--- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> For me enlightenment is the ability to deeply understand
> another person's point of view.
IMO, the best comment made so far in this thread,
including any of mine.
> So I do have an ideal in mind and I do strive to practice
> understanding what another person's world view is like in
> order to grow in this ability.
A noble intent, dude. Go forth and multiply, and
teach others this simple intent, whether it be in
the words exchanged over a glass of wine or the
words sung in a blues song. Do you know the song
"Soul Of A Man?" It's an olde classic by Blind
Willie Johnson, but I first discovered it in a
cover version by my favorite singer/songwriter
Bruce Cockburn. Bruce is a stongly spiritual dude.
He's Christian, technically, but his knowledge of
the transcendent and on drawing that transcendence
into the relative transcends all religious boundaries.
The words themselves:
I'm going to ask the question
Please answer if you can
Is there anybody's children can tell me
What is the soul of a man?
Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?
I've travelled different countries
Travelled to the furthest lands
Couldn't find nobody could tell me
What is the soul of a man
Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?
I saw a crowd stand talking
I just came up in time
Was teaching the lawyers and the doctors
That a man ain't nothing but his mind
Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?
I read the Bible often
I try to read it right
As far as I can understand
It's nothing but a burning light
Won't somebody tell me
Answer if you can
Won't somebody tell me
Tell me what is the soul of a man?
> It is more of a perspective than a state of consciousness
> in the MMY sense. In fact guys like MMY fail at this
> ability miserably.
As much as I've loved them in the past, I have to
agree with you. There seems to be something intrinsic
to the strong subjective experiences of "higher" states
of consciousness that, in some people, cuts them off
from an identification with -- and thus true communi-
cation with -- those who have not had those same
subjective experiences. It's a failing I struggle
with in myself, having had some fairly cool subjective
experiences, and having failed miserably at trying to
adequately convey them to others.
So I have nothing but a deep bow for anyone whose
intention it is to *not* lose contact with the
"rabble." The rabble is us (self, Self, whatever).
The day we lose track of that, we have lost something
precious.
