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"What Is Spirituality Post-TM?"
In Theravadan Buddhism there were entire classes of
questions that the Buddha refused to answer, merely saying that the answers would not hasten your way on the path: Are there gods? Have I lived before? Are there
evolved beings in addition to humans? and the like.
Post-TM, this is the approach that I've chosen. I've put the
entire question of my spirituality on hold for a few years while I let the
post-TM dust settle and reexamine what are my personal beliefs -- and
which are alien artifacts implanted during my time in TM.
For twenty-odd years I confused "spirituality" with a not-unpleasant dizzy
sensation that I paid thousands of dollars to experience twice a day. I confused "ethics and morality" with doing whatever it took to get the money for my next TM course. Someone
might lie dying on the sidewalk in front of me, but not only would I not
stoop to help him, I'd be careful to not even touch him for fear his
"stress" would pollute me.
That was the spirituality I was taught in the TM movement.
These days I'm somewhat less into exotic experiences between my ears, and
rather more into old-fashioned "service." That's what trancenet.net is all about. Service and making amends to the same people I once so disdained if they refused to learn TM.
I figure if there is a god, and
he or she doesn't value my service over my meditation-induced decreased blood lactate levels
or increased alpha waves, I probably wouldn't be comfortable in his or her
heaven anyway.
In a few years, I may feel differently. But for right now, this is comfortable.
John M. Knapp, Editor/Publisher, trancenet.net
(c)1997 John M. Knapp. All rights reserved.
Member of the Internet Link Exchange
Please send questions, comments, problems, and letters to the editor to jmknapp53@gmail.com. All editorial
correspondence becomes the property of trancenet.net -- unless requested otherwise -- and may be edited for purposes of clarity and space.
Except where noted, entire contents Copyright ©1995-1998 trancenet.net Society.
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The opinions and viewpoints of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of trancenet.net, its editorial staff, nor trancenet.net Society, its board, officers, employees, volunteers.
Neither trancenet.net Society nor its editorial staff conclude that any group discussed on this site is necessarily cultic in nature. We provide suppressed and alternative information
and champion your right make informed decisions for yourself.
Copyrighted works are reprinted with permission as noted or are made available under the "fair use" exception of U.S. copyright law, for research and educational purposes only.
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