TurquoiseB wrote:
So here's a question for the group. One of the most
fundamental assumptions within the TMO, and in many
paths that see enlightenment as the end product of
their spiritual sadhana, is that *in* the state of
enlightenment one's perceptions are accurate, a true
reflection of reality.
The reasons given for this assumption are many, and
depend a lot on the set of buzzwords that the spiritual
tradition tends to use. In TM, the enlightened ones
can perceive accurately because they have dissolved
all their stresses, or because they have gone beyond
karma, or they are in tune with the Laws Of Nature. In
other spiritual traditions it might be because they
have dissolved their samskaras. Whatever...the assump-
tion is still there.
This assumption forms the entire *basis* of guru yoga.
You should do what the guru says because he's *right*;
his perceptions are accurate, free from distortion,
unclouded by the things that cloud our perceptions.
The enlightened being's 'take' on things equates to
Truth, because only in enlightenment can one begin to
*perceive* Truth. And so on and so on.
So who believes that this is true?
I, for one, do not. Based on my own experiences with
altered (or higher...your call) states of consciousness,
I find myself after four and a half decades on the
spiritual path leaning towards, Before enlightenment,
chop wood and carry water; after enlightenment, chop
wood and carry water. I don't think anything changes
in enlightenment. It's not really achieving enlight-
enment or reaching enlightenment; it's more like
realizing that enlightenment has always already been
present.
Having experienced this always already present-ness
aspect of enlightenment experiences, and having realized
that my perceptions of the world around me were no more
accurate or unclouded while these enlightenment exper-
iences were going on than when they weren't, it's a
little difficult for me to believe in the the enlight-
ened perceive perfectly and act perfectly model. I
spent a whole story in the silly book I wrote dealing
with this ( http://ramalila.net/RoadTripMind/rtm52.html ).
So let's open the question up to the group. This *is* a
really interesting group, full of strong spiritual seekers
who have spent the better part of their lives pursuing
enlightenment. So whaddyathink? When you realize your
own enlightenment (or now that you have), will your
perceptions be (or are your perceptions now) 100% accurate,
unclouded by any stress or samskaras or anything that
could render them less than objective truth, or Cosmic
Truth?
I'm interested in hearing what people have to say. *Not*
to argue with, but just to hear the different points of
view folks here might have when dealing with what is,
in my opinion, one of the most fundamental assumptions
underlying the TM approach to enlightenment.
I think this is a fallacy that MMY created. Other gurus will tell you
that the transcendental consciousness or the absolute or God is perfect
(pick your term) but the real world is imperfect so even if you are
experiencing perfection how can you act perfectly in an imperfect
world? And then there is the concept that everything IS perfect its
just our perception that is imperfect and in enlightenment you will
realize that. You can chose that POV too. But even MMY spoke of the
remains of ignorance which allows one to interact in the relative.
Similarly most gurus will tell you that in enlightenment the individual
will still have karma so they will still act by that karma. The
concept that all karmas are burnt is a fallacy though it may be that
some gurus were referring to karmas that would keep you from moksha upon
death.
As I've said here before to me the concept of a guru is supposed to be
more like a guitar teacher. If you like the way a certain guitarist
plays and he offers to teach you how to play that way then when you take
lessons from him you would do as he tells you to accomplish that goal.
Likewise if a guru has mastered a certain path and you want to learn
that path then you do what they say to accomplish that goal. That's how
they got there and how you're going to get there. It's just common
sense. But to think the guru is perfect and is not going to make
mistakes is a fallacy. Many will scoff if you asked if they are perfect
and say of course I make mistakes and that even in enlightenment some
karma remains.
After many, many years my approach nowadays is to just practice the
techniques and enjoy the ah-hah moments that come my way and not worry
about evaluating where I am on the path.
BTW, as an aside I watched The Host last night and really enjoyed it.
It released in the US yesterday on DVD. It's about a dysfunctional
Korean family versus a mutan monster which is terrorizing Seoul. Great
fun and kind of a sci-fi comedy.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0468492/
