Engaging in polemics in politics, religion, and philosophy is akin to standing on a plank in infinite space and proclaiming the virtues of that plank as the righteous and only true place to stand. All other folk standing on planks are seen as raving fools while you, on your plank, embody Truth.
A lot of it is thinking out loud. The majority of it is foolishness. The Zen statement, "Have no opinions." comes to mind. Yet, without expression and exposure to ideas and testing them, how do we as a species progress? Even Zen masters have ideas about how to teach and express the ultimate truth. The difference is that they are teaching out of selflessness because they and the audience are "One".
ReplyDeleteNot only thinking out loud, but thinking based on the illusion that we are separate.
ReplyDeleteThe message is hard to hear when one's mind is already filled to overflowing; hard to embrace when one's heart is closed by anger, power, greed and fear. The mind must be quiet for the message to be heard. The heart must be open for it to take root. Only then do we understand there is no plank.
:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! --Kathy
Get off the plank and step into the abyss... Just by standing on the plank creates limits...
ReplyDelete