Comments on: A thicket of views http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2010/02/25/a-thicket-of-views/ A householder's thoughts along the Middle Way Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:37:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2010/02/25/a-thicket-of-views/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Paul Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:12:34 +0000 http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/?p=2165#comment-736 James, I like your use of the word "discrimination." It's a useful word that has fallen into disfavor because it's politically incorrect to discriminate - although we make discriminating choices all day long. One of the Buddha's Ten Perfections is "discernment." I like that word - that idea - a lot. It's up to each of us to discern what's right and what's not, what's skillful and what's not. And - where Buddhism is concerned - being attached to any view is not skillful. There is one exception, however, in the attachment to Right View. But even then, at the proper time, that attachment is let go. You state: "...but yet it was me who thought that, and I will not blame religion or any other form of indoctrination for it." It's an impressive statement. The only thing any of us truly own is our karma (actions). Given that there is no higher authority, it's up to each us to be our own authority and be accountable for our actions. One of the great things about this path is that the past really doesn't matter so much - it's what you do from this moment on that counts. And, yes, I have to constantly remind myself of the value of those I find difficult to deal with. Of course, patience and equanimity are also among the Ten Perfections. paulg James, I like your use of the word “discrimination.” It’s a useful word that has fallen into disfavor because it’s politically incorrect to discriminate – although we make discriminating choices all day long.

One of the Buddha’s Ten Perfections is “discernment.” I like that word – that idea – a lot. It’s up to each of us to discern what’s right and what’s not, what’s skillful and what’s not. And – where Buddhism is concerned – being attached to any view is not skillful.

There is one exception, however, in the attachment to Right View. But even then, at the proper time, that attachment is let go.

You state: “…but yet it was me who thought that, and I will not blame religion or any other form of indoctrination for it.” It’s an impressive statement. The only thing any of us truly own is our karma (actions). Given that there is no higher authority, it’s up to each us to be our own authority and be accountable for our actions. One of the great things about this path is that the past really doesn’t matter so much – it’s what you do from this moment on that counts.

And, yes, I have to constantly remind myself of the value of those I find difficult to deal with. Of course, patience and equanimity are also among the Ten Perfections.

paulg

]]> By: James Boyd http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/2010/02/25/a-thicket-of-views/comment-page-1/#comment-734 James Boyd Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:30:19 +0000 http://paulgerhards.com/blog_thisisthatis/?p=2165#comment-734 I appreciate your post, Paul...as usual. The internet is not too dissmilar from the advent of several dozen and often hundreds of television channels. We "tune in" to what we are drawn to, and this is no different than our relational lives in that "birds of a feather flock together". Nevertheless it is this "Ying/Yang" of opinions and views that allows us to progress both collectively and individually. I used to be, verily, a bleeding-heart liberal. Nowadays in my mid-30s I like to describe myself as more of a political and social pragmatist, and not just in that quasi-condescendlingly "moderate" or "middle-of-the-road" way. I now realize that I need not take a partisan stance on every single societal issue, but instead should possess the discrimination to have a stand on each issue on its own merits, regardless of my core political sensibilities. I used to pray when I was a fundamentalist Christian that gay folks would be destroyed as per God's true purpose. Now I recoil that this thought, but yet it was me who thought that, and I will not blame religion or any other form of indoctrination for it. I am happier now being more accepting of all folks, but I cannot change the fact that once I was an unenlightened, self-righteous bigot. One of my favorite Buddhist guiding lights, Pema Chodron, said it best: <b><i>"If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher." I appreciate your post, Paul…as usual. The internet is not too dissmilar from the advent of several dozen and often hundreds of television channels. We “tune in” to what we are drawn to, and this is no different than our relational lives in that “birds of a feather flock together”. Nevertheless it is this “Ying/Yang” of opinions and views that allows us to progress both collectively and individually. I used to be, verily, a bleeding-heart liberal.

Nowadays in my mid-30s I like to describe myself as more of a political and social pragmatist, and not just in that quasi-condescendlingly “moderate” or “middle-of-the-road” way. I now realize that I need not take a partisan stance on every single societal issue, but instead should possess the discrimination to have a stand on each issue on its own merits, regardless of my core political sensibilities. I used to pray when I was a fundamentalist Christian that gay folks would be destroyed as per God’s true purpose. Now I recoil that this thought, but yet it was me who thought that, and I will not blame religion or any other form of indoctrination for it. I am happier now being more accepting of all folks, but I cannot change the fact that once I was an unenlightened, self-righteous bigot.

One of my favorite Buddhist guiding lights, Pema Chodron, said it best: “If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.”

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