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Comments interpolated in the paste if the original below
'TM-Free Blog is an educative tool for those determined to live Transcendental–Meditation- and cult-free. It is the project of a small group of former TM Teachers and veterans.'
Even though I came across this blog only a couple of days ago, I think I qualify as a veteran, though not a teacher.
'We intend this blog to be a resource for people considering starting the practice of TM, as well as those leaving -- or who have already left -- any of the Transcendental Meditation Organizations founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. We also offer information we hope will help therapists understand their TM-affected clients.'
Fair enough. I'm a little cynical about therapy - what with the repressed memory thing, and stuff like that - but no doubt there are some good therapists.
'Trained in a variety of professions, coming from differing backgrounds, we contributors embrace a variety of viewpoints and disagree freely on the best ways to support those who use us as a resource. But we remain united in our support for the community we serve.'
I'm happy with that. Some of us have gone on to other eastern practices, some, I suppose, back to the religion from whence they came, and some - me for one - have decided that they are better off without religion.
But anyone who has gone deep down the rabbit hole of TM, and can or may come out the other side, has my support.
'Our experience tells us that leaving TM challenged us in all areas of life, including friendships, love relationships, finances, community, law, spirituality, recreation, physical well-being, and mental well-being. We hope to offer insight and support in all these areas -- from our differing perspectives.'
I'm not quite happy with the phrasing here. I didn't feel challenged in all those areas, though certainly in some of them. Others may have felt challenged in different areas to those that particularly affected me.
I think this needs rephrasing, to better reflect that different people have different problems. The last couple of lines to some degree address what I'm trying to say, but I'm still not happy with it.
Rather than come up with something off the top of my head, though, I'll give it some thought, and then make a suggestion, perhaps.
It might be something simple, though, like 'our various experiences tell us that people can be challenged in may areas of life, including some or all of ...... but that is a bit clumsy.
It shouldn't, I think, be hard to get a consensus here.
'Our postings may contain humor, at times, directed toward what we perceive as the hypocrisy of public figures – including the Maharishi. But we intend to always respect the experiences and feelings of individuals who practice TM – or any spiritual path or discipline.'
I refer 'sympathise with' to 'respect'. One of the better things to come out of Christianity, in my view, is the phrase 'hate the sin
I seem to have run out of space. There was more than this.
Looking to see if I can get it back on screen again, else I'll recreate the rest of the post tomorrow.
David
To continue
I refer 'sympathise with' to 'respect'. One of the better things to come out of Christianity, in my view, is the phrase 'hate the sin, not the sinner'. I can sympathise with, and empathise with, those who have fallen into other traps with other experiences. Those who have fallen for Jim Jones, the Branch Davidians, Raelians...the list goes on - but I don't respect the belief. Or the experiences. However, while I think that some have jumped from the frying pan into the fire, and others may feel that I have become over cynical about alleged spiritual experiences, I still feel a bond with those who have been led down the Rabbit Hole - and in our own individual ways dug ourselves out of it. I fear that many of my contemporaries in the movement are still trapped.
'We intend to shed light on aspects of TM life that the TM Organizations have concealed from the public.'
Good!
'In summary, we offer our forum as a safe place to share our points of view for the benefit of others -- and ourselves.'
Also good!
I hope I'm not being too presumptuous as a very new discoverer of this blog to offer these thoughts and suggestions.
I've read most of the site now, and, as I say, feel a bond with the contributers
David B
I think it's fine.....I remember hours of meetings with my 'group' on teacher training formulating a 'question' for Maharishi and hours in the class meetings with hundreds of ladies formulating the exact phrasing and re-phrasing of that question that Maharishi never actually answered directly but we accepted the answer and convinced ourselves we understood why he answered it so 'vaguely'.
So the Mission Statement is just fine - because you are bringing up some bad mojo analyzing the phrasing. Don't get defensive about this but you sound too much like the MOVEMENT.
I enjoy reading TM-Free Blog. It is quite refreshing whether you are a former, current, or latter meditator. It's the ideal site for the non-joiner.
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