hi Quirky,

Thank you for replying with your three points that you wanted to make (about some of my posted reply to Will)

The struggle of contradiction, I believe - (again...just one person here) is not an either/or of Maharaji or Life.   The struggle is against struggling itself.  Sounding cliche, letting go, there is no either /or  One's evolvement into life is natural, beautiful, as you sound you are enjoying.  For me, that involves Knowledge and not the rituals, or concepts that hop on from decade to decade and then get replaced. When I see Maharaji, get involved in service, somehow life is integrated, healthy and whole. I've participated and not participated...in many areas, and those times are part of life and meaningful, and inspiring.

Looking foward to and enjoying to be with Maharaji is not the same as a dependency, if not being with him does not cause suffering.  The dependency on a physical point and time will surely let us down. Each person has their own view here.  Gaining inspiration when you are with Maharaji is not unhealthy, but very healthy.  I know the legacy, but we find the balance and respect and enjoy the times that happen and the experience that is.  

On the external organizations, I think we'll just disagree....you have to separate these entities from the experience and Maharaji.  He is not coordinating the minute details or even the structures, from my experience.  These things change and will continue. It seems that the preference, from him,  would always be to make them simpler and less bureacratic  But the nature of social organization is to establish their own identity and importance, often losing sight of their original purpose.

As far as being authentic, in this medium, there is a limit to how revealing I can or should be, because I write not to personally promote my self but to offer another view to some of the judgements and conclusions that are not based on the experience of knowledge.  For me, I'm a normal guy, born in the U.S.   Joined the ashram around 21 yrs old left around 30, got my grad degree in the late 80s at an East Coast University.  Now, married, with two teenage sons, living in Western U.S.  Working in  the bio-tech industrry.  I do get involved when I can, and was able to see the effort and work to spread knowledge from the conferences back at IHQ in the 70s, Atlantic City conf, all those conferences, trainings in the 90s, etc.  They were true experiences that can not be fully appreciated thru post transcripts or isolated quotes.  I feel fortunate and happy to be involved.  It's real.

~ Ghi