Some encouraging words from a friend

[helen99]

Something someone told me a few days ago, really made me feel better, so posting it here... (you know who you are :)


"I think.. while not actually Buddhist.. that a sense of
Buddhist 'detachment' can be a very healthy thing.. (as in, not
allowing outer factors to rule one's life) We are as we are, we cannot
help the world we were born in, and it would be selfish and/or
arrogant to put the burden on ourselves at an individual level to
change the world. What we can do is change our inner worlds, and our
personal lives.. We can affect those around us as best as we can. And
what better way to change the world than to teach people? And what
better way to teach people than through example?

I think that perhaps the best way to change the world then is by being
personally responsible, and setting a good example for the rest of the
world to follow.. keeping clear minds, and making certain that we are
being as honest and truthful as we can, without painting the world
over with our own views. It is important to be as honest as possible
about how much of our lives is how we see things, and how much is, as
near as we can tell, the more simpler truth of how things are.. so
that people can form their own, unbiased views, and work from there."

And a few days later, sie said,

" I don't know if I'm an optimist so much.
(though I've found I can be) I moreso like to think of myself
as a realist. Just different from most people who consider
themselves realists, whom in fact are rather pessimistic
and cynical.. which in the end isn't very real."




Yeah... I think I need to do that.

Comments

[lyssabard.livejournal.com]

That...is incredibly good advice. I really like that.

For myself, the detachment comes with difficulty--I am emotional and oftentimes, I connect *too* much with things, people, situations, etc. As I mentioned the other night, sometimes it just leads to a great feeling of frustration with the world at large and a sense of disconnect. "Surely," I think," I am not so different from others and there are those who see things as I do, and how bad/good XTHINGFOO is?"

It's good to come back and ground, to remember the "personal" part of personal responsibility in one's own reality. I am all for the living by example and doing one's best to be truthful and honest. Teaching is teaching...teaching is not, however, meant to be my big Cluestick of Correct Thoughtforms with which to bomp the masses. ;) (No matter how bad the urge. ;)) It is an opening to connections, rather than a "Let me just plug you into the right socket here so you can get on track." Heh, hope I am making sense here, in rambling off your thoughts.

The filters are the hardest thing to deal with, though. We get so attached to them, it's easy to forget they are there.


Hope you are feeling better and have gotten some rest,
Lyssa

[aireathiel.livejournal.com]

Aye..Very wise words indeed. heck, if we forced people to do as we do...would we be much different from those we oppose? Teaching by example feels right. imho, this way respectfully allows for our Differences as well.