JavaJane

http://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/1/ just go that site, old man... Not sure if it's an active link since I posted it from the iPhone... Guess I'll see when I hit post! Cool, that worked... This isn't the iTunes store, just the audiodharma website.

I have been listening to some podcasts from a guy named Gil Fronsdahl - you can find them by going to the iTunes store and searching under audiodharma. Very interesting... I am really interested in the attitude of living at peace within yourself. The other thing I like is that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion, and can be practiced in accord with whatever ideas you hold about God. The meditation part has proved to be helpful for me as well. Great topic. And I see what you are saying. All religions and beliefs can easily be usd against others if a person does not act out of love.

One other thought is that someone who does adhere to the Buddhist belief system would not try to condemn someone else for the bad things that happen to them, because in their viewpoint it is wrong to cause suffering for someone else. They also would understand that the "bad karma" could come from something in a previous incarnation of the individual, which takes the condemnation out of the situation... Did that make sense?

Funny, I've been delving into some Buddhist beliefs lately out of curiosity... The whole idea of Karma is also caught up with the idea of reincarnation... so if something bad happens to you it is not necessarily the fruit of something you did in this lifetime, but something that may have happened in a previous life. The purpose of these bad things happening from a Buddhist standpoint would be the learning we can gain from them. By dealing with these obstacles and learning from them we can gain a greater understanding which eventually leads to "enlightenment." Now, I am not a Buddist by any standard... But their belief of Karma isn't the exact same thing as TWI's believing = receiving. It's not always instantaneous. And the bad things that happen are looked upon as a learning experience to better ourselves instead of as a way to tell if we did the right thing or the wrong thing. I find the whole thing completely fascinating. **hit edit, and then decided not to add anything after all...

When I was still in, my family was made mark and avoid. They pressured me to get out... told me horrible stories about the abuses in TWI. Told me I was brainwashed, controlled, etc... I would try and explain that I believed them, but that where I was was a nice place (which was true!) My mother told me that I wasn't speaking for myself, that I was only speaking what The Way told me to speak. She told me that I was being controlled. This is one of the things that led to me cutting off all contact with them when it was suggested I do so by my leadership... I felt like my mother and father DIDN'T RESPECT ME. That they thought I was an idiot. That they didn't believe I was capable of thinking for myself. I was over at my mom's recently, and was talking about someone I know who is still in. My mom told me, "Wayfers are stupid. They have no brain. They are incapable of thinking for themselves!" It still hurt to hear her say that. And then I realized something... I LEFT OF MY OWN ACCORD. It was my OWN DECISION to leave. I didn't get kicked out or marked and avoided like my parents. I made the decision on my own. Even while in the cult, I HAD FREE WILL. Was I manipulated? Yes. Did I believe a lot of lies? Yes. And when I finally saw it for what it was, I LEFT. I told my mom, "People in the Way still have their own minds. They can still think for themselves. They are just influenced by The Way... If they couldn't think for themselves, if they had 'no brains' then The Way wouldn't be losing followers left and right. People can make up their own minds, and they can see the hypocrisy if they choose to open their eyes." Therein lies the rub - THEY have to CHOOSE for THEMSELVES.... and by telling them that they can't think for themselves you are implying that they are powerless, weakminded people... and it doesn't help them. It only diminishes you in their eyes. Walk carefully with those who are still in. They are condemned enough by the TWI leadership machine. They are guilted enough. They are disrespected enough. The best thing you can do for those who are in is show them there is another way, a way out. Show them that TWI's lies about what happens when you leave are false. Show them that the adversary will not send devil spirits to possess you if you leave. Show them they can be free and happy and blessed, and that God will not desert them. Just give them love without condemnation and conditions. They don't get that within TWI. I realized during that same conversation with my mother that all those conversations where she told me how controlled I was, how brainwashed I was, how weak I was... It helped to drive me away from her and further into TWI. Not that any of that is my mother's fault. It's not... TWI is solely to blame for the schism in my family... but those conversations didn't help heal it.

I would tell them to ask themselves if they are really truly happy with being in twi... Are they living the "more abundant life" and do they know of anyone who is? Is every day sweeter than the one before? Is fellowship a burden or a blessing? Is the love of God evident? Are they learning anything? And, if things have changed for the better, how come no one has ever apologized to those who were hurt? ***edite for spelling.

I love it!

One of my siblings had a pretty spooky experience at Rome City growing up - he saw the woodgrain next to his bed contort into a face that started laughing at him. He was only around 8-9 years old when it happened. Who knows what that was. I can tell you one thing, though... It seems to me that any Root Locale probably had a lot of nasty energy hanging around after all the abuse that happened to people in those locations. If you believe in that stuff... I know the top level of the PWA, and the BRC creeped me out more than a little bit.

Chockfull, remember... The secret of her success is the secrecy of her moves..... And OldSkool - the REAL reason you started this thread is just because you like that picture so much, isn't it??

All I could think when I read this is "short- man syndrome." Get it? "Grow" out of the arrogant/condescending streak?? (no offense to any short men out there...) When I met Chav0u$+ie, he seemed more like your typical neutered male Rosalie lap-dog type... Hey, come to think of it, Rupp's pretty short, too. That's why L0ngley won't be president... Too tall.

Third page!!! Yes!!! Thank you, Thomas!

I will be so glad when we get to the third page on this thread so I don't have to ever ever see that leech picture again... I know....

I used to wonder why there were no great healings in the PFAL books like this one that were done by VP except in India. I thought it had something to do with an abundance of unbelief in our modern society. Now I am thinking it had more to do with it being a lot harder to debunk claims made in the far off exotic land of India. I was soooooo naive!

True, Squirrel, true...

ROTFL!!! As if they didn't have enough to be paranoid about!!! Here's a hint, staffers... Your bosses don't get revelation from God! Nope... They are watching andistening to EVERYTHING!!!

I always just assumed there were a bunch of tattletales all over the place... Hmmmmm.

I wonder how much of HQ is bugged...

This explains a lot.

I just want to clarify - I'm not blaming my parents at all - they did the best they could to be good parents, and they love us kids a lot. I'm just sorting through a lot of thoughts about how I ended up the way I did... Why did I stick around in TWI and buy their stuff so easily, and then become so very very committed to it? So many peices of the puzzle to still fit together.

Yes. A lot closer.

OS, I was thinking more along the lines of a dirty stinky gym sock....