This is an interesting discussion going on here. It is good to see so many people who are passionate enough to engage intelligently on a topic without setting the place on fire with flames. But the danger of the flame is always there so we will have to be diciplined.
I have some thoughts both on the topic and on the discussion itself. No matter to which side of an issue one is drawn it is unlikely that one side will be able to convince the other side to adopt their opinion. There really is no winning an argument. However, those who stand outside of the debate and observe may be able to judge for themselves which of the debators seems to have made the best case.
Some other thoughts that have occurred to me about this is that from a certain perspective it can be seen that there isn't even an issue of right and wrong about most debates. They can be seen as forming a part of an integral whole. Imagine for instance two characters in a debate over who was the genuine item. Let us think of them as one being represented by the backside of a dollar bill and the other by the face side of a dollar bill. From their perspective it is obvious that the other is an imposter. Each KNOWS down into the fiber of their being that they are right and the other fellow is wrong. If you think about it, isn't it interesting how in this situation they are both right and both wrong? Each is right in that they are the genuine item, and each is also wrong in denying the other. As we observe the debate we can see that they are each two sides of one thing. No one from outside will be able to convince the debators of this. Only through their own introspection will they come to know themselves and resolve this apparent duality.
In one way we can see that people are each very different and each person will have their own subjective experience of any situation. In another way we can see that we are all pretty much the same.
Imagine two people going to a restaurant - one enjoys the meal and the other hates it. They both ate the same dishes but one became sick with food poisoning and didn't notice any discomfort. One has a stomache of iron and the other is very sensitive. One would highly recommend the restaurant. The other would like to have them shut down.
Imagine two people who exercise and go to a gym. One experiences tremendous success and quickly becomes fit and "ripped". The other finds no matter how much he works out that it just doesn't work. One has better body chemistry - natural steroids - testosterone and it all seems so easy. The other is easily injured on the machines and probably doesn't have a good idea how to actually use them in the first place. Again one would highly recommend this practice. The other would have the gym shut down as a public danger and a scam.
From the perspective of each of these persons we can see they they are right about their opinion. But they are each both wrong where they might deny the reality of the others perspective.
I have had extensive experience in the field of mind development, both with the products that have been mentioned in this discussion and in more traditional meditation. My opinion on them would be but another opinion - and that would be worth no more than any other person's opinion. Each person must find the truth as it is worked out within their own Self.
Best wishes to all,
B.
