Well, I would like to be irreverent: when I read this article I have a sense of this New Age philosophy that pervades Western Society, where deep spiritual truths are invoked to hide our own truth. Jerry's pain, loneliness, hopelessness and suffering are his own, reflected in the world he sees around himself. How does he think that his approach is helping those he passes in the street? What makes him presume that they are suffering and that he is doing them a favour by carrying their suffering? As he says his feelings are his own - yet he does not seem to be owning their source - himself: compassion begins with ourself; our ability to help others is dependent upon our ability to help ourself; choosing to live in squalor does not help those compelled to live similalry - maybe they are our teachers and we their students?
On Sep 6, 2011 John Anderson wrote :
Well, I would like to be irreverent: when I read this article I have a sense of this New Age philosophy that pervades Western Society, where deep spiritual truths are invoked to hide our own truth. Jerry's pain, loneliness, hopelessness and suffering are his own, reflected in the world he sees around himself. How does he think that his approach is helping those he passes in the street? What makes him presume that they are suffering and that he is doing them a favour by carrying their suffering? As he says his feelings are his own - yet he does not seem to be owning their source - himself: compassion begins with ourself; our ability to help others is dependent upon our ability to help ourself; choosing to live in squalor does not help those compelled to live similalry - maybe they are our teachers and we their students?