More on Bernadette Roberts

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/15/00 4:51:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mumblecat writes:

 

<<

Thank you very much for those who posted

the link to Bernadette Roberts' story.

 

I found her story as retold by

Jerry Katz's summary

entirely fascinating (so much so I forgot I had

a supper to eat ). >>

 

l'm afraid l missed this. l would like to read his summary of her

story. Could Amanda or anyone else say again where it can be found? Thanx,

jerry

[Guest guest]

On Tue, 14 Mar 2000 19:15:57 James W. Orourke wrote:

>In the forward of her book "What Is Self" she

>mentions how much she owes her sisters family for taking her in and

>allowing her to live with them. Beyond that its hard to find out anything

>about her.

 

Thank you very much for those who posted

the link to Bernadette Roberts' story.

 

I found her story as retold by

Jerry Katz's summary

entirely fascinating (so much so I forgot I had

a supper to eat ).

 

It was fascinating to see how she went beyond

the loss of self and explored the non-self.

 

I was highly amazed to read that her

surroundings did not notice much to what went

on. I do guess it was due to the tempo of the

process and her mind, which seemed to be very

calm and capable of processing the changes

/ the undressing that went on.

 

It is also fun reading the process of someone

who does not put the experience in the words

(or at least not too much) of an already

existing tradition. This gives a great

immediacy, simplicity and accessabilit

to her words.

At the same time, at least I, can "read"

a lot of the same path that many other

seemingly disparate traditions speak of.

This is yet another way of describing

the process that seems to be more or less

common for those who walked it to its end.

 

It was also fascinating to read that she had

and older friend who underwent much the same.

Amazing ! )

 

Also, I was rather surprised to see that

the Kundalini Shakti appeared long after she

had experienced and been established in the

non-self stage. I do think Harsha has mentioned

how this can come about in an earlier post.

 

Thanks to Jerry for letting us read that.

 

There is one thing I keep wondering about

though.

Throughout large parts of the journey it seems

to me there was a great fear, first a fear

of annihilation and death. Then fear of madness

at a stage where one would not believe there

were anyone left to feel any fear and

especially not fear of insanity.

Also that she had periods of activity for

fear of "disappearing".

 

Also, it was interesting to see that the

changes went in jumps and that there had

to be an adjustment stage at each "stop".

 

Which is just what I'm going to do now

before I say something seriously stupid.

 

Love,

 

Amanda.

 

 

 

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