In response to "comments" on Susan's post
on Creativity and the David Lynch Lynchpin :
Thank you Judy for keen observation and appropriate quotations.
Your intelligence and commitment are admirable qualities. I admire your tenacity to read and consider viewpoints contrary to your own.
Your quotes exemplify potential hazards of cult mentality.
Typical cult-thinking attributes "all good" in life to the guru or the method espoused by the cult leader.
In actuality, talented creative accomplishments derive from the individuals themselves. The TMers you quote on the MUM site were creative on their own. They learned to attribute their creativity to TM (as does Lynch, as did the Beatles for a few brief months).
On the other side of cult thinking, all "bad" or "negativity" in life is attributed to individual shortcomings, or threats from the outside, e.g. "negativity," "stress," "the world of ignorance," "lack of Nature's Support."
Dysfunctional dynamics actually originate from a circuitous closed theology and group dynamic. The problems are then blamed upon individuals' negativity or stress, or association with threatening outside influences.
Some (like Susan) find their creativity diminished when under cult influence. Others (like myself) found their social circle shrink. Others had more dramatic effects. Some had little or no negative effects from association with TM.
The point is to be aware that TM needs a warning label, just like wine contains a warning label.
Some are more vulnerable than others to cultic influence / coercive persuasion. Nothing more.
TM's inocuous presentation is as benign and attractive as "People's Temple" early revival meetings under Jim Jones. The People's Temple in San Francisco at least helped many poor and aged through their nursing homes and civil rights activism, prior to their flight to South America and mass suicide/murder.
Fortunately, MMY does not have the extreme paranoia streak of Jim Jones.
Sadly, society at large tends to ignore the threat of cult seduction and influence until confronted with the extreme drama of Jonestown or the deaths in Waco. Nonetheless, staunch limitations from the True Believer syndrome threaten inner freedom.
Fortunately, MMY is a more astute and focused business man than was Jim Jones. He maintains his compsure through global expansion, and would not request followers to speed up their evolution to enlightenment by ending this incarnation en masse.
Unfortunately, MMY's composure allows others to normalize the group dynamic and limiting mindset of the TMOrg.
Judy, your insights are excellent. Your comments bring pertinent points home for consideration.
Thank you,
Jai Freedom-of-Mind,
Gina
