Comments on: trouble with buddhism http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism Making peace with the laundry, the kitchen, and the yard. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:03:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karen Maezen Miller http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-7648 Karen Maezen Miller Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:00:33 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-7648 I don't follow your line of critical thinking. Perhaps you could be more direct. I don’t follow your line of critical thinking. Perhaps you could be more direct.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-7647 Arthur Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:17:50 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-7647 Why do you remove the posts that are critical? Buddhism is deeply problematic in its assumption that the intuitive, "satori-like" experience of unity and one-ness, as wonderful as it is, can then be a useful guide to a meaningful life. It is important to maintain critical faculties and not to assume that perfection is a natural state. Otherwise, Buddhism then potentially offers cover for a lot of bad things that can and should be changed as a result of active engagement and rigorous thought, as opposed to "mindfulness" and sitting within a now that, sadly, is often less than perfect. Why do you remove the posts that are critical? Buddhism is deeply problematic in its assumption that the intuitive, “satori-like” experience of unity and one-ness, as wonderful as it is, can then be a useful guide to a meaningful life. It is important to maintain critical faculties and not to assume that perfection is a natural state. Otherwise, Buddhism then potentially offers cover for a lot of bad things that can and should be changed as a result of active engagement and rigorous thought, as opposed to “mindfulness” and sitting within a now that, sadly, is often less than perfect.

]]> By: Karen Maezen Miller http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6855 Karen Maezen Miller Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:49:30 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6855 "Perfect" is not a comparison as in "better than." It means you. And your life. Is complete. Lacking nothing. The world that surrounds you is evidence of the harm and suffering resulting from the contrary view, which comes from delusion: unrestrained greed. When we stop looking for more, and stop judging what we are to be inadequate, we can truly do good by taking care of what needs to be done. There is no longer a "me" and a "them." You must have this experience. “Perfect” is not a comparison as in “better than.” It means you. And your life. Is complete. Lacking nothing. The world that surrounds you is evidence of the harm and suffering resulting from the contrary view, which comes from delusion: unrestrained greed. When we stop looking for more, and stop judging what we are to be inadequate, we can truly do good by taking care of what needs to be done. There is no longer a “me” and a “them.” You must have this experience.

]]> By: Deirdre http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6854 Deirdre Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:39:43 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6854 Maybe I'm overthinking it (ha!), but I always get tangled in that last one. "Everyone and everything is perfect as they are..." And yet, in the last line, you acknowledge the very thing that hangs me up "the mess we've made of the world." Having worked and traveled in third world countries, I often find the "all is good" or "everything is as it should be" to be Western luxury. Can you help me connect to what it is really meant by "everything is perfect as it is". Thank you so much for all I am learning here. Maybe I’m overthinking it (ha!), but I always get tangled in that last one. “Everyone and everything is perfect as they are…” And yet, in the last line, you acknowledge the very thing that hangs me up “the mess we’ve made of the world.”

Having worked and traveled in third world countries, I often find the “all is good” or “everything is as it should be” to be Western luxury. Can you help me connect to what it is really meant by “everything is perfect as it is”.

Thank you so much for all I am learning here.

]]> By: Swirly http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6845 Swirly Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:50:40 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6845 I have to say that the more I practice releasing judgments and expectations ~ of myself, other people, situations, and even my own wildest dreams ~ the more peaceful I feel inside, the more everything flows organically. There will likely always be a part of me that insists on over-thinking things, but even then I am aware that all that thinking doesn't really accomplish much. (Does that make it better or do I just sound nuts?) I have to say that the more I practice releasing judgments and expectations ~ of myself, other people, situations, and even my own wildest dreams ~ the more peaceful I feel inside, the more everything flows organically. There will likely always be a part of me that insists on over-thinking things, but even then I am aware that all that thinking doesn’t really accomplish much. (Does that make it better or do I just sound nuts?)

]]> By: Erja http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6842 Erja Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:08:11 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6842 Thank you! Thank you!

]]> By: Mama Zen http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6839 Mama Zen Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:08:44 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6839 "We must unleash ourselves from its mastery over our lives." Oh, I'm struggling with this! “We must unleash ourselves from its mastery over our lives.”

Oh, I’m struggling with this!

]]> By: suzi http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6838 suzi Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:33:41 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6838 This was posted on my birthday. Thank you for a wonderful gift. This was posted on my birthday. Thank you for a wonderful gift.

]]> By: Jane http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/trouble-with-buddhism/comment-page-1#comment-6834 Jane Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:36:23 +0000 http://www.karenmaezenmiller.com/?p=1885#comment-6834 Thank you for these reminders. So basic and true. Thank you for these reminders. So basic and true.

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