10-06-2012, 09:55 AM
(07-26-2012, 12:42 PM)Jim Kent + Wrote: Greetings sisters and brothers,
I apologise if this has been pointed out by other members in other threads, but as I found out when I questioned Carla on the radio show, if your sole motivation in being Service-To-Others is just to become Harvested, then this becomes Service-To-Self and you will not Graduate on the STO path...
I think that this particular scenario has some relevance to me personally, that is, in spending some much of my time worrying if I have Graduated or not, I have actually depolarized to some significant degree!
Anyone else found themselves in this predicament?
Jim
Although I am greatly drawn to this material, I don't think there is a rapidly approaching deadline, after which people will have missed the boat. I'm not even sure that time actually exists -- all that exists is the NOW. I would be more inclined to say that this particular myth is very useful to many of us as we practice our dharma. As we go along our way, we may refine or recreate our myth.
I, too, have wondered about STS and STO, because it does seem that one cannot help another without helping oneself. Once one truly understands and embraces that concept, then it becomes a moot point. Whenever I intend or undertake to do something helpful to another, I am helping myself. Therefore, helping others is more and more of an attractive proposition. If I tried to pretend I did not know that, then it would seem the only way I could move forward would be to try to cause suffering for myself in order to prove I was being unselfish. I won't even bother to discuss the ramifications of such a position.
I believe in my version of the New Testament, Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself," not "instead of yourself" or better than yourself.
Ra mentioned that Jesus had something of a "distortion" towards martyrdom, and that Carla has the same. I believe he also said the wisdom is superior to martyrdom, although I would have to go back and do some reading to find out for sure if I'm remembering these bits correctly.