Ed, My answers are embedded below: --- In [email protected], <billsm...@...> wrote: > I think there is a distinct difference between doing and feeling something and only reading about it.
And, what is the signifance of this (personally-experienced) difference? [Bill!] I already addressed this in a follow-on companion post. There is only personal experience. What other kind could there be? > There is absolutely the experience of reading. That's yours, and that might invoke a similar experience to what the writer is writing about. That's the goal of good writing, to communicate experience (or thoughts). > You can read all you want about what swimming is like, but until you actually jump into deep water you really don'tknow swimming. Read 'know' in the prior sentence as 'experience'. > Experience is what's important, not just 'knowing'. One's experience is important to whom and why? [Bill!] Maybe important gives the wrong impression. How about Experiences are real. Knowing is illusory.? You can decide for yourself whether know the difference is important. > Knowing or understanding is an intellectual activity. And what does one conclude from that? [Bill!] One concludes that knowing is illusory. > Experience is living. Is that the way it 'should' be for everyone - or do they have a choice? [Bill!] That is the way it is for me. Others have a choice to recognize this or deny it. > Intellectual activities are part of living also, but only a very small insignificant piece, in my opinion. Most people put way too much importance on them and as a result are attached to them. OK, it's a subjective personal truth. [Bill!] Yes, an observation based on personal experience. Do persons not have a choice as to what they think/feel is important to themselves? [Bill!] Yes, of course. People can think its important to cut themselves or torture animals. Its their choice. So, what if they are 'attached'? What business is that of anyone else? [Bill!] It isnt specifically anyone elses business, unless of course they are asking you for advise or their attachments infringe on the life of others like if theyre attached to the concept of God or Allah and persecute people who dont share their attachment. Helping the former and resolving issues with the latter may include trying to help them become aware of their attachments. ...Bill! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5580 (20101031) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> 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/
