--- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In [email protected], "Jeff Fischer" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > wrote: > > > > > And if this planet and its lifeforms turn out to > > > be the galactic equivalent of the Smallpox virus, > > > and the only way to save the trillions of trillions > > > of other sentient beings in the universe is to kill > > > off the infestation before it spreads? > > > > > > Not arguing, just trippin' on infinite regress. > > > The further away you stand from a problem, the > > > obvious the obvious facts about it are, and the > > > less important the whole issue seems in the > > > larger scheme of things. > > > > I don't consider it an argument. I liken it to playing a game. > > You decide if you want to play and then you play to win. > > Ah. If by "it" you're referring to life, I liken it > more to randori than to playing a game. Randori is > what you do when you study Judo, one student squaring > off against another in a training session and trying > his or her best to throw the other judoka. > > There's an interesting difference. In randori, one > is not necessarily trying to win. You learn as much > whether you throw or get thrown, and the whole purpose > is to have fun and improve your skills, *not* to win. > > > The smallpox virus is playing a game: eat your body up. > > I don't want it to win. > > Who is this "I" of whom you speak? :-) > > > If it does, I get another body and try it again, maybe being > > a little smarter next time, at least regarding that game. > > > > From that perspective, you're right about not taking it all > > too "seriously." > > "Seriousness is not a virtue." - G.K. Chesterton > > > Like the gambler who's down to his last buck. Chances are > > he'll feel real serious about that next bet and bye, bye $. > > In Judo, the key is balance. Seriousness doesn't > help, and neither does strength or wanting to win. > The person who gets so serious about "winning" as > to lose his or her balance "loses," and is thrown > by his "opponent." But in reality both win, because > both have learned something from the experience. > > > Yet, one can decide to play a game and play it. If we are > > the virus and someone "gets us" it'll all be OK. > > On a cosmic level, I suspect that at all times it's > like one of those DJ's on the radio announcing, > "All OK, all the time." :-) > > > But, I'd still rather be part > > of the game than a spectator/commentator. > > Agreed. But there's still this mysterious "I" in > the equation, wanting to "win." If the universe > is God, or whatever you choose to call that concept, > whom has "I" just defeated? > > This is all just wordplay, verbal randori. I'd > much rather be a player in that eternal randori > than a spectator as well. Like you say, it's all > a game. My only point is that there are many ways > to play a game. One can play to win, or one can > play to learn and improve one's skills at the game, > or one can play to benefit the bettors on the side- > lines who have money down on you, or one can just > play for the sheer joy of playing. > > In Hindu cosmology, the answer given to the question > "Why does the absolute manifest as the relative" is > usually given in one Sanskrit word: 'lila,' or play.
Somehow the long vowels (lee-laah) make it sound to me even more like a play: 1 lIlA f. (derivation doubtful) play , sport , diversion , amusement , pastime MBh. Ka1v. &c. ; mere sport or play , child's play , ease or facility in doing anything ib. ; mere appearance , semblance , pretence , disguise , sham Ka1v. Katha1s. Pur. > There's no "winning" or "losing" involved, only play. > > Unc To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
