Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Someone was talking to me about the site the other day and said the coolest thing:

I may not agree with everything on the website, but it always makes me stop and examine what I DO believe. At various times I'll laugh, or get pissed off, or sad. But no matter what, it always makes me think.

I freakin' LOVED that. Maybe because it's the exact opposite of Zombie-Think. And the point isn't to get a consensus or anything. There's certainly some stuff on the site that I don't particularly agree with. But that's also a step closer toward healing for all of us. Allowing that we can all have different opinions or perspectives - and not have to disqualify a different opinion by disparaging the person (as we learned to do in the group): "They think that because they are not as evolved." or "Only a true disciple can see a true master." Remember when we thought like that? It's hard to believe now. It's like trying to squeeze your mind back into a sixth grade mentality.

But as long as people are inspired to discover their own thoughts and feelings, then this thing is succeeding as far as I'm concerned. And thank you for sharing things like this with me. It helps.

Updated:
I received a quick email response to this post from Dr. Datanah that made me laugh (again) and so I wanted to append it to this. She writes:

Far more insidious than "Only a true disciple can see a true master." was the one I heard often:

" If you don't listen to the Master's guidance you will miss your chance at enlightenment and have to come back for many many more lifetimes".

Contrast this to the Buddhist Boddisattva vow that promises "Sentient beings are numberless, I promise to liberate them,"......meaning, 'out of compassion, I vow not to enter nirvana until all beings have entered nirvana.' This means the Bodhisattva practices not for her or his enlightenment alone, but for the enlightenment of all beings. The Bodhisattva vows to remain in this world of ignorance and confusion,and vows to be willing to experience whatever living beings experience, until all beings are liberated.

For me this is another example of how Angelo's teachings were problematic. I think he had a very "New age-y" idea of Buddhism....it was cool to teach people to be awakened, but he never really taught or honored the true teachings of Buddhism about suffering, and they way he dissed most people as being "dead" and not worth our time, I certainly didn't see him being an example of "compassion in action", (very basic Buddhist teaching), either. So I'm not sure what he saw when he said he looked in the mirror and saw the Buddha.

Of course we can flip the saying to "Only a false disciple can see a false master." or how about "Only a true disciple can see a false master."

Something to think about......

See? This is what I mean. I know that I read that and start thinking about how the concept of Namaste can co-exist with an individual's drive toward personal enlightenment. I guess freedom for me right now is more about the questions than the answers.