tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post2670783835790027268..comments2020-10-08T15:47:50.603-05:00Comments on An Outpost From A Complex World: The Happiness Project ...or How to Save the Human Race (II)真行 http://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post-74386552928134767072012-12-22T02:00:03.367-06:002012-12-22T02:00:03.367-06:00Thanks Aaron.Thanks Aaron.真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post-30938951555637400322012-12-21T18:47:03.517-06:002012-12-21T18:47:03.517-06:00Thank you for your thoughtful responses.
I think ...Thank you for your thoughtful responses.<br /><br />I think if we bring our awareness to something--anything--we are doing what we need to do.<br /><br />For me, it's been helpful to try and be aware of my breath because it is more consistent than other things such as thoughts or conversations etc.<br /><br />This has helped me gain a better sense of what my awareness is and to see how I can do what I need to do within that sense of awareness.<br /><br />I certainly agree with you that being a passive observer is not the way to bring about the betterment of my or anyone else's life.<br /><br />However, I do try and see how bringing tension or shutting down other people with my opinions can lead to more unconsciousness and suffering for everyone.<br /><br />There is a balance to be struck it seems to me. I would prefer to argue and fight and learn the hard way than to sit back and vegetate!gnizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043750358888135458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post-68860298850556098572012-12-21T14:57:32.197-06:002012-12-21T14:57:32.197-06:00I finally have a few minutes.
I think my biggest ...I finally have a few minutes.<br /><br />I think my biggest errors in life have been to accept non-doing for too long (which I viewed as being patient) and being too compassionate (being understanding because of an ability to see what’s going on for people, even in circumstances when they can’t see it for themselves). Part of this is due to my own desire to avoid difficult interpersonal interactions and choices. It’s unfortunate that patience and understanding have indirect costs and negative side effects that can harm all persons involved.<br /><br />I harbor no ill-will for Mike Cross, although the commentary at the top of the post might suggest differently. I responded to his replies the way I did since his initial responses appeared to be deflection and, perhaps, condescension – indicative of an unwillingness to address issues directly, whatever the reasons for that might be. My first inclination would be classify it as the typical avoidance exhibited by a male harboring sexist views. (I can see a parallel in my own “compassionate” responses, except that they are manifested differently.)<br /><br />Mike Cross showed evidence of being sexist even when I started reading his blog, but I didn’t perceive it correctly. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Mike Cross is exactly where he’s supposed to be. Whereas I don’t know about Mike Cross’s life, I do know a few things about my own. I’m not angry at myself for my past decisions. Honestly, I don’t see how I could have been true to myself and proceeded differently.<br /><br />At the same time, I need to stop isolating myself out of consideration for other people’s circumstances. Even Mother Teresa was able to have conversations with people on a daily basis. It’s interesting observing how my efforts in one direction have propelled me downward, whereas effort in a different direction has appeared to lessen the inertia in my life overall – a good sign, even though I still have the mess in my real life to deal with. Right now, I’m primarily focusing my awareness on my sense of that inertia (even though I wish things would change a little faster).<br /><br />The fact that you’ve left comments is a one small example of a decrease in inertia. Thanks for that.<br />真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post-53946483300041510382012-12-21T09:37:10.903-06:002012-12-21T09:37:10.903-06:00Hi again Aaron - I'll reply to your comment on...Hi again Aaron - I'll reply to your comment once I've gotten to work. Blogger can be a little difficult on the iPad.真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-619851895994016888.post-16264498273599266312012-12-20T22:53:47.913-06:002012-12-20T22:53:47.913-06:00Good post. I will say that I agree with you when ...Good post. I will say that I agree with you when it comes to the whole "sitting" and "non-doing" sometimes creating a path of avoidance.<br /><br />This is a big pitfall that I've fallen into myself many times, and probably will again.<br /><br />I also went through a period where I released a lot of anger and spoke my mind, delved into my past and things that really bothered me that I have pushed down.<br /><br />Some of that shit, I put on other people and hurt them greatly because of it (actually I lost family members due to the way i projected so much anger at them).<br /><br />I don't regret any of it. It's the path that I walked to get to the place I am now. Not that where I am now is perfect, but I've seen and understood many things that I never saw before.<br /><br />Now I feel strongly that being aware of my awareness and being good to myself and others is my path. In this culture most of us are terribly harsh with ourselves, beating ourselves into submission and crushing our own spirits (mimicking what others have done to us our whole lives).<br /><br />I then carry this abuse out into the rest of the world and the cycle continues...I know you are very attuned to this.<br /><br />Waking up and starting to speak out may in fact be part of a bigger awakening process...but if not tended to carefully, it becomes just another spoke in the wheel of pain inflicted on the world.<br /><br />I support and applaud your efforts. At the same time, I offer a word of caution because efforts in the realm of "helping" others can be costly when coming from a place of anger or fear or other such emotions.<br /><br />However, I learned my lesson the hard way and do not regret it. So take that for what it's worth...<br /><br />Best to you.<br /><br />Aarongnizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043750358888135458noreply@blogger.com