"Only the permanent is real. Discussion of the unreal reinforces beliefs in unreal concepts. Concepts are defined as 'theories.' Theories are dreamed up by men. Things dreamed up are dreams, not real. So much for any concepts."
From Jim in Georgia, U.S.A.: Hello. My name is Jim and I’m an alcoholic from Atlanta. A woman in my home group gave me a copy of your book. I just got into Level Three and I disagree completely with some of your comments to the man from AA. I especially think you’re wrong about the value of sharing experience, strength and hope, and you were completely wrong about his conception of God. I am not religious but I am spiritual, and I found God around the tables of AA. THAT is what is letting me be of service and help others, so let’s not discount what we offer, OK?
F.: Hi, Jim! Welcome! (Sorry. I just wanted to make you feel at home. Ha.) Thanks for your letter. While the discussion of specifics about any group would typically not occupy space in a post on this site, your comments will be addressed for two reasons. (1) Recently, an inordinate number of AA-ers are visiting the site and corresponding. [Even as they claim they got it all in their program, most are still looking outside of their program for something more. I heard recently from another man in AA who said, “I had reached the point where I decided that if this is all there is, I might as well die, and then I found this site and I'm learning what I was missing.”] The other reason your comments shall be addressed is (2) The Advaita Teaching is usually presented in this fashion: (a) a pointer is offered (b) a person embroiled in an ego-state/persona challenges the pointer (c) clarification is offered (d) the person understands how it was a false role driving him to feel offended and make the challenge (e) the person gives up playing that role and moves a degree closer to Realization or (f) the person stays trapped in the false identity and leaves angry (as you saw a person do in the book). Your challenge, therefore, is welcomed and your comments shall be addressed.
Let’s take your remarks in order. Since the only book with a “Level Three” that includes an exchange with a member of AA is From the I to the Absolute (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality), your friend obviously gave you a copy of that book. So, a woman in your group gave you that book while surely knowing about the exchange with an AA-er in Part Three. Yet she—also in AA—gave you the book anyway. What do you think she may have seen in you that made you the one she passed it on to? Or, what have you not yet seen—since you haven’t read the other four parts of the book—that she obviously thought you should know? Next, as far as the value of sharing about the temporary—those personal experiences, notions of strength and power, and thoughts of hope about a future that is an image...the accuracy of that pointer stands. Why? Only the permanent is real. Discussion of the unreal reinforces beliefs in unreal concepts. Concepts are defined as “theories.” Theories are dreamed up by men. Things dreamed up are dreams, not real. So much for any concepts. So we come to your claim that you are not religious but are spiritual. Actually, according to the book used by your program, you are religious and you are not spiritual. That is based in your founders’ definitions, not any others. [To be continued 3 October 2005] Please enter the silence of contemplation.
F.: Hi, Jim! Welcome! (Sorry. I just wanted to make you feel at home. Ha.) Thanks for your letter. While the discussion of specifics about any group would typically not occupy space in a post on this site, your comments will be addressed for two reasons. (1) Recently, an inordinate number of AA-ers are visiting the site and corresponding. [Even as they claim they got it all in their program, most are still looking outside of their program for something more. I heard recently from another man in AA who said, “I had reached the point where I decided that if this is all there is, I might as well die, and then I found this site and I'm learning what I was missing.”] The other reason your comments shall be addressed is (2) The Advaita Teaching is usually presented in this fashion: (a) a pointer is offered (b) a person embroiled in an ego-state/persona challenges the pointer (c) clarification is offered (d) the person understands how it was a false role driving him to feel offended and make the challenge (e) the person gives up playing that role and moves a degree closer to Realization or (f) the person stays trapped in the false identity and leaves angry (as you saw a person do in the book). Your challenge, therefore, is welcomed and your comments shall be addressed.
Let’s take your remarks in order. Since the only book with a “Level Three” that includes an exchange with a member of AA is From the I to the Absolute (A Seven-Step Journey to Reality), your friend obviously gave you a copy of that book. So, a woman in your group gave you that book while surely knowing about the exchange with an AA-er in Part Three. Yet she—also in AA—gave you the book anyway. What do you think she may have seen in you that made you the one she passed it on to? Or, what have you not yet seen—since you haven’t read the other four parts of the book—that she obviously thought you should know? Next, as far as the value of sharing about the temporary—those personal experiences, notions of strength and power, and thoughts of hope about a future that is an image...the accuracy of that pointer stands. Why? Only the permanent is real. Discussion of the unreal reinforces beliefs in unreal concepts. Concepts are defined as “theories.” Theories are dreamed up by men. Things dreamed up are dreams, not real. So much for any concepts. So we come to your claim that you are not religious but are spiritual. Actually, according to the book used by your program, you are religious and you are not spiritual. That is based in your founders’ definitions, not any others. [To be continued 3 October 2005] Please enter the silence of contemplation.
