[Buddha-l] RE: Article of possibleinterest--correction

[Joy Vriens]

Lance,

>>  In fact, what made something unorthodox in the Catholic tradition  
>>was a direct experience of God, without the intermediairy of Christ  
>>and outside the traditional means that the church offered. As long  
>>as one respects that rule, one has the right to become as mad as a  
>>hatter. 
 
>This rather extreme formulation really applies to the situation from  
>the 17th century (Quietists etc.) and is in part a reaction to the  
>Protestant attack. 

Well, what did the church condemn in Protestantism ? What were Eckhart and Marguerite Porete condemned for? 
 
>>  >We have to remember that belief in multiple lives was common (if not  
>>>normative) among intellectuals at the time of the rise of  
>>>Christianity. I suspect that it was not unusual among early  
>>>Christians, but a considerable effort was made to prohibit the idea  
>>>at a later date. 

>>Normative, I don't know, but it was an idea that circled although it  
>>was not a fundamental idea without which a religious or  
>>philosophical system would fall and lose its raison d'être. 
 
>I was thinking of the period around the third century when  
>Neoplatonism was very much the dominant tradition. Were there any  
>Neoplatonists who didn't believe in reincarnation ? 

I don't know about their personal beliefs but their general theories didn't live or die by the belief in "reincarnation" or the lack thereof. Besides their idea of "reincarnation" is rather a byproduct of gradual purification/refinement or "desincarnation". 
 
>>The Cathars seemed to have believed in reincarnation as well. 
 
>I have heard that, but never seen any definite proof. 

No doubt about it according to René Nelli, a French specialist in Catharism, who says that one can't insist enough on the importance of the belief in reincarnation for the Cathars in the 13th century. (La vie quotidienne des Cathares du Languedoc au xiiième siècle).

>>  >I don't know that I believe in the 'subconscious' but it is clear  
>>>that a process of this sort can occur. Indeed, that is obvious from  
>>>dreams. But I would think of the meditative process as cleansing the  
>>>mind from this kind of distorting tendency. 
 
>>It all depends on what one understands by meditation... If it is to  
>>feed the mind with ideas, beliefs and images, I am not so sure 
 
>It almost certainly depends on how instruction is given. 

Well if in-struction is given, then the "how" seems of less importance. ;-) 
 
>>I am pretty distrustful of correct memories of childhood. I am not  
>>sure correct memories exist. How does one correctly revive something  
>>that is gone? 
 
>There is a description of how to do this in Achaan Brahm's latest book :-) 

Can you give a hint without spoiling the plot of the book? :-)

Joy