finally, I don't think that solving material resource distribution problems is sufficient. it's necessary, but not sufficient to achieve a more satisfactory/integral social fabric and that's what we really need. ultimately I think the problem is a spiritual one though (5/N)
-
-
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
I don't mean that everyone should join a church (or any other institution or organization). I mean that confronting the reality of the world and it's history is identical with eating the shadow, or processing our karma, or any other psycho-social metaphor you like. (6/N)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
addressing material issues first is probably good pragmatic policy. less things to distract from grappling with these spiritual problems. racial resentment and youth alienation are not really going to be solved by a check in the mail every month though. (7/N)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
it seems to me that really the issue is the desire to grasp and control everything. spiritual solution means accepting, eventually, with difficulty, that not everything can be controlled and that the past can't be changed. justice doesn't mean revenge. (8/N)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
there is NOTHING that can be done to repair the misdeeds of the past. there will be misdeeds committed in the future as well. count on it. we can organize ourselves to offer alms and aid for those in need but that should not be contingent upon past injury. that isn't justice (9/N
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
restoration of a sense of dignity and trust in institutions is necessary to heal the spiritual injury our society has suffered. economic justice is a good first step but only because it is the humane thing to do, not because it is sufficient. it can't possibly be. (10/N)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
the only thing I know of that can restore the sense of dignity in an individual is addressing the monkey-mind. status games, social maneuvering, holier-than-thou performed pieties, ideological purity tests, and language control schemes are all monkey trouble and must stop (11/N)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto @Evolving_Ego
monkey trouble is the origin of social injustice. reversing the polarity of the monkey trouble will not result in social justice. accepting the past and finding common cause amongst community members working for shared dignity is my vague hint of a solution. (Fin)
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @danlistensto
I agree with much of this. I'd like to see the "spiritual" talk operationalized in empirical language, but spiritual language is not bad while we work all that out. There are different kinds of monkey trouble, and getting all monkeys to lower weapons at the same time is a trick.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @Evolving_Ego
operationalizing it usually involves suggestions for spiritual practice, which I don't do for masses of people writ large. it's always a personal, pragmatic thing.
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
but I can at least point to an example of an operationalized social justice spirituality. Bernie Glassman got it more right than just about anyone else I know about. The first tenet, crucially, is "not knowing."https://zenpeacemakers.org/the-three-tenets/ …
-
-
Replying to @danlistensto
I'll take a look at that when I get some time. It sounds interesting. Meditation is a proven technique for calming that control-freak-monkey-ego.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @Evolving_Ego @danlistensto
Well meditation, and other parts of zen practice (I took a quick peek). :D
0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.