Theos-Talk Archives (December 2002 Message tt00295)

Dear Wry and everyone,

There are quite a few yahoo groups devoted to Fourth Way theory and practice, two of which I have experienced. One was extremely unpleasant, the other perhaps the most nurturing and stimulating yahoo group I've ever witnessed. It seems to me truly a waste of time and energy to hope or expect that theos-talk become such a list; even more a waste to reprimand people here for not being up to the standards of such a list. That seems ironic from an exponent of a tradition which aims to develop discrimination to help avoid wasting one's time and energy.

I certainly wouldn't introduce a chatty thread on recent books read on that Fourth Way list. There is a tension in the atmosphere that is quite positive, a keen attentiveness to one another's efforts. The kind of relaxation I've tried to induce here would not be appropriate there. But Wry, the kind of tension you are bringing to this list seems inappropriate to at least an equal degree.

Theos-talk has in my observation often been an extremely tense place, and the recent battles between the dueling webmasters were just a continuation of that tradition. I don't apologize for introducing a lighter note and trying to humanize the atmosphere some. If the result is offensive to anyone, I'd urge you to go to the no mail option. Cannot imagine anyone deliberately choosing to receive individual emails on a list as active as this.

The main difference between the two Fourth Way yahoo groups is the presence or absence of what was been called Work Personality. The kind of finger-wagging superiority that some Fourth Way students adopt as a persona is given free reign on one of those groups, and is absent from the other. Lest anyone here reach the conclusion that such a persona is unanimous among Fourth Way practitioners, I can testify to having encountered several who are warm, down to earth, and kind.

Cheers,

Paul