Chris, Fair enough, I see what you're driving at. I created my own confusion by trying to juggle to posts (from you and ED) at the same time, but now I can see they were quite different animals (my point to ED was about compassion and compassionate action just arising, and doesn't have to such a well thought out process behind it re the Red Cross parcel bit). My bad.
Mike ________________________________ From: Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: mike brown <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, 9 March, 2011 10:46:39 Subject: Re: [Zen] Two Potent Quotes On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:20 AM, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: >Well, of course an action can't be performed by thought (Uri Geller proved >that >point), but it > usually has its genesis in that thought, and the thought process continues >making > observations and judgements during and after the particular action. I don't think that's really true. I think people may retroactively make up some story about this or that thought leading to some action, but generally the action arises. And judgements are totally separate, really if you believe the judgment, it is a separate action. I certainly empathise with the 'everyday lifeness' (I think that's a new phrase) sentiment of your point, but I find the opposite to be true. When I equivocate or second guess myself in a situation where an immediate response would be preferrable, I usually end up making a mess, or regreting, a situation that might have been better dealt with spontaneously and intuitively. This is not to suggest, however, that some decisions shouldn't be made thru careful consideration of the facts, it's just that we often do this quite needlessly. Whoa! I'm sure I never wrote about equivocate, second guessing, or avoiding the spontaneous action (personally, I find "intuitive" to be a word tightly linked to thoughts - a flash of intuitive insight is something I stake my professional life on, and it is always a thought, never an action. Careful consideration of the facts? Eh, sometimes I guess. Certainly not in the example I used of catching an ice cream scoop as it falls to the floor. I suppose when you are trying to decide on what house to buy with your spouse, some planning activity is useful, but I try not to get carried away with it or too attached. --Chris
