New Year's Greetings John,
On Jan 1, 2010, at 3:27 PM, John Carl wrote: > Marsha, > > Happy new Calendar Year, > > Love to hear some plains talk on this post. What is your >> objection? > > > It's hard to conjure up any real objection to contentment, or any real > longing for suffering, even though I know intellectually that it is the > suffering that drives the evolving, the irritation that creates the pearl. > > My main objection to contentment is my own tendency to attachment. I do not relate to your explanation of contentment as an enemy, but then it is constructed from your experience, not mine. > > > >> It seems to me the first step is to understand >> the nature of all patterns so they are not pulling you this >> way and that. > > > Whew! The nature of ALL patterns is such a daunting project. You have to > start small and work your way outward. Not so daunting; just one will do. > But even understanding patterns doesn't guarantee you're free from them. A > sailor understands the winds, but must obey them still, but as you know > well, she can trim her rudder and sails to use the winds rather than let > them use her, an art and a science. I think to be free from all patterns would be to be in a coma. That's not something that appeals to me: dnr. I read the books, took a couple of power squadron courses and made observations over the years, and I don't remember being in a agitated state during the learning process. > Once understood, it would be easier to >> determine if when desires are in conflict, the conflict is >> social/biological, or intellectual/social. Buddhism offers >> some great explanations of the transitory/illusory nature >> of ALL patterns. >> > > I agree. However, pat answers or methodology can get in the way when you > think you've got it all figured, plain and simple and in the pocket, so to > speak. Complacency is the enemy of sailors everywhere, there's a storm > coming, the reefs are close and a thousand little adjustments to be made > along the way. Steve Hagen's book is wise, thoughtful and sane; reading the book, writing the quotes, hearing the words seemed like the right thing to do, but I'm not a Buddhist. And if a big storm is coming, a sailor would do what needed to be done. Contentment is not complacency. >> How well do you know contentment, to recognize it as >> an enemy? It sounds like you are for some reason >> afraid of it. No one is talking about sloth. >> >> > > Au contraire, mon ami, I'm talking about sloth. I'm talking about myself > and my tendency to slothful contentment. > > Contentment is an old friend. I find it in many strange places and at odd > times. I don't hate it, but a little dialectical opposition, now and then, > is relished by the best and worst of men. > > And a good friend that imprisons you is actually the enemy. > > And an enemy that stretches and expands you, is actually your friend. > > Irritation can be irrigation, You are a friend. Marsha _______________________________________________________________________ Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars... Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
