Freedom of expression 2

Human beings have spread over the globe more than most other animals. It has been a struggle. The will to expand and use new possibilities is a positive force.
But sometimes it turns destructive. Where is the line between the constructive and the destructive?
It would be nice to find such a line, in a world which is more open than before. The potential for abuse is big, and the traditional power structures are challenged. It would be nice if we had a global power structure based on compassion rather than force or money.
But is it realistic? Will not boys always be boys and step over any lines?
If we have artificial lines, they will be passed. But there are existential lines we should not play with. Or else, we could arrange for reservations for suicide bombers killing themselves in good order, unable to create harm for others.
We have freedom of expression, and if we use that for expressing destructive ideas we will self destruct.

The wrong right doing 2

Why hermit life, why long time meditation in distant caves? Why these time consuming habits in Indian and Tibetan traditions?
Well, it is difficult to rebuild mind.
We can learn new facts comparatively fast, but to change mind into being more compassionate takes longer.
Before becoming a hermit, the person needs to hear the teaching.
By being alone, the person can see and deal with the internal mind processes. Mind can be tamed. It can be brought under the control of the person. This is important.
But it is not enough. The next step in difficulties is exposure to the raw impulses from other people.
The idea is to remove ignorance and exaggerated desire and aversion.

Reinterpretation of rules 2

In different religions we can see how rules made from the best of intentions can turn into dogmas over time. Then the original quality is lost, and the rules become instrument for special interests.
Then the rules must be reinterpreted. This is not easy. If the person who came with the rules in the first place is gone, who has the authority to update rules or claim that the old ones still hold?
Different approaches are possible, like historical, scholastic, theological, philosophical, legal and others.
But the best is compassion.
Compassion means to return to basic human values like truth and harmony. All are included in compassion, poor and rich, old and young, nationals and foreigners.
Mindminding

Understanding 2

According to Buddhist philosophy, there are two ways to see reality. One is the spontaneous way, the other is the enlightened way.
If we use our sense organs and modern technology we see a world that is good and bad. Much is nice and fine, but much is bad and destructive. We try to improve, but our means are limited and new bad things are always introduced.
From the perspective of enlightenment the world is only good. This is true.
So if we want truth, we should not seek it in the ordinary way but by seeking enlightenment. It is the first step.
The ordinary way is not altogether a failure, but the bits and pieces we get that way are bits and pieces which can be used in different ways.
What do we know about the enlightened perspective?
We know about compassion. It seems to be essential. Compassion is to have a positive attitude to others.
If we have the spontaneous attitude, compassion is conditioned. We feel there are enemies out there. There are people who want to rob us if they can.
And this activity is a reality and it can cause disturbances and delays.
But the solution is not to improve security but to remove walls.
In a world dominated by the spontaneous attitude, the balance between compassion and walls is a central issue.
The argument for compassion should be strongest.
The more people who understand the power of compassion, the less is the need for walls. But most people experience a phase in their life when security, walls and fight seems to be the only and natural attitude.
This is caused by an unstructured instinct and habit from long ago.

Creation 2

The things we experience as real and important - in relations, at work, in health, in economy and so on - make us think and dream, and these thoughts give seeds which are projected as the things we experience as real and important - in relations, at work, in health, in economy and so on - make us think and dream, and these thoughts give seeds which are projected as the things we experience as real and important - in relations, at work, in health, in economy and so on...

so it is...our projections give rise to new projections which support the impression that the projections we had yesterday were not projections but had some solid reality of their own...

To break this circle we should know the power of our own contribution to these projections. We see what we want to see. Often we want to see the most horrible, the most disgusting. Why do we want that? Well, there are dark undercurrents in many minds.

But we can leave these undercurrents. There is an alternative. It is called bodhicitta or active compassion.