Daniel M. Ingram:
Well,
this was an interesting read on BK.
The School sounds somewhat creepy, but clearly others have gotten a lot out of it. The very long days and fasts and other strange situations made me think of "The Teachings" mentioned by Bill Hamilton in Saints and Psychopaths, but then there may not be good close parallels in other aspects, as the comments about how BKs stuff did or didn't mimic standard cult practices shows.
I will do more research. Do we have a new AF suddenly arriving here? Time will tell.
Interestingly, my step-daughter just bought and started reading one of her books and just showed it to me a few weeks ago. She was finding it helpful, she said.
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(As a possibly totally unrelated aside: anyone familiar with Adi Da? Wow! That is some freaky stuff... My wife was just telling me about all the crazy stuff she was reading about his life and teachings and crazy "wisdom" and other totally narcissistic nut-job stuff: amazing what otherwise sane adults can believe and follow and in such large quantities.)
Had a conversation:
Today
9:13pm
AEN
daniel m. ingram asked regarding byron katie, " Anyone here have any real-world experience with her, such as hung out with her for any substantial period of time, know any reliable second-hand reports from years-long close colleagues, friends, siblings, parents, business associates and/or partner(s), know what she is like when not in front of a camera or on the front cushion, etc.? " in http://dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/discussion/-/message_boards/message/4565336
9:13pm
AEN
thought u might be an appropriate person to reply him
9:51pm
N
Hi Soh
hahahaha
Why does he need informations about BK?
10:01pm
N
Waw! I read that long comment... brilliant!
10:02pm
AEN
which comment?
10:02pm
N
But i should read all that thread to understand what it's about
Your comment
10:03pm
AEN
i see
that is byron's text
i believe u read it before?
10:04pm
N
Yes
I guess is great that you posted there...
"The work" is a really great tool
But it takes time and desire to understand "the work"
10:11pm
AEN
i see..
10:12pm
N
I was reading
http://www.theflawofattraction.com/one-persons-experience-with-byron-katie/
I found this link in Daniel's comment
hahahahahaha
What is said there is true, but only half and depend of our perception of things
Katie never forced or constrain someone to do something
She said from the beginning that if we don't trust the work or we are afraid of something, it is our freedom to don't follow what she is saying
Yes, we were asked not to use the phones those nine days, because we payed that money to focus on out mind and for that we need a quiet time... and she was right
Was like 9 days of meditation... writing down our thoughts and looking at them...
10:22pm
N
All nine days we had the best food i ever eat, the best fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, tea anytime, fish, a lot of food... was self-service, four places in the hotel where we could eat and in each place 4-5 very long tables with food... I honest never eat in my life so many and good fruits... those german people from the hotel was very kind and attentive us to have what we need all the day long
10:24pm
N
Yes, we had few days without food... anyone knows that only tea is cleaning the body and the mind is more quiet... it's not a secret... but if someone didn't want that, they got food... was totally freedom, totally our choice. Katie was just saying "would be good for you if you would do that, try and if it's not working, forget about it"....
10:25pm
N
Of course strong egos or people who was there only from curiosity didn't agree with that
Was the best nine days of my life...
So many people in the world are grateful for going to that school... so one or two who didn't like are not a problem... means their suffering didn't touch the limit... hahahaha
10:30pm
N
In a school are students (new to "the work") and facilitators like me... usually are 300 new students and 200 facilitators... Each new student can call or meet a facilitator 24/7 if has a problem or wants to do the work... no matter if it is the middle of the night... The school is perfect organize, you "feel" that you are not alone, even if are 500 people there...
10:32pm
AEN
wow.. sounds like a good retreat...
i think you should post it in dho about that
10:34pm
N
There are coming people with different levels of understanding and education and expectations... I expeceted nothing... I was going "blank" there... zero expectations... and was GREAT! I need two weeks to speak about it... was so many interesting exercises and enquiries...
No Soh... i don't post... my english is not so good.... hahahahaha
10:36pm
AEN
i see...
can i post this conversation there then? i can remove ur name if u like
10:37pm
N
Yes, you can, but without my name, please.... we are not allowed to give informations about the school...
10:37pm
AEN
i see.. ok.
thanks
10:38pm
N
Katie said that if i tell my story about school you can like it or not, better you to have your direct experience, and she is right...
10:38pm
AEN
i see..
10:38pm
AEN
i see..
10:39pm
N
Yes, the day i was alone in that town, without money, and didn't eat three days before, was the greatest experience of my life...
No passport, no money, no nothing... and Katie said : don't do idiot things, i will not take you out from police! hahahahahahaha
I was so afraid and curious in the same time...
We where not allowed to talk to people
10:41pm
AEN
i see.. that sounds wonderful. where was the retreat held?
10:42pm
N
We were allowed to smile and to sit close to people after asking : "May i join you?" ... i have even today in my bag some small papers where is written "May i join you?"
hahahahahhahahha
10:43pm
AEN
lol..
10:43pm
N
In Germany
Usually it is in julie
It is a huge hotel in a small village
Beautiful place
It is close to Koln
10:46pm
AEN
i see.. thats nice.. btw the thread says that byron claims to be free of beliefs, sadness anger or fear etc, is that true?
10:49pm
N
Yes
She claims that and in my experience it's true
Doing the work longer, the "windows" in the mind is changed... so if a negative thought is arising automatically the turn around arises too and laugher... hahahaha...
The mind "sees" the middle, always....
10:58pm
N
In the beginning of doing the work (maybe 5-6 months) the turnarounds are replacing the original stressful thought... but in time and if you follow The Institute of the Work for being facilitator, you have many Teleclasses on Skype where old facilitator are explaining deeper the functioning of the work... So in time, it is realized the neutral position of the mind, on a hand it is seen the stressful thought, on the other hand are seen minimum three turnarounds to that thought, and all of them are left behind, the mind finding peace into the heart... It is realized that all thoughts are equal true and untrue in the same time....
10:59pm
N
And this is the Middle Way in Buddhism... free from the fours extremes
The work it is a very very complex method
What is seen on youtube or in her books is maybe 10% from what is the work....
If one is doing the work honest and genuine (it is very important to be honest) it is free from emotions and "sit" in a clear mind each moment... and a clear mind is a kind mind....
And this is the biggest problem today in "spirituality" world.... no matter how awakened one is, if he doesn't solve the conditionings, he becomes aggressive and unkind... opossite to what these teachings are good for...
It is very rare one to leave behind the conditionings in the moment he/she awakened
So The Work, like Buddha, promise/invite people to stop suffering... and it is very possible if it is will and honesty
Of course no one is expecting the work to resonate with everyone... not everyone can open the mind and accept both polarities to be true...
And this is the beauty of life, abundance in teachings too