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Message |
| Posted By: |
Fish Person |
| Response to: |
Experience Starvation,
Posted by: mlurtsema |
| Date: |
1-Jan-2005-20:10:57 |
| Subject: |
what do you suggest, Mark? |
There's a question that all of these "anti-cult" writings are never able to answer, IMHO. It concerns how we should approach the Enlightenment process in an ethical fashion. Writers such as Caplan, and many others, are usually quite articulate in explaining what they see as the shortcomings of many spiritual teachers, and students, from an ethical perspective. They are quite a bit less forthcoming when it comes to proposing a specific ethical approach as an alternative.
In the last couple of paragraphs, Caplan acknowledges that there IS such a thing as spiritual attainment--that it is NOT all metaphysical snake oil--but then leaves us high and dry when it comes to recommending an ethical approach to dealing with matters of spiritual attainment. She explains the problem but offers no solution. Since spiritual attainment exists, the problem won't go away just by ignoring it.
I am reminded of something that Dr. Timothy Leary once said, I think quite perceptively--if someone recommends that you avoid drugs, what do they recommend as an alternative?
Rama--having had his own legal troubles with drugs in his younger days--would have recommended meditation as an alternative to drugs. But what if meditation, like drugs, also leads to a certain dependency? Is there a third alternative that is superior to either?
You've obviously spent many years thinking about these things, Mark. I'm hoping that you have come up with some positive ideas that you can share with us.
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