PM, TurquoiseB wrote: Way cool. Great find. Who would have thought that Yogananda would have a vibe like Bela Lugosi, eh? ROFLOL. What a let down! I should've just stuck to the books! :-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This thread has really brought up some interesting points. Turq's > point about lucid dreaming and Vaj's description of different > varieties of sleep witnessing were especially fascinating for me. > > I think it is time to clear the whole thing up from the perspective of > an enlightened master. And you'll notice that the Yogananda people > use the same video "expert" as TMO. BTW you have all been sleeping > "wrong" so far so listen up: > > http://youtube.com/watch?v=feh3wPk3oCo&feature=related Way cool. Great find. Who would have thought that Yogananda would have a vibe like Bela Lugosi, eh?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This thread has really brought up some interesting points. Turq's > point about lucid dreaming and Vaj's description of different > varieties of sleep witnessing were especially fascinating for me. > > I think it is time to clear the whole thing up from the perspective of > an enlightened master. And you'll notice that the Yogananda people > use the same video "expert" as TMO. BTW you have all been sleeping > "wrong" so far so listen up: > > http://youtube.com/watch?v=feh3wPk3oCo&feature=related > Lay on your back! Don't worry! Go to sleep! You muthafuckin westerners! Well that was a little frightening. I have never heard Yagananda in "real life" before. Something of a downer. Kind of up there with my pundits are better than your pundits.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Bliss + Am I
Amarnath writes snipped: After full Awakening, in this phase, "There is nothing but Self ! ( which is Awareness, Bliss, God, Love, whatever ). In this "?final?" phase, "I am also my experiences." But 'I' and 'me' are no longer "personal" supposedly and neither is the Bliss ( it's of a different impersonal quality now). Some who are having "experiences" may dispute the latter. I don't know at this point. TomT: And then after that it goes back to being very personal and highly intimate as the next phase of some inward and outward flux. The reason it is now personal again is that the I/me are everywhere I look and everything that falls in my attention. I am really all of creation. My point value is all creation and I can know through the point value and through the totality simultaneously. It has been this way a number of years and at this point it has not become impersonal again but they may be a possibility although I can not see how. Tom
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
This thread has really brought up some interesting points. Turq's point about lucid dreaming and Vaj's description of different varieties of sleep witnessing were especially fascinating for me. I think it is time to clear the whole thing up from the perspective of an enlightened master. And you'll notice that the Yogananda people use the same video "expert" as TMO. BTW you have all been sleeping "wrong" so far so listen up: http://youtube.com/watch?v=feh3wPk3oCo&feature=related --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 6:51 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj wrote: > > > > > > > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: > > > > > > > I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of > > > > "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. > > > > > > > > Vaj? > > > > > > > > > The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the > > > meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless > > > witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself > > from > > > thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or > > the > > > death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the > > > transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". > > The > > > witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, > > although > > > that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies > > into a > > > kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If > > you > > > can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the > > > surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax > > > enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of > > > unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, > > > come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to > > > meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will > > pass in > > > "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or > > > simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you > > are > > > able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling > > > asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by > > expanding > > > beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. > > > The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is > > > somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if > > cleaned > > > from the inside out, clean and clear. > > > > > > And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging > > from a > > > nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at > > > all between sleeping and arising. > > > > > > Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can > > be > > > too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of > > witness, > > > it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide > > > awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a > > > case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam and gently > > fall > > > asleep as I was taught. Not nearly as "bright" and supports deep > > sleep > > > easier. Once I get some rejuvenation, then I can raise it to the > > head > > > centers again and you can integrate the motion aspect (of thought > > > energy). The heart center tends to habituate for the calm state and > > > deep sleep, the head centers for "movement" of thought. > > > > > > > > > I can't grok this. Can you recommend a reading? > > If you dig a more Hindu trip, try Enlightenment Without God by Swami > Rama. If a more Buddhist slant hits you, I liked The Tibetan Yogas of > Dream and Sleep by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Swami Rama's Yoga and > Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness explains a lot of what > I'm touching on from a Hindu POV. But be open to the possibility that > maybe of receiving some teaching on it and driving it for yourself > might be the only way to grok it. >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > sandiego108 wrote: > > everyone is different but for me I am happily ignorant of most > > things, including Indian philosophy, which in my case just clog up > > my mind with a lot of useless pondering. > It's actually not that complicated. For some reason the TMO or MMY made > it so. And it is quite an enjoyable thing to learn and can be done at > your own pace. > I appreciate that-- Its just that I find my head empty most of the time, and like it that way.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "lurkernomore20002000" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > " wrote: > I actually saw it as the bullet (Maharishi's life, post Guru Dev) > > having just left the barrel, no longer contained within it. I have > > no idea what will happen, except I see the life of Guru Dev and > > Maharishi as the very first chapters in a very lengthy saga. > > > > Okay, let's get a Bollywood producer. > now *that^ would be a trip! I'll agree only if there is at least one dance number featuring american indian and cowboy costumes...
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
On Feb 25, 2008, at 6:51 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: > > > I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of > > "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. > > > > Vaj? > > > The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the > meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless > witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself from > thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or the > death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the > transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". The > witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, although > that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies into a > kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If you > can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the > surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax > enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of > unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, > come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to > meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will pass in > "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or > simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you are > able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling > asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by expanding > beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. > The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is > somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if cleaned > from the inside out, clean and clear. > > And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging from a > nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at > all between sleeping and arising. > > Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can be > too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of witness, > it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide > awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a > case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam and gently fall > asleep as I was taught. Not nearly as "bright" and supports deep sleep > easier. Once I get some rejuvenation, then I can raise it to the head > centers again and you can integrate the motion aspect (of thought > energy). The heart center tends to habituate for the calm state and > deep sleep, the head centers for "movement" of thought. > I can't grok this. Can you recommend a reading? If you dig a more Hindu trip, try Enlightenment Without God by Swami Rama. If a more Buddhist slant hits you, I liked The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Swami Rama's Yoga and Psychotherapy: The Evolution of Consciousness explains a lot of what I'm touching on from a Hindu POV. But be open to the possibility that maybe of receiving some teaching on it and driving it for yourself might be the only way to grok it.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
On Feb 25, 2008, at 7:46 PM, abutilon108 wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Vaj, I have a question about an experience I have at times during sleep (or is it during waking?). I'm curious how you would interpret it. Usually it happens after I've awakened during the night and don't fall back to sleep. At first, I'm usually wishing I'd go back to sleep (my nice unconscious sleep - as wonderful as all these other alternatives may be, I love that unconsciousness). I may even been mulling over something or feel somewhat agitated, but then I'll drop into a different state. It's very pleasant. It's like a deep meditative state, but different. It's smooth and creamy. On the dark screen of awareness, I'll see shifting patterns of light and form. It's very enjoyable and may continue for some time. With these discussions about sleep experiences, I am now curious about it... Oh yes, I'm never sure if I'm asleep or awake. It feels totally awake, although without engagement in the kind of thinking and focus of attention that occurs during normal waking state. Thoughts don't form all the way, but there's something very clearly aware that all this is going on and I may be asleep or awake. It's a question in a sense, but doesn't form as a waking state question. Not sure really. Sorry.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I actually saw it as the bullet (Maharishi's life, post Guru Dev) > having just left the barrel, no longer contained within it. I have > no idea what will happen, except I see the life of Guru Dev and > Maharishi as the very first chapters in a very lengthy saga. > Okay, let's get a Bollywood producer.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
On Feb 25, 2008, at 6:35 PM, abutilon108 wrote: My mother was the queen bitch from hell, and caring for her during her last eight years of life (she was utterly paralyzed) was maha tapas for me but well worth it in the end as she dropped her "personhood" and became pure love. I've seen people die in all kinds of ways Got to be one of the more bizarre conversations on FFL, and that's saying something. Sal
[FairfieldLife] Steve--a poem
Many years ago my family and I camped out at the beach by a salt marsh. I could not but be amazed at the beauty and magnificence of this wonderful sound the frogs made at night. I thought. These frogs couldn't have been born making that sound. They would have to be taught. This came on the heels of just having receiving an advanced technique and anyway here it is. I won $200 at a poetry slam with this one. Steve Boot camp at the salt marsh Lean to the front, and let your arms fall loosely, listen, and learn. Be a frog. Now breathe the marsh. Hold its bouquet? Pull it in. What do you want? Is it damp? Make it dry. Is it sweet? Make it Merlot. And don't open your mouth when you breathe, but focus on the gullet. Put your hips to it. Don't bead straight on. Keep the eyes left, then right. Look side to side like it's dangerous. Pull your mouth tight and smile. You got one night. Take one breath. Divide the lows. Keep it green. Say-- bul ya womp. But only one syllable push the ends-- Let the ocean blow it. Bend the cattails. Wiggle your toes Now don't move a hair. But sway and bend, wiggle'em, get crazy, do the dance like you love Green, but don't move except the eyes left, then right, Now while they're moving turn to the sweet spot. Visualize a schooner's mast. To the wind. All sails Taut. Canvas Tight. Hold'em steady perfectly, perfectly Do not miss a whisper of Air that will keep those gullets taut. Now resonate, And as you expand out keep on expanding in, then out, Get Bug-Eyed like you love Green and skinny legged frogs. Feel the trees move and the wind stand. Bring the stars in, Move through the skin, Roll the eyes. Vibrate the teeth. Build a cathedral. Give it a sound Make it sweat. Make it swell from the inside. Pull the muck side inside outside. Push on it. Snuggle to it. Find your place. Be its song. Call its name. Stretch the oceans. Shrink the tides. Make the stars blink. Where do you want to go? Be a dragonfly. Be the air. Be the silence. What do you want to be? Who are you now? Make it damp,
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
sandiego108 wrote: > everyone is different but for me I am happily ignorant of most > things, including Indian philosophy, which in my case just clog up > my mind with a lot of useless pondering. It's actually not that complicated. For some reason the TMO or MMY made it so. And it is quite an enjoyable thing to learn and can be done at your own pace.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "abutilon108" > wrote: > > > I did want to say, however, that the term "group delusion" has > > come up in my mind about the TMO. I don't think it's any > > different, though, than the shared delusions or illusions people > > may have as part of a religion or even a culture. I do think our > > experiences can be colored, or even created, out of a set of > > expectations and desires which are reinforced in a group. > > I think it's interesting that MMY died, and we started > talking about the powerful effect he had on people, > at the same time that a very similar phenomenon seems > to be occurring in the general population with Barack > Obama. > Seems like anytime someone becomes a vortex of influence, they are the focal point of a web created in group consciousness, as it were.
[FairfieldLife] Hitler's Disney drawings
[Did Adolf Hitler draw Disney characters?]The Snow White characters Bashful and Doc, which the museum director William Hakvaag believes were drawn by Hitler, along with a sketch of Pinocchio
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Vaj, I have a question about an experience I have at times during sleep (or is it during waking?). I'm curious how you would interpret it. Usually it happens after I've awakened during the night and don't fall back to sleep. At first, I'm usually wishing I'd go back to sleep (my nice unconscious sleep - as wonderful as all these other alternatives may be, I love that unconsciousness). I may even been mulling over something or feel somewhat agitated, but then I'll drop into a different state. It's very pleasant. It's like a deep meditative state, but different. It's smooth and creamy. On the dark screen of awareness, I'll see shifting patterns of light and form. It's very enjoyable and may continue for some time. With these discussions about sleep experiences, I am now curious about it... Oh yes, I'm never sure if I'm asleep or awake. It feels totally awake, although without engagement in the kind of thinking and focus of attention that occurs during normal waking state. Thoughts don't form all the way, but there's something very clearly aware that all this is going on and I may be asleep or awake. It's a question in a sense, but doesn't form as a waking state question. > The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the > meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless > witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself from > thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or the > death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the > transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". The > witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, although > that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies into a > kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If you > can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the > surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax > enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of > unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, > come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to > meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will pass in > "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or > simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you are > able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling > asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by expanding > beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. > The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is > somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if cleaned > from the inside out, clean and clear. > > And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging from a > nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at > all between sleeping and arising. > > Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can be > too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of witness, > it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide > awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a > case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam and gently fall > asleep as I was taught. Not nearly as "bright" and supports deep sleep > easier. Once I get some rejuvenation, then I can raise it to the head > centers again and you can integrate the motion aspect (of thought > energy). The heart center tends to habituate for the calm state and > deep sleep, the head centers for "movement" of thought. >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "ruthsimplicity" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "lurkernomore20002000" > steve.sundur@ wrote: > > > > wrote: > > > > > I know everything is linked when on a warm day and I lay down on the > > > grass and smell the warm earth. > > > > > Didn't you forget a Karen Capenter song going on in the background? > > > > I hear Karen's voice: "Why do the birds go on singing? > > Why do the stars glow above? Don't they know it's the end of the world? Are you sure that wasn't Herman's Hermits > > And a fire ant bites my belly and I get up and go in the house to make > supper. I think you have the makings of a good haiku >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I had a similar experience during a car accident many years ago. Time slowed, no panic, and I could watch dispassionately. Not to minimize our experiences, but I would think this is somewhat common in highly stressful situations. >> I believe so. A couple years ago on an icy patch, I skidded off the road, rolled the car down an embackment three times, and "witnessed" the whold thing. I think this is the common experience of most people. An unexected experience, in which you have no control. What else can you do. My wife had a similiar experience with a car accident, and she is not of the meditator fold, or mindset.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I've noticed the same thing whenever I've worked with > the dying. > I've also noticed that sometimes there is amazing > grace and the dying person drops being the person and > becomes radiant loving and light. Have you seen that? > > > My mother was the queen bitch from hell, and caring > for her during her last eight years of life (she was > utterly paralyzed) was maha tapas for me but well > worth it in the end as she dropped her "personhood" > and became pure love. I've seen people die in all kinds of ways, and in some cases there is "amazing grace". As the body is dropping away, sometimes there is a dropping away of the "ego" as well (for want of a better word). So often, there was an atmosphere charged with celestial energy and light, and when I'd be near a dying person it would feel as if I'd entered the most holy place. But not always... The most inspiring thing was that often deeply moving reconciliations would happen among family members, and painful things could finally be resolved. How wonderful to hear about your mother. I nursed my mother through her dying process (she chose to stop eating) and it was one of the most difficult and yet rewarding things I've ever done. There was a lot of surrender happening for her and she was able, after a lifetime of tight self-controls and an inability to depend on others, to give in and be totally cared for.
[FairfieldLife] 'Clinton Machine= Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy'
The newly released picture of Barack Obama, Is part of Clintons' 'vast right-wing conspiracy... Only a few people has access to this picture. Could it also be linked to the vast military budget deals- That Clinton promises- just like McCain Billions and billions down the Military/Industrial drain. Hillary + McCain appeal to the fears, of the 'poor older folks', The status quo types... - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
[FairfieldLife] 'Floating'
- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: > > > I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of > > "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. > > > > Vaj? > > > The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the > meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless > witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself from > thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or the > death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the > transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". The > witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, although > that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies into a > kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If you > can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the > surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax > enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of > unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, > come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to > meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will pass in > "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or > simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you are > able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling > asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by expanding > beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. > The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is > somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if cleaned > from the inside out, clean and clear. > > And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging from a > nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at > all between sleeping and arising. > > Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can be > too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of witness, > it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide > awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a > case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam That's interesting. According to Bhoja-deva: hRdayaM shariirasya pradesha-visheSas tasminn adho-mukha-svalpa- puNDariikaabhyantare 'ntaHkaraNa-sattvasya sthaanaM tatra kRta-saMyamasya **sva[!]-para-citta-jñaanam** utpadyate | sva-citta- gataaH **sarvaa vaasanaaH**, para-citta-gataaMsh ca raagaadiiñ jaanaatiityarthaH |
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander > wrote: > > > > Somebody correct me if this is merely rumor. I heard > > that Marshy said that the soul joins the baby's body > > in the third month of pregnancy and that abortion > > prior to that time is OK. Can anyone confirm this? > > I am not aware of the dates you reffer to, but he did say: > "This abortion is like burning down an uninhibited house." > Freudian slip Nabby?
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > there are basically two choices: > 1. You can legalize abortion > 2. You can live with the needless brutality and loss > of life entailed by illegal abortions. > Angela, we have a point of agreement. Abortions will occur and have occurred throughout history. Let's keep it safe.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: > > > I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of > > "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. > > > > Vaj? > > > The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the > meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless > witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself from > thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or the > death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the > transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". The > witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, although > that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies into a > kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If you > can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the > surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax > enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of > unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, > come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to > meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will pass in > "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or > simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you are > able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling > asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by expanding > beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. > The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is > somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if cleaned > from the inside out, clean and clear. > > And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging from a > nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at > all between sleeping and arising. > > Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can be > too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of witness, > it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide > awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a > case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam and gently fall > asleep as I was taught. Not nearly as "bright" and supports deep sleep > easier. Once I get some rejuvenation, then I can raise it to the head > centers again and you can integrate the motion aspect (of thought > energy). The heart center tends to habituate for the calm state and > deep sleep, the head centers for "movement" of thought. > I can't grok this. Can you recommend a reading?
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
there are basically two choices: 1. You can legalize abortion 2. You can live with the needless brutality and loss of life entailed by illegal abortions. --- Robert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. > Williams" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Robert wrote: > > > Hillary has only one shotfor Obama to trip up > so > > > badly that he disqualifies himself. > > > > > "Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 blacks were > lynched," says > > Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. on his Web site, > > blackgenocide.org. "That number is surpassed in > less > > than three days by abortion." > > > I didn't know Hillary was against abortion; > Is John McReagan against abortion too? > The abortion issue is not going to go away, no > matter who is President. > It's a womans issue. > I don't see how it can be resolved, really. > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Somebody correct me if this is merely rumor. I heard > that Marshy said that the soul joins the baby's body > in the third month of pregnancy and that abortion > prior to that time is OK. Can anyone confirm this? I am not aware of the dates you reffer to, but he did say: "This abortion is like burning down an uninhibited house."
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Maharishi's dogma
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "amarnath" > wrote: > >> I guess the other point I was trying to make > > is that, for me it seems, > > there is all this vast spiritual literature > > that does seem to have some basic consistencies > > which differ from MMY's dogma. > > > Om, > > amarnath > > Oh please, just get a hug. That's your dogma. > I would translate that amarnath as "this vast spiritual" pile of crap. Sorry.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Akiane-child prodigy, artist, muscian, composer, mystic, age 9.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "BillyG." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The best argument for Reincarnation: > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSGK5lvYMY Impressive child, indeed.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" > wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 > > wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" > > > > > > > > I also think the reason Maharishi let Chopra go was one that > > Chopra > > > > wanted to leave, and as some have said, although Chopra brought > > a > > > > lot of publicity to the movement, wanted to put his own spin on > > the > > > > knowledge that Maharishi was bringing out, resulting in a > > defacto > > > > corruption of that knowledge. It had nothing to do with > jealousy > > in > > > > my opinion. > > > > > > > > The way I look at the evolution of Guru Dev's work, was that > > Guru > > > > Dev built the rifle, Maharishi pulled the trigger, and the > > bullet is > > > > now a few inches from the barrel, moving forward at a > tremendous > > > > velocity. > > > > > > That's an analogy with a lot of power ;-) > > > > > yep- the first thing that popped into my mind...seemed appropriate. > > When that bullet leaves the barrel - in your opinion - what will > happen ? > I actually saw it as the bullet (Maharishi's life, post Guru Dev) having just left the barrel, no longer contained within it. I have no idea what will happen, except I see the life of Guru Dev and Maharishi as the very first chapters in a very lengthy saga.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Angela Mailander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Somebody correct me if this is merely rumor. I heard > that Marshy said that the soul joins the baby's body > in the third month of pregnancy and that abortion > prior to that time is OK. Can anyone confirm this? > > > --- "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Ruth wrote: > > > But, what is Life with a capital L that should > > > not be disturbed? As I said, minds differ. > > > > > But, Ruth, can you name a single spiritual teacher > > that advocates aborting the unborn? Certainly not > > the Marshy or the Dalai Lama. > > > > When googling around I found the Natural Law Party's position on abortion: http://www.natural-law.org/platform/abortion.html I wonder how much imput MMY had on the party platform. Anyway, the party's position was that it is inappropriate to legislate morality and the decision should determined by the parties involved: http://www.natural-law.org/platform/abortion.html
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Maharishi's dogma
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "amarnath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> I guess the other point I was trying to make > is that, for me it seems, > there is all this vast spiritual literature > that does seem to have some basic consistencies > which differ from MMY's dogma. > Om, > amarnath Oh please, just get a hug. That's your dogma.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Maharishi's dogma
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "amarnath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB wrote: > > > > I'm not at all concerned with whether a doctrine/ > > dogma is "consistent" with Maharishi's. I no longer > > value very much of Maharishi's dogma. > > > > >>> > > SAME here ! > > I guess the other point I was trying to make > is that, for me it seems, > there is all this vast spiritual literature > that does seem to have some basic consistencies > which differ from MMY's dogma. > > I don't call these other teachings different dogmas; > since it seems their essence is what some call the > Eternal Universal Spiritual Principles (or Sanatana Dharma) I think you need to look up the meaning of the word 'dogma'. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogma Just because ideas are from a more widely embraced spiritual orthodoxy doesn't mean those ideas aren't dogma.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:01 PM, ruthsimplicity wrote: I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. Vaj? The witnessing of waking, sleeping and dreaming parallel the meditative states of the calm state (no thought, dreamless witnessing), movement of thought (dream state fabricating itself from thought forms) and collapse of dream/dreamless back to waking (or the death of waking into sleep). There are "sandhis" or "gaps" in the transitions between these and very similar or the same as "dying". The witnessing in deep sleep is like awareness witnessing a void, although that dualistic witnessing can be further relaxed and it unifies into a kind of 'luminous vacuity' where you simply rest, awake, aware. If you can relax even further, you can see thoughts begin to shatter the surface of the calm and dreams emerge into existence. If you relax enough the state of luminous vacuity or clear light, the state of unification pervades all the states and you watch thoughts emerge, come and then go. Dreams become very under control--if you want to meditate for hours, you can--and only a couple of minutes will pass in "waking time". Some people will use it to gain tomes of knowledge or simply to get answers to pressing questions or situations. If you are able to relax enough to actually go through the "death" of falling asleep and embrace the spheres of dreaming and deep sleep by expanding beyond them, you remain aware, seamlessly enjoying the whole cycle. The added advantage is resting in the bliss sheath of deep sleep is somehow miraculously healing and rejuvenating. You awake as if cleaned from the inside out, clean and clear. And the interesting thing? You know that grogginess of emerging from a nights sleep? Not only is it totally gone, there's no gap or seam at all between sleeping and arising. Some styles of witness, those associated with the head chakras can be too "bright" for some people. If they fall into this type of witness, it can develop into a sleep disturbance as it doesn't keep you wide awake, but it doesn't let you fall into real deep sleep either. In a case like that, I just place awareness in the hridayam and gently fall asleep as I was taught. Not nearly as "bright" and supports deep sleep easier. Once I get some rejuvenation, then I can raise it to the head centers again and you can integrate the motion aspect (of thought energy). The heart center tends to habituate for the calm state and deep sleep, the head centers for "movement" of thought.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 > wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" > > > > > I also think the reason Maharishi let Chopra go was one that > Chopra > > > wanted to leave, and as some have said, although Chopra brought > a > > > lot of publicity to the movement, wanted to put his own spin on > the > > > knowledge that Maharishi was bringing out, resulting in a > defacto > > > corruption of that knowledge. It had nothing to do with jealousy > in > > > my opinion. > > > > > > The way I look at the evolution of Guru Dev's work, was that > Guru > > > Dev built the rifle, Maharishi pulled the trigger, and the > bullet is > > > now a few inches from the barrel, moving forward at a tremendous > > > velocity. > > > > That's an analogy with a lot of power ;-) > > > yep- the first thing that popped into my mind...seemed appropriate. When that bullet leaves the barrel - in your opinion - what will happen ?
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Hillary Needs to do "The Right Thing"...
(snip) > > "We've written before about Samantha Power, the virulently > anti-Israel academic who serves as a foreign policy adviser > to Barack Obama. Power has the distinction of arguably being > to the left of Professors Walt and Mearsheimer in her view > of Israel's "domination" of American foreign policy." (snip) Power was raised in Ireland before emigrating to the United States in 1979. She attended Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Georgia. She was a member of the cross country team as well the basketball team. She is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School. From 1993 to 1996, she worked as a journalist, covering the Yugoslav wars for U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe, The Economist, and The New Republic. A scholar of foreign policy especially as it relates to human rights, genocide, and AIDS, she is currently the Anna Lindh Professor of Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Recent work Her book A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 2003. As of 2006, she was writing about foreign policy and Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Special Representative in Iraq who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad along with Jean-Sélim Kanaan, Nadia Younes, Fiona Watson, and other members of his staff, on the afternoon of August 19, 2003. The book, Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World was released on February 14, 2008. She spent 2005-06 working in the office of U.S. Senator Barack Obama as a foreign policy fellow, where she was credited with sparking off and directing Obama's interest in the Darfur conflict[1]. According to the November 4, 2007 edition of The New York Times, she is currently serving as a foreign policy adviser to Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Alongside her work with Obama, Power has been involved in several efforts to increase awareness with regard to genocide and human rights abuse, most particularly regarding the Darfur conflict. In 2006, she contributed to "Screamers", a movie telling about Darfur, Armenian and other genocides of 20-21st centuries. She endorses the Genocide Intervention Network. In 2004, Power was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 top scientists and thinkers of that year.[2] She appears in Charles Ferguson's 2007 documentary No End in Sight which alleges numerous missteps by the Bush administration in the U.S. war in Iraq. In fall 2007, Power began to write a column in Time Magazine.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ruth wrote: > > But, what is Life with a capital L that should > > not be disturbed? As I said, minds differ. > > > But, Ruth, can you name a single spiritual teacher > that advocates aborting the unborn? Certainly not > the Marshy or the Dalai Lama. A quick google search brings this from the Dalai Lama: "Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative, generally speaking. But it depends on the circumstances. If the unborn child will be retarded or if the birth will create serious problems for the parent, these are cases where there can be an exception. I think abortion should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance. Dalai Lama, New York Times, 28/11/1993" Far too many religious leaders and their corresponding religion have a strong streak of sexism which in my mind colors their opinion of abortion. There are certainly many religious leaders who oppose abortion at any time and want to prohibit it at all costs. >
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: UU Fellowship in Fairfield
Yes, there are plenty of unenlightened UU's. But the principles are what matter (you should read the post-1994 version). By the way it was a great first meeting w/ 2 dozen people, 60/40 townies/ruu's. sparaig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Jonathan Chadwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I just saw the note for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meeting this > Saturday upstairs at Revelations from 6-8. This is exactly what Fairfield needs: freethinking townies and ruu's meeting face-to-face (and with nametags with your real name on them!) & engaging in highflying rhetorical combat over the spiritual/material landscape of the Lebenswelt this forum is named for. UU's demand (1) organizational transparency, (2) democratic process, (3) freedom of belief (also we don't much like patriarchy). Sounds like a good place to start a real cultural/organizational force for good. > > - > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > Pah! I was raised in a uni-uni church. While its possibly more rare than in other churches, there are plenty of card-carrying Unitarian Universalists out there who are every bit as fundamentalist in their Uni-Uni-isms as any other fundamentalists. Lawson (who was once chastised by the church secretary for not "understanding the Unitarian Universalist Way" to the great delight and amusement of the minister of the church) - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Robert wrote: > > Hillary has only one shotfor Obama to trip up so > > badly that he disqualifies himself. > > > "Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 blacks were lynched," says > Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. on his Web site, > blackgenocide.org. "That number is surpassed in less > than three days by abortion." > I didn't know Hillary was against abortion; Is John McReagan against abortion too? The abortion issue is not going to go away, no matter who is President. It's a womans issue. I don't see how it can be resolved, really.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I'm just finding myself more like Curtis these days, > open to *many* different interpretations of experiences > that I once saw only one interpretation of -- the one > I had been taught to consider the only interpretation. > I've also been finding myself open to many possible interpretations of things, and it somehow seems possible to entertain more than one possibility, with each possibility contributing something of value to my understanding.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Bhairitu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > nablusoss1008 wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" > > > > >> I also think the reason Maharishi let Chopra go was one that Chopra > >> wanted to leave, and as some have said, although Chopra brought a > >> lot of publicity to the movement, wanted to put his own spin on the > >> knowledge that Maharishi was bringing out, resulting in a defacto > >> corruption of that knowledge. It had nothing to do with jealousy in > >> my opinion. > >> > >> The way I look at the evolution of Guru Dev's work, was that Guru > >> Dev built the rifle, Maharishi pulled the trigger, and the bullet is > >> now a few inches from the barrel, moving forward at a tremendous > >> velocity. > >> > > > > That's an analogy with a lot of power ;-) > Especially if you're ignorant of a lot of Indian philosophy (that wasn't > taught by MMY). > everyone is different but for me I am happily ignorant of most things, including Indian philosophy, which in my case just clog up my mind with a lot of useless pondering.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Somebody correct me if this is merely rumor. I heard that Marshy said that the soul joins the baby's body in the third month of pregnancy and that abortion prior to that time is OK. Can anyone confirm this? --- "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Ruth wrote: > > But, what is Life with a capital L that should > > not be disturbed? As I said, minds differ. > > > But, Ruth, can you name a single spiritual teacher > that advocates aborting the unborn? Certainly not > the Marshy or the Dalai Lama. > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Ruth wrote: > But, what is Life with a capital L that should > not be disturbed? As I said, minds differ. > But, Ruth, can you name a single spiritual teacher that advocates aborting the unborn? Certainly not the Marshy or the Dalai Lama.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
American troops don't kill babies? You're dreaming. I saw them do it in WWII when it wasn't official policy. We fled to the American sector because torture and rape (including rape of babies) wasn't official policy, as it was for the Russians, the British, and the French. But still it happened. You can't train men to kill and then expect them to draw a line somewhere. Action begets action of the same kind and it becomes addictive. That was then. Now war is much more brutal than it was then. And now brutality is policy for American troops and especially so for Blackwater. Shock and awe is the whole point, and you don't get that until you brutalize women and children. So stop dreaming Richard. --- "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Edg wrote: > > This guy thinks he's a rough-tough-realistic > > man-who-sees-the-truth, and has concluded that > > one must rob other countries just because we > > can. Richard is happy -- YES HAPPY -- to let > > American troops kill babies > > > Stop the lying! American troops don't kill babies. > > > but he'll heap abuse on anyone who aborts a speck > > of biological material that could someday become > > a real baby. > > > "Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 blacks were lynched," > says Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. on his Web site, > blackgenocide.org. "That number is surpassed in > less than three days by abortion." > > Full story: > > 'Obama's Abortion Stance Hurts Blacks' > By Penny Starr > CNS News, January 08, 2008 > http://tinyurl.com/2dthoz > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Sal Sunshine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:58 PM, george_deforest wrote: > > > Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield > > > > Today the Vedic Scholars, or Vedic Pandits, were given gifts. These > > were elderly gentlemen [not the young pandits trained by Maharishi]. > > They were expecting about 200 to come, but 600 arrived. Each one was > > given gifts including dakshina (a gift of cash), a shoulder bag, a > > shawl, rudraksha, a coconut, [other things I didn't catch] > > I think they left out the frankincense and myrrh. > > Sal > I see this stuff and I feel "my physiology has reached its limit". s. wtf?
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
What a great idea! We'll call them 'Unity Charts.' - Original Message - From: "Bhairitu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 4:04 PM Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve > Perhaps we ought to build a comparison chart to show what you get with > TM and what other traditions have to offer (like Sanskrit courses, etc). > > Kirk wrote: >> Whoa, I hear you Dude, jnana and ajnana are so hard to differentiate >> between. >> >> - Original Message - >> From: "Bhairitu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: >> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 3:07 PM >> Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve >> >> >> >>> itsstevemartin wrote: >>> Believe it or not at least I and I think a lot of people who practice TM just do it without intellectualizing, fanfare, pomp. We just do it and go about the business of living our lives and enjoy meditation, on whatever level we receive. What we get is enough. >>> And other traditions as well. It is however interesting to note from >>> the standpoint of mantra shastra that at least the advanced technique >>> has a vibration that will stimulate the intellect. Thus we see a lot of >>> intellectual discussion and most of it amateur or armchair yoga because >>> the movement or MMY didn't provide much in that area to raise the level >>> of individual expertise. After all making folks archaryas might cause >>> competition. ;-) Whereas in other traditions it is encouraged even >>> though it takes many years. >>> >>> > > > > To subscribe, send a message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Or go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ > and click 'Join This Group!' > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Edg wrote: > This guy thinks he's a rough-tough-realistic > man-who-sees-the-truth, and has concluded that > one must rob other countries just because we > can. Richard is happy -- YES HAPPY -- to let > American troops kill babies > Stop the lying! American troops don't kill babies. > but he'll heap abuse on anyone who aborts a speck > of biological material that could someday become > a real baby. > "Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 blacks were lynched," says Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. on his Web site, blackgenocide.org. "That number is surpassed in less than three days by abortion." Full story: 'Obama's Abortion Stance Hurts Blacks' By Penny Starr CNS News, January 08, 2008 http://tinyurl.com/2dthoz
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => M's dogma => "One way for all is Dangerous"
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ... > I think it's a point that is lost on TB TMers > sometimes, because they have been carefully > taught for so many years that any deviation > from Maharishi's dogma is WRONG, DAMNIT. > And not only is it WRONG, it's DANGEROUS > to even contemplate. Doing so means that you > have become tainted or polluted somehow, and > that you are a threat or a danger to those who > follow the true "highest path." > ... Amma says: "One way for all is Dangerous!" Just like taking the wrong medicine. > ...But, at the > same time, I Just Don't Know For Sure. > > He might be right where all these other teachers > over the centuries whom he contradicts have been > wrong. > >>> my feeling is that the essence of what these teachers were/are teaching is right and that there are what I call "Eternal Universal Spiritual Principles" which come from the Self and express themselves even in current teachers like Tolle, Katie, Stuart Schwartz, Mooji, Adyashanti, Francis Lucille, and many others. when I listen carefully, the essence of these teachings are the SAME presented in slightly different dress and also consistent with Ramana Maharshi, Papji, Robert Adams, Nisargadatta, Buddha, Christ, etc this is my POV, thanks for listening. ~amarnath
Re: [FairfieldLife] Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield
On Feb 25, 2008, at 3:58 PM, george_deforest wrote: Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield Today the Vedic Scholars, or Vedic Pandits, were given gifts. These were elderly gentlemen [not the young pandits trained by Maharishi]. They were expecting about 200 to come, but 600 arrived. Each one was given gifts including dakshina (a gift of cash), a shoulder bag, a shawl, rudraksha, a coconut, [other things I didn't catch] I think they left out the frankincense and myrrh. Sal
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Bliss + Am I my experiences?
Nice quotes, Vaj, thanks for posting. the following is from my intellectual understanding: The advaitic self-inquiry approach, which I have heard from Mooji, would be( roughly ) to realize that since "I" see/feel/experience the Bliss, "I" cannot be it. the inquiry would be "Who sees/feels/experiences the Bliss?" This is before full Awakening, during the "neti-neti" phase. During this phase, it's helpful to realize that: "'I' am not my experiences." and ask "Who is the experiencer?" After full Awakening, in this phase, "There is nothing but Self ! ( which is Awareness, Bliss, God, Love, whatever ). In this "?final?" phase, "I am also my experiences." But 'I' and 'me' are no longer "personal" supposedly and neither is the Bliss ( it's of a different impersonal quality now). Some who are having "experiences" may dispute the latter. I don't know at this point. This is my 2cents understanding so far. Santi, amarnath --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 24, 2008, at 12:40 AM, Rick Archer wrote: > > > I agree with Amarnath that many people in the movement seem very > > egotistical. Back on my 6-month course, most of the "great > > experience" guys had huge egos, and were always competing with each > > other in terms of whose experience was flashiest. > > Here's that quote again :-). You hit that one right on the head: > > Bliss > > " Whenever you consider there is bliss, and the objective conditions for > bliss occur, if you fall under the control of that by becoming arrogant > or conceited, then that will fester as an obstruction to the spiritual > path. Rather than thinking about what has caused this happiness, which > most probably is the accumulation of merit or the removal of > obscurations, as soon as the bliss occurs, you think, ''That's my > nature." Based on that, you become arrogant or lazy, thinking, "Well, > I've accomplished it." This is the greatest obstacle to the spiritual > path. This is what creates the realms of deva-gods. > > Oftentimes it is said that people can handle only a little bit of > felicity, but they can handle a lot of adversity. This is because > happiness on the spiritual path is the most difficult thing to handle. > Once it arises, that's where the path stops. > > This does not mean that it is necessary to give it all up. Giving > up happiness is not the practice. The main point is not to become > mesmerized by happiness as the end result. You realize that, "Ah, now, > the good quality of this is that I am fortunate, and this is another > result of the great fortune of the path and the result of the > accumulation of merit and wholesome deeds. Even more than ever, I will > carry on with the work at hand to achieve liberation from cyclic > existence." > > So with more diligence and more courage, you continue listening to > teachings, contemplating, meditating, and appreciating this precious > human rebirth." > > --from Meditation, Transformation, and Dream Yoga > http://www.snowlionpub.com/search.php?isbn=METRDR > > by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, translated by Sangye Khandro and B. > Alan Wallace > >>>
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Maharishi's dogma
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "amarnath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB wrote: > > > > I'm not at all concerned with whether a doctrine/ > > dogma is "consistent" with Maharishi's. I no longer > > value very much of Maharishi's dogma. > > > > >>> > > SAME here ! > > I guess the other point I was trying to make > is that, for me it seems, > there is all this vast spiritual literature > that does seem to have some basic consistencies > which differ from MMY's dogma. Indeed. Especially in terms of behavior during those all-important hours one spends *outside* of meditation. Maharishi pooh-poohs or actually rags on the notion of performing "good works," whereas they are the foundation of many other spiritual traditions (including Guru Dev's, as evidenced by a good quote that do.rflex reposted here in FFL post #165717). Also "missing in action" are any positive comments from MMY on the value of mindfulness, of becoming aware of "low" or unproductive states of attention and shifting one's focus back to "higher" or more productive states of attention. Those two practices *alone* have probably brought about more positive transformations in my life in the time since I left the TM movement than any of the meditations I did while part of it. Plus there are the parts of Maharishi's dogma that seem downright "wrong" to me -- his sup- port for the caste system, his attitudes about the role of women in spirituality, his jealous inability to allow his followers to think for themselves or to see other spiritual teachers. > I don't call these other teachings different dogmas; > since it seems their essence is what some call the > Eternal Universal Spiritual Principles (or Sanatana Dharma) > > I'm refering to the essence, > not necessarily the details > which can always slip into the dogma side. > > Perhaps, if I read these before, > maybe I would not be able to recognize it. > And I'm not saying all of us have to agree on this. > > Your point about the same experience being > interpreted differently due to different > teachings is well made. I think it's a point that is lost on TB TMers sometimes, because they have been carefully taught for so many years that any deviation from Maharishi's dogma is WRONG, DAMNIT. And not only is it WRONG, it's DANGEROUS to even contemplate. Doing so means that you have become tainted or polluted somehow, and that you are a threat or a danger to those who follow the true "highest path." So yeah...are there some areas in which I think that Maharishi's approach to spiritual teaching ...uh...sucks dead dogs? You betcha. In the pantheon of the world's spiritual teachers, I consider Maharishi a rank amateur. But, at the same time, I Just Don't Know For Sure. He might be right where all these other teachers over the centuries whom he contradicts have been wrong. But do I honestly think that's the case? No way.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
Perhaps we ought to build a comparison chart to show what you get with TM and what other traditions have to offer (like Sanskrit courses, etc). Kirk wrote: > Whoa, I hear you Dude, jnana and ajnana are so hard to differentiate > between. > > - Original Message - > From: "Bhairitu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 3:07 PM > Subject: Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve > > > >> itsstevemartin wrote: >> >>> Believe it or not at least I and I think a lot of people who practice TM >>> just do it without intellectualizing, fanfare, pomp. We just do it and >>> go about the business of living our lives and enjoy meditation, on >>> whatever level we receive. What we get is enough. >>> >> And other traditions as well. It is however interesting to note from >> the standpoint of mantra shastra that at least the advanced technique >> has a vibration that will stimulate the intellect. Thus we see a lot of >> intellectual discussion and most of it amateur or armchair yoga because >> the movement or MMY didn't provide much in that area to raise the level >> of individual expertise. After all making folks archaryas might cause >> competition. ;-) Whereas in other traditions it is encouraged even >> though it takes many years. >> >>
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
nablusoss1008 wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> I also think the reason Maharishi let Chopra go was one that Chopra >> wanted to leave, and as some have said, although Chopra brought a >> lot of publicity to the movement, wanted to put his own spin on the >> knowledge that Maharishi was bringing out, resulting in a defacto >> corruption of that knowledge. It had nothing to do with jealousy in >> my opinion. >> >> The way I look at the evolution of Guru Dev's work, was that Guru >> Dev built the rifle, Maharishi pulled the trigger, and the bullet is >> now a few inches from the barrel, moving forward at a tremendous >> velocity. >> > > That's an analogy with a lot of power ;-) Especially if you're ignorant of a lot of Indian philosophy (that wasn't taught by MMY).
[FairfieldLife] Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield
Fwd: Bevan's call on 2/22 -- Notes from Someone in Fairfield Today the Vedic Scholars, or Vedic Pandits, were given gifts. These were elderly gentlemen [not the young pandits trained by Maharishi]. They were expecting about 200 to come, but 600 arrived. Each one was given gifts including dakshina (a gift of cash), a shoulder bag, a shawl, rudraksha, a coconut, [other things I didn't catch] and was garlanded. Young pandits chanted while the elderly pandits were being garlanded. The Shakaracharya sat for the 4.5 hours that it took to complete this process. The previous day, when the Dandi Sadhus were honored, they [Bevan and other Movement leaders] were in the other room, but for this ceremony, the rajas and all of Maharishi's administrators and the elderly pandits and the Shankaracharya were all together. The Shankaracharya spoke in Hindi [it must have been translated] about Guru Dev and his special disciple. The Shankaracharya is younger and didn't remember this time with Guru Dev, but he described how this young Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh had grown up to be Jagad Guru of the entire world. He [the Shankacharya] was very sweet and kindly. We have all the knowledge and projects and organization of Maharishi's Movement for Global Ram Raj. We know what to do, and the Shankaracharya is blessing it all. The Shankaracharya said Maharishi has been Guru Dev's representative in this time. Maharishi looked after Guru Dev with all care and offered all he did to him with all honor. Bevan said the Shankaracharya is very close to us and watching over us as we carry out Maharishi's wishes. He blesses us as we carry out Maharishi's wishes. The ceremony went on for 4.5 hours as each pandit was named and came forward to receive his gifts. The Shankaracharya is also very close to Girish. Raja Harris Kaplan went to the Brahmastan of India with others today. There's been a great opening to introduce Maharishi's knowledge to the educational system of India on this trip. They have met with a very influential person in the educational system there and Raja Peter Warburton, Robert Keith Wallace and Ashley Deans have made presentations. There are vast student bodies at universities there. Bevan is inVaranasi with Neil Patterson to make presentations of consciousness-based education to vast educational organizations there. India is a field of all possibilities now. There are 500 students in a new vastu building there[didn't catch the city]. In India plenty of people want Vedic knowledge and want their children to grow up with it. Ashley Deans is continuing to make presentations and lots of initiations are possible, but they want to be able to provide checking and proper follow-up and create groups of Yogic Flyers. Tonight everyone is going back to MERU. Maharaja is there, waiting for all to arrive to establish the structure under his leadership. Rajas and leaders are there on all levels. Everything is very clear that Maharishi set up and made public, especially in recent months. They are setting up all the leadership to make the knowledge available globally to all through the silence of the Unified Field, and let everyone continue on. The Purusha Rajas are going to the UK, then back to Vlodrop, and a group [of Purusha, I believe] is coming back to Maharishi Vedic City. Everyone is on the move, traveling today or back already. Also, they met a man who's a leader of a vast educational organization. He invited them to his place [I believe], which was Guru Dev's ashram. All the rajas, ministers and about 150 Purusha crammed into Guru Dev's darshan room and sang puja together. This important man now realizes the organization Maharishi has. He could encourage all the children to learn. He was very touched by the group. He had a small group of Vedic pandits he had had trained, and he proudly had them waiting to recite for us. He realized the necessity to revive the Vedic tradition. They had memorized the Yajur Veda and recited it at great length. We all noticed that although they were technically proficient, the richness of consciousness of our Vedic pandits wasn't there. It was powerful and delightful, but the [depth of silence?] wasn't there. They realized that the success of recitation is in being established in the para level of silence, of totality. They recalled that Maharishi had said when the Maharishi Vedic Pandits were being trained that recitation should be "low and slow", meaning from the quiet level of the Self. Bevan was coughing off and on and at the end said, you can tell my physiology has reached its limit. He said, even at 3:00 AM [as he spoke] there's a lot of activity here, loud speakers going all the time. It will be nice to be back in the evnironment Maharishi created, so steeped in silence. Jai Guru Dev
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington => Maharishi's dogma
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I'm not at all concerned with whether a doctrine/ > dogma is "consistent" with Maharishi's. I no longer > value very much of Maharishi's dogma. > > >>> SAME here ! I guess the other point I was trying to make is that, for me it seems, there is all this vast spiritual literature that does seem to have some basic consistencies which differ from MMY's dogma. I don't call these other teachings different dogmas; since it seems their essence is what some call the Eternal Universal Spiritual Principles (or Sanatana Dharma) I'm refering to the essence, not necessarily the details which can always slip into the dogma side. Perhaps, if I read these before, maybe I would not be able to recognize it. And I'm not saying all of us have to agree on this. Your point about the same experience being interpreted differently due to different teachings is well made. Om, amarnath
[FairfieldLife] Re: Silence: the cruelest revenge.
In the energy department, it may be good feng shui to have your walks clean, too. Regardless, your attitude beats feeling like a victim, or seeking recrimination. Growing up in Marshalltown, Iowa, I had friends whose father worked a few blocks from his office. Before snowblowers were as common as they are now, he got one. After a snowfall, he'd walk his snowblower to the office, clearing all the sidewalks along the way. At the end of the day, he'd walk home down the other side of the street to give fair play to the neighbors. I don't believe there was much ego involved. He just did it for fun! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Duveyoung <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Sometimes nothing is a wholebunchalotta. > > Even the ego can use this handy tool. > > Lemme 'splain 'bout silence. > > As the three folks here who read my posts know, I've been > quasi-bitchin' about the worst winter in Madison, WI history and the > many Sisyphean challenges I've contended with, namely, shoveling the > walks. > > My neighbors are the working elite who have nice cushy jobs but have > to produce: lawyers, psychiatrists, computer geeks, small business > owners, like that. Well, you'd think that responsible bunch would > shovel their walks, eh? > > You'd be wrong about 70% of the time. > > Oh, but it gets worse. > > I've shoveled maybe 40 times to their average of about 6 times -- one > neighbor is almost as good a citizen as me, but one has NEVER done his > walks EVERand, yep, that guy lives right next door to me. (He's a > bigtime bicycle rider, so he's got the muscles, but nope.) > > So guess what? At the beginning of winter here, late in the evening, > the snow was coming down thick. I thought, "Well, I'll at least > clear a pathway, one shovel wide, now, and then do the whole walk > tomorrow." So I did that. Then the ice began to fall, and the > pathway I had cleared got two inches of ice adhering to the concrete > while everyone else merely got a crust on the top of their eight > inches of snow and could easily deal with it. Not my ice -- had to be > pick-axed off, and I didn't have a pick axe. > > So, next day, I went to the hardware store, bought a nice ice chipper, > came home and thoroughly exhausted myself before I realized that my > ice chipper was more like a kiddie pretend tool, and by that time, > tired, sweaty and after sundown, I called it a day with most of the > walks still covered -- just as most of my neighbors' were. Well, the > next day, I get a $109 ticket for not having my walk COMPLETELY > cleared. Why? -- cuz my neighbor who never does his walk had been > complained about -- rightfully -- by another neighbor, and when the > city inspector came out, she looked at the house in question and then > to each house on either side of the offender. So I got a ticket too. > > Okay, my bad, and, well, he got a ticket too. I'll live, but I called > the city and asked about why the neighbors across the street didn't > get ticketed and was told that that was the sunny side of the street > and those walks would melt "soon enough." > > Well, you can't fight city hall, but you can fight the neighbors -- > with silence. > > So what I did was buy a primo ice chipper -- 30 pounder -- and I > cleaned my walks and driveway spotlessly from edge of lawn to edge of > lawn, and I cleared off the snow from the lawn around the fire hydrant > too, and I cleared the wheelchair access ramps and then out to half > way into the street to boot. Oh, my sidewalks were silent then! Nary > a flake to cry out about my lazy-ass not caring about how the > neighborhood looks. > > So I kept it up and haven't faltered for the whole winter while every > single neighbor pretty much fucked up right and left so much that > people walked their dogs in the street rather than on the walks. > > Now, here's the good part: no one's gotten a ticket since I got mine. > > See? > > See? > > They KNOW I could have reported them a dozen times each, but SILENT > DOOR KNOBS WITH NO TICKETS is all that they have as a complaint from me. > > My first payoff: the other day, a neighbor from across the street > down the block a bit yelled out to me: "Nice walks, and you did your > lawn nice last summer too!" I've never met the guy and that's the > first thing he said to me. He couldn't contain himself -- had to make > a psychic partial payment to lessen his great debt to me for having > saved him literally a thousand dollars worth of fines. > > Ah, buttah to the ego. > > Now, consider the concepts of pay it forwards, living not for the > fruits of action, doing the right thing, Secret Santa's, and good > citizenship. Aren't all of them heavily involved with silence being > the best part of those giftings to the world? Isn't even egoic > silence sweet no matter if it's done "for personal aggrandizement?" > > And doesn't it burn the soul to have someone doing something you > should have done first? > > Writhe neighb
[FairfieldLife] Grist
http://tinyurl.com/375o6q On a lighter note: http://tinyurl.com/38k4t7
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
Sounds great to me all are invited . I plan to come to MUM this summer for a month or so. Steve --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Archer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of itsstevemartin > Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 6:15 AM > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Steve > > > > > Rick I think I have met you. Do you > eat at the MUM Dining Hall? I think we dined together a few times last > summer. > > No, I haven't eaten there for quite a few years, but I'd be happy to have > lunch with you some time, off campus. > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.0/1296 - Release Date: 2/24/2008 > 12:19 PM >
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, nablusoss1008 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sandiego108" > > > I also think the reason Maharishi let Chopra go was one that Chopra > > wanted to leave, and as some have said, although Chopra brought a > > lot of publicity to the movement, wanted to put his own spin on the > > knowledge that Maharishi was bringing out, resulting in a defacto > > corruption of that knowledge. It had nothing to do with jealousy in > > my opinion. > > > > The way I look at the evolution of Guru Dev's work, was that Guru > > Dev built the rifle, Maharishi pulled the trigger, and the bullet is > > now a few inches from the barrel, moving forward at a tremendous > > velocity. > > That's an analogy with a lot of power ;-) > yep- the first thing that popped into my mind...seemed appropriate.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Ruth, This guy thinks he's a rough-tough-realistic man-who-sees-the-truth, and has concluded that one must rob other countries just because we can. Richard is happy -- YES HAPPY -- to let American troops kill babies but he'll heap abuse on anyone who aborts a speck of biological material that could someday become a real baby. Just for egoic funzies, I'll post below my magnificently creative list of opinions about Richard once again. If he's so broken that he continues to harp about this abortion issue after so many have "corrected him," then I'll be broken enough to repost the below -- maybe he'll read it some day. I just read it again, and I think I've covered all there is to know about Richard. Edg Re: True Evil Richard wrote: "Total abortions in the United States since 1973: 48,589,993, all man-made murders on a massive scale and not a single word of objection from Mr. Ed." Okay, gang, Richard wants a public beating, again, so I'm going to deliver it. It's poetry time. As a legal protection, let me point out that all my opinions are opinions and not statements of proven truth. To the extent that I am projecting, sue me, but note that just because I can find these dark corners of evil represented in my psyche and amplify them into text doesn't invalidate my summations of him. Richard can also have these attributes, and -- OPINION STARTS NOW -- I maintain that these faint nuances at the bleak end of my moral spectrums can be found in Richard in all their fullest expressions of corrupt manifestation, and, additionally, I think he identifies with this low-dog status, and this accounts for the glee he obviously feels to present himself to others -- he glories in being exactly as depicted below: Richard J. Williams is an unmitigated prick. Richard J. Williams is an evil-supporting, war-mongering apologist for killing children for oil -- ample proof of his having approximately the I.Q. of a rehydrated wad of prehistoric coprolite. Richard J. Williams pretends to have spiritual acumen but is merely a cut-and-pasting plagiarizing sham with less status than a defrocked jailed priest. Richard J. Williams pretends to think important thoughts, but even the world's friendliest dog would tuck its tail and run from his vile presence. Richard J. Williams is a never-learned-shit-from-any-guru-or-scripture, smarmy, marauding, deranged, Internet troll. Richard J. Williams has all the immediate appeal of reeking turd shot out of a truck-smashed diseased snake. Richard J. Williams pretends to be holy and learned and wise by creating Web pages filled with delusions and lies and egoic puffery that any true-hearted person can instantly recognize as the dreck, the drivel, and the defective drainage of a doomed mind. Richard J. Williams' only intent when he posts is to annoy anyone in any thread so that he then gets anger directed at himself, and in this fashion he tries to publicly flagellate and abuse himself as a sick expiation of his spiritual effrontery. Richard J. Williams would change places with Bevan Morris in a heartbeat, and the world would never notice the difference. Richard J. Williams is the type of person that would immediately begin spasming in writhing agony and deep physical unstressing if he were to be in the presence of anything with the least bit of innocence -- even a plastic fake flower would do the triggering. Richard J. Williams would be the first person to go nuts in a foxhole and endanger the others. Richard J. Williams would think he was the logical choice to be captain of a lifeboat, but everyone at FairFieldLife knows he would be the first to be tossed overboard by a 100% vote of everyone else -- even a crippled, 87 year old, 96 pound, skeletal gaped mouthed person in a coma with one more day to live would be kept aboard rather than him. Richard J. Williams had the world handed to him by being born with elitist credentials that 99% of the world would envy but he has spent his lifetime being a simple jerkoff who leaves only failure, anger, and foul memories in his wake. Richard J. Williams is the type of person who romanticizes being a real terrorist who does really bad things, but if he did ever try for that great leap forward in his evolution, he would be immediately captured. Of course, he would never be waterboarded since even a short-bus chimpanzee could easily see him for the pure bullshitter that he is and that he's not even worth the price of the helicopter gas to get him into a rendition facility. Richard J. Williams will never recognize that he is a lurching clown at Rick's party who, wig askew, with vomit stains on his costume, would scare any child within 200 feet and is registering a 9.5 on Richter's creepy scale. Richard J. Williams is erotically charged by identifying with the persona of a lost pathetic deluded malevolence. I would suggest standing back a few feet from Richard J. Williams at all times. Come on, Richard, sue me for these opinions, and let
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Yes, dear Ruth, Ron Paul's an idiot no matter how you slice it. --- ruthsimplicity <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. > Williams" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > "As an O.B. doctor of thirty years, and having > > delivered 4,000 babies, I can assure you life > > begins at conception. I am legally responsible > > for the unborn, no matter what I do, so there's > > a legal life there. The unborn has inheritance > > rights, and if there's an injury or a killing, > > there is a legal entity. There is no doubt about > > it." - Ron Paul > > > > Well Ron Paul, technically life began before > conception because the > cells involved were alive. Don't spill that seed > boys! And girls, you > better do it every time you ovulate. Life is there! > > The question is when is the life human enough that > the question of > terminating a pregnancy should involve the state. > Minds differ and > Ron Paul has no special knowledge from delivering > 4000 babies that > lets him know the answer to that question. > > "Legal life there?" Um, hasn't he read Roe v. Wade? > > The unborn have inheritance rights only if the state > says so. And I > doubt that they have any such rights until they > actually are born > alive. If there is an injury to the woman which > results in the death > of a fetus what crimes occurred is a matter of what > the state decides > are crimes. > > Ron Paul is an idiot. Even if you were not pro > choice, Ron Paul is > still an idiot. > > > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Hillary Needs to do "The Right Thing"...
Robert wrote: > Hillary says, "All you need to do is the right thing"... > She needs to do the right thing, and drop out of the > race. She is dividing and mocking her husbands legacy, > And her own... > "Senator Obama is a person of substance. He's also the first liberal evangelist in a long time. He's run a brilliant tactical campaign. But his better instincts and his knowledge have been censored by himself. And I give you the example, the Palestinian-Israeli issue, which is a real off the table issue for the candidates. So don't touch that, even though it's central to our security and to, to the situation in the Middle East. He was pro-Palestinian when he was in Illinois before he ran for the state Senate, during he ran--during the state Senate." - Ralph Nader 'Meet the Press' transcript for Feb. 24, 2008' MSNBC, Meet the Press, Feb. 24, 2008 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23319215/ "We've written before about Samantha Power, the virulently anti-Israel academic who serves as a foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama. Power has the distinction of arguably being to the left of Professors Walt and Mearsheimer in her view of Israel's "domination" of American foreign policy." Read more: 'Soft Power, Part Two' Powerline, February 11, 2008 http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/02/019763.php
[FairfieldLife] Andrew Sullivan on "Christianism"
http://www.tinyurl.com/jnyc3 And there are those who simply believe that, by definition, God is unknowable to our limited, fallible human minds and souls. If God is ultimately unknowable, then how can we be so certain of what God's real position is on, say, the fate of Terri Schiavo? Or the morality of contraception? Or the role of women? Or the love of a gay couple? Also, faith for many of us is interwoven with doubt, a doubt that can strengthen faith and give it perspective and shadow. That doubt means having great humility in the face of God and an enormous reluctance to impose one's beliefs, through civil law, on anyone else. I would say a clear majority of Christians in the U.S. fall into one or many of those camps. Yet the term "people of faith" has been co- opted almost entirely in our discourse by those who see Christianity as compatible with only one political party, the Republicans, and believe that their religious doctrines should determine public policy for everyone. "Sides are being chosen," Tom DeLay recently told his supporters, "and the future of man hangs in the balance! The enemies of virtue may be on the march, but they have not won, and if we put our trust in Christ, they never will." So Christ is a conservative Republican?
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ruth wrote: > > ...technically life began before conception because > > the cells involved were alive. > > > "A zygote is the first complete cell formed from the > union of egg and sperm -- as it splits itself into > more cells, it is then called an embryo." Edg > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/166740 > Yup, and those are alive too. But, what is Life with a capital L that should not be disturbed? As I said, minds differ.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Ruth wrote: > ...technically life began before conception because > the cells involved were alive. > "A zygote is the first complete cell formed from the union of egg and sperm -- as it splits itself into more cells, it is then called an embryo." Edg http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/message/166740
[FairfieldLife] Message to Ralph Nader from Anonymous
HYPERLINK "http://www.236.com/blog/w/election08/message_to_ralph_nader_from_an_4373.ph p"http://www.236.com/blog/w/election08/message_to_ralph_nader_from_an_4373.p hp No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.0/1296 - Release Date: 2/24/2008 12:19 PM
[FairfieldLife] Re: Akiane-child prodigy, artist, muscian, composer, mystic, age 9.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "shempmcgurk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "BillyG." wrote: > > > > The best argument for Reincarnation: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSGK5lvYMY > > > > In describing her visits to what she calls heavean, Akiane said: > > "All of the colours were out of this world. There are millions of more > colours that we don't know yet. And the flowers were crystal clear." > Here's a quote from Swami Parmahansa Yogananda: "The astral kingdom is a realm of rainbow-hued light. Astral land, seas, skies, gardens, beings, the manifestation of day and night-all are made of variegated vibrations of light. Astral gardens of flowers, planted on teh soil of the ether, surpass human description." "The blossoms glow like Chinese star shells, ever-changing but never fading, adapting themselves to the fancy of the astral beings." from, the Second Coming.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Richard J. Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > "As an O.B. doctor of thirty years, and having > delivered 4,000 babies, I can assure you life > begins at conception. I am legally responsible > for the unborn, no matter what I do, so there's > a legal life there. The unborn has inheritance > rights, and if there's an injury or a killing, > there is a legal entity. There is no doubt about > it." - Ron Paul Well Ron Paul, technically life began before conception because the cells involved were alive. Don't spill that seed boys! And girls, you better do it every time you ovulate. Life is there! The question is when is the life human enough that the question of terminating a pregnancy should involve the state. Minds differ and Ron Paul has no special knowledge from delivering 4000 babies that lets him know the answer to that question. "Legal life there?" Um, hasn't he read Roe v. Wade? The unborn have inheritance rights only if the state says so. And I doubt that they have any such rights until they actually are born alive. If there is an injury to the woman which results in the death of a fetus what crimes occurred is a matter of what the state decides are crimes. Ron Paul is an idiot. Even if you were not pro choice, Ron Paul is still an idiot.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Feb 25, 2008, at 1:09 PM, sparaig wrote: > > > > I had a similar experience during a car accident many years ago. > > Time > > > slowed, no panic, and I could watch dispassionately. Not to minimize > > > our experiences, but I would think this is somewhat common in highly > > > stressful situations. On the other hand, sometimes people panic. > > > > > > > Not to pass judgement on what happened during your car crash, but > > there is a distinct > > brainwave pattern seen during witnessing/samadhi during TM and > > reports of long-term > > TMers of witnessing waking/dreaming/sleeping are highly correlated > > with this pattern. > > > > An extereme example of it is found in the right-side diagram of > > this URL: > > > > http://web.mac.com/lawsonenglish/Site/Meditation_EEG.html > > > > This EEG pattern is associated with relaxed/restful awareness. It > > is POSSIBLE that you > > happened to go into that state during a car crash, but more likely > > you had a dissociative > > state, which has been correlated with asymmetric functioning of the > > brain where the > > intellect is dominating or where the emotional side is > > dysfunctional (or both, I guess). > > Actually that EEG is a waking state EEG--that's what alpha is! Well sorta. As you know alpha, beta and gamma are all waking states, with alpha the resting, day dreamy, non-processing state. > > > Witnessing sleep is NOT the same as lucid sleep. One need not be > > aware that one is > > asleep/dreaming to have witnessing sleep. > > I believe you meant witnessing deep sleep. One can witness in any > state of consciousness. In fact when I was taught the technique for > witnessing, one is taught how to shift between the various states. I still want someone to tell me what they believe are the signs of "witnessing" sleep. Whatever the stage of the sleep. Vaj? Lawson? My take on "witnessing" is generally the same as Curtis's. Which is what is the most appropriate state for the given moment is the desired state. As far as dissociation, there really is a whole bunch of states that fall in that category, including the dreamy space out, to stepping back and visualizing yourself apart from yourself (splitting).
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Why Hillary Should Get Out Now'
Robert wrote: > Hillary has only one shotfor Obama to trip up so > badly that he disqualifies himself. > "Between 1882 and 1962, 3,446 blacks were lynched," says Rev. Clenard H. Childress Jr. on his Web site, blackgenocide.org. "That number is surpassed in less than three days by abortion." Full story: 'Obama's Abortion Stance Hurts Blacks, Say Pro-Life Experts' By Penny Starr CNS News, January 08, 2008 http://tinyurl.com/2dthoz
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Akiane-child prodigy, artist, muscian, composer, mystic, age 9.
IMO she's the archetypal blonde.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Witnessing, was: Steve Martin of Wilmington
I had to run 50 yards, then reach in and grab the chow with teeth flashing everywhere, blood flowing, and the Shepherd’s owner swearing at the top of his lungs. The same silence that always underlies my activities was even more evident, by contrast, and enabled me to react swiftly and decisively and keep my head while the other dog owner (and my wife) were losing theirs. ---But you're used to this from FFLife.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Fooling people with meditation research, TMO-style.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "uns_tressor" > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Vaj has his own agenda concerning TM research. > > > > > > > > > > Yes. He has his brand of Buddhism to sell. In the meanwhile, > > > > > he is hoping to prove that honey is salty to people who > > > > > have stuck their fingers in a honeypot and sucked them. > > > > > > > > And who thus have demonstrated the same lack > > > > of discrimination with their choice of eating > > > > utensils that they did in their choice of a > > > > spiritual path. :-) > > > > > > Thereby managing to insult WInnie-the-Pooh, as well as all > > > TMers simultaneously... > > > > > > Have you no shame? > > > > Winnie had the excuse of being a self-confessed > > "bear of little brain." Is that really the parallel > > you wish to draw with TMers? :-) > > I never said that Pooh-Bear was a TMer, only that you had > insulted him AND TMers... Have you no sense of humor? :-) You followed up an obvious joke with getting all serious and claiming an insult. You followed up an equally joking response with the same thing. Here's a third. Do with it as you wish: Technically, nothing I said insulted Pooh. Bears don't have fingers; they have paws.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ralph's list ('The Name . . .)
Ed wrote: > I'd say that our holy crew here doesn't have a > single person with the spiritual wherewithal to > not be swept up with revengeful intent if such > an injustice was not being addressed by the > powers that be. > Maybe so, but Ed you seem to approve of killing the zygotes. Why won't you fight to save the lives of the unborn? "As an O.B. doctor of thirty years, and having delivered 4,000 babies, I can assure you life begins at conception. I am legally responsible for the unborn, no matter what I do, so there's a legal life there. The unborn has inheritance rights, and if there's an injury or a killing, there is a legal entity. There is no doubt about it." - Ron Paul Abortion facts: Reported number of legal induced abortions, abortion ratios,* abortion rates,+ and characteristics of women who obtained legal induced abortions -- United States, selected years, 1972-1995: http://tinyurl.com/246g56
[FairfieldLife] Re: Steve Martin of Wilmington
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "amarnath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi Turq, > > THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE > you have made some very good points here > perhaps I'm a poor communicator via email posts; > that's why i would rather talk via phone > > but, I am not saying that Amma's teachings are now the highest > for me and I tried to point out the FREEDOM I feel with AMMA. As has been pointed out to me, I could very well have read something into your response that wasn't there. If so, I most humbly apologize. > what i'm trying to say, is that beyond the TM M & O DOGMA, > there is a vast spiritual literature : Tell me about it. Almost all of which we would have -- at one point or another -- have been thrown out of the TM movement for admitting to have read. (I remember the person who was thrown out of the L.A. TM Center for good for admitting to having read Carlos Castanda, by a bunch of TM teachers who *all* had all of the Carlos Castaneda books on their bookshelves; I know because I'd seen them there when visiting their houses. Hypocrites!) > Ramana Maharshi( and his vast lineage ), Nisargadatta, Amma's "Awaken > Children" 9 vols( but especially vol 7 ), Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, > Adyashanti, Francis Lucille, etc all of which seem, to me, > to present a CONSISTENT Essential Core Teaching about the nature of > mind, thoughts, ego( not just egotistical, but more basic ) and > realization of Self > > and this, also as far as I can tell, supposedly is consistent with > Vedanta-Advaita, Yoga Vasishta, Shankara, I'm not at all concerned with whether a doctrine/ dogma is "consistent" with Maharishi's. I no longer value very much of Maharishi's dogma. > But, MMY interpretation of all of this was somewhat different. > I am no scholar, nor am I in some state of enlightenment. > So I simply have to go by my feelings and some insighteful > experiences here and there. Can't go wrong with that. > And now I'm simply grateful to be free to study these teachings > and chose my spiritual practices with this feeling of freedom; > which I guess I expressed poorly. Or that I read something into that wasn't there. The amazing thing is, we were *always* free to study these other teachings, had we just stood up to the spiritual bullies who tried to tell us we couldn't. > And I do sincerely wish everyone the best of experiences and life. > And I do acknowledge that a small percentage of all TMers do have > amazing experiences; I just don't always agree with their > interpretations especially that all you have to do is persevere and > stick with TM, Siddhis, etc. Nor do I. But I'm the first to admit that they could be right and I could be wrong. The experiences themselves can't be countered or objected to; they are what they are. The *interpretations* of those experiences are IMO up for grabs. For example, I've heard many a TMer describe to me a visual experience that they coorelate with their experiences of feeling high and/or witnes- sing -- a sense that there is a kind of gray haze overlaying their vision. They have interpreted this as "the beginnings of GC," or as "seeing finer levels of reality." In other traditions that I tend to believe in more than the TM tradition, that perception is a clear indicator that the person's attention is stuck in one of the lower astral planes. Seeing this phenomenon is actually one of the main "symptoms" or "descriptors" of that particular astral plane. The appearance of the phenomenon is an indicator -- in their system of belief -- that the meditator is in trouble. So go figure. Same experience, but completely dif- ferent interpretations of what it "means" or whether it has a positive value. Either could be correct. I don't pretend to know for sure, although I may favor one interpretation over the other.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Witnessing awake and asleep
On Feb 25, 2008, at 1:09 PM, sparaig wrote: > I had a similar experience during a car accident many years ago. Time > slowed, no panic, and I could watch dispassionately. Not to minimize > our experiences, but I would think this is somewhat common in highly > stressful situations. On the other hand, sometimes people panic. > Not to pass judgement on what happened during your car crash, but there is a distinct brainwave pattern seen during witnessing/samadhi during TM and reports of long-term TMers of witnessing waking/dreaming/sleeping are highly correlated with this pattern. An extereme example of it is found in the right-side diagram of this URL: http://web.mac.com/lawsonenglish/Site/Meditation_EEG.html This EEG pattern is associated with relaxed/restful awareness. It is POSSIBLE that you happened to go into that state during a car crash, but more likely you had a dissociative state, which has been correlated with asymmetric functioning of the brain where the intellect is dominating or where the emotional side is dysfunctional (or both, I guess). Actually that EEG is a waking state EEG--that's what alpha is! The classic EEG pattern where the intellect is dominating would be where the gamma frequencies are highly active in that part of the brain. Sorta like what is found in the EEG of long-term practitioners of the Buddhist meditation found on the left side of the above URL. Actually what high amplitude gamma coherence likely represents in these meditators is profoundly coherent networks of neurons connecting large parts of the cortex. It's very unlikely that in this case it has to do with "intellect" since the style of meditation was of non-referential compassion. Non-referential means beyond any sort of subject/object dichotomy and any sort of intervening process. If there was any effort, it would be very unlikely that they could do their meditation for long without being exhausted. Yet they can meditate like this for many, many hours (7-12 in the most recent research) and come out totally refreshed. What it does correlate well with is the EEG's of Hindu meditators in samadhi. Whether or not these two distinctly different meditative states are equivalent at some deeper level is unknown at this time. > The comments about witnessing during sleep are interesting. I am > somewhat capable of directing my dreams, but not always. Other times I > am able to view my dreams more as a watcher than participant, though I > am a participant as well. Like reading a novel about yourself. This > does remove some of the dream intensity but sometimes I want the > intensity. "Witnessing" in sleep/dreamland does not seem like an end > goal, but an option. I am a very vivid dreamer and always have been. > My theory once was that crazy dreams kept me sane and stable, I worked > out my crazy at night. > Witnessing sleep is NOT the same as lucid sleep. One need not be aware that one is asleep/dreaming to have witnessing sleep. I believe you meant witnessing deep sleep. One can witness in any state of consciousness. In fact when I was taught the technique for witnessing, one is taught how to shift between the various states.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'The Name Hussein= Beautiful or Handsome'
Robert wrote: > We all know, that Barack's middle name of Hussein, > will be used against him, By the Republican's and > swiftboaters...So, I thought we would set the record > straight, about what the name actually means... > So, your candidate is named 'Hussein', an Arabic name, given to a male among Muslims, after 'Husayn ibn Ali'. So, your candidate is named after the second grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the son of Imam Ali, the first Imam, and the fourth Caliph the son of Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad. > Husayn (name) Husayn, Hussein, Hussain, Husain > (Arabic:حسین), is an Arabic > name which is the diminutive of Hasan, meaning > "beautiful" or "handsome". It is commonly given as a > male given name among Muslims, after Husayn ibn Ali. > In some Persian sources the form Háosayn is used [1].
