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XBK Chat (unofficial archive)
A meeting place for past members of Brahma Kumaris
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Tete
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 169
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 Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Joel,
Do you remember the school trips where they made us sit quietly?  The trips to the zoo and things like that.  I don't think you were all that quiet and being that we are like former neighbors I can say that people in our area eventually get tired on this:
Joel,
| Quote: | | I remember finding I *disliked* sitting like a carrot in the big hall in Madhuban while foreign sisters brought Baba birthday cakes and people like Charlie and Denise got recognition. |
I find the fact that you can laugh at how sincere your commitment was is a way of finding the light. If we hold on to negative thoughts about the experiences rather than look at how amusing they now seem, then we continue to live in the tornment.
I found what you wrote in the Relationship thread really good in that to live we really have to be daring in trying new things. It may not work out but the experience will be well worth it.
So, how are those dancing lessons going?
Regards,
Tete |
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Joel
Joined: 09 Nov 2004
Posts: 102
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| Tete wrote: | Joel,
Do you remember the school trips where they made us sit quietly? The trips to the zoo and things like that. I don't think you were all that quiet and being that we are like former neighbors I can say that people in our area eventually get tired on this:
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In some ways I was perfect material for the conditioning practices of institutional education, as full of gifted, dedicated teachers as our school system was. I sat at my desk, ready with an answer to every question, my self-worth and motivation all bound to the curriculum. Yeah, there was art class and recess and other stuff not all bad.
In some ways the ways I conditioned myself to adapt to the BKs was only an extension of how I conditioned myself during my time in school, especially those earliest years.
Funny that I remember in such detail what we were taught about the lack of freedoms in the USSR, corruption, privilege, lack of human rights. And what we were taught about how the German people were so complacent as Hitler transformed the country into a machine for controlling people, for confining and killing. We Americans were so proud and special. American tourists brought Levis by the stack to give to Russian friends who had to wait in line in front of stores with empty shelves because of the failures of the planned economy, where the only good vegetables came from the garden plots of farmers who were otherwise mere cogs in the huge Soviet agriculture combines that couldn't feed the Russian people, depending on grain imports from the generous US.
And the Soviets were ruthlessly military, invading their neighbors, turning them into dependent satellite states.
Reflecting, I find many ways in which my teachers were describing *our* country, the United States. (Although interesting to talk to an Italian friend and his friend from Georgia, sitting in their tiny apartment in a narrow street near the Vatican, hearing their love for America, where a person is allowed to criticize the government, freedom of religion, the Marshall Plan, Italy and West Germany and Japan wealthy after American occupation, the Soviet-occupied countries suppressed and impoverished.)
So, if one group you belong to criticizes another in a ritual of denouncement with a sense of superiority, the devil they describe you can look for in your own culture -- with a better-than-average chance of finding it.
I got a perspective on the US school system from the writings of John Taylor Gatto http://johntaylorgatto.com although someone recently "schooled" me that Gatto is a Dominionist Christian whose goal is destruction of secular education. Hmm. well he himself was part of that system for some 30 years.
| Quote: |
Joel,
| Quote: | | I remember finding I *disliked* sitting like a carrot in the big hall in Madhuban while foreign sisters brought Baba birthday cakes and people like Charlie and Denise got recognition. |
I find the fact that you can laugh at how sincere your commitment was is a way of finding the light. If we hold on to negative thoughts about the experiences rather than look at how amusing they now seem, then we continue to live in the tornment.
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I'll give credit for the "carrot" metaphor to another ex-BK, not on this board to my knowledge--Paul M.
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I found what you wrote in the Relationship thread really good in that to live we really have to be daring in trying new things. It may not work out but the experience will be well worth it.
So, how are those dancing lessons going?
Regards,
Tete |
Not much dancing these days; my main dance partner at the moment is soon to celebrate her 94th. |
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Tete
Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 169
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:29 am Post subject: |
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Joel,
Not to worry:
| Quote: | | Not much dancing these days; my main dance partner at the moment is soon to celebrate her 94th. |
Look outside the box. Did you know that if you put music and dance in the presence of some one and every so often touch them lightly, that their spirits will dance, they will brighten up and feel the moment. So, Dance, Dance.
Also, if you cream the hands of one that is 94 she will feel great as the most joy is found in the simplicity of the touch. Try it first on your own hands and see. First run two finger lightly over the other hand than add the cream, you will see that the light touch seems to bring about the most feeling. This is a new thing in the disabled/retired community that is just now taking full acceptance. So, Dance and cream those hands as I am sure you still have all that spirituality flowing with the love you have for humanity.
Regards,
Tete |
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