Real Life Inspiration for Dharma Initiative

[New Age Messiah]

There is a striking similarity between the symbols for the Ridhwan School and The Dharma Initiative.

Ridhwan was founded by A.H. Almaas, who wrote "The Inner Journey Home" as a synthesis of his thirty years RESEARCH and methods, and of his ten (or so) books about consciousness, spirit, truth, God, the universe, enlightenment, etc.

I think someone from the "Lost" show is familiar with Almaas' work, and it's the inspiration for the Dharma Initiative. So, I think the Dharma Initiative is good. Because Almaas' work is extraordinarily good.

The books aren't "about" the universe, like seeing it from a distance and observing it scientifically, they're about being the universe, realizing that's what you are, the universe.

http://www.ridhwan.org/

[Panda]

I only had one quick look at that website.
But I see only one logo.
Did this guy did test with time travel and Electromagnetism?
I haven't seen any spiritual self development activities in the DI we get to see in lost.
On the contrary. Roger Linus who seems not to get over the fact that his wife died when giving birth to his son, is drinking quite a lot....and there is no kind of diamond path opened up for him in the DI.
When we see the DI at work, it doesn't give me the impression that those who sign up to the DI are really given an opportunity to get some guidance or schooling in self development.

Of course it is possible that I just didn't catch that part of the DI and that I missed it.

But I am sure that you will be able to give some examples as you see the connection.

[New Age Messiah]

Namaste and Dharma are completely spiritual concepts. A list of definitions of namaste from this website follows.

http://yoga.lovetoknow.com/Namaste

In yoga, Namaste is often used as an expression of respect and goodwill. However, the phrase can be hard to translate in a more literal sense.

Here are some of the possible meanings experts have associated with the expression:

•"A reverential salutation to you.”
•“I bow to you.”
•“The spirit in me meets the spirit in you.”
•“I honor the place in you which is of love, truth, light, and peace.”
•“I salute the light of God in you.”
•“I behold God within you.”
•“I greet that place where you and I are one.”
•“I bow to the divine in you.”
•“I recognize that within each of us is a place where divinity dwells, and when we are in that place, we are one.”
•“I recognize that we are all equal.”
•“The entire universe resides within you.”

No matter which meaning you choose to associate with the term, Namaste should be thought of as a divine blessing. It honors sacredness and equality.

******************

It's billed as a spiritual program, (Dharma) to the recruits, for sure. What we've seen of their activities wasn't, but much of their activities we didn't see. It's a mystery.

Almaas's research is into the soul, and the soul is the universe. There is nothing out there that isn't in here. It's all one thing. No seperations or boundaries, no others. Attaching to fragments of memory and memorizing oneself as an identity is the human "suicide trajectory" (my words). Fixation, having an angle, point of view, all of that is ego clinging to something, holding on. When you are spirit, everything moves at light speed, particularly your own consciousness, there is no more "me". It's moving WAY too fast to hold onto. I've been pure spirit, for several minutes at a time, and you feel like you are the wind, your senses have no starting point and no ending point, no boundaries.

I think the show is going to try and get the spiritual truth from Ridhwan across to people, I think that's the ultimate goal. It has to do with a constant, a variable, others, etc. I'll write more if someone wants.

[Panda]

So the "namaste" greet is the only example you got?

So season 6 will be dedicated entirely to the Ridhwan teachings?
If not I don't see how they are gonna reach that goal.....as the namaste greet is rather poor as an introduction to Ridhwan. The namaste greet can bring people to many many teachings...but it would not be that Ridhwan thing in the first place.
Well I am not so sure that the show will go that direction.
Maybe it is maybe it isn't.

But many theories reveal most of the time what the theorists would like to see....not really what the writers have in mind.

So is it the case that you would love to get the Ridhwan truth spread into the world trough this show?

[New Age Messiah]

So the "namaste" greet is the only example you got?The name Dharma is spiritual, the symbol is almost a duplicate of the Ridhwan symbol. They're (Dharma) looking for something new, the Diamond Approach is truly groundbreaking radical stuff, new, truly. So season 6 will be dedicated entirely to the Ridhwan teachings? No, I think almost the whole show is meant to illustrate what people do from their ANGLE, from their point of view, and the island bewilders their point of view, and we're being set up to learn something new, and so are all the characters. You have to realize that your point of view is inadequate before you will ever listen to anything new.But many theories reveal most of the time what the theorists would like to see....not really what the writers have in mind.I think the writers in this particular show, based on the obvious spiritual messages, have spiritual lessons they want to teach. To me it's perfectly obvious. But most people have zero or barely more than zero clue about spiritual truth, so they wouldn't know. I think most people think spirituality is guessing or imagining. What it is is descending into the depths of consciousness, to find its origins, to trace its path through the soul to unite with it and be it without the stain of memory and attitude and temporal concerns.So is it the case that you would love to get the Ridhwan truth spread into the world through this show? Anyone who really investigates Almaas' work will know it's like ten phathoms above anyone else's in this field. He's Yoda. When you read his stuff, it's like, no one ever told the truth with so much wisdom, so much clarity, he's so gentle and unassuming, etc.

It seems that SOMEONE on the show investigated Almaas's work, and they maybe asked permission to use a similar symbol for the Dharma Initiative. There is definitely a formula for altering the trajectory of mankind, a constant and a variable. The constant is the heart, the variable is the mind. Almaas is a teaching how to find your way back into your heart, which is where God lives, so to speak, where the infinite wisdom and innocence reside, etc.

[Panda]

The concept Dharma and the greeting namaste existed long time before that Diamond approach.
To me it seems more that the Diamond approach is based on spiritual teachings that already existed long before Almaas was born.
He may have found a way to integrate some spiritual stuff that existed already long time, into his life and life work.....to create the Diamond approach and schools that teach his insights;
But in that case Dharma the word and concept and the namaste greeting are probably introduced into the show refering to these older teachtings.


So the writers probably have some spiritual knowledge and/or wisdom.
But they may have developed it directly from the source not necessarily trough the Diamond teachings.
What I mean is that there are many people that find their own path without even ever having heard about the teachings you are talking about.
There are even very spiritual and wise people that have never read a single book of the person you are talking about. As an individual can learn himself to find the way to their hart....just by experiencing life, without touching a single book.
But that really doesn't make them less spiritual and wise.

And reading books is not even a necessity to learn things in life or to do develop yourself . As words can always been misunderstood.
You can write down a word or say a word, but it hardly ever covers your entire intention or message.
70% of our communication is non verbal.

Anyway, I am happy for you that you found some teachings that helped you to find your way in life.
And if you believe that this show is all about showing other people that the teachings you find suitable for your life are the only right teachings, so it is your believe.
And if the writers reveal one day that they based their show on those same teachings as you are dedicated to, well so it will be as well

Namaste N A M

[New Age Messiah]

Actually, the "path in life" and "learning from words" are the polar opposite of what I was trying to say.

The teaching comes from a source you can't see, memorize or understand, PERIOD. It's a SPIRIT that does the teaching, your mind is HELPLESS to learn it.

Almaas teaches how to relate to SPIRIT, and how EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON EARTH blocks spirit, blocks truth, represses energies not fit for the outside world.

All the psychological complexities are built upon ego structures formed HELPLESSLY in early childhood. The mind roots itself in the body, almost inexoribly, no matter what, in childhood; every mind, every person, no exceptions.

Spiritual enlightenment has NOTHING to do with thoughts or learning as most understand them. You ESCAPE the cognitive realm completely and become SPIRIT. You never "think" as you understand that word, again.

Almaas has introduced a new method, and has made new discoveries, like new "consciousness planets" that others in his method also discover when they practice it properly. It takes five years at least of depth consciousness "exploration" very intentional, before you even discover the mind's "roots". Then it takes a lot more time to unroot the mind, actually allow spirit to unroot it.

It's not for those who like to collect knowledge, and show how much they know.

The writers of the show chose the word Dharma for a reason. They used the word namaste, for a reason. The shape may be coincidentally almost the same as Ridhwan, but given that the writers are very not stupid, they probably found the latest greatest most amazing spiritual teacher on planet earth, and read his book(s) and chose to implement his teaching somehow into the show, because it is the truth, unlike all religions and all myths.

Comprende?

[Panda]

Well I have to admit that I am not the smartest person in the world.
So it might be that I haven't understood everything you wrote.
And again English is not my mother tongue either what makes it sometimes difficult to get everything.

But I would like to add something.
It may be true that the writers know about the teachings.

But it doesn't prove that the Dharma Initiative is truly good.
For as far as we have seen in the show we just see common human behavior.
The use of the word Dharma, Namaste and the symbol does not reveal to us the real intentions of the DI up till now.

You probably heard of the symbol named swastika or even known under the name falun symbol.
It is a very ancient symbol and I ad just random a link to show about which logo I am talking.

http://www.falundafa.org/intro/0-falun.htm

Now in Europe there was one day a "leader" with a certain "ideology" and "regime" that used this symbol on his flags.

Now the initial intention and meaning of this symbol had nothing to do with fascism.
But it couldn't stop this particular man to use this symbol on his flags and costumes etc...
Now if you were only shown a part of the story of what happened one particular part of history in Europe, like see people working and stuff, and see the falun symbol...and interpret the symbol as a good thing....which it was originaly.....than you may believe that that Adolf Hitler and his regime is purely and good.
It is only from the moment that the atrocities see daylight that you may see that you can't judge upon a symbol and only half of a story weather the organization, regiome, or initiative is really entirely cool and right.

So that is why I am not that sure about how nice the DI really is. As we don't know that much.
Names, greetings and symbols may be abused for other reasons than teaching people a spiritual path.
Unless of course you believe that Adolf Hitler showed the spiritual path to the people of Europe.

[New Age Messiah]

Panda, yeah, everything you wrote is true. Symbols and stuff mean little in and of themselves.

I had this inkling the show was going to try to teach spiritual truth, truth that innocent children know before they ever "learn" anything. That's why the setting is a spiritual island.

That's what I THINK their motivation is. I don't know.

I think the "whispers" on the show are there to penetrate reification. Reificiation is a word that refers to the mind using memory rather than present moment awareness.

There is no memory, nothing, to relate the whispers to. The first response if FEAR. That's the way people are. They fear spirit. Once the mind's control mechanisms are released (the spiritual path is all about that) Spirit can begin to "teach". The whispers are there to break the chains the mind has on the person's spirit.

The mind has a schematic (subconscious) of what the person is, a diagram, but a person is Spirit and nothing more. Spirit doesn't flow well within the diagram, so the person becomes to some extent constricted and "fake". Attitudes replace present moment awareness and heart. Pompous heartless evil dictators like Hitler have completely blocked spirit.

[lilsev42]

Yes ,I see eye to eye with you about the soul and mind .What do you do for a living ,if you don't mind me asking?I've read a few of your threads and I like the open mindness and enlightment of your facts,good job

[New Age Messiah]

What do you do for a living ,if you don't mind me asking? I've read a few of your threads and I like the open mindness and enlightment of your facts,good jobI'm a monk on a bicycle in a small town in North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene. It's gorgeous, voted nicest town in America by somebody. As far as career type work, I don't have a job. I have an investor in my spirtual product, potential books, screenplay, etc.