[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rory Goff" wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" > > wrote: > > > > > > > Too bad you missed the siddhis course. It is all about sutras, > > > which use minimal expressions to accomplish big results, like > > > my 14 words bringing about a response of 330 words (yow!) > > > from you.:-) > > > > Ohh! He never took the siddhis course! Many thanks, Jim, I'm > > thinking that may clarify some things. My apologies, Barry; I > > suspect I have been overly hard on you. Did Vaj perchance miss > > them too? > > > > Suddenly a number of puzzling anomalies may be coming into much > > clearer focus. I think I've been sitting in the wrong class! :-) > > Uh...the basis of Jim's putdown above has as much > truth in it as his declaration a while back that > Buddha said "God is love." :-) > > I'm pretty sure that all of us fell for the siddhis > swindle. I flew the first day, was bored by it by > the second day, and by the third day I'd realized > that I'd just spent 5000 dollars on a set of English- > language phrases that I could have gotten from a > $3.95 paperback edition of the Yoga Sutras (and that > probably came from that source). > > But you can consider the TM siddhis "special," and > yourself "special" for having learned them if you > want. Think of it as just a form of "play," like > tripping on your name. And with as much value. :-) > > As for "sitting in the wrong class," I suspect that > the problem may be more related to where you think > you are positioned in that classroom. You seem to > be of the impression that you're sitting in front > of the class and that, like Maharishi, this means > that the "students" owe you something as a result. > Respect, belief in what you say, "obedience,"... > whatever. If you're expecting something, that's > your samskara, not anyone else's. > > Just to clarify, I think that the point that Geez > and I have been making lately about you and Jim is > a simple one. Both of you, from my point of view, > are "cruising" this group for attention. You rarely > go very long without mentioning your supposed real- > ization and your supposed high state of consciousness. > *As with Maharishi*, I think that Geez and I are > suggesting that what you guys *say* about your sup- > posed states of consciousness is meaningless; it's > what you choose to *DO* with it. > > And in both cases, especially lately, what you have > chosen to do with it is put down other people, point > out how much more "advanced" you are than they are, > and then put a smiley face at the end of your posts. > > If that's your idea of what a spiritual teacher is > like and what one can learn from them, then you > should definitely sign up to study from Jim and Rory. > If you're lookin' for a little more, you might want > to keep lookin'. > This time I posted 40 words, and you blathered on for 377! And I'm the one "cruising this group for attention"!? Even your mom would find that one funny.:-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rory Goff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" > wrote: > > > > > Too bad you missed the siddhis course. It is all about sutras, > > which use minimal expressions to accomplish big results, like > > my 14 words bringing about a response of 330 words (yow!) > > from you.:-) > > Ohh! He never took the siddhis course! Many thanks, Jim, I'm > thinking that may clarify some things. My apologies, Barry; I > suspect I have been overly hard on you. Did Vaj perchance miss > them too? > > Suddenly a number of puzzling anomalies may be coming into much > clearer focus. I think I've been sitting in the wrong class! :-) Uh...the basis of Jim's putdown above has as much truth in it as his declaration a while back that Buddha said "God is love." :-) I'm pretty sure that all of us fell for the siddhis swindle. I flew the first day, was bored by it by the second day, and by the third day I'd realized that I'd just spent 5000 dollars on a set of English- language phrases that I could have gotten from a $3.95 paperback edition of the Yoga Sutras (and that probably came from that source). But you can consider the TM siddhis "special," and yourself "special" for having learned them if you want. Think of it as just a form of "play," like tripping on your name. And with as much value. :-) As for "sitting in the wrong class," I suspect that the problem may be more related to where you think you are positioned in that classroom. You seem to be of the impression that you're sitting in front of the class and that, like Maharishi, this means that the "students" owe you something as a result. Respect, belief in what you say, "obedience,"... whatever. If you're expecting something, that's your samskara, not anyone else's. Just to clarify, I think that the point that Geez and I have been making lately about you and Jim is a simple one. Both of you, from my point of view, are "cruising" this group for attention. You rarely go very long without mentioning your supposed real- ization and your supposed high state of consciousness. *As with Maharishi*, I think that Geez and I are suggesting that what you guys *say* about your sup- posed states of consciousness is meaningless; it's what you choose to *DO* with it. And in both cases, especially lately, what you have chosen to do with it is put down other people, point out how much more "advanced" you are than they are, and then put a smiley face at the end of your posts. If that's your idea of what a spiritual teacher is like and what one can learn from them, then you should definitely sign up to study from Jim and Rory. If you're lookin' for a little more, you might want to keep lookin'.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Rory Goff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" > wrote: > > > > > Too bad you missed the siddhis course. It is all about sutras, which > > use minimal expressions to accomplish big results, like my 14 words > > bringing about a response of 330 words (yow!) from you.:-) > > Ohh! He never took the siddhis course! Many thanks, Jim, I'm thinking > that may clarify some things. My apologies, Barry; I suspect I have > been overly hard on you. Did Vaj perchance miss them too? > > Suddenly a number of puzzling anomalies may be coming into much clearer > focus. I think I've been sitting in the wrong class! :-) mechanical energy vs nuclear energy.:-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Too bad you missed the siddhis course. It is all about sutras, which > use minimal expressions to accomplish big results, like my 14 words > bringing about a response of 330 words (yow!) from you.:-) Ohh! He never took the siddhis course! Many thanks, Jim, I'm thinking that may clarify some things. My apologies, Barry; I suspect I have been overly hard on you. Did Vaj perchance miss them too? Suddenly a number of puzzling anomalies may be coming into much clearer focus. I think I've been sitting in the wrong class! :-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
Almost everyone in FFL at some point in his life thought that Maharishi was the 'real deal'. That's the real reason people got attracted to Maharishi in the first place. If you guys later on changed your opinions due to various reasons, that's fine. That's your karma. What interests me the most is how Rick Archer changed his opinion after being a "Bug eyed Cult zombie". CurtisDelta was too enlightened to listen to the advice of his Chiropactor and continued to hop on his butt till his back got permanently damaged. If any 'flirty fishy' female was there in TM-mov't that was a bonus. ShempMcGurk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:54:52 -0000 Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now... Robert Crumb used to complain how he never ever got any of that "free love" that was supposed to be so prevalent in the '60s. I empathize because I never got any of that free love in the '70s. When I read stuff like that above, I imagine that I would have eagerly joined the "Children of God" cult had just one good- looking "Flirty Fishy" female allowed me to partake of her honeypot. I would have been so grateful that I would have willingly signed away both my life and my then meager $800 net worth. - Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
TurquoiseB wrote: You forgot to mention abusing your authority as a spiritual teacher to seduce women.:-) >>> Dr Pete: "Hey, life has really big learning curve, doesn't it? >>> A friend of mine used to make passes at women when he >>> was checking their meditation. He'd lean over and kiss >>> them. I was flabbergasted at this and asked him why he >>> did it and what did they do. He said he did it because >>> he like to kiss pretty girls and most of them kissed >>> back. He had sex with a few of them. Really weird >>> stuff. He now works as a chiropractor. Probably >>> adjusts people in the nude!" >>> >> Now you freak'n tell me this! Where was this checking point >> when I was checking hottie after hottie in the DC center. I was >> soo pure that when chicks came on to me I was "professional". >> Oh the idealism of youth! I do remember that certain hot chicks >> used to get very long "checkings" from another teacher. I thought >> they were just gabbing (something my purity would never allow). >> Now I realize that it was much more likely that there was a little >> "slowly open the thighs" action going on. >> >> "Most of them kissed him back", what a world I missed in my sattvic >> lifestyle! I'm so glad rajas and tamas rule the day now. I'm not >> missing out on anything these days! >> > > It's really great to see you guys having fun with > Jim's rather...uh...jealous snitlet at the top. I > think it's good to consider that (if I remember > correctly) Jim's never been a TM teacher. His ideas > of what TM teachers are like -- or what the life of a > TM teacher is like, period -- are just that...ideas. > > The reality was sorta like...uh...everyday reality. > For example, back when I was a full-time TM teacher, > it *was* the TM movement, with all its surface > prudery, but it was also the late 70's, and L.A. > People were coming on to each other right and left > because that's what people *did* in the late 70s in > L.A. In the TM movement, outside the TM movement; > it didn't matter. It was the tenor of the times -- > post-pill and pre-AIDS. > > I hate to break it to you straight types, but the > Friday night lectures at Charley Lutes' in Santa > Monica were regarded as The Best Pickup Spot In > Town. Even non-TMers knew about it. > > And let me tell you, during that time of the TM > movement, there was no "seduction" involved in > hooking up with a female TM teacher. So many of > the male TM teachers were into investigating their > inner celibacy that being a guy who wasn't was > like being a straight guy in San Francisco. We > straight and willing guys were in such short sup- > ply at that time in L.A. TM circles that if there > was any seduction goin' down, it was usually on > the part of the women. > > There was also a great deal of foolin' around on > ATR courses. One course I was on in Northern > California had so many people sneakin' from cabin > to cabin in the middle of the night that I thought > I'd stepped into an episode of The Young And The > Restless. > > If you missed seeing this stuff in your journey > through the TM movement, it's not that it wasn't > going on, it's just that you missed it. I would have never done anything like that during checking and I doubt that you would have either not because of "purity" but it would have seemed unethical. Besides there were plenty TM social activities like potlucks to supplant that. And I do recall women running around in see through blouses at a Canadian weekend course I went on. The TTC I was on which was the last mixed course had a lot of bed hopping too and that was before the flying technique. :)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It's really great to see you guys having fun with > Jim's rather...uh...jealous snitlet at the top. I > think it's good to consider that (if I remember > correctly) Jim's never been a TM teacher. His ideas > of what TM teachers are like -- or what the life of a > TM teacher is like, period -- are just that...ideas. > > The reality was sorta like...uh...everyday reality. > For example, back when I was a full-time TM teacher, > it *was* the TM movement, with all its surface > prudery, but it was also the late 70's, and L.A. > People were coming on to each other right and left > because that's what people *did* in the late 70s in > L.A. In the TM movement, outside the TM movement; > it didn't matter. It was the tenor of the times -- > post-pill and pre-AIDS. > > I hate to break it to you straight types, but the > Friday night lectures at Charley Lutes' in Santa > Monica were regarded as The Best Pickup Spot In > Town. Even non-TMers knew about it. > > And let me tell you, during that time of the TM > movement, there was no "seduction" involved in > hooking up with a female TM teacher. So many of > the male TM teachers were into investigating their > inner celibacy that being a guy who wasn't was > like being a straight guy in San Francisco. We > straight and willing guys were in such short sup- > ply at that time in L.A. TM circles that if there > was any seduction goin' down, it was usually on > the part of the women. > > There was also a great deal of foolin' around on > ATR courses. One course I was on in Northern > California had so many people sneakin' from cabin > to cabin in the middle of the night that I thought > I'd stepped into an episode of The Young And The > Restless. > > If you missed seeing this stuff in your journey > through the TM movement, it's not that it wasn't > going on, it's just that you missed it. > Too bad you missed the siddhis course. It is all about sutras, which use minimal expressions to accomplish big results, like my 14 words bringing about a response of 330 words (yow!) from you.:-)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > You forgot to mention abusing your authority as a > > > > spiritual teacher to seduce women.:-) > > > > > > Dr Pete: "Hey, life has really big learning curve, doesn't it? > > > A friend of mine used to make passes at women when he > > > was checking their meditation. He'd lean over and kiss > > > them. I was flabbergasted at this and asked him why he > > > did it and what did they do. He said he did it because > > > he like to kiss pretty girls and most of them kissed > > > back. He had sex with a few of them. Really weird > > > stuff. He now works as a chiropractor. Probably > > > adjusts people in the nude!" > > > > Now you freak'n tell me this! Where was this checking point > > when I was checking hottie after hottie in the DC center. I was > > soo pure that when chicks came on to me I was "professional". > > Oh the idealism of youth! I do remember that certain hot chicks > > used to get very long "checkings" from another teacher. I thought > > they were just gabbing (something my purity would never allow). > > Now I realize that it was much more likely that there was a little > > "slowly open the thighs" action going on. > > > > "Most of them kissed him back", what a world I missed in my sattvic > > lifestyle! I'm so glad rajas and tamas rule the day now. I'm not > > missing out on anything these days! > > It's really great to see you guys having fun with > Jim's rather...uh...jealous snitlet at the top. I > think it's good to consider that (if I remember > correctly) Jim's never been a TM teacher. His ideas > of what TM teachers are like -- or what the life of a > TM teacher is like, period -- are just that...ideas. > > The reality was sorta like...uh...everyday reality. > For example, back when I was a full-time TM teacher, > it *was* the TM movement, with all its surface > prudery, but it was also the late 70's, and L.A. > People were coming on to each other right and left > because that's what people *did* in the late 70s in > L.A. In the TM movement, outside the TM movement; > it didn't matter. It was the tenor of the times -- > post-pill and pre-AIDS. > > I hate to break it to you straight types, but the > Friday night lectures at Charley Lutes' in Santa > Monica were regarded as The Best Pickup Spot In > Town. Even non-TMers knew about it. > > And let me tell you, during that time of the TM > movement, there was no "seduction" involved in > hooking up with a female TM teacher. So many of > the male TM teachers were into investigating their > inner celibacy that being a guy who wasn't was > like being a straight guy in San Francisco. We > straight and willing guys were in such short sup- > ply at that time in L.A. TM circles that if there > was any seduction goin' down, it was usually on > the part of the women. > > There was also a great deal of foolin' around on > ATR courses. One course I was on in Northern > California had so many people sneakin' from cabin > to cabin in the middle of the night that I thought > I'd stepped into an episode of The Young And The > Restless. > > If you missed seeing this stuff in your journey > through the TM movement, it's not that it wasn't > going on, it's just that you missed it. Man, you aren't kidding. I gave a special techiniqueprobably the eating one...to one of Rindy's Rindette's. This was probably around '75 or so. This girl always wore white. In fact her room was always done up in all white. I finish puja, give her the technique and she promptly unwraps her white sari to reveal her vedic money maker. Good times! (PS: I passed on the offer.)
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
> > > You forgot to mention abusing your authority as a > > > spiritual teacher to seduce women.:-) > > > > Dr Pete: "Hey, life has really big learning curve, doesn't it? > > A friend of mine used to make passes at women when he > > was checking their meditation. He'd lean over and kiss > > them. I was flabbergasted at this and asked him why he > > did it and what did they do. He said he did it because > > he like to kiss pretty girls and most of them kissed > > back. He had sex with a few of them. Really weird > > stuff. He now works as a chiropractor. Probably > > adjusts people in the nude!" > > Now you freak'n tell me this! Where was this checking point > when I was checking hottie after hottie in the DC center. I was > soo pure that when chicks came on to me I was "professional". > Oh the idealism of youth! I do remember that certain hot chicks > used to get very long "checkings" from another teacher. I thought > they were just gabbing (something my purity would never allow). > Now I realize that it was much more likely that there was a little > "slowly open the thighs" action going on. > > "Most of them kissed him back", what a world I missed in my sattvic > lifestyle! I'm so glad rajas and tamas rule the day now. I'm not > missing out on anything these days! It's really great to see you guys having fun with Jim's rather...uh...jealous snitlet at the top. I think it's good to consider that (if I remember correctly) Jim's never been a TM teacher. His ideas of what TM teachers are like -- or what the life of a TM teacher is like, period -- are just that...ideas. The reality was sorta like...uh...everyday reality. For example, back when I was a full-time TM teacher, it *was* the TM movement, with all its surface prudery, but it was also the late 70's, and L.A. People were coming on to each other right and left because that's what people *did* in the late 70s in L.A. In the TM movement, outside the TM movement; it didn't matter. It was the tenor of the times -- post-pill and pre-AIDS. I hate to break it to you straight types, but the Friday night lectures at Charley Lutes' in Santa Monica were regarded as The Best Pickup Spot In Town. Even non-TMers knew about it. And let me tell you, during that time of the TM movement, there was no "seduction" involved in hooking up with a female TM teacher. So many of the male TM teachers were into investigating their inner celibacy that being a guy who wasn't was like being a straight guy in San Francisco. We straight and willing guys were in such short sup- ply at that time in L.A. TM circles that if there was any seduction goin' down, it was usually on the part of the women. There was also a great deal of foolin' around on ATR courses. One course I was on in Northern California had so many people sneakin' from cabin to cabin in the middle of the night that I thought I'd stepped into an episode of The Young And The Restless. If you missed seeing this stuff in your journey through the TM movement, it's not that it wasn't going on, it's just that you missed it.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: [snip] > > Hey, life has really big learning curve, doesn't it? A > friend of mine used to make passes at women when he > was checking their meditation. He'd lean over and kiss > them. I was flabbergasted at this and asked him why he > did it and what did they do. He said he did it because > he like to kiss pretty girls and most of them kissed > back. He had sex with a few of them. Really weird > stuff. He now works as a chiropractor. Probably > adjusts people in the nude! Robert Crumb used to complain how he never ever got any of that "free love" that was supposed to be so prevalent in the '60s. I empathize because I never got any of that free love in the '70s. When I read stuff like that above, I imagine that I would have eagerly joined the "Children of God" cult had just one good- looking "Flirty Fishy" female allowed me to partake of her honeypot. I would have been so grateful that I would have willingly signed away both my life and my then meager $800 net worth.
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
Dr Pete: "Hey, life has really big learning curve, doesn't it? A friend of mine used to make passes at women when he was checking their meditation. He'd lean over and kiss them. I was flabbergasted at this and asked him why he did it and what did they do. He said he did it because he like to kiss pretty girls and most of them kissed back. He had sex with a few of them. Really weird stuff. He now works as a chiropractor. Probably adjusts people in the nude!" Now you freak'n tell me this! Where was this checking point when I was checking hottie after hottie in the DC center. I was soo pure that when chicks came on to me I was "professional". Oh the idealism of youth! I do remember that certain hot chicks used to get very long "checkings" from another teacher. I thought they were just gabbing (something my purity would never allow). Now I realize that it was much more likely that there was a little "slowly open the thighs" action going on. "Most of them kissed him back", what a world I missed in my sattvic lifestyle! I'm so glad rajas and tamas rule the day now. I'm not missing out on anything these days! --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > --- jim_flanegin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB > > > > wrote: > > > > > > ...but once couldn't even see as the silliness > > they were: > > > > > > * Allowing Maharishi to "have the last word" and > > declare > > > the absolute truth about something, when I felt in > > my > > > heart and with every minute of my life experience > > that > > > what he was saying wasn't true. > > > > > > * Paying lip service to an organization I no > > longer > > > believed in and that I felt was on the wrong > > track, both > > > spiritually and ethically...just out of habit. > > > > > > * Feeling guilty about missing a meditation, when > > what I > > > was doing was so much more beneficial to someone > > else than > > > shutting my eyes and thinking a word I'd paid 35 > > bucks for. > > > > > > * Thinking that the word I'd paid 35 bucks for was > > "special." > > > > > > * Believing that Bad Things Would Happen if I > > spoke the > > > word I'd paid 35 bucks for aloud. > > > > > > * Being asked to carry a large sum of money > > illegally across > > > international borders by the TMO, and actually > > considering > > > doing it for a few seconds because the person > > asking me to > > > do it said, "Maharishi says it's Ok." > > > > > > * Borrowing money from people who worked for a > > living so > > > that I didn't have to, and could go to the Next > > Big Course > > > instead. That only happened once, and I paid them > > back as > > > soon as I got home, but it still makes me shake my > > head > > > and laugh at how incredibly *arrogant* I was to > > believe > > > that this was acceptable behavior. > > > > > > * Telling people in intro lectures that TM had no > > potential > > > negative side effects, after seeing with my own > > eyes the > > > "twitching group" at Fiuggi, 10 to 20 people with > > spasms > > > so uncontrollable that they were not allowed to > > leave their > > > hotels for fear they'd be arrested as crazy > > people. > > > > > > * Seeing someone sent home from an ATR course > > *for* develop- > > > ing uncontrollable muscle spasms, after having > > been told that > > > it was their fault and that not only would the > > money they > > > paid for the course not be refunded, but that they > > would not > > > be allowed to enter the TM center back home until > > the "embar- > > > rassing" symptoms had gone away...and not advising > > them to > > > call a lawyer and sue the shit out of the TMO. > > > > > > * Watching other TM teachers blackball someone and > > prevent > > > them from going to TM Teacher Training because > > they were > > > living with their girlfriend or because they had > > admitted > > > reading books by Carlos Castaneda and, after > > standing up > > > for both applicants and seeing the TM teachers > > turn "thumbs > > > down" on them anyway, not advising *them* to call > > a lawyer. > > > > > > * Watching as books were edited to remove > > embarrassing > > > statements by Maharishi or as tapes were burned > > because he'd > > > said something on them that the TM movement now > > wanted to > > > pretend he'd never said...and not speaking up. > > > > > > * Being told by a good friend, upon her return > > from one of > > > the first TM siddhi courses, that "flying" was a > > total hoax > > > and that -- despite the frequent claims of leaders > > of the > > > TMO at the time -- no one had even come close to > > actually > > > flying...and not believing her. > > > > > > * Paying big bucks to go the next TM siddhis > > course in > > > spite of what she said, realizing the truth of > > what she had > > > said, and not even being angry at the people who'd > > stood > > > up in front of large groups of people back at the > > Nat
Re: [FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- jim_flanegin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > ...but once couldn't even see as the silliness > they were: > > > > * Allowing Maharishi to "have the last word" and > declare > > the absolute truth about something, when I felt in > my > > heart and with every minute of my life experience > that > > what he was saying wasn't true. > > > > * Paying lip service to an organization I no > longer > > believed in and that I felt was on the wrong > track, both > > spiritually and ethically...just out of habit. > > > > * Feeling guilty about missing a meditation, when > what I > > was doing was so much more beneficial to someone > else than > > shutting my eyes and thinking a word I'd paid 35 > bucks for. > > > > * Thinking that the word I'd paid 35 bucks for was > "special." > > > > * Believing that Bad Things Would Happen if I > spoke the > > word I'd paid 35 bucks for aloud. > > > > * Being asked to carry a large sum of money > illegally across > > international borders by the TMO, and actually > considering > > doing it for a few seconds because the person > asking me to > > do it said, "Maharishi says it's Ok." > > > > * Borrowing money from people who worked for a > living so > > that I didn't have to, and could go to the Next > Big Course > > instead. That only happened once, and I paid them > back as > > soon as I got home, but it still makes me shake my > head > > and laugh at how incredibly *arrogant* I was to > believe > > that this was acceptable behavior. > > > > * Telling people in intro lectures that TM had no > potential > > negative side effects, after seeing with my own > eyes the > > "twitching group" at Fiuggi, 10 to 20 people with > spasms > > so uncontrollable that they were not allowed to > leave their > > hotels for fear they'd be arrested as crazy > people. > > > > * Seeing someone sent home from an ATR course > *for* develop- > > ing uncontrollable muscle spasms, after having > been told that > > it was their fault and that not only would the > money they > > paid for the course not be refunded, but that they > would not > > be allowed to enter the TM center back home until > the "embar- > > rassing" symptoms had gone away...and not advising > them to > > call a lawyer and sue the shit out of the TMO. > > > > * Watching other TM teachers blackball someone and > prevent > > them from going to TM Teacher Training because > they were > > living with their girlfriend or because they had > admitted > > reading books by Carlos Castaneda and, after > standing up > > for both applicants and seeing the TM teachers > turn "thumbs > > down" on them anyway, not advising *them* to call > a lawyer. > > > > * Watching as books were edited to remove > embarrassing > > statements by Maharishi or as tapes were burned > because he'd > > said something on them that the TM movement now > wanted to > > pretend he'd never said...and not speaking up. > > > > * Being told by a good friend, upon her return > from one of > > the first TM siddhi courses, that "flying" was a > total hoax > > and that -- despite the frequent claims of leaders > of the > > TMO at the time -- no one had even come close to > actually > > flying...and not believing her. > > > > * Paying big bucks to go the next TM siddhis > course in > > spite of what she said, realizing the truth of > what she had > > said, and not even being angry at the people who'd > stood > > up in front of large groups of people back at the > National > > TM Center in L.A. and told us that people were > hovering > > on a daily basis > > > > * Being told by Maharishi, "Wear your suit at all > times, > > even to the beach," and not laughing out loud. > > > > So many moments, so much silliness. Sometimes I > look back on > > some of the silly things I did because I'd been > told to do > > them, or because they were Standard Operating > Procedure in > > the TMO, and I just *howl* with laughter and with > the > > realization of how incredibly silly and stupid I > was. > > > > It's a great exercise in humility, and in self > acceptance. > > I found ways to excuse all these things and > rationalize > > them away, or found ways to never even notice that > I was > > doing them. And I would bet that a few people here > have a > > similar list of similar sillinesses that they > managed to > > rationalize away or pretend weren't happening. > > > > It's normal. People on strong spiritual paths do > silly shit. > > It's almost the *definition* of being on a strong > spiritual > > path -- being willing to do silly shit. > > > > And if it feels right to do it, I say Go For It. > Make no > > excuses for the silly shit you do. *Revel* in the > glory of > > silly shitness. > > > > But if you ever get to a point where you can > *recognize* it > > as silly shit, I would suggest not being afraid to > laugh > > at the behavior, and at yourself for having > beha
[FairfieldLife] Re: Things I can laugh at now...
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ...but once couldn't even see as the silliness they were: > > * Allowing Maharishi to "have the last word" and declare > the absolute truth about something, when I felt in my > heart and with every minute of my life experience that > what he was saying wasn't true. > > * Paying lip service to an organization I no longer > believed in and that I felt was on the wrong track, both > spiritually and ethically...just out of habit. > > * Feeling guilty about missing a meditation, when what I > was doing was so much more beneficial to someone else than > shutting my eyes and thinking a word I'd paid 35 bucks for. > > * Thinking that the word I'd paid 35 bucks for was "special." > > * Believing that Bad Things Would Happen if I spoke the > word I'd paid 35 bucks for aloud. > > * Being asked to carry a large sum of money illegally across > international borders by the TMO, and actually considering > doing it for a few seconds because the person asking me to > do it said, "Maharishi says it's Ok." > > * Borrowing money from people who worked for a living so > that I didn't have to, and could go to the Next Big Course > instead. That only happened once, and I paid them back as > soon as I got home, but it still makes me shake my head > and laugh at how incredibly *arrogant* I was to believe > that this was acceptable behavior. > > * Telling people in intro lectures that TM had no potential > negative side effects, after seeing with my own eyes the > "twitching group" at Fiuggi, 10 to 20 people with spasms > so uncontrollable that they were not allowed to leave their > hotels for fear they'd be arrested as crazy people. > > * Seeing someone sent home from an ATR course *for* develop- > ing uncontrollable muscle spasms, after having been told that > it was their fault and that not only would the money they > paid for the course not be refunded, but that they would not > be allowed to enter the TM center back home until the "embar- > rassing" symptoms had gone away...and not advising them to > call a lawyer and sue the shit out of the TMO. > > * Watching other TM teachers blackball someone and prevent > them from going to TM Teacher Training because they were > living with their girlfriend or because they had admitted > reading books by Carlos Castaneda and, after standing up > for both applicants and seeing the TM teachers turn "thumbs > down" on them anyway, not advising *them* to call a lawyer. > > * Watching as books were edited to remove embarrassing > statements by Maharishi or as tapes were burned because he'd > said something on them that the TM movement now wanted to > pretend he'd never said...and not speaking up. > > * Being told by a good friend, upon her return from one of > the first TM siddhi courses, that "flying" was a total hoax > and that -- despite the frequent claims of leaders of the > TMO at the time -- no one had even come close to actually > flying...and not believing her. > > * Paying big bucks to go the next TM siddhis course in > spite of what she said, realizing the truth of what she had > said, and not even being angry at the people who'd stood > up in front of large groups of people back at the National > TM Center in L.A. and told us that people were hovering > on a daily basis > > * Being told by Maharishi, "Wear your suit at all times, > even to the beach," and not laughing out loud. > > So many moments, so much silliness. Sometimes I look back on > some of the silly things I did because I'd been told to do > them, or because they were Standard Operating Procedure in > the TMO, and I just *howl* with laughter and with the > realization of how incredibly silly and stupid I was. > > It's a great exercise in humility, and in self acceptance. > I found ways to excuse all these things and rationalize > them away, or found ways to never even notice that I was > doing them. And I would bet that a few people here have a > similar list of similar sillinesses that they managed to > rationalize away or pretend weren't happening. > > It's normal. People on strong spiritual paths do silly shit. > It's almost the *definition* of being on a strong spiritual > path -- being willing to do silly shit. > > And if it feels right to do it, I say Go For It. Make no > excuses for the silly shit you do. *Revel* in the glory of > silly shitness. > > But if you ever get to a point where you can *recognize* it > as silly shit, I would suggest not being afraid to laugh > at the behavior, and at yourself for having behaved that way. > It's very liberating, and frees you to go out and do *new* > silly shit that you'll look back on and laugh about someday > in the future. > > :-) > You forgot to mention abusing your authority as a spiritual teacher to seduce women.:-)
