To feel concern for others or love , is a human feeling and a person tries to better the lot of the less fortunate. There is nothing Eastern or Western about this , but it is only a humane sentiment and is common to all societies. If I make the lives of a few others happy I feel happy about it , but that doesn't mean that my behavior is self-centered , rather it would be so if I acted for my personal well-being at the expense of others.
On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 11:54 PM, Vam <[email protected]> wrote: > I do not understand much that has been said here... really. > > What I can make out is this talk of doing something "for others." This > is shit. You don't do anything for others, because you can't. You can > only do something for yourself. Now, if you believe that owning half > the world or a huge mansion, or a carpeting that takes you 3" into the > ground is what you want to do for yourself... then that's what you'll > do ! > > The entire suggestion of doing something for others rests on the > premise that that's what makes me happy. If it doesn't, then one > wouldn't do it. And, even if one does because one is forced to do, it > wouldn't make one happy. Which doesn't help the person... in his > becoming happy ! > > That's the Eastern thing... I help others because I want to help > myself... because that's the only way I can help myself ! > > On Oct 23, 4:48 pm, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: >> Somewhat related: >> >> "42 >> >> Note how perverse is the attitude of the weak toward their >> benefactors. They feel generosity as oppression; they want to >> retaliate. They say to their benefactors: ' May the day come when you >> shall be weak and we will send bundles to America.' >> >> You do not win the weak by sharing your wealth with them; it will but >> infect them with greed and resentment. You can win the weak only by >> sharing your pride, hope or hatred with them." >> >> from "The Passionate State of Mind" By Eric Hoffer >> >> On Oct 22, 8:42 pm, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > One could hold Marx accountable for the horrors of the Soviet Union >> > and China under Mao. Not his economic analysis but some of >> > revolutionary urging - though surely countless abuses by the "noble >> > class" are worse. I did some shameful stuff handling informants in >> > our stupid war in Northern Ireland, excusing it at the time under a >> > greater good I now know false. We ran an even bloodier war in >> > Indonesia (28,000 dead) most in the UK were not aware of at the time >> > and many don't know about now (though it's no longer secret). >> >> > I've been led to believe we can't really discuss much on society >> > unless we address the realities of world power and its links to the >> > money system the rich dominate. Otherwise one more or less cops out >> > and makes a living. Teaching has led me to realise how scant my own >> > knowledge is, but also the lack of interest most people have in >> > learning more than what gets them by. >> >> > We now have the technology to show how many things link up and that >> > the "riches" developed in a shadow banking system that is bigger than >> > the real economy several times over are fictitious and merely suck >> > value out of toil - and the same technology could also regulate the >> > economy through 'transparent money' - instead it's used for the >> > opposite purpose and also supports the military complex. This is >> > obvious but people still don't get it. >> >> > On Oct 22, 7:47 pm, Allan H <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > Life is always full of cause and effects. Everyone is accountable for the >> > > effects caused by their actions,, even if you claim to have no choice.... >> > > Allan >> >> > > On Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 7:48 PM, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > People 'escape' responsibility in fictitious ways all the time RP - >> > > > though I agree that inevitably one can't. I'm always saddened by >> > > > those who stress we should have communism or capitalism and can't see >> > > > there is some kind of loop. They want to reduce everything to a kind >> > > > of baby-talk more appropriate to sport locker rooms than responsible >> > > > dialogue. The escape from responsibility is into world-views that >> > > > exclude the other and especially consequences for others. >> >> > > > On Oct 22, 6:26 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > > To be held accountable for one's actions , doesn't it look scary when >> > > > > you know you couldn't have done otherwise given your personality at >> > > > > the given time and the circumstances. Yet we cannot escape >> > > > > responsibility ! >> >> > > > > On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 11:41 PM, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > > > I like the theme RP - but what of being 'bound' by >> > > > > > genetics/evolution/ >> > > > > > environment - which gives some clues on how to escape through >> > > > > > knowledge? >> >> > > > > > On Oct 13, 4:30 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > > >> It is God who binds you and not you yourself , and so you are >> > > > > >> accountable to yourself and society , but not to God. In this >> > > > > >> world >> > > > > >> you are doing everything freely , but in God's presence you are >> > > > > >> just a >> > > > > >> puppet. If I am bound to err , it doesn't absolve me of the >> > > > > >> action as >> > > > > >> it has been done by me , and if you hurt me , again you are >> > > > > >> accountable for it as it is done by you. It is only in God's >> > > > > >> presence >> > > > > >> that you are innocent as you are a puppet in his hand , but in >> > > > > >> man's >> > > > > >> world you are accountable and responsible for every action unless >> > > > > >> society frees you of that responsibility on the grounds of >> > > > > >> insanity on >> > > > > >> your part. You are always the agent and as such always >> > > > > >> responsible for >> > > > > >> your every action and inaction. >> >> > > > > >> On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 8:36 PM, Vam <[email protected]> >> > > > > >> wrote: >> > > > > >> > When everything is predetermined... and if we all accept that as >> > > > > >> > fact... accountability is without meaning ! >> >> > > > > >> > Accountability has a meaning when I have a choice in the >> > > > > >> > matter, and >> > > > > >> > if I am aware of that personal freedom. >> >> > > > > >> > On Oct 13, 7:46 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > > >> >> When everything is predetermined , the obvious truth that it >> > > > > >> >> is man >> > > > > >> >> who is acting , makes man accountable to man and society and >> > > > > >> >> not >> > > > to >> > > > > >> >> God. >> >> > > > > >> >> On Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 8:10 PM, Vam <[email protected]> >> > > > wrote: >> > > > > >> >> > But I couldn't see the rational thread between the "God >> > > > > >> >> > alone..." >> > > > > >> >> > premise and its "Man alone..." derivative ! >> >> > > > > >> >> > On Oct 13, 7:20 pm, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > > > >> >> >> I rather like the idea RP, of the corollary. >> >> > > > > >> >> >> On Oct 13, 3:02 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > > > >> >> >> > AS everything good and evil is done by God's dictates and >> > > > everything >> > > > > >> >> >> > that a man endures is from God's pleasure , the corollary >> > > > follows -- >> > > > > >> >> >> > whatever a man does , he is free to do and accountable to >> > > > > >> >> >> > man >> > > > and >> > > > > >> >> >> > society. >> >> > > -- >> > > ( >> > > ) >> > > |_D Allan >> >> > > Life is for moral, ethical and truthful living.- Hide quoted text - >> >> > - Show quoted text -
