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Should 'initiates be prepared?

To: alt.magick.tantra
From: rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard)
Subject: Re: Should 'initiates " be prepared?
Date: 05 Nov 1999 06:35:01 GMT

catherine yronwode  writes:

>Sukrta wrote:
>>
     <>
>> 
>> > Are you implying a form of  unconscious
>> >compulsion in the student?  
>
>No. Not at all. I am saying that sexual predators often choose
>religious garb as a way to gain the confidence of their victims. 

I have observed that magickal or mystical garb can serve the 
same purpose.

>> > Others say that, if a guru is 'real
>> >guru', they will know of the students inner compulsions and
>> >not allow them to be misguided by them.
>
>Blah blah blah. 
>
>> >(the term 'real guru' suggests the opposite  -  "unreal guru'
>> >Maya ! All is Maya !)
>
>:-)

"Maya" can be translated as "the great illusion through which 
consciousness manifests itself as matter in continuous flux".
In a sense we all are maya, because we are in transition 
continuously.  This transition makes us vulnerable and open 
to manipulation.  Maya does not always land upon its feet.

     <>

>If your assumptions about how random people will intersect 
>with supposed gurus cannot encompass *reality*, then of what 
>practical use are your assumptions?  
>
>In my experience, what often happens after i say things such as those
>above (note that i am not assuming that this will be your reaction, and
>i hope it will NOT be) those who have had "fortunate births" into
>trustworthy families and are thus primed to accept the trustworthiness
>of gurus as surrogate parents will begin giving me advice or put-downs
>right out of thee Hindu caste system -- the whole "your unfortunate
>birth which means that you don't automatically trust or accept your guru
>indicates that you were bad in a previous lifetime because nobody has
>such a childhood unless they DESERVE it through past karma." 
>
>And at that point i dismiss the entire schtick as an endless replay of
>the "blame the victim" caste system that i am working against on all
>planes, not merely on the religio-mystical one. 
>
>'Nuff said. 

I'd only add that an individual's *first* untrustworthy experience can 
be both educational and unfortunate.

>> And, of course, there's no reason to assume that one's guru is going 
>> to be any of these things.  
>
>I did not say that. What i tried to convey is that automatic trust in a
>guru is one major cause of problems among disciples. 

'Nuff said.  Best wishes.

Richard Ballard  CNA4  KD0AZ

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