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Should Free Registered User (5/23/02 11:52 pm) Reply ezSupporter	Worshiping Stupidity A country deprived of intellectuality -- that doesn't think -- is a slaved country. However, there is a pervasive lack of intellectuality in the US. It is not unusual to see rolling eyes when you talk about something a bit deeper than the last TV show, how much money you are making, the BMW in your garage, or what color is the s.. of your newborn baby. As a therapist I have worked in clinics where I have had to ENDURE meetings with my colleagues for years. You would expect that in dealing with other therapists you will participate in interesting conversations that will stimulate your brain cells and awaken your intellectual passions. Not so, with few exceptions, those meetings have been as concrete and basic as you can imagine. Not because my colleagues are stupid. They are highly intelligent people with a PhD or a PsyD. However, they have also been infected with the same virus -- “it is cool to be superficial and simplistic.” But there is a price to pay for this hyper pragmatism -- “a country that does not think is a slaved country. “ Thus, life in the US is becoming harder everyday. We slave to get that extra dollar that supposedly will give us freedom. We work like a mule, more and more hours, harder and harder. We follow the crowds drunk with consumerism. While most countries in the world have three to four, even five weeks vacation in the US we get only two weeks vacation a year. And of course, as a result, the US population has the worst average health in the developed countries, and we die younger too! This is the result of NOT THINKING. This is the result of being overly pragmatic. Our society is plagued with deep sociological, psychological, philosophical, political, educational, mental and physical health issues. However, we seldom discuss them. Few are interested in discussing them. It is not cool to think deeply about anything -- “be simpleminded, be practical, you can’t change the world, etc.” So the problems keep going because no one or very few are interested in them. Our intellectual powers have been anesthetized with this contempt for intellectuality. We are failing to realize that every accomplishment begins in the mind -- "you first think, and then you act, accordingly." The same happens with society as a whole. But when there is little creative thinking going on there will be little or no growth as a result. Who wins? Those who are in a position to slave the ignorant masses win. The bureaucrats and the greedy organizations and corporations win. During the 20th Century there have been two big perpetrators abusing the ignorant masses for their own selfish motives: 1) Big greedy corporations that get the s... out of their workers and professionals, for the sake of makng more and more money, and increase their power trips. And much worse.... 2) The all powerful bureaucratic, socialistic, communistic or fascist governments that enslaved about half of humanity during most of the century and systematically discouraged any intellectual thinking outside of their little box. We live in a world that thinks very little and, of course, the result is a world that makes no sense! Unless we begin to apreacciate and value the power of deep thinking there will be little or no change. We need to honor and respect our intellectuals, we need to listen what they have to say instead of “rolling our eyes,” but most important, we need to awaken the intellectual that lives inside each one of us, buried under mountains of superficiality. Nature provided man with the greatest of all powers -- thought. Stop using that power and slavery will result. Use that power and slavery will go and freedom thrive. I suggest to begin with a simple first act. Across the US, every day, there are millions of business meetings. They are shallow, painfully boring, grossly logistic. They are often just a space for the boss to get attention and be flattered. And in order to be flattered you have to be cool; and you are cool if you are superficial. Those meetings have become a martyrdom for millions. Almost always, little or nothing is accomplished. Stop going to those meetings. Rebel! Demand a higher level of thinking and creativity and stop going until you get what you need. And if you are in a leading position, if you lead those meetings give a good example by raising the level of the conversation, so that valuable things can be discussed; help your people to look beyond their nose. Furthermore, have you thought that your employee may not be that brainless after all? That he/she may have interesting ideas to share with you if you challenge their brain cells with good, deep questions, beyond the stupid day to day logistics, and especcially if you demosntrate willingness to listen and to apply their ideas? Look at the Forest Gump phenomena. What a way to gain applause -- by being utterly stupid. Why the whole country fell in love with that movie? Was it just fun? No, it reflects our underlying belief system and contempt that stupid pragmatism can give us a good life. IT FELT GOOD BECAUSE IT VALIDATED US! Let us look now at SRF. Has SRF contributed, or is it contributing to this intellectual depravation? Of course -- big time! Listen to brother Anandamoy -- “do not think too much” “You can make it very complicated, be careful”. Look at the indoctrination that “you SHOULD not read other books but the SRF books -- so you do not get confused!” What a BS!!! In the Lessons we read: “The most important attraction between man and woman are FIRST spiritual, SECOND physical, and THIRD intellectual.” BS again -- it all depends on the individual values, we are all different. But again the message here is “intellectuality, deep thinking is not important.” Throughout the years SRF message often sounded this way to me: “the more stupid you are the closer you are to God.” And what about the need to “stop thinking” in order to know God? Here again, thinking is wrong! However, mentally retarded people also have little mental activity, so be careful! And perhaps that is what is happening to SRF.... the BOD took their teachings too seriously and they are having a “thinking breakdown.” And as they stopped thinking the organization is going brainless. Edited by: Should Free at: 5/24/02 1:00:12 am
gardendiva Registered User (5/24/02 5:40 am) Reply	Re: Worshiping Stupidity Great thoughts, ShouldFree!! I'm not a college graduate...never found anything that truly kept my interest and excited me (well, not at that time in my life anyway), so I am usually amazed and appalled by the lack of thinking going on in many highly educated people's brains. No surprise we have the president we do! I believe as well, that there is a difference between "not thinking" in the context of the statements by Anandamoy, and getting out of one's head and using intuition. It is possible to use one's inution to guide the intellect as well, I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. If what Anandamoy is saying, is supposed to come from the teachings, I think it's being grossly misinsterpreted.
redpurusha Registered User (5/24/02 8:11 am) Reply	Re: Worshiping Stupidity I've read in the Lessons differently. When looking for a mate, the Lessons teach that importance is given to compatibilty of spirit and religious aims and ideals first, intellectual interestes second, and physical attraction last. If I remember correctly Yogananda reminds us that if you can have all these compatibilities that would be even better. But you make some good points about the danger of being stupid and overly simple believing that will make you cool. I would guess Beavis and Butthead had something to do with starting all that. But I think that besides being stupid simplistic idiots, they were also funny and this what brought in an audience. However, if you take a look at, probably the most successful cartoon, and one of the most liked shows ever, the Simpsons, that brand of comedy is very clever, witty, and covers every intellectual topic no matter how complex it is, and to top it all, its guaranteed to make you laugh. Laughing is a good excersize -a good addition to all the intellectual studies, spiritual practice, and physical excersize you might already have on your schedule. As always, the key point is having a balance between all these aspects in life -that is what Yogananda stressed often.
Should Free Registered User (5/25/02 1:46 am) Reply ezSupporter	Re: Worshiping Stupidity Hi Gardendiva Thanks for your reply and validation. You also say... <<<I believe as well, that there is a difference between "not thinking" in the context of the statements by Anandamoy, and getting out of one's head and using intuition. It is possible to use one's inution to guide the intellect as well, I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. If what Anandamoy is saying, is supposed to come from the teachings, I think it's being grossly misinsterpreted.>>> Anandamoy does discourage thinking. I have had conversations with him where the minute I questioned some SRF dogmatic thing he inmediately would say "well, you can make it very complicated.. bla, bla, bla "You think too much"" and so on. It is so annoying, such stupid attitude! It is cultish attitude. Cults do not want you to think for yourself. They want you to have them do the thinking and you do the hard work -- clean the restrooms at the Hollywood temple, be the usher that stays all night long in the cold whether, and the good devotee that goes to every meditation and temple acitvity and donates money for the organzation. Do all this and "do not think too much." In other words be stupid, let others abuse you, let the organization get your money and work for free, and do NOT think. Hi Redpurusha You say: <<<< I've read in the Lessons differently. When looking for a mate, the Lessons teach that importance is given to compatibilty of spirit and religious aims and ideals first, intellectual interestes second, and physical attraction last.>>>> Yes your memory is better than mine -- you are right. However, this is so personal that I can't agree with Yogananda anyway. There is no rule. For some people the physical may be most important and for others the intellectual and so on -- we are all different. Generalizations -- when it comes to human beings -- are very dangerous! Also, why making some people right and others wrong? Suppose your priorities are different than those of Yogananda, that indeed you feel different in regard to this issue. Would this mean that there is something wrong with you? That is the way we were trained to think in SRF. You are never good enough, and you have to conform to certain specific ways of thinking, feeling and being. You have to fit into their little box in one way or another -- HORRIBLE TEACHINGS! SATANIC TEACHINGS!
redpurusha Registered User (5/30/02 8:15 am) Reply	Re: Worshiping Stupidity Should Free, unfortunately judging from your posts I've read, you've suffered from your involvement with the SRF teachings. But these teachings are that of Yogananda's, even after all the editing they are still at least 95% word-for-word Yogananda's direct teachings. So you have a problem with Yogananda's way of teaching? It appears. What if, as you say, you have a different set of priorities than that of Yogananda. The consequences of those priorities will follow. He didn't just teach this way is wrong this way is right, but with everything he proposed he followed with an explanation on why it was right or wrong, how those actions would have a negative result or be detrimental to one's existence. I agree with you that every person has his own way of living and an individual way of applying the teachings thats right for him, but on the other hand there are some universal laws and generalizations that, as much as you don't want to hear it, exist and should be followed. To go to the extremes in either direction -rigid laws, SRF's little box- and the opposite -lawlessness, no guidance and direction- is a mistake. Rather universal laws and guidelines should be applied individually to each devotee. And from what I know of Yogananda this is actually how he approached each person looking for guidance from him. I see your point how the current atmosphere SRF gives out, can make you feel like your not good enough or there is something wrong with you, if you don't go exactly by the teachings. Maybe there's some truth in that -a lack of balance in the leadership, heavy favortism toward the monastic lifestyle, lack of flexibility, lack of friendliness and creativity, among other things. This is not the way Yogananda handled things. However, to be fair, lets accept the fact that there is a difference in the level of Self-realization in Yogananda and the current SRF leadership, and because of this, SRF can't handle things the same way he did while he was in the body. Are you feelin' me? And maybe just like you, they have their own indvidual way of applying the teachings, and this way is not right for you. Answer me this, if SRF is such a satanic cult with such dangerous teachings, can you name me any another church or religious expression (instututionalized) that is better? Or has done more in spreading the theory and practice of yoga and self-realization? "There are so many people and so few realized gurus, how else are they to learn the sacred science of yoga if not through printed lessons (such as the SRF lessons)? The only alternative is for millions to go without knowledge of communing with God. This is not the plan for the Dwapara Age." -P. Yogananda (from memory) *SRFWALRUS Editor's Note: The "teachings" are NOT 95% word-for-word Yogananda's words. The Lessons, for example, are heavily edited and put together by a lay member. Check out yogananda-dif.org* Edited by: srfwalrus at: 7/4/02 5:54:22 am
username Registered User (5/30/02 11:50 am) Reply	SRF and its relationship to spreading yoga. "spreading the theory and practice of yoga" This is one of SRF brainwash statements. NO SRF is not the only group teaching yoga. And NO SRF is not the most well known. This is something that SRF made up to control its members.
redpurusha Registered User (5/30/02 12:36 pm) Reply	Re: SRF and its relationship to spreading yoga. Actually Yogananda is recognized by many historians as the single most influencial yoga masters in spreading the theory and practice of yoga in the West. This statement isn't copied from any SRF publication but from myself and outside sources. You are forcing your idea that SRF brainwashes and controls its members so much, that your post sounds desperate. Instead of answering the question directly you pull out the brainwashing card. I don't exclusively follow SRF and its obvious that its not the only source for yoga or kriya.
soulcircle Registered User (5/30/02 1:52 pm) Reply	what is this based on? Redpurusha, please help myself and per chance others... *Quote:* these teachings are that of Yogananda's, even after all the editing they are still at least 95% word-for-word Yogananda's direct teachings. what is this staement based on? and what of the suggestion put forward elsewhere in board (for one example) that the energization exercises come from a German author and his book...? more questions, but being impatient at times myself, why should i tax your patience? soulcircle
redpurusha Registered User (5/30/02 8:17 pm) Reply	Re: what is this based on? soulcircle, these statements are based on my listening of Yogananda's actual lectures and discussions on recorded tapes, reading of original lessons on kriya, and original writings of Yogananda while he was in the body, and comparing them to the current versions by SRF. They are basically the same (by 95% I mean something to that effect, there ARE some changes but basically the same). I mostly don't agree with whatever changes have been made and the way the teachings have been presented, but still they are basically the same. I don't particularly care for the energization excersizes, I do a couple that I find beneficial to me and discard the rest. And even if the entire EE lessons were by some German (I know this not to be true because Yogananda speaks of EE's on recorded lectures), than still, taken as a whole (the teachings in totality), basically all of them would be by Yogananda (95%). The EE's themselves are a fragment of the teachings which I spend very little time on. Thank you for not taxing my patience. I've written a lot in my post thus opening myself for criticism. I accept whatever criticisms or questions you guys may have. But I appreciate whenever someone replies to any particular post that not just one fragment or remark is analyzed and criticized. But instead I hope you guys can see the whole perspective. Maybe you have more information to share with me and others here? I'm relatively new to Yogananda (about 6 years).
Should Free Registered User (5/30/02 11:42 pm) Reply ezSupporter	DO NOT Change Thyself Dear Redpurusha You say: <<<I agree with you that every person has his own way of living and an individual way of applying the teachings thats right for him, but on the other hand there are some universal laws and generalizations that, as much as you don't want to hear it, exist and should be followed>>> One of those laws is self acceptance. Self acceptance is a universal law, a very important one. If you violate it you soon will be in deep troubles. SRF "should mentality" is a deep violation to this law. It promotes strong feelings of non self acceptance. By boxing every devotee into the little box they call Yagananda's teachings (which is not his teachings, because he used to customized the sadhana for each devotee, and for obvious reasons), they set the devotee for a disaster, because no one "big enough" can fit into such ridiculous small box. Let us look at how another path deals with the law of self acceptance: From "Zen Meditation Plain and Simple" by Albert Law (this book is a poor introduction to Zen, but it has some good things) "ON CHANGING OURSELVES" ..... “Most of us share the belief that something about ourselves is wrong that must be put right....” (notice that the tendency to not accepting ourselves is already there and it crates a lot of pain even in people that are not following SRF teachings, talk to any therapist and they will tell you that most mental suffering in this planet comes from this) “This misconception is often reinforced by people who are eager to point out what is wrong in you and how you should correct it. ....” (Sounds like SRF? Redpurusha? I tell you SRF has done a business out of this activity. It is a whole organization devoted to tell people how wrong they are and what they SHOULD do to correct themselves.) Albert Low continues... “There are now many companies that encourage managers (you could say nuns here) to discuss the shortcomings of their employees ... tell them what is right what is wrong....” “Each person has its own light and shadow. To eliminate a shadow we have to put out the light. ....” "Responsibility, ethical conduct concern for others etc. do not derive from [changing ourselves] but rather from realizing the truth that we are all one." Dear Redpurusha, liberation is not a moral issue. It is the liberation from duality including right and wrong, good and bad, likable and unlikable. Wasn't Yogananda who said that you cannot dispel darkness with more darkness? Well, every should creates duality -- instantly. The minute you utter a “should” you are basically saying this “yes” that “no.” To “should” people into enlightenment is to attempt to dispel darkness with darkness, duality with more duality -- it doesn’t work.
soulcircle Registered User (5/30/02 11:53 pm) Reply	Appreciate the thoughtfulness Should Free, Could we accept ourselves? Well, well, well, well, yes!!! Thank you for sharing what is not only of value to me, but to all of us. Well thought out and thoughtful, to say the least. soulcircle
username Registered User (5/31/02 5:43 am) Reply	To Red Which "yoga historians" say Yogananda did more than anyone else in promoting Yoga? Or do you mean promoting kriya yoga?
Should Free Registered User (6/1/02 1:57 am) Reply ezSupporter	Root Cause: Lack of Compassion to Oneself Dear Soul Circle Thanks so much for your support. My cause in regard to the "shoulds" and the problems with the teachings have been a solitary one. This board was created with the original purpose of discussing the abuse that employees and some monastics had experienced. I know this is a very important issue. However, due to the fact that I never experienced much of that there was little I could say about it, besides giving my support to the cause. I think I mentioned this long ago but it is worth to repeat it, because I have found that some people do not understand it yet. And in fact it may not be that easy to understand. Or, I didn't express it clearly enough. My personal experience with the teachings and with SRF had its own painful thorns. And, as I read through the SRFwalrus postings I realized that the pain inflicted in my person was NOT disconnected from the pain inflicted to those participating in the board -- SRF employees. There was a common thread. The way monastics have treated some employees and ex monastics, reflects, above all, a deep lack of compassion. So, how is it possible that monastics who have devoted their life to develop love and compassion fail so miserably to act in a compassionate way? The answer has to be in how they treat themselves. Because compassion begins "at home" -- with ourselves. If we treat ourselves with harshness, if we "should" ourselves all day, if we are hard with ourselves, we will tend to do the same with others. The most important relationship in life is the one we have with ourselves -- in our own thoughts. It will color all the rest of our relationships. Then it comes the next obvious question; why they can't treat themselves in a compassionate manner? Is it their fault? Not necessarily. Here is where the teachings come into the picture. Unfortunately, because to change that is really a problem. The teachings are monastic teachings to begin with. They are harsh teachings. They are loaded with shoulds, musts, have to, ought to, and so on. Such a harsh language is introjected in the mind of the monastic -- through heavy mental programing -- and he/she begins talking to themselves in that way. Such language is the opposite of self-compassion -- which begins with self-acceptance. So, now the sequence of events is very simple to understand. 1) The teachings, presently communicated in a very uncompassionate language (lessons most especially), brainwash the monastic through a zillion of "shoulds." 2) They introject this language deep in their psyche, and they continue playing those "records" to themselves. They become hard with themselves; they fail to be compassionate with themselves. 3) That lack of compassion with themselves is also expressed outwardly when they deal with their peers. The whole monastery goes into a TOUGH vibration -- a tough way to relate to each other. 4) The final step, which is the one the employees observed; they treat employees with harshness. They fail to be compassionate with those under them. So, where did all start? With the teachings. The way the teachings have been presented by SRF, in the lessons most especially, promote a pervasive lack of compassion with ourselves. This is the root cause of the problems the employees have experienced. This is why I have been reading carefully into Zen. Because Zen, the true Zen, is all compassion towards yourself and conversely, compassion toward others CANNOT but follow naturally. This contrast has allowed me to understand the SRF issue at a deeper level. But as the whole Christian World moves fast into a compassionate approach in the relationship with oneself -- influenced by Zen and most especially by Psychology -- similarly, SRF will have to do the same. Daya Ma is resisting this because she feels that it is her duty to keep the teachings "pure." She has said that the teachings will not change in her clock. She may succeed in fact, but not to her credit, unfortunately. She is failing to realize that the problem is not necessarily in the essence of the teachings, but in the harsh, cultist language the teachings have been communicated in the lessons and books. This teachings, same as the Christian teachings, could be communicated in a very compassionate manner. They would be TERRIFIC teachings, instead of TERRIBLE teachings. However, sooner or later, SRF will have to follow the collective unconscious directives. The whole world is moving towards self acceptance -- compassion towards the ego -- for obvious reasons. SRF will not be able to resist that spiritual collective movement and will follow sooner or later -- it is inevitable. But of course, we do not need to just wait, we can create awareness and that is what I have been doing. Awareness will speed up the process. Let us all create awareness. Edited by: Should Free at: 6/1/02 2:38:22 am
soulcircle Registered User (6/1/02 10:12 am) Reply	Should Free and All Who Read of The Worship of Shouldness Should Free Accepting! Awareness! Today is a good day for it!!! One person who heard Bro. Devananda's 2001 Convocation talk loved hearing him say (third hand now) that if you missed doing your Kriyas one evening the would wouldn't end. Also Deva mentioned that a non-srf counselor, counseling several srf people found three common threads....one being guilt. *****My homework assignment to !all! of you reading Should Free's posting....please share your response and thoughts. Please let us hear from you soon. Thanks Should Free at our upcoming potluck (Sept 29th, see meeting place menu item) a few miles from Richmond chapel, I will introduce a discussion of worshiping should and the guilt/fear/non-compassion. Always Always Always your posts have rung true, Should Free, I believe in addressing the essence of the pain and betrayal, in going to the root of the gulit and fear, in naming the evil (a compassionate teaching exemplified by non-compassion)....in naming the evil, I was silenced, and not telling you I have read your posting in complete agreement without so much as a thank you. The author of The Road Less Travelled, Peck, wrote in another book about naming evil and people of the lie. As a bliss bunny and cultee of srf in the past for twenty years I was a person of the lie. Not accepting myself and as a reslut non-compassionate. So you all out there, please share your feelings on Should Free's postings. So Should Free, thank you loud and clear. Please Should Free, get directly in touch with me! <heypoet@aol.com> soulcircle
soulcircle Registered User (6/1/02 1:53 pm) Reply	Chela2020 Thank you Chela2020!
Should Free Registered User (6/1/02 11:49 pm) Reply ezSupporter	Re: Chela2020 Dear Chela 2020 You say: <<<I left SRF and went to a group where I could find the best help, where I could be closer to God without the guilt. No one tells me to not read books from other teachings because they may confuse me; instead they have a full library of books from all religions, and I was told that they encourage you to read up on all religions. No one says that I have to believe exactly how they believe, because everyone believes what they want to believe about God, reincarnation, etc. In this religion I finally feel free, and I can grow on my spiritual path to God.>>> Isn't it wonderful when they leave you space to breath, to be yourself, to try new things, to experience by yourself, to be creative, to follow your heart? SRF's attempts to "protect" the devotee from their natural curiosity is counterproductive. No one will get lost just because of reading from other spiritual traditions. Mild words of caution like "read and experiment wahtever you want, but try to keep the main focus in your chosen path" would be much more friendly, less manipulative, and more efective. I'm glad that you have found a place where they do not manipulate you -- with shoulds and guilt -- and you feel comfortable.
Should Free Registered User (6/2/02 12:11 am) Reply ezSupporter	to Soul Circle <<<One person who heard Bro. Devananda's 2001 Convocation talk loved hearing him say (third hand now) that if you missed doing your Kriyas one evening the would wouldn't end. Also Deva mentioned that a non-srf counselor, counseling several srf people found three common threads....one being guilt>>> I had an opportunity to talk with Devananda, and this words of praise for his courage came naturally to me. Intuitively I felt they are true, and time will probably prove it. "After your talk at the 2001 convocation SRF will never be the same." It may take some time for his sacrifice to crystalize, and the continues effort of many like all of us, but, since then, the change is inevitable. It is also important that we are aware that after his talk, Devananda was ostracized. He lost all reputation with the senior monastics. It was extremely painful for him. Even two years later I could sense the pain. They even tried to get rid of him and send him to India-- but looks like Master intervined and they couldn't. So, they sent him to Hidden Valley (they "hide" him in "Hidden" Valley). Devananda made a big sacrifice in that talk and we owe him a lot. So, I suggest that we commemorate that day of the year with some special celebration. I do not remember which day of the year it was, but people working in the publication department can check it in the old 2001 convocation program and post it here. That day is a memorable day in the life of SRF! After that day, SRF will never be the same. Soul Circle, I thank you again for your enthusiatic support, it is really helpful. I will contact you to your e-mail. I didn't know that you people are meeting personally. That is a great thing. I look forward to meet you.
soulcircle Registered User (6/2/02 2:07 am) Reply	Bro. Devananda Should Free, Do other people use the saying, "keeping an ear to the ground?" There is movement in peoples' homes, here on the board, on phones and in emails. The big moments are like a bolt of lightning, when the charges of love and compassion release. Would you all listen up to what Should Free is saying about Bro. Devananda? A friend tells me that in your hearts, and in the conversations some are having with Bro. Devananda, lies the opportunity for friendship across all generalities, between householders and monastics, monastics within and without. *HEALTHIER friendships and lives, with significant counseling, yes, victimization, most certainly recovery and healing.* fewer shoulds~~~~~~~ 100 shoulds in my day ...if one of those shoulds happen to disappear 99 shoulds in my day ...if one of ..... 98 ...if one of..... 97 If I can express my only concern which is two fold: 1) Deva may decide to get out, or even have decided to and is waiting a bit longer to do it, or the board of directors may decide to kick him, or has decided to and is just determining the timing. 2) those like Deva, Bimil and Bhakta lend too much integrity to the cult in my mind, and are responsible for it not falling out of the picture...but being able to limp along. Having expressed that ...kodos to everything you say Should Free!!!!!!! Such a nurturing talk at a convocation, who'd a thunk. Yes, a dove continues to drop to him from heaven, and in your love in observing his period in recovery and healing. .... until adjusting the date to the best for everyone,, for me, the first Sunday in August every year, shall commemorate a man, Brother Devananda, who stood before thousands in the very epicenter of the fear farm and spoke from love and in love and going forward in love. soulcircle Edited by: soulcircle at: 6/2/02 5:40:38 am
AumBoy Registered User (6/2/02 9:51 pm) Reply ezSupporter	The Necessity for Enlightened Thinking Dear Should Free, You wrote: *Quote:* A country deprived of intellectuality -- that doesn't think -- is a slaved country. It’s funny that you wrote this. I had come across an article entitled The Necessity for Enlightened Thinking. Interesting article, for those interested. The author, Norman D. Livergood, draws a parallel between the current American political/social/economic climate and that which existed in Nazi Germany, which I’ll quote from shortly. Briefly, I do agree with you that there is a limited amount of critical thinking that goes on today, though I feel it is not limited to the United States. As I suggested in the thread Obedience, unfortunately some of this non-thinking is part of the indoctrination process of public schooling. Possibly many (most?) people may not know how to think. They may expect to be told where to go, what to do, even what to think. Twelve or more years of America’s public school system may lead to this. Many activities, such as movies and TV are passive activities, the only active participation being the use of the remote control. Then TV and movies become the reality that many people measure the world with. In his article entitled, How to Dumb Down a Nation, Dr. Samuel L. Blumenfeld writes: *Quote:* Easy. Destroy its literacy, and you've dumbed it down. And once dumbed down, it becomes the potential victim of any power that wants to dominate it. Compare this with what I wrote under the thread Obedience: “volkschulen: where [students went] to learn harmony, obedience, freedom from stressful thinking, how to follow orders.” Blumenfeld further states: “How do the schools create illiteracy? By using teaching methods that make it impossible for millions of children to learn to read effectively. “We've known of these methods as far back as 1929, when Dr. Samuel T. Orton, a neurologist, investigated reading failure in Iowa in the 1920s and discovered that it was being caused by a new "sight method" of teaching that had been introduced in the schools. He wrote an article on the subject entitled "The 'Sight Method' of Teaching Reading as a Source of Reading Disability."” (See the article for more information.) In other articles, by Elizabeth Farah entitled Pulling kids out of government schools, part 1 and Pulling kids out of government schools, part 2, she writes: *Quote:* “…someone has to decide which books and reference materials are used in the schools. They are selected by the state. The history books, philosophy books, science books are all selected by *the government!* Even the definition of words becomes a de facto function of government. This is most appalling because education is a decidedly religious activity. Why? All human endeavor is constrained, informed, defined and imprinted with the worldview of the individual or institution. And worldview is a belief system determined by religious belief. What is religious belief? It is defined by the answers given to a few questions: · What is the purpose of life? · What happens when we die? · How did life come into being? Your answers to these questions determine how you approach every single endeavor of your life. All institutions have a worldview too, and it affects every single endeavor in which they engage. Education as a belief system? Education as a religion? What about SRF? What is SRF’s “worldview”? This is what guides their behavior. What is SRF’s belief system? Is SRF a religion? Is there an approved list of books and magazines? An approved list of movies? In The Necessity for Enlightened Thinking, the author writes that those who lived in Nazi Germany “didn't see the tyranny! They thought it was the best time of their lives!” He continues, “How could Germans living under Hitler's National Socialism not have seen what it was? How did their lack of social and personal awareness make them blind to their reality?” Lack of social and personal awareness. The key phrase. Why? Because awareness is the pillar of yoga. Denial is not. He posits that the same conditions which lead to the tyranny in Germany are on the rise in America today. How could this be? He writes: *Quote:* “Because most of us don't WANT to know what's going on. (Emphasis mine.) We've lost the ability to think critically about political, economic, and social dangers confronting us. If we have a job--as most people did in Nazi Germany--if the political-economic system seems stable--as it does in America--then that's all we want to know. Two more points about the article: 1. Livergood mentions Milton Mayer's book, They Thought They Were Free. He writes that since the tyranny increased in small increments, people were waiting for the one big shocking event when they would join others and rise up in opposition. Since no one big event occurred, people let events take their course. 2. Livergood mentions “Pastor Niemoller, a German clergyman under the Nazi regime, later confessed that when the Nazis attacked opposing groups such as the Communists, he was a little uneasy. But, he said, after all, he was not a communist, so he did nothing. When the Nazis began to attack the Jews he was even more uneasy, but he still did nothing. Then they attacked the Church, and because he was a clergyman he tried to do something, but it was too late.” For those new to the board, if you review the older posts, you’ll notice people who blindly defend SRF and people who are very disturbed at SRF’s behavior as an organization. There are people in SRF who know there are problems but because this is a “divinely inspired work” things that one would not agree with outside of SRF are ok for the organization to do. There is also the issue of cognitive dissonance at play, too. Things “can’t be” a certain way because Master would not permit it. And if Master does permit it, it is “training.” Could some people who blindly defend SRF not really be defending SRF? Could they be defending the fact that they "feel good" and are "having the best time of their lives"? In certain circles, the term “sheeple” is used to denote people under the influence of the herd mentality, group-think. Sheepledogs are used to keep the sheeple in line. If one has a secure job, one may be reticent to speak up about wrong doings for fear of losing their job. Although this is speculative on my part, this may be the reason some inside SRF remain quiet. Can you blame them? I can’t. They may be doing the best they can and these are people who are close to the situation in the organization. People who leave far away from Mother Center have a 30,000 foot view. Looks great from far away, but up close the picture is different. The first of the 25 divine qualities needed for Self-realization is Fearlessness. This is the foundation of the spiritual life whether one remains in SRF or not. I’ve found that every person is at a different level spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically, etc., like different grades in school. And they may not be the same. Some may be in the 12th grade of fearlessness and others in the 2nd grade. People who do not wish to “rock the boat” by bringing up issues may feel that it is acceptable for SRF to be 80% good and 20% iffy because it is helping them. They are comfortable even if they know others are not. (See Pastor Niemoller above.) Many are looking for perfection, albeit outside of themselves, and SRF looks good from afar and may be the first hope for perfection on this plane. Some seeing problems, change their vantage point so that SRF remains in a good light. But they may not see or even wish to see what SRF is doing to members, monastics, employees, etc. And some may truly not see anything wrong. For most people, SRF is perfect because it was started by Master. (“God said it, I believe it, that settles it.”) A free course I happen to be taking now is from the School of Thinking, believe it or not. It is available from x10thinkers.com. In one of the lessons, the author writes about something he calls PTV, the Plato Truth Virus. “Plato's original idea was that there is such a thing as objective, 'absolute truth'.” The problem with this is that this leads to each individual (or institution) stating absolute truths. If you look at church history, you’ll know what happened to individuals (or countries) that did not accept the “absolute truth.” This is a limiting concept. In the Bhagavad Gita, under Truth (page 961), Master writes of three types of truth stated in the Vedas, relative truth, imaginary truth, and Absolute Truth. This is not the same truth that has evolved from Plato’s absolute truth. People have used this concept to maim and kill people down through the ages. Look at the older posts of people who challenged the purpose of this board and the veracity of many of the contributors experiences. Their “absolute truth” is that SRF is perfect and we have a problem. I say, we all have a problem and as a result we have a body! The only perfection in the world will be found within each one of us. “The kingdom of heaven is within.” The above course may help one to think. Once you know how to think, you can think critically. Master espouses critical thinking. In Doubt, Belief, and Faith (Journey to Self-Realization), he writes “If you can analyze ideas with unprejudiced respect and discrimination, you will more readily apprehend truth and discern what is untruth. You are all endowed with the power to understand if you but use your instruments of intelligence according to the laws He has given. Treat religion with the same spirit applied to the sciences. (Note: maybe SRF should review this last statement?) Without doubt and investigation, many will not reach truth.” This doesn’t sound like a passive activity to me. Master further writes: “Thus does the teacher who has attained realization say to the undeveloped disciple, “Until you are able to understand, believe and follow me.” That does not mean blind acceptance.” (This entire quote is Master – page 303 Journey to Self-Realization) Contrast what Master wrote (quoted above) to what Should Free quoted from Anadamoy, “do not think too much.” Contrast this with the quote of what Master said to Mrinalini Ma, “I have no time for your logic. Follow me blindly.” Was Master simply speaking solely to Mrinalini Ma to address a particular problem or issue she had, or was it for all people for posterity? (The ‘absolute truth.’) In the thread Nothing to Fear but Fear, I excerpted the following from an article: *Quote:* When I read the Eastern religions they reflected almost word for word much of what I was experiencing— only they said it was supposed to be FUN. But for me it was more like hell. Once I attended an SRF convocation in Los Angeles. There were thousands of people there. I started to get disoriented and the fear came on. So I went to a novice monk and tried to share with him what was happening. I said, "I feel like this is God, but God's not blissful. God is kind of scary." He said, "I think you've got psychological problems, because if you're having a true spiritual experience, it's peaceful. You're not peaceful, so you must have a problem. You need to see a psychiatrist." I was pretty upset by that. Later, I talked to a senior monk. He was a little more sympathetic, but still he couldn't offer any really useful advice. This individual did not stop thinking because a monastic in SRF told him something. He continued on until he found the answer. One might surmise that all spiritual experiences, according to the SRF view illustrated here, are blissful. Did Arjuna experience bliss when Krishna let him really see? Uh, no, Arjuna was terrified. How about Lahiri Mahasaya when told that the he would not remain in the body much longer. Bliss? Nope. Maybe Arjuna and Lahiri Mahasaya need to see a shrink? In short, I agree with you, Should Free. We all have a personal responsibility to think for ourselves. When we abdicate that responsibility, be it through denial or fear, we give the power of our lives over to someone (or something) else. At the same time, I’m aware that many people may not realize that they do not have the ability to think critically and/or may not wish to leave their comfort zone and take responsibility for their own lives.
Should Free Registered User (6/2/02 10:43 pm) Reply ezSupporter	Re: The Necessity for Enlightened Thinking Thnaks Aumboy for your very intersting, enlightened, well informed and well written posting. I already marked in my favorites "thinkers.com" and I will start checking that site. Chela 2020. you say: <<<So, if Yogananda really said these things, then I disagree with him on these issues.>>> I think this is the right attitude. Yogananda never said that he did not make mistakes, and he made many. If we take everyone of his word us truth written in stone, soner or later we will pay the price. Dear Soul Circle, you say: <<<Do other people use the saying, "keeping an ear to the ground?" There is movement in peoples' homes, here on the board, on phones and in emails. The big moments are like a bolt of lightning, when the charges of love and compassion release.>>> I sent you an e-amil already. I'm interested in learning what those potlocks are about. I really think that we have to move from writting to talking directly.
AumBoy Registered User (6/4/02 11:01 pm) Reply ezSupporter	Some further thoughts on thinking… Correction to my previous post: it should be 26 divine qualities, not 25. (I must have been thinking about what Santa was gonna bring me for Christmas.) Further thoughts on thinking: There is a an alternative news website called WhatReallyHappened.com. The owner, Michael Rivero was interviewed on two occasions by Jim Garib and J. Conti of BankIndex.com. The two interviews are here WRH Interview 1 and WRH Interview 2. This alternative news site gets about 4 million hits per week, has no advertising, and accepts no donations. It is entirely out of pocket. It has even surpassed NewsWeek.com in Internet traffic. I have excerpted several comments by Rivero which I feel are pertinent to this discussion, as follows. *Quote:* …To know the government is corrupt and to do nothing is to surrender ones self-image of having the courage it takes to stand up for freedom and justice. Many people do not want to know that about themselves, so they refuse to look too deeply at current events because they are afraid of what they may learn, not about the government, but about themselves. Many propaganda is not designed to survive careful analysis but only to give the majority of people an excuse not to look any further or think any more about what is going on... …Many people don't have the courage to face up to a corrupt government. Many people don't even have the courage to face that truth about themselves and prefer government lies to learning that truth about themselves, and will go so far as to shout down others who do question the government in order to preserve the lie for themselves… …Most people want to know the truth, even if they are often afraid to mention it in front of their neighbors. If people have no way to get it they will settle for a lie, but given a choice, they prefer the truth. Thomas Jefferson said that it is the duty for all citizens to keep themselves fully informed so that they may make good decisions… …No government has a right to lie to its people. A well-run government doesn't need to. If you do not understand why I chose these excerpts, change “government” to “organization” and change “people” and “citizens” to “members”. If the word "corrupt" is too strong for you (and for many, it may well be!) substitute "not perfect" or "fallible". In the Bhagavad Gita, Master writes “Fearlessness is mentioned first because it is the impregnable rock on which the house of spiritual life must be erected.” This is an inner as well as an outer conflict. Rivero states above that when people don’t want to know about themselves, they will not look deeply at issues surrounding them because the searchlight will end up coming home to themselves. This takes courage, fearlessness. As Sri Yukteswar states, look fear in the face and it will cease to bother you. (Rivero speaks of the political climate in the US, primarily. There is a political climate in SRF, too.) Why You’re Not Getting the News The above link contains the following quote: “If you're going to become an informed citizen, you're going to have to inform yourself!” Let me paraphrase, “Seek [Truth] and ye shall find [it].” Truth has to be actively, and not passively, sought. Think for yourself guided by your Self. (I would encourage those interested to read the 26 qualities starting on Page 956 of the Gita.) And remember: "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense." – Buddha P.S. Excuse me if some of the items seem “political” in nature. I’m re-educating myself and am broadening my understanding of historic and current events. Some things I find have applicability to SRF and discussions on the Walrus and in this thread on Thinking. I feel that understanding world events may allows greater understanding of what is happening with SRF and vice versa. (Re-read the quote from Buddha above. )

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