Letters to the Editor
kenkapkk
Published Letters: 131 Editor's Choice: 13
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Sadly predictable
[Read the article: The atheist delusion]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The arena of religion and spirituality is an area that Salon is particulatly weak. Whereas this magazine is highly sophisticated in its political and social thought, it is arrested in its development in this realm. It constantly seeks out in my opinion Kindegarten grade thinkers (Metaphor please)who dwell either in the atheistic rant of the intellect (Hitchens, Dawkins) or those who explain theology from a vantage point of the personality ego. Rarely, if ever, does Salon seem to seek out or comprehend who have "solved the problem" because they understand that the word "God" is a linguistic tool for the phenomenon of Consciousness, both immanent and transcendent.
The complexity of the *investigation* of Consciousness and particulatrly our OWN Infinite consciousness is observable, experiential, and to a limited degree explainable. Ultimately it is not, but in terms of human interaction enough can be eludicated to make sense. Therefore, paradoxically, there is a place where for example the non theism of the Tibetam Buddhist and the theism of the mystic Catholic can meet. Unfortunately, the awareness and focus of most of the people who read Salon, so sophisticated in other areas, falls apart in this type of discussion. Basically because Salon is in denial of the deep mystical and tends to draw readers who also reflect that denial. So one would probably not see an interview with Eckhart Toll (no hits on an archive search), Michael Newton (Journey of Souls-no hits), or Eric Pearl (the Reconnection).
Similarly, Salon probably would not investigate the scientific and extensively medically documented healings of Bruno Groning, a German healer of extraordinary ability whose main work was done post WWII, and whose presence and energy is still available in an extraordinarily palpable manner today, almost 50 years after his death with no ties to any organized religion (He was a universalist). Its like if a tree falls...
Salon has a sign here that says, "New Age not allowed" but then seeks to explore the terrain anyway, with hands tied behind the back and blindfolded. Beyond the cynicism rampant here about *spiritual* investigation lies very grounded people who have come to a consensus through EXPERIENCE, not "faith" or "belief". Except that true faith is born of experience, not some childish notion of a leap into the utter unknown.
Years ago I wrote to the Phiadelphia Inquirer when they ran a series on "what do you believe" and they printed my response which was : The question is not whether you BELIEVE in "God", the issue is whether you have EXPERIENCED "God". Now because religious thought has so dominated the arena for centuries, it is only recently that in the mainstream or more expanded culture that a mature realization of the nature of Consciousness as the ground of being and the relationship of the infinite self to the finite or personality-ego aspect of this infinite ground is being developed. Not by philosophising about it, but by experiencing it- within, without, and AS one's own authentic self and source. (Gee, you mean its who I really am? Darn that Ramana Marharishi for asking, then ANSWERING that question with the radiance of his being.)
I had a Guru. He came to me in my dreams. I awoke in ecstatic trance from his presence. I had hundreds of them, about 100 that were unusually powerful, like Jacob in the Bible. I still have them, even though he died 17 years ago. They were/are prophetic,directive, guided, and creative and amazingly powerful, and I now realize that what I supposed was encased in a form was actually my own infinte self within as the true guide. After 35 years I know just enough to know that the discussion here is 95% in the wrong ballpark.
Yogananda and others call true meditation "spiritual science" because it involves a theory and methodology that has to be validated by experience and is testable and observable. Not by the mechanisms of the material world in some fool's game (a la Uri Geller) but by the awakening of one's own consciousness. That's why its called "realization". In his book, Autobiography of a Yogi, he reconciles miracles with Einstein's theory of relativity. Most sophisticated spirituality now is drawing upon quantum physics. There is a reason in the Bhagavad Gita a chapter is titled "The Knower and the Field".
I suggest most of you read Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It pretty much sums up the shadow play and lack of connection to the depth and reality of what is really going on, and the thrashing around in the intellect that unfortunately is endemic to this type of discussion here. I respect Salon's readership greatly in other areas, but in this one, sadly (or not) most are clueless. As Kabir said, "I laugh when the fish in the ocean says it is thirsty."
I would implore Salon in dealing with this subject to really seek out more mature and experienced thinkers, since it insists on constantly bringing it up. But if that's its weakness, so be it. One can only see from one's perspective, and if the range of what has value is outside of your vision, then you assume what you see is what is there. So OK, I love Salon for other things it gives me. Generally, just not here.