ex-l: perhaps we should define what reconciliation means... and build up from there.
Great. Let's talk about reconciliation. But who is reconciling? To understand properly I need you to explain who you mean when you talk about Them, the BKWSU? Who are They? When you speak of the BKWSU do you mean London? Do you mean India? Do you mean the three Dadi's who are currently at the helm?
Who knows if reconciliation is ever possible as long as people keep picking the scabs on old wounds. And I don't mean to belittle anyone's experience. Not at all. I haven't had experiences as tough as some, but I certainly have had some and I basically had to stop looking at blaming other people, face my own past, my own actions and my own feelings and get down to healing and mending. I had to stop expecting anyone else to change in the
way and
form that
I wanted. For my reconciliation to happen, I went to the person who I felt caused the pain and told them. We talked about it. There was a lot they did not accept, which I just had to deal with. Everyone accepts things at their own time. And basically I just had to pull my finger out and get living. Which I did. And I am pleased that I did. I never want anything to have a hold over my mind and heart like that again.
Although you think I am a "vanilla BK" ... despite my extremely cute avatar (!)... I am neither innocent nor young, and am fairly experienced.
If you are thinking of bridge-building between us and the BKWSU, which is admirable and would benefit yourself ... how far are you or the BKWSU willing to extend or change your tunes?
I am not actually sure how it would benefit me, as you suggest. Also as far as I know I haven't caused anyone any undue pain on behalf of the instititution, so in that sense I don't feel the need to build bridges. I feel we're on the same land mass, just not speaking with each other properly. And when you ask the question ... "how far (am I) or the BKWSU willing to extend of change (our) tunes" I just don't know how to respond. You are addressing me personally, so please tell me what I have done to hurt you and how you wish me to change. Either that, or keep your hurts about the BKWSU and your addresses to me separate please. As I've said before, it makes it so difficult to have any foundation to start from. And I would like to, but we need to start from common ground. From knowing each other as separate and equal individuals who are beginning a conversation.
I would not want you to go back or go about saying, *oh, I tried to reconciliation but they were not interested and they swore at me" because it would no more reflect the truth than what has previous been said by them. We are saying to 'yous' ... "fine, good, let get real about all this stuff".
I don't understand the Us and Them terms, in the way that you're using them. I understand for purposes of clarity you need to use them, but it's so much in your attitude that, again, it hampers clear and honest communication. And go back to where? And say "they were not interested and they swore at me" to whom?
You should consider it a good exercise, and I do not know how specific your PhD on the BKs is going to be ... care to tell us ...
I don't care to speak about my PhD here until the tone changes. I do not find this forum a safe and/or supportive environment at all.
I have come to think that in any human interchange, especially institutional, there is this sub-text of "who is the top doggie" they play the final act of control ... to withdraw and lock the doors...but any future academia on them is going to find it very hard to ignore us.
Again I don't know who you mean by They. Can we leave the Us and Them and just speak as you and me? If you want to speak with someone who holds a position within the organisation, then I am the wrong person. I have no 'status' as you call it, within the BKWSU so I think perhaps it would be better if you speak with someone else. And you will not be ignored in my study, don't worry about that.
See Lawrence Babb's Kindergarten comments about the infantilisation of students within the so-called Spiritual University by the center-in-charges and SS)
Yes, I've read all the previous studies - fascinating! Have you read "the Liberation of Women In And Through the Movement of the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris". That's the most recent one.