posted July 30, 2004 04:10 PM         

Can't help it folks...I was born to be a devil's advocate. Not only are there two sides to a coin, there are four or more sides to a house...

posted July 30, 2004 06:32 PM         

No--just pointing out an alternative point of view. There are as many points of view as there are people on the land...and all are valid in the eyes of the beholder.

Sweetie, it would take a lot more than that to upset me. Don't worry.

posted July 30, 2004 10:32 PM           

I grew-up near there...and since the Smithsonians're free, you can guess where almost every single school field trip went.
I know the Natural History and Air and Space Museums like the back of my hand.

I was still up there last year for that summer's Folk Life Festival. I don't remember what all was featured except that...gah...I forgot if it was "Scotland" or "Celtic Cultures" that drew me in.
There was some really great live music, and I kept dragging poor Jase and Andy (used to post here) back to the big tent to see the shows.
That is to say, if you ever get the chance to see one of the Festivals, it's definitely worth it (and always free ).

posted August 01, 2004 12:07 AM         

I hear you. I know exactly to which you refer. It's not quite the vocabulary, nor the simplicity versus complexity, is it?

It is what also disturbs me. People talking of things hidden, things that must remain whispered or veiled. It makes me laugh.

I know these people do have something truly precious and of extreme value to share, if only they could just get on with it without all the mystique, theory or metaphysical nonsense!

All this talk of those who are enlightened and those who are not. Tell me what practical use is it? How does it help someone spiritually other than to make them feel inferior? Who, or what, does it profit?

You know what's really bad about it all? It's caaaatttttccching folks. It's a prophet pretentious virus!

Most people when standing in the presence of a truly enlightened master would get a big shock. They would realize pretty quickly that their level of enlightement would be identical to my own. Not quite reaching the level of his big toe.

I sincerely do not mean to offend, nor to cause embarrassment. I'm just simply stating my own interpretation of what I think you are saying Quicksilver. I'm a sag, and according to Maklhouf, a typical example of my species. I hope he means I'm plain speaking. Someone drop something on head please, should I become infected.

Gia

posted August 01, 2004 10:04 AM         

Well said. As I stated before, no one has a monopoly on enlightenment.

Chances are, we wouldn't even recognize what we seem to think is a 'truly enlightened' person. Could be the janitor at school. Could be a business man you pass every day. Could be anyone.

Because...

"Those who know do not talk. Those who talk, do not know."
--Tao Te Ching

Personally I don't like to bandy about the word 'enlightenment.' Its very nature almost implies secret societies where people feel superior to others, and no soul on earth has more worth than any other.

posted August 01, 2004 12:21 PM         

And juniperb, to what you said below:

*******************************************
Being my interpetation only, but I fit that into four catagories.

1. I wanna tell but you must you cajole me into releasing the info.

2. I don`t really know but I wish to sound as tho I do.

3. I`m uncertain if i have the correct info/meaning so I won`t reveal what I have yet.

4. It is something that you should go within to know and understand.

If none of the above work for me and I genuinely care, I simply ask why.

I`m aware my opinion only address`s that one example/concern. I uess I`m saying I`m responsible to ascertain the meaning and if it`s not clear address it or bypass it without finding anything perturbing in it
******************************************

Reasons #1 and #2 are pretty immature, I think. (I mean, not on your part- you're just stating the reasons. I mean, on the part of the speaker). As for reason #3, I feel that if one is not sure what he or she is talking about, they should probably not be talking. Or if they are talking, they should make it clear that they really don't know and it's just "theory". I have no problem when people can admit they might be fallible. In fact, I have more respect for someone who can just come out and say "Look, I might be full of it, but here's what I think..." As for reason #4, this is the trickiest one. This is the one that really gets me. On the face of it, it sounds reasonable. But to just leave it at that seems to be a diservice to those who are really trying to understand. Yes, we may all come to have different interpretations of what we know from within but why not share these with one another? Perhaps it will help those who are not sure what they think to figure it out.... I am not arguing with you at all, by the way, I am agreeing with the explanations you put forth, actually. But I am also responding to them. You said that when all else fails, you just ask. And I do. I do ask and many times the answers are purposefully (I feel) convoluted. This is what I find most frustrating of all. If there are certain people who have more information that I do, or information that might lead to greater understanding on some level, let's get it out and get on with it, you know? I can take it. I can take some of the most far out ideas you've ever heard of. So I just get frustrated when certain people hold back. And even moreso when it seems to be for reasons not completely aboveboard.....