Posts by Fleur

Undercover, I still tend to think of Red Cross as a religiously affiliated charity; though that may be a carry over from dub-dom because I can't find anything on their website about direct links to any religions...

But the bottom line on Red Cross to me is that there have been scandals as to money not going where it was supposed to in the past and I, like Elsewhere prefer to donate to charities that have earned high ratings as to their finantial reports by watchdog groups and then give, and hope for the best that they are sending it where it needs to go. I know that a lot of wonderful people volunteer to the Red Cross though, and I have given to them in the past and will likely do so again in the future because they are very often first on the scene during tragedies like the tsunami...

One of my favorites at the moment; Americares. Because they have low overhead, a small staff, and can really make the money go way farther than a lot of others I've looked into.

When it comes to non-disaster giving, I prefer to donate gifts/handmade items to the hospitals of my choice because you know for sure that the children are getting what you send.

I've a lot of experience in the past three years or so dealing with various non-profits and you do need to research how much of their spending goes to advertising and fundraising, and then do what you feel comfortable with.

cheers to all the giving souls out there...

essie

26

JW's protected from Tsunami by going to the meeting... from bethel

by Max Divergent in

jw
friends

came across this from one of the "faithfull".... now just watch out now you inactive ones there's a tsunami looking for you, so just be sure you "keep you eyes on the prize ocean".

just spoke to [some bethalite at a bethhell near you] last night.. she was telling us of the news regarding our brothers and sisters in the tsunami region.

in one area all the brothers were at the meeting when it struck, except for one sister who was home sick and a 6 member family of inactive ones who were caught up in it because they hadn't gone to the meeting.

Fleur

Hmmm. I wonder what JW's would say to the man that I saw on the news the other day who said that his family was saved because they went to church? (not KH). Would they say that satan protected the man because his family was engaging in false worship?

and...oh my...do my eyes deceive me, is that REALLY Uncle Bruce???

I'm still hanging out in the phone box, Brucie...and have thought of you often! SO happy to see you old friend!

hugs

essie

(same old essie, lost the old account password)

69

I'm not a Buddhist, but...............PART 2

by Dansk in

jw
friends

as i can't post to the original thread started by nicolaou, i'm doing so here:.

hi fleur,but the part that really, well, frankly creeped me out for lack of a better term, is that he left his wife and child, then starved himself nearly to death before he realized that this wasn't the way to go, and he lived as a homeless person, begging food as he went on his path to enlightenment.

that's a rather simplified version of events.

Fleur

Ian, as we say over here on this side of the atlantic, "you da man!" LOL :)

No, you don?t have to be a Buddhist or Hindu to find the "True Path" (and I don?t actually consider Ramana as the archetypal Hindu) ? Buddhism and Ramana (as opposed to pure Hinduism) will bring you to a greater awareness about the Truth of Reality than you would likely find in other religions/philosophies. You are less likely to get bogged down with doctrine but will, on the contrary, be able to lead a wonderfully free and happy life ? all while your spirituality blossoms.
Yes, in a manner of speaking, we are all God and God is in all of us (depends on whether you believe in God or not). I believe in Consciousness. I believe in the greater Self. We have evolved to our present level.

Thank you so much for giving me exactly what I needed! Your insights are invaluable. I should clarify when I said that "God is in all of us and we are God" that I was speaking in terms of the ultimate reality or pure self or what ever you might want to call it; I no longer believe in God as a spirit entity, rather in a Force like manner that binds all and is in all, for want of a better example. I don't believe in God as a separate being- spirit or in the form of any teacher/guru; I agree with you about Conciousness and greater Self.

I do feel so much more free already not being chained so to speak to all my previous ideas about what God is, worrying if god existed per se in the fairy tale sense of being a father figure that swoops in and saves whom he chooses while he lets others die, as in the tsunami. I couldn't reconcile in my mind any of that, yet I knew that there was something greater than just a world full of billions of separate people.

Another moment of clarity that has come to me through the realisations of the past few days...is that by realising that all people are divine, I will have a lot more capacity for tolerance and less hostility to those who do believe that God is a personage of spirit being; somehow it no longer feels insulting to me. I think that insecurity was the basis for some of the anger that believers raised in me; that was a failing on my part and I realize now completely that everyone who is sincere has to find their own path and that different people reach their true Self in different ways. Some believe in God to do so and surrender completely to God's superiority;

SURRENDER

There are two ways of achieving surrender. One is looking into the source of the 'I' and merging into that source. The other is feeling 'I am helpless myself God alone is all powerful and except throwing myself completely on Him, there is no other means of safety for me', and thus gradually developing the conviction that God alone exists and the ego does not count. Both methods lead to the same goal. Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation. "

I choose the first option; it is also amazing to me that this is not some self-centered ego trippy kind of thing; "Oh, I'm god, god is me, i'm better than everyone else." no way! It is working the opposite way for me. It is reminding me of things that i always knew. I explained it to a friend that it's as if I'm remembering a lullaby that someone I loved sang to me when i was an infant...the tune was familiar from the first note, but the words were missing. I couldn't remember. Then someone said a couple words from the first verse of the song, and now I remember; and it's more beautiful than I remember.

Thank you again Ian for your insight...I understand about finding a teacher; I am reading right now and concentrating on being still and letting this develop at the pace my mind and heart is ready for; I know these things cannot be rushed. ((((((((Ian)))))))))

Unfettered, I loved your example of students in your classes. Made perfect sense to me. I have always been overly-sensitive to people's emotions, even from childhood, where at the age of three my mother found me comforting another child in pre-school whose father had just left the family. I came to my mother and said "so-and so is sad, we have to find her father and tell him so that he can come home." I was only three; and I sat and cried with this little girl and patted her on the back and told her that I would be her friend.

So yeah, learning that agility is a balance that I long for and hope that will develop in me as time goes on. Walking around this way...it's like sensory overload emotionally. There is only so much I can take before I have to withdraw completely and go into hiding in my own little mental cave. Those who know my history with coming and going from the board here may understand that better in light of this. It got, in the past, to a point where it became physically painful to feel other's emotions; and I had no choice but to back away for awhile to get my bearings. I have already become better at protecting myself from this; and I know that I am on the right path to learning that balance. I want to be compassionate but not to the point that it kills me LOL.

Okay...shall i toss another hat into the ring or do we have too many plates spinning already to mix metaphors? How about Taoism? Unfettered brought it up and I was already thinking about that too; so anyone have any comparisons for me between that and Buddhism and Ramanist teachings (which so far seem the most appealing to me without involving the Hindu religion outright) and Taoism and how it is the same/ different?

Please don't think I'm being lazy and not wanting to do the research on all this, I spent the whole day yesterday devouring every word I could find on these subjects. Its just my hunger for information is great and I also love getting people's personal perspectives on how each of these schools of thought have effected them.

Thank you again, everyone...amazing discussion here.

love,

essie

69

I'm not a Buddhist, but...............PART 2

by Dansk in

jw
friends

as i can't post to the original thread started by nicolaou, i'm doing so here:.

hi fleur,but the part that really, well, frankly creeped me out for lack of a better term, is that he left his wife and child, then starved himself nearly to death before he realized that this wasn't the way to go, and he lived as a homeless person, begging food as he went on his path to enlightenment.

that's a rather simplified version of events.

Fleur

Unfettered, thank you again for your responses! I am reading it all and letting it sink in (and hoping too that Ian will find his way back here to comment when he feels up to it!)

you said:

You will find that the deeper you meditate and become introspective, the more you will begin to "feel" what other people "feel" which directly leads to the development of compassion and love as well as the inner peace you describe.

You know, I have been interested for a long time in people's 'personality profiles' a'la Keirsey/Meyers-Briggs personality profiles in the Jung-ian fashion. By these descriptions I am "INFJ"; "Idealist/Counselor". I have always had the fortune/misfortune (laugh) of being very in tune with the feelings of others, the energy of others. I am very effected by the emotions of those around me and that is hard, sometimes I feel like I can't get away from it and it's overwhelming (think Beta-zoid if you've ever seen Star Trek the next generation). Many times in my life I have been overwhelmed with the dispair of others and felt unable, and unworthy to help them, or myself. I felt that not being able to save the world was a serious shortcoming. Not that I thought any human could do it, but I just always felt like no matter how much I did it was never enough.

So becoming more compassionate with others hasn't been a struggle for me, it has been a struggle to become compassionate with myself. I think that is why I'm finding this path so freeing; realizing the deep, complex connection between all of us makes me want to be not only kinder to others but to give myself the kindness I have never been able to before. For the first time in my life I'm getting a glimpse of who I really am; what comes from me, and to me, and it is not only enough, it is comforting and it is peaceful.

So it's incredible; learning that not only are no people more divine than any other; but that no one is any less divine than anyone else either that is really profound to me. We are all divine, divinity is in us all. Myself included! What a concept! No one is more or less worthy; it just IS that way. People just don't realize it.

I'm just starting this journey but it feels so right. Before when I've tried to study any form of religion or schools of thought, it felt like piling more weight on my already loaded down body; like literally trying to drag these huge stones labled "God" and "Christ" and "Religion" and "Divinity" around until I was stuck, unable to move. Now it's like suddenly the anvil isn't round my neck anymore, and I have a chance to breathe, be still, and know. That is so powerful. It is so simple. But then the truest things always are the most simple aren't they?

time for me to sleep and hopefully make more sense tomorrow. Hugs and goodnight (and my profound thanks) to Ian and unfettered and everyone who has contributed on this and the previous thread; it's gone in such a fascinating direction. I hope that others reading are finding it helpful too even if they're only just lurking *waving* hellooo, lurkers :)

~essie

(((((((((Ian))))))))))) p.s. to you dearheart...I am glad that you are not afraid, but I want you to know that many people are hoping that you will be stuck with us on this plane of existance for a long long time...

18

Just when I thought I didn't hurt over the JW's Shunning,,,,,,,, I dream :(

by LyinEyes in

jw
friends

for such a long time, i haven't had any dreams dealing with my jw issues, and mostly i just pick and make fun of my old jw days.. last night i dreamed another dream about old friends and it was painful.

i woke myself up crying.. i dreamed my family that are all out, in laws included where at a convention.....there was one sweet girl that we have known since she was a baby and she was waving and smiling at us from afar.. i was worried she would get in trouble, and wondered if she knew we were d/a.

( of course in real life she knows).. as the dream went on , more and more of the faces of so many of the witnesses started to appear.

Fleur

(edited)

oh, I didn't realize this was an old thread...welcome gin, I hope you find what you're looking for here...

hugs...

essie

69

I'm not a Buddhist, but...............PART 2

by Dansk in

jw
friends

as i can't post to the original thread started by nicolaou, i'm doing so here:.

hi fleur,but the part that really, well, frankly creeped me out for lack of a better term, is that he left his wife and child, then starved himself nearly to death before he realized that this wasn't the way to go, and he lived as a homeless person, begging food as he went on his path to enlightenment.

that's a rather simplified version of events.

Fleur

glad that you've enjoyed the exchange as much as I have, Bem! :) (((((hugs))))

Another question now...to Ian and to JamesThomas if he happens to be lurking about I hope you don't mind me bringing this into the discussion JT instead of doing so in email. If you'd rather reply off the board, that's cool.

Okay here goes...In reading some of the things you've sent to me JT and in hearing Ian speak of the "Ramana-esque" or however he put it (forgive me, MS brain fog)...tell me this; is Advaita Vedanta directly dependant on Hinduism? Is there a place somewhere between where Buddhism and Ramana teachings meet?

I'm sorry if this question makes no sense to others reading, but in researching the 'self-enquiry' or 'Who am I" links and all, this is a question that I came to.

It seems to me if I'm understanding it right, that you do not have to be either Buddhist or Hindu to find the 'True Path" or to realize who you are, in truth, who we all are and see the ultimate reality. Is this a correct supposition, or am I mistaken? The way it feels most truthful to me is that the path I'm meant to follow isn't 'religious' it's just about remembering what I already knew, and lost track of.

The concept that truly speaks to me is the thought (realisation?) that no being is more divine than any other. We all are, in our truest state, divine. We are all god, god is in all of us. Since contemplating this concept quietly, and just turning off my running thought processes, this makes me feel so peaceful. Something that I haven't felt before, from any belief, religion, or school of thought I have previously encountered. I can't explain it. It just is.

Sorry if it seems like I'm speaking nonsense to observers...I hope I'm articulating myself clearly! If not...just ignore my ramblings!

hugs to all

essie

69

I'm not a Buddhist, but...............PART 2

by Dansk in

jw
friends

as i can't post to the original thread started by nicolaou, i'm doing so here:.

hi fleur,but the part that really, well, frankly creeped me out for lack of a better term, is that he left his wife and child, then starved himself nearly to death before he realized that this wasn't the way to go, and he lived as a homeless person, begging food as he went on his path to enlightenment.

that's a rather simplified version of events.

Fleur

welcome, unfettered! I just read your other post at that link...fascinating. One excerpt for those who may have missed it:

You and I are literally pieces of ?God? or the super conscious being that conceived all. There is a higher consciousness above each one of us from which we were divided and ?born? or ?conceived?. Above that higher consciousness entity is yet another higher consciousness entity from which it was conceived, and another, and another, and another etc until you get to the top. How far up it goes upward or how far removed from the macroscopic view we are I do not know. However, I do know that we as humans are very much like cells in the body of God. We may not be as powerful or as intelligent as that being, but we are loved none the less just as you love your fingers and toes etc.

Quite a concept. More for me to ponder. Again, welcome and keep on posting!

hugs

essie

26

Have you ever felt used?

by Country Girl in

jw
friends

i had my birthday party/new year's day party tonight.

i have hundreds of friends, or so i thought.

how many show up?

Fleur

I'm sorry that it took this situation, and hurt feelings, to bring you to the realisation that there are friends, and then there are people who will only be with us when it suits them, and gives them something. Fairweather friends is the phrase my mother used to use.

I have found that when you have real troubles hit in your life, extended illness (or permanent disability in my case) job loss, family emergencies, a death of someone close to you, you find out really quickly who your real friends are. Dr. Phil says that "real friends are walking in the door when everyone else is going out." I have had to learn that while it is necessary to have some aquaintainces in life that are nice to be around, that I cannot expect too much from these shallow relationships.

You sound so much like my mom in that everywhere she goes, she HAS to talk to people, she has had a habit of 'collecting' people with serious problems (addicts, prostitutes, etc) her usual MO is to try to "study" with them. But this habit made growing up in my household a nightmare. More than once I had to fend off people that followed mom home, who she let in with open arms. Only now, as a parent, do I realize how dangerous her inability to say no and set healthy boundaries was for us as her children.

You have to get over the inability to say no, and set those boundaries. Otherwise you're right, you will be empty and have nothing to give to yourself, or anyone else. Nurture yourself, I recommend reading Martha Beck's column in Oprah magazine for starters. Go to the library and look at past issues of the magazine, I believe that her perspective could help you a lot. I know it's helped me.

Only by getting rid of the psychic vampires from your life (the people who suck you dry and leave you exhausted) can you be a good friend to yourself, and to the wonderful nine people who showed up to celebrate with you. As far as your siblings...you've learned a hard lesson that ihad to learn myself a couple years back that my siblings CANNOT be counted upon in happy times, or sad ones. They just don't have anything to give, or share with me. They can only perpetually take. And they can only take what I let them, which is a lot less than it used to be.

Be good to yourself, and remember to send a little card to everyone who came to your party, because friends like that are worth cherishing, and holding on to.

hugs

essie

28

JWs and charitable work

by kj in

jw
friends

i've read on here several times about how jws are discouraged for doing charitable work for anybody other than jws, and that they are discouraged from contributing financially to non-jw charities.

are there some references to this in their literature that someone could point me to?.

also, i had a discussion with a jw about a recent relief effort some jws did in florida.

Fleur

My mother gave me quite a lecture yesterday because she was certain (and correct lol) that we had contributed to Tsunami relief. She went on about how all charities go back to the Vatican and that all the money contributed goes to the church and not the people.

She also related that she put a check in the contribution box for 500.00 wanting to help the brothers effected by the Tsunami. Talk about wasted. It will never get to anyone effected by the tsunami!

She then went on to say what a blessing it was that she'd heard through relatives who have kids at bethel that 'no brothers were killed in' I think she said Sri Lanka, can't be sure. That was all she freaking cared about.

I just can't stand their mentality, it's truly sickening.