ED,
My comments are embedded below:
> Why should there be something 'extra'?
These no need at all.
To me the transformation is significant if it enhances active compassion.
Otherwise, I am underwhelmed.
If compassion didn't arise then it wouldn't be enlightenment. 'Active'
compassion is something entirely different as it implies a doer purposely
striving to 'do' what one see's as being good for other people. Real compassion
happens when it happens.
> Isn't breaking free of falsity and living in the truth enough?
May be great for her, but of litle value to the natives around her.
Again, by breaking free of falsity and living in the truth, wouldn't you think
that that person would be an exemplar of how to treat our fellow man? Wouldn't
that person's way of living life free of harmful deeds and actions inspire
others to something similar?
> Her enlightenment enlightens all of us. In fact the entire
> universe (which is nothng more than mind) is enlightened.
In my book that is woo-woo talk.
What part of the universe isn't a mental construct? The Sun? A tree? A book?
You? And when she is enlightened, we can talk in terms of us all being
enlightened because really there is no 'us' or 'we'. Or as one Zen poet put it:
No-one walks along this mountain path this Autumn evening.
I doubt if her enlightenment illumined her mind to the tens of million of
deaths
of Indian, Chinese and African native ascribable to the arrogance, exploitation
and venality of her kinsfolk.
Oh c'mon, you're gonna bring in nationalistic, politcal polemics into this? I'm
sure her mind was "illumined" to the arrogance, exploitation and venality of
her
own personality, let alone powerful nation's governments, even before her
enlightenment.
To me, her enlightenment would have been of value if she had devoted the rest
of
her life to the physical well-being of the natives.
Suffering is a symptom of identifying yourself with the mind, is it not? If she
treated the physical well-being of the natives to what end would she be freeing
them of suffering? Not that you can put a value on enlightenment, but isn't
final end of suffering of the highest 'value'?
What more would you have her do?
>
> Mike
I have no need that she should do anything. I am grateful to her I am in a
conversation with you on the value of enlightenment to humanity.
Exactly!
---ED
Mike
