Comments on The Peaceful Self.com: Does Adyashanti Cherish Illusions?

Hey Nahnni! "Again, I wonder what, indeed, separa...

2009-10-22T07:42:01.804-04:00

Hey Nahnni!

"Again, I wonder what, indeed, separates us and what brings us together in a common and wholesome bond or dooms us in following the pied piper? Reason? Insight? How far does the collective go until every individual arrives at the reasonable conclusion?"

hmmm...not sure. Maybe when we realize the pied piper has nothing we need?

Thanks!
mikeS

I think it is a fine line, or even a precarious on...

2009-10-21T13:13:48.602-04:00

I think it is a fine line, or even a precarious one, between standing apart and not standing apart. I think it depends on circumstance and motivation. Some struggle to follow or to even stand apart and there is a consequence either way, both socially and individually.

The pitiful thing about the Sedona fiasco, to my mind, is that those involved wanted someone else to tell them some deep pathway, as though the "leader" had some great insight into the "Truth" unto himself and which only he could impart. We look back and are appalled at the Jim Jones insanity and yet, on a smaller scale where tragedies occur like the one in Sedona, it is the same story only played out differently. The followers followed and the leader led and no one considered the abdication of reason in the process. And as you say and Salerno alludes as well: "[the]delusional mindset is contagious, since the message is passed from one idolized messenger to another."

Again, I wonder what, indeed, separates us and what brings us together in a common and wholesome bond or dooms us in following the pied piper? Reason? Insight? How far does the collective go until every individual arrives at the reasonable conclusion? The Salem Witch Trials are a perfect example of insanity that ended by the realization it all was, indeed, insane.

Thanks, Mike, for bringing thoughts to the table as you do.

Blessings~

Nahnni, I suppose it's probably best to not "stan...

2009-10-20T07:38:44.359-04:00

Nahnni,

I suppose it's probably best to not "stand apart." Maybe that way you neither gain followers nor become one. I wonder if that's possible, to never stand apart? To NOT be a follower or a leader?

Read Salerno's blog. Sad how pitiful we are when we attempt to stand apart.

Thanks,
mikeS

Thought you'd enjoy Steve Salerno's latest. Sunda...

2009-10-20T00:04:40.105-04:00

Thought you'd enjoy Steve Salerno's latest. Sunday, 18 October. I just read it.

http://shambook.blogspot.com/

"In illusion what is true? Illusion is from the ou...

2009-10-19T15:14:28.342-04:00

"In illusion what is true?
Illusion is from the outset true.
In illusion what is manifested?
The very illusion itself is manifestation.
If this is so,
then one can never be apart from illusion?
No matter how you seek illusion,
you won't find it."
- Ts'ao Shan (840-901)

What is the hope in this Truth? That life may or may not be meaningless only because Death exists to challenge all of our notions?

I was thinking about those who recently died in Sedona and who had paid $9,000. only to discover their own deaths awaited them in a make-shift sweat lodge. Now there are lawsuits pending to hold someone monetarily accountable for the illusion the now dead believed was another step in the road to this Truth, and to serve the living as balm for suffering the loss.

Perhaps Truth, itself, is the illusion? Carry water from the well, either way, as is said. I get the impression that the quest for Truth is the quest to break free from carrying the water from the well. And for a fee and for an hour or two, one gets to believe that's True.

"Whenever two or more are gathered..." does it then separate the truth from illusion? There's always mob mentality to consider. So, if you stand apart you either gain followers and start a new religion or you get burned at the stake. Somewhere between truth and illusion, there is a middle? In the middle, one is just as equally in danger of being duped or disengaged. It seems a double/tripled edged sword no matter which way you look at it.

Maybe the Truth is how good one is at making money off illusions. Maybe that is the lesson no one ever sees. Beg, borrow, earn, slave, steal or impart wisdom, it is all about money.

Good post.

Blessings~