tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post4829962535013303351..comments2022-03-24T19:27:51.098-03:00Comments on One Human Journey: Kept in the Dark and Fed Sh*tDennis Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15768594614249854053noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-47403907976544278872011-08-31T17:52:46.947-03:002011-08-31T17:52:46.947-03:00If you like this text, read JedMcKenna's books...If you like this text, read JedMcKenna's books. He kicks ass by showing very clearly how to overcome the spiritual ego trip when seeking for Truth.asdfvadfcvhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07188816297227965992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-148470112275910902010-08-15T09:30:35.146-03:002010-08-15T09:30:35.146-03:00Dennis, I have also wondered about the whole "...Dennis, I have also wondered about the whole "making nice" = right speech.<br /><br />When should we say something that might be "harsh" or "critical"? As Buddhists, is that really never? I have to think that when people are doing things that are harmful to themselves or others, or they are doing something to confuse the dharma, then being critical is right speech.<br /><br />There is a lot in the suttas about right speech being soothing and polite. But there are also tons of examples of the Buddha himself calling people "stupid" (literally) when they were doing something that just confused others. <br /><br />Right speech is probably very kind and nice most of the time. But there is also a time for wise speech. A time to let people know how far from the path they have drifted. When people are deluded, being direct and sometimes even harsh is what they (and you) need.RonC.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07368793249812274453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-22711499674672485242010-08-14T21:29:30.226-03:002010-08-14T21:29:30.226-03:00Ron, I got quite a bit of flack for writing this p...Ron, I got quite a bit of flack for writing this piece: http://onehumanjourney.blogspot.com/2010/05/sympathy-for-devil.html<br /><br />It was perhaps the first time I really ventured into the realm of politics on this blog, and although I was nervous about going there, I did it because I felt there was something that needed to be said. Some B.S. that needed to be called out for what it is, but also a lesson for me in how I can work with that on my spiritual path in a skillful way. <br /><br />I got some "sounds judgmental" type comments on that piece, and was accused by one reader of being as prejudiced as the people I critiqued in the article. But I was left with the feeling that the reader's perception of the essay as being "judgmental" came more from the fact that she simply didn't agree with what I was saying.<br /><br />It was an interesting exploration for me of how to practice "right speech" while still speaking what feels like truth to me -- even if that truth is a little bit harsh and critical of what I feel needs to be criticized.<br /><br />I wonder: is there a prevailing idea in our Buddhist subculture that practicing right speech means just making nice, and not saying anything that might upset someone else's apple cart? And is that what it really means? I don't think so.Dennis Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768594614249854053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-62212762719390748612010-08-14T09:25:04.153-03:002010-08-14T09:25:04.153-03:00This all brings up an interesting question - and i...This all brings up an interesting question - and i'd love to hear people's views:<br /><br />What does "right speech" really mean?<br />Or better yet, what does it mean to you, in your cultural context and in this time?RonC.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07368793249812274453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-13425200575540951292010-08-13T05:56:36.487-03:002010-08-13T05:56:36.487-03:00Aimee, been pondering your comment on Ron's ar...Aimee, been pondering your comment on Ron's article....<br /><br />I totally get where you're coming from (and you're not the only person who had the "sounds judgmental" reaction). And yet....<br /><br />I don't think "Right Speech" means never being critical or calling others on their B.S. when you see it. In fact, it seems to me that doing that is part of Right Speech.<br /><br />Or maybe Jesus should have just left the money-changers in the temple alone, and let them go about their business. It was judgmental and intolerant of him to get angry and overturn their tables. <br /><br />I'm just sayin'... ;-)Dennis Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15768594614249854053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-16959635716911152042010-08-12T11:24:02.516-03:002010-08-12T11:24:02.516-03:00I agree that the quest for enlightenment is often ...I agree that the quest for enlightenment is often a convenient excuse for westerners like me to give free reign to our neuroses, of which we have many-- the opposite of "exposing the little tyrant." The stuff-- meditation cushions, books, trips to ashrams--is just an outward manifestation of that. Dennis is right, Eat, Pray, Love is a pretty story, and maybe a good start for Gilbert. If she's really honest, she'll figure out that what she wrote about wasn't anything close to spiritual awakening. I think her real book is yet to be written. It could happen.Linda York Leaminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15933773091298097612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-29843662751125766942010-08-11T17:33:29.644-03:002010-08-11T17:33:29.644-03:00Duff - you are so right!
When I step back and ref...Duff - you are so right!<br /><br />When I step back and reflect on it. This article is an artifact of where I am at on the path, and I'm very open about where that is in my sitting journal. Getting there... but not quite.<br /><br />Right now at this stage of the path I'm trying to reject the projects that support the self, to get beyond it. But eventually it will be back to business as usual once the fiction of self is seen through completely.<br /><br />For now though, the whole self-improvement thing makes me queasy.RonC.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07368793249812274453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-9728711841690551262010-08-11T16:36:46.458-03:002010-08-11T16:36:46.458-03:00I applaud the challenge to superficial spiritualit...I applaud the challenge to superficial spirituality as consumer lifestyle demographic, which I think we need much, much more of.<br /><br />But what about after enlightenment? Knowing the insubstantiality of what we thought to be the self, it's back to work, family, and life...which does in fact involve some self-improvement projects from time to time, although ideally with less of the existential-anxiety-fueled neuroticism, having seen things clearly.Duffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08800425116422980923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-76363247650423867192010-08-11T14:46:53.487-03:002010-08-11T14:46:53.487-03:00Eh, seems judgemental. Even the monasteries have c...Eh, seems judgemental. Even the monasteries have cushions and bells and clothes that "pretend" to facilitate contemplation or express intention. Let it be. Focus on right speech. If EPL encourages a few million to meditate or consider their infinite nature or travel vicariously, distracting from their sleepy state, then let it.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00101090779337098772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-72894076685130109182010-08-11T13:29:02.668-03:002010-08-11T13:29:02.668-03:00This is really great. Thank you.This is really great. Thank you.Jon Rubinsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15045952265714480474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4911194092037701909.post-22174676252053551142010-08-11T13:19:47.021-03:002010-08-11T13:19:47.021-03:00It's great to read others writing about this n...It's great to read others writing about this nonsense. Gilbert does a disservice not only to spirituality but to the people she exploits with her little poverty porn adventures. <br /><br />I've taken strong issue with EPL here <a href="http://enlightenmentward.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/poverty-porn-dilettante-charity-and-a-holiday-in-cambodia/" rel="nofollow">Poverty Porn, Dilettante Charity and a Holiday in Cambodia </a><br /><br />The New York Post recently had an article called <a href="http://bit.ly/cKBKav" rel="nofollow"> Eat pray zilch </a> which covers "the underbelly of Eat Pray Love" <br /><br />And the New York Times had an op-ed piece from a person in Kenya who was on the receiving end of this kind of activity <a href="http://nyti.ms/aD7AT2" rel="nofollow"> Slumdog Tourism</a><br /><br />Hopefully by sharing these links people will get another viewpoint.<br /><br />I'm very happy to see some people wake up to this farce.NellaLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247769132258539996noreply@blogger.com