ManKind Project?
Date: September 29, 2006 09:46AM
I found this site this morning when I typed "money shadows mkp" and some other keywords. I did not know what I was going to find when I skimmed this link.
I see this "destructive cults, controversial groups and movements" on the homepage. Listed there in the top 10 are the Mormon Church, which is the primary social group in the area where I live.
I did not see a definition of "cult." Is the Roman Catholic church a cult? The Democratic party? The NBA/NCAA (sports)? The WCW (pro wrestling/ theatre)? NATO?
So, as for me, I am relatively newly active to MKP- just over 2 years. I also participated in something called the Inner King training (www.innerking.com), which I actually liked even better, though I would like to be more active in MKP. I particularly enjoyed my experiences with the weekly group when I lived in a big city (where such a group existed).
Let me give a bit more context before I get into my experience of this forum. I also found, this morning, on that same search, a link to a forum about the Maharaji and "premies."
There were active "premies" who participated on that forum- which I presume to mean active members of a formal organization with the initials DLM (Divine Light Ministries). They wrote about living in the ashram centers, investing all their money and time in service projects, as directed by "senior premies," and so on.
I know little about DLM. (I know more about MKP, but how much?) I could see that lots of these folks expressed clear animosity for the leader that they had followed, Maharaji. I also read some things that MIGHT be questionable about that leader.
For instance, if one preaches against polygamy, yet practices it, that is notably inconsistent. If one preaches acceptance of polygamy and practices it, that if either familiar or unfamiliar depending on one's cultural background (Islam compared to celibate monastacism with culturally condoned mutilation of children's genitals- what some might even call sexual abuse- such as circumcision, etc). Myself, I am absolutely against all preaching ;)
So, let's broaden our discussion for a moment from MKP to "mind control." If someone visits my www.TruthSetFree.com website, they will see numerous links to David Icke and Jiddu Krishnamurti. David Icke is perhaps one of the more controversial celebrities in Great Britain in recent decades. One of his favorite topics is mainstream mind control, including the public education system, but also commercial advertising and the training programs of the military. I say the military because the military is generally consistent amongst the various militaries: axis/ally, communist/terrorist/freedom fighter, 12th century/21st century, Crusade/Jihad etc etc etc....
Militaries are perhaps the one type of organization whose specific and explicit objective typically includes mass destruction. Yet, "the military" is not on the top 10 list of this site- perhaps THAT would be "too" controversial (too true).
A bit more context. Unlike Icke, Jiddu Krishnamurti addresses how culture, notice the ure at the end of the word cult, cult-ure is a process of behavioral conditioning, i.e. what Icke calls mind control. Jiddu's "study" is much less specific than Icke's, as he explores such things as how different languages influence our perceptions and thinking processes. The key, if I may be so bold, is honoring the mystic hologram of life, rather the illusionary isolationism of all isms (including generally Christianity and other "pseudo-isms"). For illusions, the solution I suggest is dis-illusionment: insight, choosing truth.
In contrast, Icke tends towards the shocking. Jiddu tended (when he was alive) to towards the everyday- and with no particular sense of condemnation that I could identify. He spoke with alarm about racism, sexism, and nationalism (as in nazionalism), but not really with condemnation. He spoke with compassion for those conducting such patterns in their lives. Even Icke does that in reference to his "villain:" the central banker "gargoyles."
So, now to my experience in reading this forum. I witness that some are recovering from loss, such as divorce. I witness that loss being associated with MKP. I did not mich witness the healing of that sense of loss being healed, and I invite us to consider that healing may include deeply and personally experiencing that sense of loss- fully and even responsibly.
Yes, I might associate any experiencing of grief with a specific divorce, for instance, and sequence of events in time. In such a case, it might be best for me to reduce exposure to such things that might trigger "too much pain-" even eliminate such exposure, at least temporarily.
Does this mean that I withdraw from everyone who I know has been divorced? Maybe. From my kids that remind me of my own divorce or widowing- well...?
So, if we associate grief with a certain external, let's withdraw from that external- even for just an hour here and there. Let's resolve the grief by grieving or whatever else may work. let's even concentrate on that trauma- if that helps- though I have no faith in psychiatric therapy except for gestalt and similar modes. Let's heal any illness!
Maybe later we can face exposure to that old trigger and it no longer triggers us. But let's honor the trigger- and the grief or whatever else is there- for, if it arises, it is part of our life. So let's honor our lives.
Now, does a person who is a serial divorcee, a widower, or addicted to abuse heal completely in a single weekend? Maybe not. My understanding is that a large proportion of mainstream abusers were themselves abused, and perhaps unless they grieve for their own abuse, they remain sensitive to explode at certain triggers.
I cannot put into words here the various range of abuse that I have suffered, witnessed, and committed. I am not referring so much to physical abuse but ab-use as a specific subcategory of mis-use.
I went to a Landmark session once. I did not perceive abuse there. I did perceive commercialism... not particularly unlike the average grocery store.
I went to a Mormon church function- actually several. I did not perceive unconditional acceptance there, yet I was comfortable enough to return to a few different things- for better or worse. (Boy, do those kids make a lot of noise during their testimonies- which tend not to be very spontaneous from what I witnessed?)
So, here's my only specific comment for now on MKP. At weekly meetings, I felt safe and accepted there making reference to abuse I have experienced and committed. I witnessed healing and I experienced healing. I cannot say that a single issue of complication in my life was absolutely resolved in a few hours group session- and I am very grateful just the same. I would not have been so comfortable with a single "professional" which I have also tried with several different folks- some better than others.
I did not walk out of there a saint, but I did not walk in a saint either- not even a latter-day saint. Is MKP controversial? That isn't my concern, really. Controversy is in the eye of the beholder.
Would I stop paying taxes if I disagreed with one little "peace-keeping bomb?" I know people who have. I was never really much into taxes myself (or "peace-keeping bombs").
If I was afraid of some controversy, I might chose to sacrifice involvement in one thing for another. If I watch channel 9, I do not watch channel 6. If I get married, I release my vow of monastic celibacy (okay, I was never much for celibacy either).
But controversy is not the issue. Choice is the issue. I am grateful for the choices I have had, and the choices I have made, even those I may regret- now or later.
In a weekly circle, I was welcomed, even with the controversy my words kindled for others. I spoke explicitly of acts of abuse that day amongst a group of folks- men incidentally- some of whom could easily relate most to one of the parties referenced in my "confession" - but not so much me. I spoke of the distress that I experienced- terror, anger, self-hatred, etc- in the midst of some the incidents I retold.
Other people might have withdrawn from such "controversy," and that is fine. There is a time for secrecy. There was even the opportunity for any man to step out of that circle- or even interject, though that is not particularly encouraged.
While in that circle, I could unselfconsciously identify specific people I have injured or intentionally lied to etc, but if those confidences were broken, that might not be for the best interest of those others identified- or it might. There is even a time for dropping secrecy.
So, perhaps I have lived in a culture of abuse, of punishment, of shame, of blame, of deceit. Perhaps that is not the only kind of culture there is. I generally like the "culture" of MKP so far. Let's not confuse secrecy with deceit.
It is the sincere lies- the words of denial and faithful superstitious error- that concern me more. If a man in that circle had been triggered by my words, the circle was there not just for me and not just for him, but for us.
Yes, circles can develop into triangles and cliques. Just make sure that you consider putting "sunday school" and "public school" on your LGAT list. And if you don't think you should, consider the possiblity that I may have been an abusive teacher in one of those contexts. You may say "but all the classes I went to were wonderful." Wonderful! That doesn't change any abuse that I experienced or committed in such a setting, does it?
Let's not target the organization and forget that specific people are involved. Is a soldier absolved of all wrong-doing because she was following the orders of a so-called "superior" at her particular convent? Only if it was the same convent I belong to? Only if it is the group targetting "righteous" mass destruction- the one I support or participate in?
Let's not target only a few people and forget that some organizations are designed for destruction- from the beginning to the end. Instead, let's confess what we have personally done if we feel moved to do so, then repent, share forgiveness and healing.
I have more of that to do. I have done some of that with MKP. I had confidence in my weekly groups from what I witnessed- and I did not need to say a word to be welcome (I could have remained silent- EVERYTHING is voluntary, from attendance to participation).
I am going to a traditional shamanic training this weekend. It is all about repentance and responsibility. Those of you who are familiar with MKP may know that it shares much with Native American traditions that were so controversial that people were killed for those practices as recently as- what - 1977, yeah? The genocide of the indigenous is a mainstay of all imperialist colonial military conquests, no?
Was a Sioux sweatlodge a threat to the USA? No, the Sioux were just a perceived obstacle to the conquest of the atlantic to the pacific, right? Since no Europeans (except for Gaelic, Druid, scandinavian sauna-users etc etc etc) did sweatlodges, condemning sweatlodges and killing people for "committing" them was as least as logical as the criminalization of gold ownership in the USA in 1933.
I am sorry- sorrowed- sad- for all the difficulties that we bring now to this encounter with each other- to this exchange. I have been angry and afraid, and now I am just sorry for that too.
I know that others can forgive me- no matter what I have done or failed to do- for love is that powerful. That forgiveness, when they are ready, will be as much a blessing to them as my exchagne of resentment fror forgiveness has been for me. I even forgive others that I have resented and condemned and attacked- physically or otherwise. I am sorry for the attacks- by me, to me, etc. I am sorry for all the reasons that were used to defend the attacks- that the attacker was attacked first or worse or almost.
I am sorry for the angerings. I am sorry for the fearings. I am responsible for this choice I make now- to make amends- to correct- to heal- myself and others.
That is why I explored MKP. That is why I am still.
Any error that I may make as I do so, and any error that I may make as I do otherwise, are you willing to allow me the opportunity to do right- even at the risk of error? Are you willing to allow that of yourself?
Withdraw from and release all that does not serve, that does not fulfill. Even if that is a polygamist marriage. But do not stop there.
Clear all that impairs. Even if that is a vow of eternal celibacy. But, do not stop there.
Enact all that does serve, that does help, that does fulfill. Even if that may involve controversy. When we are done there, stop.
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Taking Care, We Fare Well!