[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality
Rick Archer’s panel enumerates sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. There was a guy, Mark Meredith who was really good a ferreting out financial records on the ™ movement. Mark is passed away now some time ago but he had background in things both financial management and also the ™ movement. He was really helpful in his way with shedding light on this area of behavior. Within Rick’s oversight group there could be helpful facilitation to .org financials of gurus and such. Often times it takes insiders to help with insight to shells within groups. Mark was particularly good at looking through all the various incorporporations with ‘Maharishi’ in their name. A service like Charity Navigator could be helped to have category for spiritual teachers/healers/guru non-profits. A committee of Rick’s SAND group could be quite helpful working with a credible group like Charity Navigator to help them get a better look at these peculiar ‘spiritual’ people and groups. This last summer the Shambhala community at large was racked by both sexual and financial abuse at the top. Watching John Douglas’ business get hooked up with a former ™ operative could make anyone seeing that wonder where that money all is going. Which groups can accede to standards out there like Charity Navigator’s of financial behavior? This could be helped to be made more clear. Evaluating Charities Not Currently Rated by Charity Navigator https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=847 https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=847 ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Rick’s group of concerned therapist spiritual counselors corrals the perpetration and the teacher/leader perps of spiritually hurtful bad behavior. May be this group in their thoughtful concern could hold their focus and refer or collaborate the communal part of the work to people who mediate communal hurt already. It is real interesting to see the communal re-mediating work being actively done right now on the Shambhala community. Way down in the SAND discussion comes consideration of the effect of poor behavior on “community” offering “Truth and Reconciliation” as a model. Re-developing community seems another whole jurisdiction of work. What has been the experience of mediated work of peace movements, ‘truth and conconcilliation’ processes, ‘non-violent communication’ is extended with the work of ‘restorative justice’. Remediating the perps is one level of the work, the community they work in is a whole nother. Cornering the perps civilly or criminally is its own work, but their effect on their community is another part of the work. NPR posted a link recently to some research demonstrating how a lot of people lack empathy. Rick’s example of the disordered narcissistic spiritual teacher is a good example. I had conversation a while ago with one of the main owners of the ™ movement about the problems, who replied the same kind of response, “what problems?”. Yet, as was said many times in the panel discussion, this cannot hold for very long in contemporary culture with the fluidity and transparency of social media now. An example of process on the Communal Hurt part of the Equation, here is abstracted a process that happened in the trauma of a guru passing away, Engaging Restorative Justice in Reclamation of Community https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : This ethics work at the SAND conference is a very good distillation to the subject. Locally the atonement part of the work Is something yet to be really applied towards what are the subsets of the meditating community in Fairfield, Iowa “with standards of expectation”, “We’re trying to balance our subjective perspectives with standards that fit our contemporary culture.. Of behavior and abdication of behavior sexually, financially, emotional, ..causing divestment of life savings, causing harm, and dissolution. " "..Revisiting traditions of patriarchy, power play and equality that are being shattered by contemporary culture and being rebuilt in an honest way that is reflective of contemporary culture. ..All too often, when teachers are challenged on their behavior, they ignore the challenger or become defensive.” In Fairfield and the TMO it seems what those that were the meditating movement have 'moved on' with any latent hurt they may have had. Unacknowledged. At a distance now. Maharishi died about 10 years ago. The sex and that money stuff, the biggest building in the world, the 'Brahmasthan of America', happened before that. The Pundits gone now. Figure there were about 6000 TM teachers in the United States in 1975, and what, 360 active TM teachers in the US now. About that
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality
Rick Archer’s panel enumerates sexual, emotional, and financial abuse. There was a guy, Mark Meredith who was really good a ferreting out financial records on the ™ movement. Mark is passed away now some time ago but he had background in things both financial management and also the ™ movement. He was really helpful in his way with shedding light on this area of behavior. Within Rick’s oversight group there could be helpful facilitation to .org financials of gurus and such. Often times it takes insiders to help with insight to shells within groups. Mark was particularly good at looking through all the various incorporporations with ‘Maharishi’ in their name. A service like Charity Navigator could be helped to have category for spiritual teachers/healers/guru non-profits. A committee of Rick’s SAND group could be quite helpful working with a credible group like Charity Navigator to help them get a better look at these peculiar ‘spiritual’ people and groups. This last summer the Shambhala community at large was racked by both sexual and financial abuse at the top. Watching John Douglas’ business get hooked up with a former ™ operative could make anyone seeing that wonder where that money all is going. Which groups can accede to standards out there like Charity Navigator’s of financial behavior? This could be helped to be made more clear. Evaluating Charities Not Currently Rated by Charity Navigator https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=847 https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=847 ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Rick’s group of concerned therapist spiritual counselors corrals the perpetration and the teacher/leader perps of spiritually hurtful bad behavior. May be this group in their thoughtful concern could hold their focus and refer or collaborate the communal part of the work to people who mediate communal hurt already. It is real interesting to see the communal re-mediating work being actively done right now on the Shambhala community. Way down in the SAND discussion comes consideration of the effect of poor behavior on “community” offering “Truth and Reconciliation” as a model. Re-developing community seems another whole jurisdiction of work. What has been the experience of mediated work of peace movements, ‘truth and conconcilliation’ processes, ‘non-violent communication’ is extended with the work of ‘restorative justice’. Remediating the perps is one level of the work, the community they work in is a whole nother. Cornering the perps civilly or criminally is its own work, but their effect on their community is another part of the work. NPR posted a link recently to some research demonstrating how a lot of people lack empathy. Rick’s example of the disordered narcissistic spiritual teacher is a good example. I had conversation a while ago with one of the main owners of the ™ movement about the problems, who replied the same kind of response, “what problems?”. Yet, as was said many times in the panel discussion, this cannot hold for very long in contemporary culture with the fluidity and transparency of social media now. An example of process on the Communal Hurt part of the Equation, here is abstracted a process that happened in the trauma of a guru passing away, Engaging Restorative Justice in Reclamation of Community https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : This ethics work at the SAND conference is a very good distillation to the subject. Locally the atonement part of the work Is something yet to be really applied towards what are the subsets of the meditating community in Fairfield, Iowa “with standards of expectation”, “We’re trying to balance our subjective perspectives with standards that fit our contemporary culture.. Of behavior and abdication of behavior sexually, financially, emotional, ..causing divestment of life savings, causing harm, and dissolution. " "..Revisiting traditions of patriarchy, power play and equality that are being shattered by contemporary culture and being rebuilt in an honest way that is reflective of contemporary culture. ..All too often, when teachers are challenged on their behavior, they ignore the challenger or become defensive.” In Fairfield and the TMO it seems what those that were the meditating movement have 'moved on' with any latent hurt they may have had. Unacknowledged. At a distance now. Maharishi died about 10 years ago. The sex and that money stuff, the biggest building in the world, the 'Brahmasthan of America', happened before that. The Pundits gone now. Figure there were about 6000 TM teachers in the United States in 1975, and what, 360 active TM teachers in the US now. About that ma
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality
Rick’s group of concerned therapist spiritual counselors corrals the perpetration and the teacher/leader perps of spiritually hurtful bad behavior. May be this group in their thoughtful concern could hold their focus and refer or collaborate the communal part of the work to people who mediate communal hurt already. It is real interesting to see the communal re-mediating work being actively done right now on the Shambhala community. Way down in the SAND discussion comes consideration of the effect of poor behavior on “community” offering “Truth and Reconciliation” as a model. Re-developing community seems another whole jurisdiction of work. What has been the experience of mediated work of peace movements, ‘truth and conconcilliation’ processes, ‘non-violent communication’ is extended with the work of ‘restorative justice’. Remediating the perps is one level of the work, the community they work in is a whole nother. Cornering the perps civilly or criminally is its own work, but their effect on their community is another part of the work. NPR posted a link recently to some research demonstrating how a lot of people lack empathy. Rick’s example of the disordered narcissistic spiritual teacher is a good example. I had conversation a while ago with one of the main owners of the ™ movement about the problems, who replied the same kind of response, “what problems?”. Yet, as was said many times in the panel discussion, this cannot hold for very long in contemporary culture with the fluidity and transparency of social media now. An example of process on the Communal Hurt part of the Equation, here is abstracted a process that happened in the trauma of a guru passing away, Engaging Restorative Justice in Reclamation of Community https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/communal-studies-forum/AM9bhYe1dXI ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : This ethics work at the SAND conference is a very good distillation to the subject. Locally the atonement part of the work Is something yet to be really applied towards what are the subsets of the meditating community in Fairfield, Iowa “with standards of expectation”, “We’re trying to balance our subjective perspectives with standards that fit our contemporary culture.. Of behavior and abdication of behavior sexually, financially, emotional, ..causing divestment of life savings, causing harm, and dissolution. " "..Revisiting traditions of patriarchy, power play and equality that are being shattered by contemporary culture and being rebuilt in an honest way that is reflective of contemporary culture. ..All too often, when teachers are challenged on their behavior, they ignore the challenger or become defensive.” In Fairfield and the TMO it seems what those that were the meditating movement have 'moved on' with any latent hurt they may have had. Unacknowledged. At a distance now. Maharishi died about 10 years ago. The sex and that money stuff, the biggest building in the world, the 'Brahmasthan of America', happened before that. The Pundits gone now. Figure there were about 6000 TM teachers in the United States in 1975, and what, 360 active TM teachers in the US now. About that many meditating in Fairfield the Domes in recent days and weeks. Those who want to be meditating in the Domes are there, and the larger Fairfield meditating community has reconciled this all as they have in their own ways. A more interesting question becomes what is this collection that is the meditating community including the TM movement going to look like in 5 years? Year 2013? Fairfield, Iowa. Spiritual community. Jai Guru Dev. # ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Of morality.. An exploration of Spiritual Morality in Gurus, spiritual teachers, and their organizations. A session at the SAND Conference... https://batgap.com/panel-discussions-ethics-spiritual-teaching/ https://batgap.com/panel-discussions-ethics-spiritual-teaching/ # A morality, Q: I don’t recall anything about “principles of higher moral character” in the air when we first came here from Amherst. A: Meditation in groups, Maharishi was consistent the whole way about the utility of group meditating influencing a wellbeing of good for others at a distance. This remarkable idea in practice is a simple disruptor to a lot of people’s material paradigm but after so many decades of inquiry in to this observation the science has well borne out the hypothesis. And, Guru Dev too in his spiritual construct on moral order could have easily agreed now given what all we know from the inquiry of science, that people who do not go to group meditations when they could join with them are being amoral in their selfishness. That someone sitting out in a coffee house whether in Leiden watching videos on their laptop or t
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality
This ethics work at the SAND conference is a very good distillation to the subject. Locally the atonement part of the work Is something yet to be really applied towards what are the subsets of the meditating community in Fairfield, Iowa “with standards of expectation”, “We’re trying to balance our subjective perspectives with standards that fit our contemporary culture.. Of behavior and abdication of behavior sexually, financially, emotional, ..causing divestment of life savings, causing harm, and dissolution. " "..Revisiting traditions of patriarchy, power play and equality that are being shattered by contemporary culture and being rebuilt in an honest way that is reflective of contemporary culture. ..All too often, when teachers are challenged on their behavior, they ignore the challenger or become defensive.” In Fairfield and the TMO it seems what those that were the meditating movement have 'moved on' with any latent hurt they may have had. Unacknowledged. At a distance now. Maharishi died about 10 years ago. The sex and that money stuff, the biggest building in the world, the 'Brahmasthan of America', happened before that. The Pundits gone now. Figure there were about 6000 TM teachers in the United States in 1975, and what, 360 active TM teachers in the US now. About that many meditating in Fairfield the Domes in recent days and weeks. Those who want to be meditating in the Domes are there, and the larger Fairfield meditating community has reconciled this all as they have in their own ways. A more interesting question becomes what is this collection that is the meditating community including the TM movement going to look like in 5 years? Year 2013? Fairfield, Iowa. Spiritual community. Jai Guru Dev. # ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Of morality.. An exploration of Spiritual Morality in Gurus, spiritual teachers, and their organizations. A session at the SAND Conference... https://batgap.com/panel-discussions-ethics-spiritual-teaching/ https://batgap.com/panel-discussions-ethics-spiritual-teaching/ # A morality, Q: I don’t recall anything about “principles of higher moral character” in the air when we first came here from Amherst. A: Meditation in groups, Maharishi was consistent the whole way about the utility of group meditating influencing a wellbeing of good for others at a distance. This remarkable idea in practice is a simple disruptor to a lot of people’s material paradigm but after so many decades of inquiry in to this observation the science has well borne out the hypothesis. And, Guru Dev too in his spiritual construct on moral order could have easily agreed now given what all we know from the inquiry of science, that people who do not go to group meditations when they could join with them are being amoral in their selfishness. That someone sitting out in a coffee house whether in Leiden watching videos on their laptop or those meditators idle downtown around the Fairfield, iowa town square at Paradiso, the Cider House, the Sushi bar, or in Revelations during the communal group meditation is near to worthless and worse morally in their contribution to the general good and communal welfare, a drag, amoral. So this, the virtue of group meditation is now in the reach of this spiritual but not religious time of science and spirituality that we do live in. Yet, people who would stay home by themselves, be it some Raja hold up somewhere out there by themselves, or an editor working overtime somewhere and may be would meditate later, but also an administration and its defenders with a religious-like adherence to ill-serving guidelines that should keep people away who could otherwise be meditating with the group evidently are all worst than sad but pretty bad morally. Jai Guru Dev. Thread 437705 Re: What did ‘Guru Dev’ say on Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FairfieldLife/conversations/messages/437705 https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FairfieldLife/conversations/messages/437705 .< Interesting to see how the principles of higher moral character that were the communal experiment started at Amherst in ‘78 have been eroded and hurt in the administration of it. For outsiders or people from away looking in on the experiment I recommend their reading "Greetings From Utopia Park" and listening to the NPR 'Fresh Air' interview of Claire Hoffman for insight to how it went. I don’t recall anything about “principles of higher moral character” in the air when we first came here from Amherst. Q: I appreciate what you’re doing with the group meditation thing, but I like meditating at home. I usually take a nap first, then just sit up and meditate. Times vary. A: Evidently a lot of people feel this way also about meditating with the TM group, not turning out for what was superradiance of the group. The numbe
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
Of moral integrity, Maharishi’s teacher’s teachings about moral character.. Teaching #50, For all kinds of progress, both in this world and the next, keep the mind pure, and it is essential to increase the purity of the mind to remain pure. Therefore you must keep the company of good people while foregoing the company of the bad. Always study the scriptures; take care to maintain a pure diet; perform Bhagavàn's bhajan and worship, as well as repetition of mantras; practice truth and non-injury (ahimsà), and the other precepts of good conduct; you must always keep yourself within proper bounds. -Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : "A man learns from the company he keeps. As one's company is good or evil, so such things will be learned. It is a notable fact that on seeing his companions' behavior, a man does likewise; whether he is aware of it at all or not, he nevertheless acts accordingly. So the point is that man's actions and thoughts accord with the company he keeps. Therefore, if someone falls in with a bad crowd, then his actions and thoughts will be corrupted; moreover, those with whom he comes into contact will also sink. Hence, one should strive to associate with good company." -Guru Dev, SBS Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati reflecting, You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : In TM we say “Jai Guru Dev” a lot; but, what did Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Maharishi’s teacher) have to say about morality and behavior? Let us look at this for a bit. Let us look more at what Maharishi’s teacher had to say about character and behavior... As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society. -SBS ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Consideration of bad spiritual morality and bad character in behavior runs throughout Brahmananda Saraswati’s discourses. Like discourses #17, 19, 22, 33, 50 and throughout, morality by what enhances spirituality or does not as a litmus. Of bad morality and bad character different people have dealt with their feelings around behavior displayed in the communities ofTM differently. There evidently was some good, bad, and ugly in it. Maharishi’s teacher counselled practically in his spiritual discourses on how to deal with bad morality and bad character. Communities continue now within TM and folks around TM evidently have practically taken a range of disposition about behavior as they see it. Not unlike what we are learning about how people dealt with the behavior of sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation in the Harvey Weinstein & that company culture example. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogr
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
"A man learns from the company he keeps. As one's company is good or evil, so such things will be learned. It is a notable fact that on seeing his companions' behavior, a man does likewise; whether he is aware of it at all or not, he nevertheless acts accordingly. So the point is that man's actions and thoughts accord with the company he keeps. Therefore, if someone falls in with a bad crowd, then his actions and thoughts will be corrupted; moreover, those with whom he comes into contact will also sink. Hence, one should strive to associate with good company." -Guru Dev, SBS Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati reflecting, You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : In TM we say “Jai Guru Dev” a lot; but, what did Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Maharishi’s teacher) have to say about morality and behavior? Let us look at this for a bit. Let us look more at what Maharishi’s teacher had to say about character and behavior... As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society. -SBS ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Consideration of bad spiritual morality and bad character in behavior runs throughout Brahmananda Saraswati’s discourses. Like discourses #17, 19, 22, 33, 50 and throughout, morality by what enhances spirituality or does not as a litmus. Of bad morality and bad character different people have dealt with their feelings around behavior displayed in the communities ofTM differently. There evidently was some good, bad, and ugly in it. Maharishi’s teacher counselled practically in his spiritual discourses on how to deal with bad morality and bad character. Communities continue now within TM and folks around TM evidently have practically taken a range of disposition about behavior as they see it. Not unlike what we are learning about how people dealt with the behavior of sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation in the Harvey Weinstein & that company culture example. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati reflecting, You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : In TM we say “Jai Guru Dev” a lot; but, what did Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Maharishi’s teacher) have to say about morality and behavior? Let us look at this for a bit. Let us look more at what Maharishi’s teacher had to say about character and behavior... As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society. -SBS ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Consideration of bad spiritual morality and bad character in behavior runs throughout Brahmananda Saraswati’s discourses. Like discourses #17, 19, 22, 33, 50 and throughout, morality by what enhances spirituality or does not as a litmus. Of bad morality and bad character different people have dealt with their feelings around behavior displayed in the communities ofTM differently. There evidently was some good, bad, and ugly in it. Maharishi’s teacher counselled practically in his spiritual discourses on how to deal with bad morality and bad character. Communities continue now within TM and folks around TM evidently have practically taken a range of disposition about behavior as they see it. Not unlike what we are learning about how people dealt with the behavior of sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation in the Harvey Weinstein & that company culture example. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words of a characterless person, it only serves to magnify your own lack of character. The character of a Bhagavàn devotee must be exceedingly good. You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. Only he who is endowed with character is fit to be respected. A sweetmeat (laóóå) made of bad ghee will be crooked and bad; but when made of pure ghee, its shape will be good. If somebody declares that he is spreadin
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
In TM we say “Jai Guru Dev” a lot; but, what did Guru Dev Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Maharishi’s teacher) have to say about morality and behavior? Let us look at this for a bit. Let us look more at what Maharishi’s teacher had to say about character and behavior... As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society. -SBS ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Consideration of bad spiritual morality and bad character in behavior runs throughout Brahmananda Saraswati’s discourses. Like discourses #17, 19, 22, 33, 50 and throughout, morality by what enhances spirituality or does not as a litmus. Of bad morality and bad character different people have dealt with their feelings around behavior displayed in the communities ofTM differently. There evidently was some good, bad, and ugly in it. Maharishi’s teacher counselled practically in his spiritual discourses on how to deal with bad morality and bad character. Communities continue now within TM and folks around TM evidently have practically taken a range of disposition about behavior as they see it. Not unlike what we are learning about how people dealt with the behavior of sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation in the Harvey Weinstein & that company culture example. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words of a characterless person, it only serves to magnify your own lack of character. The character of a Bhagavàn devotee must be exceedingly good. You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. Only he who is endowed with character is fit to be respected. A sweetmeat (laóóå) made of bad ghee will be crooked and bad; but when made of pure ghee, its shape will be good. If somebody declares that he is spreading devotional teachings of Bhagavàn, then he should have an impeccable character. Only then will people know that through devotion to Bhagavàn (the Transcendent), all past sins can be destroyed and present problems can be overcome. As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
Consideration of bad spiritual morality and bad character in behavior runs throughout Brahmananda Saraswati’s discourses. Like discourses #17, 19, 22, 33, 50 and throughout, by what enhances spirituality or does not as a litmus. Of bad morality and bad character different people have dealt with their feelings around behavior in the communities ofTM differently. There evidently was some good, bad, and ugly in it. Maharishi’s teacher counselled practically in his spiritual discourses on how to deal with bad morality and bad character. Communities continue within TM and folks around TM evidently have practically taken a range of disposition about behavior as they see it. Not unlike what we are learning about how people dealt with the behavior of sexual exploitation in the Harvey Weinstein & that company culture example. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words of a characterless person, it only serves to magnify your own lack of character. The character of a Bhagavàn devotee must be exceedingly good. You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. Only he who is endowed with character is fit to be respected. A sweetmeat (laóóå) made of bad ghee will be crooked and bad; but when made of pure ghee, its shape will be good. If somebody declares that he is spreading devotional teachings of Bhagavàn, then he should have an impeccable character. Only then will people know that through devotion to Bhagavàn (the Transcendent), all past sins can be destroyed and present problems can be overcome. As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society.” -Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi’s teacher. Of Spiritual morality and ethical behavior, inside Swami Brahmananda Saraswati's discourses the importance of moral behavior and the company we keep is very much a thread that runs through his satsanga. SBS groups together the study of spiritual works, cultivating transcendence (meditation practices) and also behavior that does not impugn the spiritual subtle system. The discourses are shor
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
You ask about morality? Among spiritual people, like meditators, morality has to do with what enhances their spirituality and neutral activity or immorality goes in the other direction to that which degrades spirituality on a scale of things. Guru Dev in his high erudite mind and his folk way taught practically to this. Maharishi did not unpack it very far other than to teach the transcendent. Ten commandments and Golden Rules by normative culture practically operationalize spiritual morality when looked at in the way of what is enhancing to spiritual progress or not. Criminal law otherwise then protects a safety of the spiritual psycho-physiology system of individuals and society at large from asocial behavior and will correct or separate the asocial from the general population as needed. Different societies do this in effect differently, but commonly the badly asocial get separated out (jail, banished or more). ‘Removed from the gene pool’, as some would say. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words of a characterless person, it only serves to magnify your own lack of character. The character of a Bhagavàn devotee must be exceedingly good. You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. Only he who is endowed with character is fit to be respected. A sweetmeat (laóóå) made of bad ghee will be crooked and bad; but when made of pure ghee, its shape will be good. If somebody declares that he is spreading devotional teachings of Bhagavàn, then he should have an impeccable character. Only then will people know that through devotion to Bhagavàn (the Transcendent), all past sins can be destroyed and present problems can be overcome. As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society.” -Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi’s teacher. Of Spiritual morality and ethical behavior, inside Swami Brahmananda Saraswati's discourses the importance of moral behavior and the company we keep is very much a thread that runs through his satsanga. SBS groups together the study of spiritual works, cu
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality and its Moral Compass
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s teacher, (Guru Dev)Swami Brahmananda Saraswati was both nuanced and practical in his talks about this subject of discernment and spiritual morality. He taught of character and morality too as they relate to human spiritual evolution. Once you get in to the discourses and find his voice in them the teaching is practical spirituality told with a sense of humor too. Teaching #19 The false man can get no peace even if he is as rich as Kubera (God of Wealth) himself.. Because of the absence of dharma in education, people's ability to discriminate between do's and don'ts has weakened. People think that whatever they are doing is correct. The belief, "I'll go to hell if I sin," has almost vanished. Because of this, falsehood has exploded in society nowadays. People seem to think that the meaning of life is to just attain sensory pleasures. Further, people have become unconcerned about the means by which they obtain the wealth necessary to have these sensory pleasures. Even so, it is certain (niścita) that engaging in wrong dealings for the purpose of earning money will never result in peace. Lack of good company (satsaïg) has increased characterlessness. Nowadays people do not believe they can manage without resorting to dishonesty (beãmanã), and they have no faith in the future or in Vi÷vambhara.64 Have faith in Paramàtmà, and conduct your affairs honestly. By doing so, you will feel satisfied in this life, and satisfaction is the true form of happiness. As it is said, santoùa paramaü sukham.65 A liar cannot be peaceful in this life even if he is as rich as Kubera. He will always be doubtful and his heart will burn [anxiously]. Thus he will not be happy in this world, and even in the other world, he will be ruined. ---In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, wrote : What is Conscionable? Those voices recorded on all sides of the Rajneeshpuram documentary are such studies in dynamic of trust: from a trusting ‘benefit of doubt’ to extending trust, to violating trust. Bad character in trust evidently is consequently hurtful spiritually as it happens. Teaching #22 “Honor those who deserve honor, disdain those who deserve disdain. Mingling with characterless people is like listening to the Gãtagovinda or Sårsàgar from a whore. If you drink water from the Ganges, take it from where the stream is clean; don't drink Ganges water flowing from a gutter. If a teacher is of good character, then listen to him. If you follow the words of a characterless person, it only serves to magnify your own lack of character. The character of a Bhagavàn devotee must be exceedingly good. You should understand that if someone is of poor character, he is not a [real] devotee, and is just putting on a show to cheat people. Save yourself from such deceitful people, and save innocent pious people from them. Only he who is endowed with character is fit to be respected. A sweetmeat (laóóå) made of bad ghee will be crooked and bad; but when made of pure ghee, its shape will be good. If somebody declares that he is spreading devotional teachings of Bhagavàn, then he should have an impeccable character. Only then will people know that through devotion to Bhagavàn (the Transcendent), all past sins can be destroyed and present problems can be overcome. As a matter of principle, one should reject those deserving rejection and honor those deserving honor. If unworthy people are honored, then their number will increase and their stench will spoil society.” -Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, Maharishi’s teacher. Of Spiritual morality and ethical behavior, inside Swami Brahmananda Saraswati's discourses the importance of moral behavior and the company we keep is very much a thread that runs through his satsanga. SBS groups together the study of spiritual works, cultivating transcendence (meditation practices) and also behavior that does not impugn the spiritual subtle system. The discourses are short talks given as practical spirituality. They are erudite and grounded with folk sense of countryside humor (mid-20th Century). For the discourses of Swami Brahmanada Saraswati find: http://www.lulu.com/shop/lb-shriver-and-translation-by-cynthia-ann-humes/the-sweet-teachings-of-the-blessed-sankaracarya-swami-brahmananda-saraswati/paperback/product-21350609.html http://www.lulu.com/shop/lb-shriver-and-translation-by-cynthia-ann-humes/the-sweet-teachings-of-the-blessed-sankaracarya-swami-brahmananda-saraswati/paperback/product-21350609.html [ email reply.. This has nothing to do with being 'judgmental.' Just about everyone associated with the IAA knows that 'minding one's own business' has to do with how we do our Program. That is clear from the context of Maharishi's saying it on his talks, which we hear all the time. It may not be clear for anyone who do not hear thos
[FairfieldLife] Re: Spiritual Morality
I sigh not for beauty, nor languish for wealth, But grant me, kind Providence, virtue and health. Then, richer than kings, and far happier than they, My days shall pass swiftly and sweetly away. > > The vain and the young may attend us awhile, > But let not their flatt'ry our prudence beguile. > Let's covet those charms that shall never decay; > Nor listen to all that deceivers can say. >
