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Post by Shrug on Mar 7, 2005 16:03:11 GMT -5
I have been unable in these past few hours of learning of Richards and Leslies divorce, it find much concrete information. I suppose it does not really matter. What matters is my shcoke and dismay. How could any two beings, filled with so much light, and life, and learning possbily walk away from each other. There is a tightness in my chest at this news. I do not know whether to cry or to give in to rage, or hopelessness. I never made an icon, or even an example of either of them. I simply took comfort in the knowledge that there were two people in the world so much like my wife and I. I thought "here, of all the people in the world, are two people who understand what I understand, believe what I believe". It all seems unreal to me. We took very similar paths, Richard and I, and I thought we ended up at the same conclusions. I am as happy with my wife as is possible and happier every single day. My love for her, my respect is such that I feel like I am going to burst with joy each day. The next day I feel it even more. In an infinite universe are we not capable of infinite love, of infinite, learning and growing? If so, how is it possible that two people could part after growing so much together? The only thing I can think of which makes any sense is that Richard has some sort of spiritual learning disability. I thought he had moved past the point of endless beginnings and on to real growth and learning. All he really did was stretch out his beginning with Leslie to a very long one. Now he has begun again. Just this morning I was thinking of writing a letter to Richard and Leslie to tell them how much they meant to us, now every Bach book I have is heading for the garbage. After learning what I have how can I ever trust any word which issues forth from him again? Leslie saved his life in so many ways, helped him grow beyond what he ever thought possible, and he repays her by reverting back to a selfish bastard? Unbelievable! What an incredible hypocrite. I will be a long time recovering from this news. I know when I share this with my wife tonight we will cry at the loss and waste of it all, but then we will dry our tears and continue on with our never-ending journey, together as we have for hundreds of years.
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Post by Bluebird on Mar 7, 2005 16:39:37 GMT -5
That was my reaction, too, when I first heard about it. I was stunned, too astonished to say a word. It felt like this feeling of doubt was creeping into me, breakin everything I stood on. I never idolized Richard Bach and Leslie Parrish, but they set the example I wanted to follow. I had found my soulmate some years before, and I thought nothing could break us apart. So, if someone else believed as strongly as I did, how could they decide to break up?
I think it took me a couple of years to understand, to really chew through what RB himself had said about the subject. And learning he had another girlfgriend (wife?) who was a lot younger didn't really help it, either. I thought bach at Illusions, and I felt he had consciously left a back door open: "everything may be wrong", and used it.
Then I understood the concept in a different way. We might have one soulmate, but we have several soul-friends. All teach us different things, each one as important. Like a class of students on the same level. The soulmate I share my life with now may be the closest of the bunch, and we probably meet again, as we have done in previous lifetimes.
Perhaps Leslie and Richard were so fast to learn their lessons, that they could proceed one step further as intended during one lifetime?
Richard Bach writes so much more truth than what is reflected from his personal relationship with Leslie Parrish. Please do not throw away his books just because the perfect romantic story did not end the way you thought was best - I'm sure it ended the way RB and LP wanted it to end. Their story is beautiful, and will always remain beautiful. What once was there will never leave, and it does not mean that the message of love fails, because love is never wrong.
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Post by Dwayne on Mar 7, 2005 18:20:09 GMT -5
Shrug, Welcome to the forum. Yes, many if not most of us went through the shock of learning of the parting. Many of us went through/are going through/will go through a process much like grieving a loved one who's passed on from this "blink-of-an-eye" life ... something like shock ... bewilderment ... anger ... depression ... acceptance... & I, like you, felt something sink inside when learning of this unfortunate happening for so many of us who, for decades, had the spark of hope saved from belief that there is such a reality of a one-&-only Soulmate. Am suggesting that you give it 3 or 4 days to allow it all to turn before tossing Richard's books. Their navigations remain honest in those moments& there continues to be much to learn from through them. Peace come fast to your heart, Shrug, as when it comes right down to it: neither Leslie or Richard betrayed any of us. Blessings ... ~Dwayne~
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Post by Edina on Mar 7, 2005 21:20:47 GMT -5
Welcome on board Shrug! Yes, even they can change and take off into different directions, but that doesn't mean what they experienced together wasn't real or worthy of their time. To find someone who will always take the same road and have the same goals&beliefs as you is very difficult, if not entirely impossible. We all change.
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Shrug
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Post by Shrug on Mar 8, 2005 18:58:38 GMT -5
Well whatever rationale went along with the whole thing, it still leave me dissapointed and with a sense of betrayal. It is like everything he wrote is just so much BS! Even if what he wrote was fiction, he should still believe in it, of that makes any sense to you. I have published several science fiction short stories and my characters whether they are from earth or alien never act in a manner inconsistent with my personal beliefs. No, I do not think I will be reading any more Richard Bach. I would rather read fiction that a writer believes in than fact which he does not.
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Post by Edina on Mar 8, 2005 20:16:46 GMT -5
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Shrug
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Post by Shrug on Mar 8, 2005 20:27:34 GMT -5
I read that, yes. The problem is, that I just do not believe him. Luckily I had reached my own conclusions about the truth of the universe long before. I just felt that I had found somebody besides my wife who also saw the same truths. I was wrong. Maybe in a few more lifetimes he will get it right. Luckily for me, this is my last time through this particular planet.
Perhaps he and Leslie have to meet several more times to achieve real understanding. If they are soulmates, the will end up together eventually.
I am very sad that he has not yet learned what he needs to.
I believe that Leslie has, but she will come back a few more times to help him along.
I think Richard may need to meet a few more challenges before he gets his learning right.
For some reason, that brings a very odd metaphor to mind. In Karate Kid 2, Daniel asks Mr Miagi if he can break a branch with his bare hands, like Sato can. Mr. Miagi answers "Don't know, never been attacked by tree"
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Post by Edina on Mar 8, 2005 20:40:59 GMT -5
Perhaps.
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Shrug
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Post by Shrug on Mar 8, 2005 20:48:10 GMT -5
One more thing comes to mind. No, I do not 'believe' in Richard Bach, nor do I set him up as an icon. Here is how I see it though.
When people go to church, they do not believe in the building, they do not believe in the minister, they believe in god. What if the minister suddenly stood at the pulpit one day after 21 years of preaching and said, oh by the way I do not really believe any of this so I am off to become a buddhist.
Imagine how the people in the church would feel. They would most likely not give up thier belief in god, but they would certainly be shaken up and unlikely to trust the word of that or any other minister again.
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Post by Edina on Mar 9, 2005 0:24:29 GMT -5
Sure. He has the right to change his mind and choose a different future, or a different past. Remember, we are all free to do, whatever we want to do. Now, I could have put this between quotation marks... Anyway, my point is, you cannot expect anyone to live his/her life for others, be that Richard Bach or a minister. They should be responsible for their own lives only, and if you decide to build your life on their beliefs is your decision and perhaps problem, if you don't change or learn the same way as they do. Now as a consequence of your favorite author's decision, you feel betrayed. What now? Will your life change or be effected by this? Then that would mean they worshipped the minister all along, instead of God, even if their phony ego told them otherwise.
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Post by Bluebird on Mar 9, 2005 3:18:37 GMT -5
Oh my... there are so many thoughts here I'd like to reply to... Let's see if my posting will make any sense. I must say, I also wondered how much his beliefs have changed since the divorce. He seemed to be on a wonderful journey to self-discovery and truth, but after his divorce his books have changed majorly. They are not less beautiful, just very much different, even if the message is the same. More... imaginary, perhaps, and careful. Perhaps he realized he did end up as a guru anyway, and doesn't want to make the same mistake twice? The story about the people and the minister... You do have a point there, and the people would be shaken, or doubting their own beliefs. Just like Edina said, there is also the risk that some people worshipped the minister instead of God. Yet I'm sure that, judging from your previous posts, that was not your intention with the metaphore. However, I would see it more like the minister not being true to himself, preaching someone else's truth. And if he goes off to become a buddhist he hasn't understood that there's truth in every religion. I don't believe there's one single correct way to leave this dimension forever. It doesn't have to go like this: "realize your true nature-find your soulmate-discover the truth together". If it were so, we could not shape our own destiny, nor could we allow ourselves or anyone else the right to free belief.
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Post by JTwolf on Mar 9, 2005 10:38:43 GMT -5
Hello Shrug....... Shrug, I have to say that I feel sad for you.....
I have to ask, what does it matter what the preacher himself/herself believes or doesn't believe to be true AT THE MOMENT of his/her personal revelation? Its the message that is true. IF YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT! I suggest you go back to the link that Edina supplied and re-read it, not Richards interveiw....but the "fictional" story in the middle and most especially the words.....ALL THE WORDS...written by Chuck in the middle, right after the "story".....if you are as enlightended as you profess to be, then I really feel that that would/should be of some comfort to you. I don't mean this as a personal attack, but I do have to confess to feeling some angst at your words and profession of your plans in regards to RB's writings. See, even when we don't want to, we still set people like RB up as "Messiahs" or "Guru's" or cult preachers or insert name here. Just the fact that one would say:
means that in some sense he was "set up" as a sort of demi-god. How about just accepting the fact that what he wrote was truth FOR HIM for over 21 years.....and STILL IS! Your truth is for you to find. He is a human being living his own life. Re-read in One where he and Leslie ran across Jean-Paul LeClerc and the description of the "Keeper of the Pages"......aren't we all doing that same thing to RB's books and writings?? IT'S NOT RB THAT IS IMPORTANT!! IT IS THE MESSAGE IN THE WORDS THAT ARE PASSED ON TO US THROUGH HIM!! HE WAS MERELY THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH THEY ARRIVED TO US IN THIS SPACE TIME IN WHICH WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS THING WE CALL LIFE!! Excuse me for shouting, but I feel very strongly about this and really want to have this be clear. Personally, there are many many times when I am counseling with someone and words will come out of me that I do not have a clue of where they come from! Do I personally live those words and beliefs they represent? NO!!! But that doesn't change the fact that they are TRUTH for the person that is hearing what I am saying. OR NOT! That person has the choice wether or not to believe those words and act on them. I personally do not base the truth of his message (is it TRULY his message, or is he merely the channel for this message from beyond?? hmmmmmmmm.) anyway, the truth of his message on the truth of his own personal life. That would be taking (or rather, giving away) the responsibility of MY life from myself. Truth, real Truth, is truth today as it was yesterday....regardless of personal circumstances of the handlers and passers of that truth. It's the contents of the message that is important, NOT the message bearer! Shrug, I hope you find peace with this. The decision is yours and yours alone. I replied to you merely because by posting on here your feelings regarding this, you are asking for some help/clarification/justification/enlightenment on the issue that is bothering you. Or you are just passing on your own personal judgement and reasons for it. Either way, just by not remaining anoymonous, you have opened the door for expression based on what you said. So nothing is a personal attack, merely MY expression of what I feel/think after reading your thoughts. Peace to you Shrug, be strong in your decision, no matter what it is. JTwolf.
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Shrug
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Post by Shrug on Mar 9, 2005 11:19:30 GMT -5
I can only accept my own word as truth. If I choose to trust the word of another it is a decision I have made based on what I percieve to be the honesty of the person. I simply do not believe that RB was ever honest about his beliefs. Therefore I will not spend any more time than I have reading his words. If I wanted to read a bunch of fiction made up by people who only believe in themselves and adjust thier beliefs to whatever is most practical and profitable to them, then I will read the bible. It is filled with just that sort of nonsense. In the end, it is all my own fault. I foolishly chose to believe the words of somebody who did not believe what he was saying himself. He took the truth of his earlier work, stories about the freedom of flight, etc., and manufactured a fiction because it sold well. I was snookered in! Bad Shrug, bad! Well I will continue with my own truth, and my own writing and put this behind me.
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Post by Dwayne on Mar 9, 2005 11:29:36 GMT -5
With respect:
[glow=orange,2,300]- We give away what we need the most -[/glow]
~Dwayne~
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Post by Edina on Mar 9, 2005 11:32:47 GMT -5
"Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself." ~ Richard Bach - Messiah's Handbook
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