When I read the article on the way meditation helps to diminish stress, it occurred to me that its implications went much, much further than that.
Some of us on this list have been trying to get a conversation going about the 'ground', the basic underlying factors that cause so much human suffering in our society. It seems to me that most of what we talk about here goes in circles precisely because we are talking about the manifestations of the problems and not the underlying cultural values and institutional structures that cause the problems I am not a Buddhist; I don't adhere to any particular religion although I identify myself as Jewish. But over the last three decades I have been fortunate enough to become involved with a number of other people who were interested in exploring the 'deeper' meanings that life can hold, i.e., spirituality. Interestingly, many of us came through very similar routes by way of the social sciences, through humanistic psychology and then to this place where we seem to have found a way of living life that is deeply, deeply satisfying spiritually, physically, psychologically, socially. Meditation is a part of it but it is used as a tool through which we are able to pay more attention to what is going on 'in the moment'-to really 'be' with whomever we are with or whatever it is that we are doing. Clearly, the words available are inadequate to clearly describe what it is that I am trying to describe. I can, however, say to you that my life is better in every way than I ever dreamed it could be or ever heard or read about because of this spiritual element that allows me to live fully. I am a sociologist and I have a passion for social theory, especially for the idea that it is possible to intellectually develop ideas about what would constitute a 'good' society; a social structure and culture that would synergistically benefit individuals and groups and allow for the full development of human individual uniqueness as well as the full development of community. I believe it is impossible for these ideas to be developed if we don't think they can be developed. So I press for the exploration of the underlying cultural values and social structures that might make such a society possible. One of the most important cultural values that is essential, in my view and as a result of my sociological studies, is a spiritual element that is always present in societies in which individuals are allowed to develop their potential in an atmosphere of respect and intimate community relationships. One of the major problems in my quest is, of course, how do we implement these high-falutin' ideas in a realistic way into the system that presently exists. The fact that meditation is now being seen by the most respected components of the scientific community as a realistic and fruitful practice for general health spoke to me of the hope that we might introduce such a practice into our schools, yes, at a very early age, and from that many, many good things could follow. To ignore such evidence, and/or dismiss it as silly, seems to me the height of ignorance. Selma ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christoph Reuss" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:47 AM Subject: RE: [Futurework] NYT Article: Is Buddhism Good for Your Health? > Arthur Cordell summarized it very well: > > Selma seems to be saying that Buddhism can be a force to deal with a variety > > of health issues including stress. Chris is saying that capitalist bosses > > would like nothing more than that workers would deal with stress through > > meditation > ... > > I think Chris was going further. Not that meditation would lead to > > increased productivity but that meditation would divert workers from the > > requisite rage that would demand reform. > > > > Remove the revolutionary potential and all that.... > > > If a bear is after Selma, she'll meditate to cope with the stress. > No doubt, it will make the bear go away. > > Bears would peddle meditation courses in the NYT if they could. > > Chris > > > ______________________________________________________ > "The most powerful weapon in the hand of the oppressor > is the mind of the oppressed." --Stephen Biko > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
