Tuesday, July 12, 2011

making distinctions

.
As far as I can figure out, no adult spiritual persuasion doesn't encourage its participants to set aside the human capacity to separate and distinguish. Joy and sorrow, love and anger, tall and short, holy and unholy, rich and poor, God and man, heaven and hell, enlightenment and delusion ... etc. Among adults, such distinctions, aside from being untrue, are also painful.

Just don't make distinctions ...

As, for example, the distinction between making distinctions and not making them.
.

6 comments:

  1. A Struggling Buddhist with Confucian and Aristotlean LeaningsJuly 12, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    The supposed teachings regarding non-discrimination is probably the least understood of the myriad of "spiiritual" teachings.

    Probably some have even carried out the incorrect teachings. And have not made much "progress."

    If, say, one should not distinguish between lazy and diligence, then laziness is just fine. Tell that to yourself when you go to the restaurant, car repair shop, doctor, dentist, place your children in school, etc. and find that the waitress, mechanic, doctor, dentists are laziness and could give a care.

    If, say, one should not distinguish between abusive behavior and kindness then abusive behavior is just fine. Tell that to yourself when you find your daughter or son in an abusive degenerate relationship, or when that stinky, unshaved, psychotic guy in front of the local grocery store threatens to shove a broken bottle up your wife's ass.

    Personally I recommend to people to leave these teachings of non-discrimination alone, until one has reached some deep and advanced spiritual insight. Even then, the understanding may be "not yet."

    Further, I recommended that people embrace logic, increase practical knowledge, and to study and practice good judgement, to practice compassion with diligence, develop whatever creative gifts they have have, and, without a doubt to meditate.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The first step is to identify the feelings and thoughts and then practice Zen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really agree with the first comment as it is a lot more practical. I've gone though a huge change and dealing with the forces of negative surrounding my life that could tempt me back to being a negative person.

    "embrace logic, increase practical knowledge, and to study and practice good judgement"

    Absolutely. My biggest struggle is to remain positive and release the anger I feel so I can continue building a positive life that I deserve and want.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A Struggling BuddhistJuly 14, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    Dear Female of the Species,

    There is much written about staying positive and dealing with anger.

    For example do a search on "staying positive" and "dealing with anger".

    However, I think the first thing is not to try to remain in a desired state as it is just impossible.

    Then accepting the truth of the fluidity of life including mental states you can work at attaining some goals, focusing on the process and allowing results to happen. Periodically evaluate the results, adjust and get back to work.

    Often, I find that I want things to be easier than they really are, you may have this problem or you may have something else to deal with.

    However, bear in mind that besides negative thoughts impacting our world, there are negative health conditions that impact your thoughts that impact our world. Get a check up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A Struggling BuddhistJuly 14, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    BuddhiHermit said...

    You could always try Zen.

    Dear BuddhiHermit,

    As you probably will recall "Zen" is simply a contraction of the Japanese word for "dhyana" "Dhyāna" which is what commonly called meditation in English.

    There are many forms of dhyana many like Zen begin with breath counting and awareness.

    Or, are you instead making referremce to something else e.g. a hermit lifestyle that include dhyana? Or sitting many hours a day? Or some particular type of dhyana?

    Or did you mean to ask "Female" if "she" practices meditation.


    Sofan said...

    "The first step is to identify the feelings and thoughts and then practice Zen."

    Sofan, as there is no end to feelings and thoughts, thinking that one needs to identify them before beginning to practice is probably not a completely correct view. However, as usual, one should be working with a meditation teacher, guide or guru.

    ReplyDelete