[Buddha-l] Re: Religious, But Not Spiritual

[Bshmr at aol.com]

Friends and others,
 
I, too, am surprised that the subject of Ken Wilbur et al has  garnered so 
many column inches at buddha-l.
 
My exposure came through one lay-dharma facilitator at a  non-denominational 
Tibetan church; the guy had a small loyal following which I  sometimes 
referred to as The Cult or Gang of 'M'. In addition, the  Gang or Cult met at a 
rental chapel to sit, dharma study, and  such. I participated, as a token 'black 
sheep' no doubt, in both  sanghas though months of the usual fare.
 
Then, at the chapel, I vaguely recall listening to an IntegralNaked  audio of 
a workshop focusing on "Big Mind" meditation. It struck me as being  very 
hypnotic (in a clinical sense), reminiscent of well done EST or  Forum or 
Mind-Control, etc. and which I would differentiate from well done  ethical NLP and a 
host of other guided imagery. As the informal gathering  continued to explore 
and allied with an Integral Studies group, I found  something else to do that 
night of the week.
 
Soon after, the Tibetan center offered a dharma class based of 'The Best of  
Ken Wilbur'. I checked out a library copy, blitzed it, concluded it was very  
hypnotic (in the clinical sense) ..., and signed up for some other dharma 
class.  Though I continued with dharma at the Tibetan center, I lost sight of  all 
of the Wilburites, those in both cults or gangs. 
 
To this day, the common non sequitur of an individual being able to  
manipulate their EEG (ElectroEncephaloGraph) or recite glossaries of yogan  as 
indicative of wisdom or well-being bewilders me. For those who haven't heard,  Ken 
Wilbur is reputed to able to 'baseline' some EEG channels --  something which 
may be rare but not as rare as one knowing that one  can or making a big deal 
over it.
 
 
Richard Basham 



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