Dear Souls,
Thank you for sharing your views.
I wish to clarify what
I understand by, and therefore also mean by, the word "opinion" or "view":
An opinion is a possibility among several possibilities (for any topic). Until such time when there exists a proof, asserting one such particular possibility's accuracy/correctness and thus concluding that one to be the "reality", and concluding others as mere "potential possibilities of the past", each of these possibilities is an opinion. Since I believe that everyone (including me, obviously), is imperfect (expect only God), anyone's opinion could be incorrect (or partially incorrect). Thus, any of the possibilities can turn out to be reality, as otherwise that possibility would not have any considerable believers or have survived for any considerable period.
An opinion (about something) is a result of one's assimilation of a certain combination of facts, figures, observations, experiences, comprehension, reasoning and deductions. Such assimilation may happen at a conscious and/or at a sub-conscious level.
Also, as per my understanding,
Pink Panther's example of the Tibetan saying as well as other opinions by
Pink Panther, suggest that he agrees with my belief that any expression from any human is an opinion (until the time there exists such a proof).
Awakening, sorry to be a little tough with you...
ex-I: you don't need to ... I do understand that you (and others) have the views that you have, because of certain observations you made and/or certain experiences you had. I believe that you are intelligent beings.
And I am OK with this. I agree to disagree. Does it mean that I don't care what you think? Before you make any other assumption about me, I wish to let you know that one of my central beliefs is that one day, everyone, including me, will know the truth. When that happens, all opinions will cease to exist (as there will be no need for them), and will thus cease to matter. I also understand that I may be one among those who discover in the end that I did not have the right/accurate view. That is why I am constantly researching, observing, learning and evaluating myself. I believe that others who do these, do them for the same reason too.
...when I read you telling us we don't know what we are talking about, I react strongly.
Don't mind, but I have genuinely been unable to find an expression that I used, that would lead you to form such a notion. I have no intention, nor had any, to judge anyone. Of course, I have provided my views and opinions and responses candidly, while simultaneously trying to ensure that my expressions may not cause one to think that I despise any view. What I have said, is, what you are expressing are your views, and what I am expressing are my views. Much like the Tibetan saying.
I would like to further clarify that I understand that any of these views (about the topics we are discussing) can turn out to be the reality. I am fine with "anyone's God" being "right". Of course, I would like to discover that I am among the ones who have the right view. I believe everyone would like to discover the same. Some people call it the "end-time revelation", some call it "judgement day", among other words and phrases. Again, these are also views, as there is no proof that something like this will ever happen at all!
You would be offended by it and probably not want to believe me.
...lacks experience in the ways of deception and delusion,...
I wish to let you know that I believe that I, too, do get my dose of deception and delusion. There are people everywhere who are victimized by such vices and try to spread them. So yes, I think I keep getting my share now and then.
Through these years, I have (personally) known few people who attended daily class for years and then one day stopped altogether. I also know people who stopped and then started again. And a few who keep appearing and disappearing (for me, it's not so much about the physical presence in the class itself, more about the beliefs and views that one carries). And of course, there are also a few who have stuck on pretty strongly since they joined. Now, please keep in mind that most of these people that I have mentioned, are, in my opinion, highly intelligent people (mostly teachers/professors and a scientist), yet they all seemed to me as having different views. Some of the elements of the views were common, yes, but so many others were so different. I have met several of them when we did not have common views and found their reasoning comprehensible. The differences in our views, though, did not seem to affect our inter-personal relationships. This is what matters to me. Our views should not become obstacles in our relationships.
... you can speak freely ...
Thank you. I have not been restraining myself. What I meant from following the code is this website's forum's regulations. Since I agreed to abide by them when I joined, I meant that I try to ensure that I do.
... some family member must have been involved, is that so? Are you being defensive for their sake?
Have you done what used to be called "the 7 Days Course", that is, taken the full teachings and started listening to the Murlis?
I was the first in my family to know about the BKWSU. I have always been inclined to learn about things beyond the "obvious". Later, my parents and grandma got introduced. Then my siblings. In my opinion, the only ones remaining from my family to continue to "believe" completely in the teachings (as we have learnt) are me and my mom. However, all these differences have had no affect in the relationship between any of us. Over the years, our views may have changed, but our relationships have only become stronger.
Yes, I have undergone the "7 days course" several times in several places (both offline and online) over these years. I have even delivered this course a couple of times. I also continuously research on and develop my views.
why, if you are not a full BK, are you so defensive of them?
It is much after I learnt what I learnt at the BKWSU, that I was convinced that there is such a thing as "the ultimate truth", which may be visualized as a nutshell, compressing of all possible knowledge (known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns). Call it a "capsule" if you like. Please note that this was a result of my own view (interpretations of the learnings I had gathered so far in my life), not something that I heard from some person or picked up elsewhere. Of course, this is a concept that other people may also incidentally have with them, so I am not saying this is a new concept, just that no-one told me about this and I concluded this for myself.
Before this time, I had no knowledge of this capsule and thus no sight of it. Even after taking in knowledge from the BKWSU, I did not have sight of this capsule for several years, until only quite recently. The reason for this, I realized, was that I was simply only "believing" in the concepts without practicing any significant portion. When I did follow some significant portion, I could see and feel the power of such a capsule. But this does not mean that I have the capsule. Far from it. But I am glad that I have sight of it now and if I can put in more effort I can get closer.
... do you want me to tell you the truth of what the BKs will think of you?
I don't believe this is necessary, but if you do, then please feel free.
What do you say Awakening to someone like b.parmeshwar who did dive all the way in and fully believed everything that was taught and which diverted his life in ways he is now sure were not only 'not beneficial' but downright bad for him?
I believe that if a view causes degradation of values and life in general, it should be discarded as soon as that realization takes place.
I think this is all I wish to express at this time.
Om Shanti! Satyamev Jayate!