[FairfieldLife] Re: Ramana Maharshi's 4 Technologies of Evolution (was: The New Advaitins)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Great post, Michael. Just wanted to add my two rupees. All the decades of meditation lead to incredible sattva, but not yet enlightenment because of the thinnest thread of attachment to a concept of enlightenment (i.e., enlightenment is some thing/experience). I believe this is why so many longtime TMer's just explode open when they have conntact with other gurus. If I was to critique MMY, it would only be his lack of direct contact with us, the rank-and-file meditators. Maharishi! We needed you around, man! We needed that darshan of Brahman. Did you ever consider the possibility that the reason he keeps himself aloof is that he has no darshan to give? The further away he keeps people, the longer it takes them to figure it out. The closer he keeps them (the skinboys, for example), the sooner they figure it out and beat feet. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM ~- 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 * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ramana Maharshi's 4 Technologies of Evolution (was: The New Advaitins)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Great post, Michael. Just wanted to add my two rupees. All the decades of meditation lead to incredible sattva, but not yet enlightenment because of the thinnest thread of attachment to a concept of enlightenment (i.e., enlightenment is some thing/experience). I believe this is why so many longtime TMer's just explode open when they have conntact with other gurus. If I was to critique MMY, it would only be his lack of direct contact with us, the rank-and-file meditators. Maharishi! We needed you around, man! We needed that darshan of Brahman. Did you ever consider the possibility that the reason he keeps himself aloof is that he has no darshan to give? The further away he keeps people, the longer it takes them to figure it out. The closer he keeps them (the skinboys, for example), the sooner they figure it out and beat feet. Yes, I remember when Maharishi used to come to Fairfield, everything would change; the whole enviornment would adjust/shift. To have someone in the area, in Brahman Consciousness is quite something; being in his presence being the most powerful. Then I remember, when Reagan and the Pope were shot, and in those years, he seemed to be not interested in coming here, anymore... I heard he thought it too violent here, to rude. He also was treated very badly on the Dick Cavette Show on maybe his last visit here to the U.S. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM ~- 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 * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Ramana Maharshi's 4 Technologies of Evolution (was: The New Advaitins)
On Jan 4, 2006, at 4:57 AM, TurquoiseB wrote:--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Great post, Michael. Just wanted to add my two rupees. All the decades of meditation lead to incredible sattva, but not yet enlightenment because of the thinnest thread of attachment to a concept of enlightenment (i.e., enlightenment is some thing/experience). I believe this is why so many longtime TMer's just explode open when they have conntact with other gurus. If I was to critique MMY, it would only be his lack of direct contact with us, the rank-and-file meditators. Maharishi! We needed you around, man! We needed that darshan of Brahman. Did you ever consider the possibility that the reason he keeps himself aloof is that he has no darshan to give? The further away he keeps people, the longer it takes them to figure it out. The closer he keeps them (the skinboys, for example), the sooner they figure it out and beat feet. Or worse:Could be the FuhrerCould be the local priest.You know sometimesSatan comes as a man of peace.He got a sweet gift of gab, he got a harmonious tongue,He knows every song of love that ever has been sung.Good intentions can be evil,Both hands can be full of grease.You know that sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace.-Bob Dylan 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 Visit your group "FairfieldLife" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Ramana Maharshi's 4 Technologies of Evolution (was: The New Advaitins)
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Michael Dean Goodman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for posting this. Very informative and 20-20 hindsightful! I particularly enjoyed the exposition of the 4 levels of technologies of evolution, and the knowledge that Maharishi has unfolded. I doubt he could have been a legitimate disciple of Guru Dev's had he not gone to the lengths he has in order to spread at least the first three levels of the technologies of evolution. Based on my experience, I agree completely that many TM meditators are stuck in the seeker mode, when liberation is just a few footsteps away. And for the reasons you mention; both the inertia of seeking, and waiting for that final flashy experience. I recall thinking that Maharishi would somehow proclaim us all to be enlightened, and the transformation would occur through world events, rather than the necessary inner transformation (which then informs our outer perception...). This was because I had built up a story that I was somehow perfected and superior, but the blankety-blank world just wouldn't catch up! So, I was holding out, and selectively (mis)interpreting what Mr. M said, until the wait became unbearable, my fake world crumbled, and I re-emerged as just me; sane shift, different Day. Here's an outline of Ramana Maharshi's take on technologies of evolution. What I get from reading it is that: a. Although labeled as an advaitist by some, he DOES seem to be what you call a progressivist (recognizing the value of meditation, etc.); b. He does NOT seem to be a dunce about these technologies. See what you think. Here is Ramana Maharshi's famous statement about how he interacts on four levels with someone who approaches him for spiritual guidance. He says [I will paraphrase]: I (Ramana) start with the highest first. * LEVEL 1 * I give them a mahavakya, a direct statement of Truth (such as You are That). Occasionally, that is all someone needs - just that verifica- tion that they've arrived. That removes their doubt, their restless- ness, and establishes them in peace. They stop being a seeker, be- cause they realize that they have found. But MOST seekers are not ready for that, so for them I back off one step, to level 2. * LEVEL 2 * So I (Ramana) do Self-inquiry (Atma-vichara = inquiry into the Self, At- man) with them. This is based on the vedantic question Who am I? I lead them to peel back the layers, to look back behind everything, to shine their awareness deeper and deeper, until they arrive at a level- less level where there is nothing deeper, nothing prior. Then their awareness rests in itself (has curved back on its Self), and they have that flash where understanding catches up to experience. This approach is useful for some ripe seekers. And once they've understood that they are the Self, through Self- in- quiry, then level 1 above (the mahavakya) is useful and effective as the final stroke. If any doubt arises as to the fullness or finality of that flash of understanding, the mahavakya sets that straight. Even though everybody IS the Self - always has been, always will be - not everybody has the clarity of awareness, the expansion of the con- scious capacity of the mind, to realize the Self. For the Self to curve back on its Self, it has to travel through a vehicle, a mind and ner- vous system, and that vehicle may be either cloudy or clear. It's path from here to here is by going though there, through the field of boundaries. Once one has cleared that path, Self-inquiry is useful, is necessary, for the goal to be appreciated. But many are not ready for Self-inquiry, so for them I back off one more step, to level 3 * LEVEL 3 * So I (Ramana) recommend them to meditate, to purify the intellect, to expand the conscious capacity of the mind, to unclog the nervous system. This approach is useful for many seekers, especially in this age of im- purity, of gripping delusion. By doing this (meditation), one day they will naturally be ready for that moment of Self-inquiry (level 2 above), that moment when they realize that they are the Self, then the shift happens, and that will lead to ripeness for the mahavakya (level 1) and final peace. [Michael's commentary: This is where many long-term TM meditators are at, in my experience. They have had so much meditative experience that they are There. But they hold onto the belief that they are still on the path, due to so many years or decades of commitment to seeking. So many meditators that I've met have made it, are Self-realized, but they are mistakenly waiting for some special experience, or some relative sign or symptom, that they've gotten into their head will be the special sign of en- lightenment. They believe that experience, which is in the relative, which comes and goes,
