hello, Charles--welcome to the LO list.
I felt compelled to "set the record straight" having been misquoted or
misinterpreted by Roxanne--and that can set up an alternate reality quite
quickly.
I didn't advocate avoiding danger. I shared the following:
"I'm reminded of Ortega y Gasset's words: "The essence of man is purely
and simply danger. Man always travels among precipices, and, whether he
will or no, his truest obligation is to keep his balance."
If the essence of life is truly "danger," (as I perceive it to be), then
honing my competitive and cooperative skills and being prepared to use
whichever of these help me maintain my balance is the choice I make. As
with all things, being too competitive or too cooperative is dysfunctional
and will, eventually, cause my fall from the precipices. "
There are many people who don't recognize the dangers that beset them--or
simply call them with other names. We often surround ourselves with
routine and comfort--denying the reality of danger for the illusion of
safety. One of our number, Hengky Laisang, has seen that dramatic shift
firsthand, as the horrors of riot, political and economic chaos, sweep
over his home of Indonesia. Just a few months ago, he was a college grad
heading out to his first post-college job.
Just so there's no confusion--you don't need to choose to be a warrior in
this life (though the Buddha certainly saw himself in this role, as have
other religious and spiritual leaders). Whatever role you choose, though,
danger is inherent in living. I believe that the realization of personal
mastery helps prepare oneself for this life of danger--because it's not
just a physical threat. If we are fully engaged in our life (heart, soul,
mind and body are the symbols that come to mind here), then we are beset
on all sides by these dangers. Our heart, soul, mind and body are
vulnerable to these dangers, and we must always be alert--keeping our
senses open and our contingencies prepared.
I appreciated your comments, Charles. I just wanted to ensure that I was
not advocating, through this misinterpretation, the acquisition of "battle
skills." I did acquire and hone those once, too. While they might be
useful sometime, they are not the same as the life mastery skills needed
to keep my balance amidst the dangers of life.
regards,
Doc
-- "Only a life lived for others is worth living." -Albert EinsteinThresholds--developing critical skills for living organizations Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Olympia, WA ICQ# 10849650 Please visit our new website, still at <http://www.thresholds.com/> <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com>
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