From: raj@globe1.att.com (Rajendra P Sharma)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Building up ego with answers to questions?
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:28:07 GMT
Organization: AT&T


> >>3) If someone asked you to honestly state your own current level of spiritual 
> >>   understanding or realization, what would be your answer?  

> >Be careful when answering certain questions like this.  Why?

> Yeah, why?  Oh, I guess you are getting to that...


Because, one may not know the answer, and believe that one does.
         Clearly, this will cause difficulty to one.
         But "answering [and not really knowing]" causes difficulties
              to others.

And, what difference does it make to one, who is poor, to know
     how rich others are? Except to make that fellow more miserable.


> >1. I have experienced such and such a state and or feeling so I am at
> >   this level or attainment or realization.

> >First of all, why should anyone care if you attained such and such a state.

> Obviously they care, they asked!

	
	So, someone is [really] HELPING them to point out the
	    "very common mistake" many make.
	
        [One is also free to "reject" any answer one gets.]


> In general, people asking "What is your current level of spiritual
> realization?" or more specifically "Have you been in state n?" fall into a
> few general categories.  Let me try to describe them (and why I think your
> admonishment is baseless fluffy-bunny crystal chakra foo-foo) with an
> illustration of an imaginary world...

	
	Spiritual pursuit has NOTHING to do with imagination.
	Like other faculties, imagination is also a hinerance.
	
	[Refer - the definition of "spirit."]
	

> >    --Suppose you only think you attained a state of samadhi or whatever, but
> >      you really didn't.
> >    
> >      Well, telling the world or others that yeah I attained this state 
> >      described by such and such only builds up your ego.  It does no good to
> >      others by saying this.

> Hogwash!

	
	Yeah! OK. [but surely this "hogwash" seems to be "....." for one
	           to respond to it.]
	

> >--Description and analysis of an experience is fine, but saying since this
> >  sounds like samadhi or whatever, so I have experienced it can be harmful.

> Baseless.  Harmful to what?  Say what you think, people who are interested
> will listen, those who aren't, won't.  

	
	Harmful to those truly interested in "Samadhi."
	

> >--Comparison of experience is fine, to see if you are following the road map,
> >  but saying that you are at a certain stage may really be fooling yourself.

> Is this the map that has chakras all over it?  Or were you speaking about
> paths in general?
 
	
	Paths in general.


> >A final example I'll give is with the opening of the chakras.

> Oh no you won't! [Chakra example deleted.]


	Oh yes, one can, if one so desires.
	
	
> >In summary, if you have a certain experience, be careful of your interpretation
> >of it.  You may be fooling yourself.


> >P.S. We all do this.  At least I do.  I'm sure not perfect...

> At least you do?  Then stop, if it bothers you.  I don't "do this", but
> if it lends you some comfort that others share your faults, continue 
> believing whatever you desire, like similar types of self-gratification
> though, such beliefs and practices are best indulged in private.


	Goes without saying, really, that one goes on believing what one
	     believes. Let one take care of oneself; and let others take
	     care of themselves.
	

	Thanks.
	
	
----raj
Newsgroups: soc.bi