What's the Weave of Your Life?

from JoeUser Forums
With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



Life is good, a friend constantly reminds me, and I agree with him. We get up in the morning, do our morning things, and begin our day. Yet, recently I was reminded that there are three types of encounters with life: denial, coping, and dealing. On any given day, then, as we encounter life, some of us seem to close our eyes to it, others just get through it, and still others embrace it,



Some aspects of life are just plain difficult. The fact that people can be so vicious and hurtful is one of them. Now, noticing this, we might deny it is true, "In my life, I'm just fine, than you very much!" Or we might say, "WeIl, if those people want to be that way, screw 'em!" Or we might say, "How can I help?"



How we address a problem is more a function of how we understand life and our relationship to it than anything else. In fact, it is this relationship that actually determines whether it is a "problem" or not! Moreover, how we understand ourselves comes into play as well. Are we open? Closed? Passive? Aggressive? Are we courageous, matter of fact, or avoidant?



As we put these together a picture of our lives emerges.



If I am a person who understands my role in life is to help others and I am open, receptive, and flexible, then nothing in life could be a problem: nothing. If, on the other hand, I see myself as a center, I am closed, determined to get what I want, then nearly everything in life is a problem. Of course, these are exaggerated points of view constructed to make a point. We are all, each of us, a confusing mix of everything. Yet, if we practice zazen, we begin to notice patterns.



We also notice that we are the weavers of these patterns. Happily, we can change the weave. Yes, life is, indeed, good.



Be well.
religion
2,109 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dear Little Whip,

How you relate to "Be well" is very informative. You might pay attention to it. Hardly dismissive, in the main, I rarely engage in prattle, especially if it involves hurtful or hateful speech. When you have something to say that adds to a discussion rather than take away, I would be happy to engage in it. If you were to attend a Zen Temple you might find Zen Masters quite dismissive and in no uncertain terms.

A bow to you.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
And just to clear up any misconceptions you may be fostering about me, I don't bear you any ill will, I really don't. I just happen to think you're somewhat silly and more than a little full of yourself. Like any garden-variety zealot, you lack the very humility you insist is necessary for fulfillment and peace within the universe, within the self, and with God--however one chooses to percieve these things.


Dear LW, Nor do I toward you. I think if you were to know me you might re-think your POV. Perhaps. Your statements about me are on the order of, "so, when was the last time you beat your wife" and are, therefore, nearly impossible to respond to. What you perceive as "full of myself" is more than likely the factr that I teach with the authority of a Zen Master, former professor, and doctor. It can be annoying, I know. If we were talking in prerson I would be often laughing at myself, something I often do.

Can you not recognize that some of us are just born to be warriors? That the path of passivity might be right for you, but not others? You speak about resistance, and how futile it is...but for pete's sake, for once in your life at least give a nod to the fact that sometimes resistance is a good and necessary thing, that some evils are not to be borne under any circumstances, and that death is preferable?



Of course. I was, myself a born and trained warrior. Passivity is not a useful way. I would absolutely agree with that. Neither is violence. Resistence to violence, resistence to hate, these are good things that require a great deal of courage and skill. I agree that the things you mention are not to be tolerated. Yet, we clearly differ on how not to tolerate them on the one hand and how to address them on the other hand. Sometimes death is preferable if it is in-service to others and (I would add) is unavoidable. My "problem" is that we all too often move to a violent action without exhausting all other possibilities. And often for the silliest of reasons (i.e., not being perceieved as soft).

Thank you for taking the time both to read my blog and reply.

Be well.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Now there you go again, LW. Goodness. Should I respond? How?
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hello LW,

Great reply, thank you. I was under the impression that posts on the religion forum were for the sake of discussion. Discussion as you are well aware of does not mean agreement. I do, clearly, have a point of view. It is opposed to many things fundamentalist. I think if you were to lokk at my replies you would see I am most often countering fundamentalist bullying, as you yourself do. But, I am coming at it from my more 'liberal' perspective.

I do think I have something to offer Christians as I also come from a Jewish background and they often (in my opinion) misuse Herbrew text to support their POV.

I do not disdain deists. I do disdain simple mindedness, as well as black and white thinking. I must work on this and, in fact, I have gotten much better over the years...but it is work. The very act of disdaining seperates me from others.

I am not so certain you are correct when you say Christians aren't interested. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Does it really matter? We each have a delete key at our disposal.

I know what I am bothered about as regards you. You remind me far too much of my ex-wife: brilliant, wildly verbal, sarcastic, vitriolic, and yet deeply compassionate. A delightful, but challenging mix. I think, as we each often do on the internet, we assume we know enough about those we post with to say the things we really shouldn't say. I am guilty of this, I know. And I have seen you make similar errors. (Or at least I perceive them so.)

I will try not to teach Christians so much. My head does seem to be getting a bit bloody.

Be well.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Loved the post.  It seems so simple,  just choose how to live one's life.  A cajillion memories,  teachings, experiences can all just jump in and it's too easy to become angry, or hurt about a situation.

It was good to read this,  it's much like a book I've read parts of.  Insightful.

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maybe others don't see this. Certainly you don't. But I do. You are as blind to yourself as KFC is. In that. I'd say you've succeeded in the Buddhist way of self-negation, but remember this, if you have obliterated all sense of self, you have no idea how others percieve you.


Thank you, LW. I, too, see a lot of this and it's hard for me.

I WANT to like you as a person, Sodaiho. I think you have a lot of great things to offer in the middle of your discourses, even as we disagree frequently. You make it hard at times with what also appears to me to be condescension. It is not infrequent to see you to advance a good argument only to "blow it" with the preachy attitude.

As I am sure you are aware, responsible self examination begins with asking ourselves how others see us, so I hope you will take these as constructive, positive comments and not as negative.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
I WANT to like you as a person, Sodaiho. I think you have a lot of great things to offer in the middle of your discourses, even as we disagree frequently. You make it hard at times with what also appears to me to be condescension. It is not infrequent to see you to advance a good argument only to "blow it" with the preachy attitude.

As I am sure you are aware, responsible self examination begins with asking ourselves how others see us, so I hope you will take these as constructive, positive comments and not as negative


Good job, Gideon. Thank you.

And now, I must say bye for the weekend. I'm heading into a silent retreat until Sunday.

Be well.