Why SRF Language Works for Some and not Others - www.ezboard.com

>

SRF Walrus

Mt. Washington, Ca

Open discussions about SRF

SRF Walrus > SRF Teachings and Ideals > Why SRF Language Works for Some and not Others
	<< Prev Topic \|

Author	Comment
Raja Begum Unregistered User (12/20/01 6:29 am) Reply	Why SRF Language Works for Some and not Others The language in the teachings is perfect for the Guardians. It's just not right for those of us who are"NF" Idealists. Why don't we do a rewrite project and see what we come up with? It would be a fun way to dive into our guru's thoughts, making them relevant to ourselves. And, if we come up with something undeniably resonant, we can share it with others. I want to explain something about Guardian language. According to Keirsey, each temperament has a preferred language style. Guardians use the imperative style. So that's a big clue. That's why they don't mind "Shoulding" and other types of bossy thinking. In fact, it's such a natural form of communication for them that it seems invisible. Keirsey explains that Guardians are perpetually interested in "rule making" and "enforcing." They seek out the "responsibility of command" which implies that there must be many who will seek out the responsibility of obedience. Thus, imperatives are the binding glue of such a social contract. Conversely, the "Idealist thought and speech tends to be interpretive..." and best suited of all the types for reading between the lines. The bossy, imperative communication style of the Guardians is actually an impediment to an Idealist's thought process. For a Guardian, reading between the lines -- especially when the words come from a respected authority figure -- is equal to an act of insubordination: "Ours is not to ask the reason why; ours is but to do or die." But to an idealist, such mental engagement is considered a gesture of respect. Whoever said "One the virtues of a true disciple is intelligent questioning of the guru and his teachings" must have been an Idealist. It may be incomprehensible to some why we keep harping on the style of language used in the lessons. This statement by David Keirsey really spells out where this sensitivity to language comes from.... *Quote:* "Idealists are highly sensitive to the nuances of communication that qualify messages, the body language, facial expressions, and voice inflections which, quite often, the other character types are not even aware of. And NFs are so sensitive to the subtleties of spoken language, finding implications and insinuations in the slightest remark, that they seem to have invested language with supernatural powers, what might be called 'word magic.' Word magic refers to the ancient idea that words have the ability to make things happen -- saying makes it so -- and it has been the basis for many books on self-improvement, The Magic of Believing, for example, or The Power of Positive Thinking. Our speech, the NF reminds us, produces results in the world, so we must be careful, very careful, about what we say." Speaking or "word magic"... A wee bit 'o trivia for ya.... The relationship between the words "grammar" and "glamour" goes back to a time, pre 17th century, when only the learned could read, write and speak Latin. Among the untutored folk, any learned person was considered with awe to be in the possession of occult powers. In England, such a person was said to have gramary, that is, ability to effect charms through a knowledge of grammar. In Scotland, the word was corrupted into various spellings: glamer, gla or glamour. It was Sir Walter Scott who explained it and brought it into English usage more than a century ago. And since then we use the glamour form to denote charm and enchantment. Charming, isn't it?
Crog Unregistered User (12/20/01 8:12 am) Reply	Learning Good heavens. The fun things we learn on the Walrus!
Reality Check Unregistered User (12/20/01 1:15 pm) Reply	Just a reminder Nobody is forcing anyone to join or stay in SRF. If you have a problem with the language or the "Guardians" or the "shoulds" or the lessons or the publications you are free to go somewhere else. Last time I checked nobody was coming into people's homes in the middle of the night and abducting them and imprisoning them at Mother Center or force-feeding them SRF's teachings. Please, by all means, if you feel SRF is not for you then move on!
Raja Begum Unregistered User (12/20/01 3:54 pm) Reply	To Reality Check / Sackcloth / Concrete Well, if nothing else, I'm sure you'll impress God with your perseverance! It is really not your business whether we stay or go. That's a delicate issue between us and our guru. When we received our "baptism" by kriya, an eternal, unbreakable bond was forged. Master is allowing us to trust our feelings and work this out. He sees the complete arc of our development and understands what's going on. It is a person like you whose heart -- darkened with condemnation and a narrow sense of respectabliity -- leads you to live in miscomprehension of a fellow man.... Fortunately, we are not answerable to you, who are clearly the minority in this matter. (We have recently received confirmation from several of the higher ups in SRf that there is a problem with the style of language in the lessons, and they are getting letters from different parts of the world about it.) You can continue ranting, but that is not going to change a thing. We are here to stay. And just as we have tolerated the disposable mentality and judgmental attitudes of people like you so long, you are now going to have to put up with people like us. Of course the door is always open for you to leave....but I think you'd be better off dealing with it.
DelightedPerplexed Unregistered User (12/20/01 8:53 pm) Reply	Re: To Raja Begum / Should Free / onlylove/ etc Sackcloth, I am willing to consider the point of view of any message posted on this Board that contains a modicum of wit, a grain of truth, a dash of empathy, or a bit of logic. Unfortunately, yours lack any such redeeming qualities and I will no longer even read anything posted under this or other likely aliases. Raja Begum is driving you mad with his communication skills, which are considerable, but instead of trying to stand taller by cutting him down I suggest you work on your own abilities to reach out to people. Delighted (SRFWALRUS: I delete the original post by sackcloth) Edited by: srfwalrus at: 12/20/01 9:35:43 pm
Should Free Registered User (12/21/01 8:24 pm) Reply ezSupporter	Sackcloth: You are offending us Your post ends with: <<<Please, by all means, if you feel SRF is not for you then move on!>>> Dear Sackcloth, this attitude is really unempathic and grotesque. This type of "invitations" to leave our spiritual path and the organization we gave so much of our time, love, and youth are very offensive to me. But what if the law of Karma solves the problem..... Then you may be the one leaving and I will stay. It is not my curse to you, because I do not want to hurt you, but it is my warning to you. You do not understand that we are all gods as Master said -- and you cannot hurt a god without getting the consequences. So, may peace be with you, but please take my warning seriously -- you are hurting yourself!
chuckle Unregistered User (12/21/01 10:25 pm) Reply	A thought for Reality check You suggest that those who don't like SRF or it's teachings simply move on to something else. Fair enough, but as Bro. Anandamoy might say, "it's not quite that simple." As the others have said, SRF is our organization, and we perhaps feel a moral obligation to understand what is going on and to ensure that we all in SRF are pursuing a proper course of action. Not only do we have that right, we also, I feel, have that obligation. This obligation involves attempts to understand and involves dialogue--both of which Master and Daya Mata emphasize repeatedly. Speaking for myself, I would only leave if I became convinced of two things: that SRF was completely corrupt, and that attempts to change such corruption were futile.

<< Prev Topic |

Add Reply

Email This To a Friend

Email This To a Friend
Topic Control Image

Topic Control Image

Click to receive email notification of replies

Click to stop receiving email notification of replies

jump to:

- SRF Walrus - SRF Teachings and Ideals -

Powered By ezboard� Ver. 7.32
Copyright �1999-2005 ezboard, Inc.