Martin Luther King, Jr. 739 words, 19K views, 28 comments
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On Dec 13, 2010Catherine Todd wrote :
Somik, I realize that Mia wasn't "happy" about the nun being robbed, and that she did stand up to them. I didn't write it or express myself very well there. It's just that I could never consider any kind of silver lining or happiness coming out of being robbed, other than the person stealing some arsenic donuts, perhaps, and enjoying eating them! Now that thought would bring me some "happiness."
I have talked to plenty of people about their bad acts, and believe me, most of them don't care and won't return things. They like doing wrong! You wrote that their acts were "not a decision from the space of freedom, but a reaction from a space of bondage." Perhaps, but they are more than willing to put others into bondage and stay where they are, Lord of the jungle and king of the Hill in their own little corner of hell. They don't want to come out and they don't even try, and they will do all they can to keep you in.
Some people have a concience, but many don't. All most people care about is "filling their own rice bowl," and those few who act on behalf of others we call heroes or saints.
The theives in the story probably aren't going to get any "spiritual gain" from what they've stolen because of the way they gained it. That was their choice, not bondage. Decisions and Choice. They don't want spiritual help or they would be seeking that and not the object of their addiction, whatever they are addicted to (money, things, thrills, danger, drugs, whatever). But that's another story and discussion.
You wrote: "Gandhi, initially, advocated nonviolence for Indians as back then, Indians had not fought in major wars, and he considered most Indians to be cowards. Over the years, as he deepened his experiments with truth, he realized that nonviolence was certainly not the path of the coward; it was the path of the bravest. He then reversed his recommendation, and told people to first experience violence, be capable of it, and then come to nonviolence."
Well, OK. That describes me. I can try to do this, come to nonviolence. I am never physically violent but emotionally in anger I am, even if it's just "in my mind" mentally, and never expressed outwardly. But I realize it has to stop. It's been making me sick inside and out. I ask God to grant me peace and this is surely a positive way to start. Alright.
Then you write: "Now, about gardens being destroyed - this is the real test of life. Every garden you make in your life WILL be destroyed, and most likely in your own lifetime. Connecting your happiness with the fruits you get is a big recipe for misery, for if there is one right we do not have, it is the right to expect. Nothing good ever came of expectations. The real test of spiritual growth for us is when, all our gardens are destroyed, we are able to cock our head and have a hearty laugh - "look at the silliness and fun of it all!" and move on to our next game."
Game? That's a little hard to swallow, but I'll give it a chance. "The real test of life" is something I do want to fulfill. I don't want my garden destroyed, and I'll fight to the death to protect it. But if my "garden" is the Garden of Eden, I suppose there's no death there and nothing to protect.
Alright. I'm going to re-read your comments (reflections) and think about this some more.
Where is that book you are promising / creating here? Whether or not you know it?
On Dec 13, 2010 Catherine Todd wrote :
Somik, I realize that Mia wasn't "happy" about the nun being robbed, and that she did stand up to them. I didn't write it or express myself very well there. It's just that I could never consider any kind of silver lining or happiness coming out of being robbed, other than the person stealing some arsenic donuts, perhaps, and enjoying eating them! Now that thought would bring me some "happiness."
I have talked to plenty of people about their bad acts, and believe me, most of them don't care and won't return things. They like doing wrong! You wrote that their acts were "not a decision from the space of freedom, but a reaction from a space of bondage." Perhaps, but they are more than willing to put others into bondage and stay where they are, Lord of the jungle and king of the Hill in their own little corner of hell. They don't want to come out and they don't even try, and they will do all they can to keep you in.
Some people have a concience, but many don't. All most people care about is "filling their own rice bowl," and those few who act on behalf of others we call heroes or saints.
The theives in the story probably aren't going to get any "spiritual gain" from what they've stolen because of the way they gained it. That was their choice, not bondage. Decisions and Choice. They don't want spiritual help or they would be seeking that and not the object of their addiction, whatever they are addicted to (money, things, thrills, danger, drugs, whatever). But that's another story and discussion.
You wrote: "Gandhi, initially, advocated nonviolence for Indians as back then, Indians had not fought in major wars, and he considered most Indians to be cowards. Over the years, as he deepened his experiments with truth, he realized that nonviolence was certainly not the path of the coward; it was the path of the bravest. He then reversed his recommendation, and told people to first experience violence, be capable of it, and then come to nonviolence."
Well, OK. That describes me. I can try to do this, come to nonviolence. I am never physically violent but emotionally in anger I am, even if it's just "in my mind" mentally, and never expressed outwardly. But I realize it has to stop. It's been making me sick inside and out. I ask God to grant me peace and this is surely a positive way to start. Alright.
Then you write: "Now, about gardens being destroyed - this is the real test of life. Every garden you make in your life WILL be destroyed, and most likely in your own lifetime. Connecting your happiness with the fruits you get is a big recipe for misery, for if there is one right we do not have, it is the right to expect. Nothing good ever came of expectations. The real test of spiritual growth for us is when, all our gardens are destroyed, we are able to cock our head and have a hearty laugh - "look at the silliness and fun of it all!" and move on to our next game."
Game? That's a little hard to swallow, but I'll give it a chance. "The real test of life" is something I do want to fulfill. I don't want my garden destroyed, and I'll fight to the death to protect it. But if my "garden" is the Garden of Eden, I suppose there's no death there and nothing to protect.
Alright. I'm going to re-read your comments (reflections) and think about this some more.
Where is that book you are promising / creating here? Whether or not you know it?