Well, although there may be hurt feelings, no one is being stoned to death here.
If anything, it seems to me that that quote is an anti-networking principle. We all have our sins, faults and imperfections, yes. The quote suggests, however, that because we're all imperfect, no one should ever speak up. I've encountered this BS before in New Age groups, it's like one of the central tenets - thou shalt not judge! In other words, 'don't ruin the vibe' or 'you're creating negativity.'
Nah, this isn't a witch hunt. Criticism doesn't imply superiority. I don't see people sharing here as projecting their personal miseries, either.
It's confusing because most people don't like judgment because they don't like conflict, and they don't like the truth because it often hurts. In other words, most people don't like the Work. And this is primarily a 4th Way forum for the Work as described in The Wave. One key aspect of the Work is making use of the Mirror, or offering objective feedback on any given topic, with the aim to get at the truth:
For me, that's a better image than perfection and/or casting stones. The 'level of sin' does not and should not place a limit on someone's ability to speak up and participate in the network. Only by talking about our faults and imperfections can we resolve them. And also developing the capacity to receive feedback, knowing that we do not know ourselves.
I totally get what your saying here and agree in many ways.. Although feel it's difficult to know someone well with online interaction, but I do understand that my way of presenting online IS the only thing that others will have to go on, so I also have a responsibility to make sure that I come across well, if possible! This is also quite difficult for me personally but I'm working on it.
I also think it's important to be honest with each other but if possible, expressing these truths with softness, kindness. And this isn't to say that folks here don't do this, its more a sentiment that i'd like to draw attention to. As this takes into account another point that the C's have told us. That the "good" people of this world have been wounded so much by society and family, which is why we find it so hard to get together. And the wounds caused by these situations imo are more likely to create defensive reactions in folks if they are so used to being attacked which is a point that Joe raised. So keeping this in mind may help to facilitate more harmonious interactions whilst still being honest. Not to say that tiptoeing around people is good.. Its more like just taking these things into account
You guys may think I'm a bit of a cupcake for saying this lol and its just an opinion of course which may be faulty I realise.
Although I do think it's good not to pre judge too much, because it's so easy to make errors in judgement. This isn't to say i think it's good to accept everything with an "anything goes" attitude, as part of life dictates that i must judge situations especially in relationships to lay healthy boundaries if something is becoming harmful to myself or others, but I don't find it easy to make the right judgements sometimes, it can be a real struggle. It's one of the reasons why I find networking so difficult online, as it's still difficult to really get to know a person really well, and there are still so many unknowns to me so I find it difficult to make judgements about people for this reason. The C's have also mentioned about networking without prejudice and with love. (If I remember rightly, it may not be their exact words). They also mentioned something about the mirror as being okay for more advanced lessons, something like "handle with care". Again not their exact words apologies.. But it was something along those lines.
I also see things in the context of wider society, which (as wider society is pretty toxic imo) doesn't share the values of this forum in that, say for example, if I said to someone things along the lines of them being egotistical, self aggrandising (if that's a word
), I wouldn't expect them to take it very well! I'd basically expect a defensive reaction (even if it is the "wrong" or unhealthy way to react).. As no one really whats to be seen as this kind of person even if its true. Not to say we should humor these social values, more like a defensive reaction it's to be expected to some extent. (Or at least that's how I perceive it). So sometimes someone new to the forum may not understand in the way we do. Again it's not to say this should be indulged too much, but to just take this into account.
I mean, I've been guilty of these failures many times and probably still am. But its taken a while to realise, and I've learned some harsh lessons as a result of these mistakes. Which were beneficial in hindsight so its still a tricky one, as even if my feelings were hurt it had a positive effect. So its a difficult balance to get for me. But I guess that's where networking comes in to get this balance by sharing impressions etc..
For me the saying "he who is without sin cast the first stone" , reminds me that I wasn't always at a stage of development where I could accept criticism with Grace, (And I'm still working on it as its not easy). I found a trait in myself where seem to forget too easily what an absolute nightmare I was, and the saying helps me to remember.
When I was younger what a complete tool.
Sometimes here i feel so completely out of my depth here amongst people that are much further along in the work and are way more intelligent than me and I get really nervous about posting for this reason lol, but it does get easier with time. .
I do also totally get that say, if people keep covering for my mistakes and giving positive feedback when I probably deserve a good kick in the backside isnt going to do me any good!