Too often, so much gets lost in translation, whether between languages or across digital media where tone and intent are lost. Reminds me of a possible reason that the Buddhist canons weren't put into writing until several centuries after their contents were purportedly spoken.1/
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Teachings are meant to be adapted to individual circumstances. All texts have their contexts. When anything is put into writing, whether on ancient palm leaves or on internet forums, a certain perception of solidity, fixedness, universality seems to develop around the content. 2/
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Others lay eyes upon a documented encounter, completely out of context, when they may not necessarily have the appropriate background to understand its meaning. In other cases, that exchange may not be intended for them to see, in their particular place and pace on the path. 3/
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A sense of "this must be the way it is, period, end of story" arises among some people new to a given context, causing frustration that might culminate in abandoning the path. All based on an unpleasant exchange on the internet, preserved for all to see. 4/
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Or the perception "what a rude person," as if they were at all times, in all cases the fixed entity "rude person," arises. Our perception may be an appropriate discernment of incidental rudeness, but not necessarily of their person. 5/
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We ascribe that identity to them, not knowing the conditions for the manifestation of incidentally rude behavior, which may very well be a pervasive pattern that ought to be scrutinized and dismantled, though never a fixed state. 6/
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In oral form, the only imprints left were those on the mind of the people involved in the original encounter or its transmission. Those ruminating on imprints and those transmitting the message still risk missing the meaning. 7/
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Yet in spoken word, nothing was etched into stone for others to misinterpret as fixed. For the contemplative adept, there was no need to cling to words. Their nature is impersonal, impermanent, imperfect. Learn from them, but don't be misled.
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