A word from the wise

[Guest guest]

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always

so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand

Russell

[Guest guest]

, "Gloria Lee" <glee@i...> wrote:

>

>

> The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are

always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

> Bertrand Russell

 

Namaste Glo,

 

Yes the only thing that I know is that I don't know. The last time I

listened to Bertie, I got locked up for demonstrating, he was in the

nick at the time......ONS...Tony.

[Guest guest]

on 6/3/01 at 6:38 PM Gloria Lee wrote:

 

 

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always

so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand

Russell

 

That evokes the question, why accept a division like fools, fanatics and wise, as if

man didn't succeed in creating enough division already - not just religious...

Erroneous upbringing and education causes one to see:

a tree as "tree plus preconceived notions like tiny/tall" instead of

just "tree" (with properties)

a dog as "dog plus preconceived notions like cute/ferocious" instead of just "dog" (with properties)

a building as "building plus preconceived notions like beautiful/ugly"

instead of just "building" (with properties)

etc. etc. etc.

And the problem is, once the preconceived notions installed, they are defined as "right" by

the non-existent owner ("owner", another preconceived notion), for

whom they have become "holy cows"...

 

Jan

 

 

Dear Jan,

 

Your point is well taken, as usual. But what is a "holy cow" if not

the very certainty of "beliefs" and preconceived notions that you

deplore here? And, are you not right here showing your own

resistance to being "led down the garden path" by another's ideas and

notions?? You are not gullible, nor subject to being easily fooled..

the usual prey of the fanatics ARE. But why? Isn't their very craving

for certainty (and one's own self-doubt) what makes someone so willing

to believe and follow those "others" who do seem so sure of what is

right and truth?

 

Maybe this is why Buddha encouraged his followers to not believe

anything on another's authority, even Buddha himself, but to find out

for themselves.

 

Would that we could all see "just what is" as it is, as you describe

here. Doubt can be the wisdom that opens a window to resist the

group consenus taught and see what it really is afresh.

 

Love,

Gloria