😀

Regarding this discussion thread (this post may be out of order, apparently comments are not allowed to be placed further along) – Eckhart Tolle is the L.Ron Hubbard for the 2000’s. People who thought Ron was brilliant and insightful will like him; those that thought Hubbard wrote a confusing mish-mash of gibberish will not. Personally, I think Ekhart Tolle is to be avoided, same thing for Byron Katie and “The Work” which seems to take only select pieces of Scientology philosophy and expand upon it, taking it in a harmful direction.

Just as LRH put mythical “body thetans” on people, then charged to get rid of them, Eckhart Tolle gives us an unproven “pain-body” experience, then tells us how to ‘correct’ it (among other things) while racking in the bucks from book sales, lectures and seminars. Byron Katie and her actions are downright dangerous. Both are based on earlier pop-psychologists, who took their stuff from even earlier philosophies. Tolle took ideas from EST (Werner Erhard).

I feel it’s ok to look into new and interesting ideas and schools of thought, but when they have dangerous cult-like properties and insidious means to trap you and subtly influence you into doing things that are to your detriment (disconnecting from family, spending funds you cannot afford, changing key parts of your personality, etc.) it’s best to be cautious. But if you must have a guru, there are plenty out there to choose from.

There is a lot of info out there if you research it – this site was sounding the alarm about these two over 10 years ago (in 2005): Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle discussion at cult education network:
https://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,12906

Wow, My 2 Cents. I’ll never read that cliche again without thinking of shimmering walls. How nice.
This deep and now polite discourse of yours and Brian’s and the other thinkers, seekers, and philosophizers that have weighed in on Vedic wisdom, Gurus and meditation is stimulating to say the least.
I liked when LRH suggested that given more points to view your space expanded or something. (I love saying that and not having to preface this with, ‘it’s my memory and my take, please don’t KR me for verbal data.’ And not having to look it up and give the exact reference to save myself from a trip to the Ethics Officer.) Getting more viewpoints gives me the gifts of thoughtfulness outside of my experience. I feel more spacious because I have read of your moment outside of normal. It is a gift to read about someone’s unique experience about consciousness and the world around us.
As an ex-scilon I am still looking around me at the real world and seeking to find where I fit spiritually. It’s a calm slow thing, greatly helped by the discussions of this group.
Part of my freedom from the cult is the realization that I really joined up to answer some of these spiritual questions. Interestingly, though I got “certainty” on my spiritual nature, I did not get data about spirituality beyond the cherch’s view.
Thanks for the book recommendations.
My freedom is chucking my former spiritual “certainty” and embracing the world I see each day, the people I speak to and hear from and learn from by experiencing and assuming nothing.
This day has started out with your wonderful shimmering walls.

Hi Chris!

Yeah, I’m still “peeling and sticking.” You are so funny!

Good to see you, old friend. 🙂

When I got into Scientology and for decades thereafter, no one ever tried to find my ruin or “emotional turmoil.” No one ever sold me on Scientology. I never found any of it confusing. I never gave up my intellectual integrity or critical faculties. I did, however, give and receive auditing, and found that it works when done correctly.

You were never in Scientology. You have no experience with auditing, especially correctly done auditing. Your criticism is therefore group think on your part.

BTW! My Two Cents, I have recommended these books only in answer to your question about these two men’s death.

In Autobiography you will find your answers to your question.

OT phenomena is explained in this book. There are individuals who are true OTs.

I’ve not found this much information in any other book regarding spiritual powers.

It’s the stuff stuff Ron marketed.

Your question regarding Ramakrishna and Yogananda’s death is answered there.

I did not recommend this book just because. There is a reason. It’s in answer to your question.

Jeff TINGLEFF,

“If you take this level of confusing-ness and add the certainty of the group-think, you have the perfect recipe for mind-fucking the victims.”

Perfect! Your comment makes perfect sense.

I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s the most sane statement, imo, being remarked upon this article. I’m with you and TC.

” And come to think of it, the goal of Scientology is basically the playing of a better game.”

Hi Marildi old friend. Still peeling and sticking the bumper stickers I see. Hope you are well and that life is smooth.

+1