Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome ("TIDS")

[American Dream]

http://www.buddhistpeacefellowship.org/ ... o-wake-up/

Assata’s Invitation To Wake Up

Posted by: Katie Loncke Posted date: May 03, 2013



People get used to anything. The less you think about your oppression, the more your tolerance for it grows. After a while, people just think oppression is the normal state of things. But to become free, you have to be acutely aware of being a slave.


Assata Shakur (who lives in exile in Cuba, and just became the first womanon the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List) was referring to the oppression of Black people in the U.S. when she wrote these words in her autobiography. But is it just me, or do they resonate with Buddhist imperatives to wake up? To recognize dukkha, the illusions of samsara, the prison of craving and the construct of the self?

Take care, BPFers, enjoy the weekend, and practice like your hair is on fire and your people must become free.

[Simulist]

I take it this "Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome" is a personal hobby horse of yours, American Dream?

You'd think the Data Dump would be a more appropriate place for it. Yes? No? Maybe?

No, this thread belongs on the front page all the time.

Why?

(Other than, as someone put it, "It's awesome." I'm asking why it's supposedly so "awesome" that it deserves to be "on the front page all the time.")

[American Dream]

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2 ... deal-drugs

Former SF teahouse owner sentenced for conspiracy to deal drugs
By: Mike Aldax | 04/28/13

The former owner of a Mission district teahouse has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute large amounts of ecstasy and LSD.

Oshan Cook, 35, of San Francisco, was one of four people who were charged in connection with an undercover U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency buy-bust operation in Oakland on April 22, 2010. He was wearing a backpack containing 630 grams of ecstasy and 39.9 grams of liquid LSD, and was described as the supplier for the others, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said.

Although Cook’s initial trial ended in mistrial, he was convicted following a retrial on Nov. 1. The decision came as a blow to Cook’s supporters, who say Cook and his former business, Om Shan Tea, provided a community service.
The teahouse doubled as a holistic healing center and a hub for tea culture, according to Cook and his supporters. Cook claims the drugs that have imprisoned him had no ties to the shop, which also hosted AA meetings and other 12-step programs for addicts.

Cook had faced a minimum of 10 years in prison in connection with the charges. He and his supporters had argued that such a sentence is too stiff for an otherwise productive citizen, calling his case another failure of the war on drugs.

An Indigogo campaign to fund Cook’s legal defense fell just short of the $25,000 goal. Supporters also followed a Facebook page in which Cook provided updates from jail.

Cook’s is the only one of the four cases to go to trial. The other three people who were arrested pleaded guilty, with two serving longer than five-year sentences and the third 18 months.

[Sounder]

conniption wrote:

I take it this "Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome" is a personal hobby horse of yours, American Dream?

You'd think the Data Dump would be a more appropriate place for it. Yes? No? Maybe?

AD doesn't do questions conniption.

With American Dream there are no answers because nobody is home.

Maybe that's his meta-message.

Anyway both his admirers and detractors prefer that he remain silent.

And this does deserve to always be front page material, because well, it's on the front page. scheeh.

[Simulist]

conniption wrote:

I take it this "Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome" is a personal hobby horse of yours, American Dream?

You'd think the Data Dump would be a more appropriate place for it. Yes? No? Maybe?

AD doesn't do questions conniption.

With American Dream there are no answers because nobody is home.

Maybe that's his meta-message.

Anyway both his admirers and detractors prefer that he remain silent.

Which continues to inspire the question: "Why does this topic deserve always to remain on the front page of 'General Discussion' if even its most prolific contributor doesn't discuss it?"

[FourthBase]

I mean this oh-so-nicely:
Please shut up with the complaints.

[Simulist]

I mean this oh-so-nicely:
Please shut up with the complaints.

And I mean this oh-so-nicely:

No.

[undead]

First - AD does answer questions. Fourthbase just asked a question 1 page upthread and AD answered with a very lengthy and informative post.

Second, this thread is a discussion of the intersection between radical politics, psychedelia, guru cults, and MKULTRA, among other things. It is a discussion, just one that most people are not interested in having. Some people are, though, so if you don't want to read it then don't read it.

It belongs on the front page all the time because AD takes the time to continuously post interesting and inspirational material, as well as articles related to the deep politics of the above mentioned areas. To me it is the most interesting ongoing discussion on this site, and I think others appreciate reading it as well.

Before you complain about it go back and read the entire thing from the beginning. If you don't read the whole thing then of course it isn't going to make sense.

It doesn't belong in the Data Dump because it isn't made of data.

[Simulist]

First - AD does answer questions. Fourthbase just asked a question 1 page upthread and AD answered with a very lengthy and informative post.

Second, this thread is a discussion of the intersection between radical politics, psychedelia, guru cults, and MKULTRA, among other things. It is a discussion, just one that most people are not interested in having. Some people are, though, so if you don't want to read it then don't read it.

It belongs on the front page all the time because AD takes the time to continuously post interesting and inspirational material, as well as articles related to the deep politics of the above mentioned areas. To me it is the most interesting ongoing discussion on this site, and I think others appreciate reading it as well.

Before you complain about it go back and read the entire thing from the beginning. If you don't read the whole thing then of course it isn't going to make sense.

It doesn't belong in the Data Dump because it isn't made of data.

Well, that's at least some engagement in a thread normally bereft of it — although I think you are incorrect on a number of points.

(1) This thread is simply not a "discussion," because a discussion requires... you know: discussion. And, with rare exceptions, discussion is not happening. (At least it wasn't until somebody asked what the hell this topic was doing in General Discussion, and someone else insisted on an answer. Now we're having a bit of a... discussion.)

(2) It might belong on the front page of General Discussion, if discussion about the material (much of which is, admittedly, interesting) were taking place! — it isn't.

(3) Yes, much of the material is both "interesting" and perhaps even "inspirational," but the very title of this non-discussion is a falsehood: there is really no such thing as "Tantra-induced Delusional Syndrome" — and it is an insulting falsehood to some of us who see a degree of value in this style of meditation. But even that might not seem nearly so insulting if American Dream weren't so insistent upon having a non-discussion about this non-syndrome as s/he goes about churning out post after non-interactive post, keeping this non-discussion on the very first page of... you got it: General Discussion.

• A little engagement, please, if we must see this thread title everyday as it proposes to us that "tantra" may be liable to "induce" some "delusion" of some sort or another in those of us who value its merits or even among those who suppose that there might be some!

With some exceptions, Sounder is exactly right when he wrote generally, and said that American Dream "doesn't do questions"; hence, by not "doing questions," s/he is not engaging in discussion. And, for the greater part, no one else here is either. In this topic. In General Discussion.

And in the absence of discussion, this is Data Dump material.

[American Dream]

Just fyi, I sometimes do discuss things here but not an awful lot of late. I mean no offense by this to anyone and have in the past engaged more in conversation- this may vary, according to time and topic. Also I am by no means "against" tantra, drugs, mysticism or any of that and do feel that delusion is an occupational hazard of these pursuits that should be taken into account but am ultimately positive about them. Perusing the whole thread will give a broader view of its contents and yes, MKULTRA does loom large...


A.D.

[undead]

(3) Yes, much of the material is both "interesting" and perhaps even "inspirational," but the very title of this non-discussion is a falsehood: there is really no such thing as "Tantra-induced Delusional Syndrome" — and it is an insulting falsehood to some of us who see a degree of value in this style of meditation.

This issue has already been raised, discussed, and passed over during the course of this discussion. In fact I was making the same argument you are making now, and there was a very interesting exchange which yielded a new direction for the thread. Unfortunately people who open themselves in a radical way are often at risk to be manipulated and deluded by unscrupulous actors - hence guru cults, psychedelia, and MKULTRA. You should really just read the whole thread instead of complaining about it. Why bother complaining, anyway? Nobody is forcing you to click on it. Are you just bored? It is good that all these articles are collected in this one thread - otherwise there would be constantly separate threads cluttering the front page and that would be a lot worse than whatever it is that is bothering you.

[Simulist]

(3) Yes, much of the material is both "interesting" and perhaps even "inspirational," but the very title of this non-discussion is a falsehood: there is really no such thing as "Tantra-induced Delusional Syndrome" — and it is an insulting falsehood to some of us who see a degree of value in this style of meditation.

This issue has already been raised, discussed, and passed over during the course of this discussion. In fact I was making the same argument you are making now, and there was a very interesting exchange which yielded a new direction for the thread. Unfortunately people who open themselves in a radical way are often at risk to be manipulated and deluded by unscrupulous actors - hence guru cults, psychedelia, and MKULTRA. You should really just read the whole thread instead of complaining about it. Why bother complaining, anyway? Nobody is forcing you to click on it. Are you just bored? It is good that all these articles are collected in this one thread - otherwise there would be constantly separate threads cluttering the front page and that would be a lot worse than whatever it is that is bothering you.

What a lame response on your part.

An intelligent question was raised by Conniption; instead of responding to it in any well-considered fashion, American Dream simply ignored it, while you and FourthBase offered minimal responses. Upon reading that, I wanted to know more: precisely, "Why does this topic deserve always to remain on the front page of 'General Discussion' if even its most prolific contributor doesn't discuss it?"

Instead of even feigning any semblance of an intelligent reply, FourthBase just told me to "shut up," mis-characterizing my legitimate question as a "complaint."

My question hadn't been a complaint, it had been a question — but now, by God, it is a complaint.

I understand just as well as you do that persons "who open themselves in a radical way are often at risk to be manipulated and deluded by unscrupulous actors." There are numerous ways to do that. It's been done to me, for God's sake! So no: I'm not just "bored," as you insultingly asked. I have a very personal stake in this. I think the direction of this thread is wrong-headed because it tells a one-sided truth. By the simple fact that what routinely happens in this thread is NOT a bona fide "discussion" — normally just a steady stream, post-after-inexorable-post, of supporting evidence for that one-sided truth — this thread (including the very title of this thread) has helped introduce and now reinforces a false perception that certain types of spiritual practice, which are normally benign and sometimes even beneficial, are inherently dangerous.

That is a lie, all wrapped up in the truth.

And it remains this kind of functional lie, whether one chooses "to click on it," or not! — because that one-sided truth ("Tantra-induced Delusional Syndrome") is constantly being told on the front page of "General Discussion," each and every day.

While acknowledging that manipulations most decidedly do occur (having been on the receiving end of several forms of these manipulations as I once alluded to, Undead, in the context of a private message to you [10.10.2011], whereupon I asked about the origins of your former "visual snow" avatar), to acknowledge just that and only that on a regular basis is to take part in a deception.

Or, shall I say, a delusion.

[American Dream]

"Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome", in the overall sense of this thread, is much more of an initiate's jest than any sort of fire and brimstone fulmination against mystical practices per se . I strongly recommend looking over the whole thread to get a sense of what it might encompass.

[Simulist]

"Tantra-Induced Delusional Syndrome", in the overall sense of this thread, is much more of an initiate's jest than any sort of fire and brimstone fulmination against mystical practices per se .

That's good to know...

I strongly recommend looking over the entire thread to get a sense of what it might encompass.

... because having "looked over the entire thread to get a sense of what it might encompass" (I was one of your first readers, as you can see on page #1), it certainly does look a bit like a "fulmination against mystical practices," albeit minus the "fire and brimstone."

[undead]

Considering that the title, at this point, is basically an obscure reference to the article that precipitated the discussion, I think it would not be unreasonable to update the title to reflect the ongoing discussion. I always thought that "LSD Induced Delusional Syndrome" would cover a very wide range of the material covered here, including much of the supposedly tantra induced delusions. A "Spiritual Counterculture Manipulation" master thread might also be an appropriate title.

I think this thread has been quite positive on mystical spiritual practices, but also separating the wheat from the chaff in the context of materialist political concerns, which is a very rare perspective and a good reason for keeping this discussion going on the front page.