shunka

As ordinary humans, even if "we are there" we can never "know" all the truth about any situation, only what we get from various sources- and even then this data is swayed by the source. One of my favorite examples of this is the Japanese movie "Rashomon" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashomon There are those who thoughtfully choose to abstain from news. Therre are several monastraries near here that do so, and it works well for them. However, it has been said " It is easy to be holy on top of a mountain" . If one chooses to stay aware of world events and wishes to try to "get the big picture" I find it is useful to consider multiple sources, especially if one can be aware of that sources "leanings". With that in mind, I offer for your consideration , from "the christian science monitor" http://news.yahoo.com/real-battlefield-against-jihadist-armies-174229346--politics.html snip------------------------------------------------------------------ The world now has two battlefields where jihadists have rapidly gained control over whole populations. One is Nigeria where Boko Haram rules in many northern areas. The other is Iraq where Islamic State reigns in several cities. Yet neither band of terrorists has so far faced much on-the-ground pushback by either nation’s military. Related Stories U.S. says Nigeria vote a factor in Boko Haram attacks Reuters Boko Haram Rampages, Slaughters in Northeast Nigeria The Wall Street Journal Nigerians made homeless by Boko Haram seen losing vote too Reuters Islamic State Reshaped Political Landscape of Middle East in 2014 The Wall Street Journal Nigerian governors facing Boko Haram request more troops before election Reuters The reason? Because the real battlefield is not on the ground. It lies in the ability of each country’s people and elected leaders to rise above traditional differences – religious, ethnic, or tribal. They must assert a civic identity around democratic values. Only then can such unity of purpose help their armies make the sacrifices necessary to win on the physical battlefield, especially in gaining support of civilians in the embattled areas. endsnip------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/Backchannels/2015/0115/Charlie-Hebdo-Can-moderate-Muslims-sway-an-extremist-few snip----------------------------------------------------------------- Can 'moderate' Muslims sway an extremist few? Last week's murderous rampage in Paris has reignited calls for the world's hundreds of millions of peaceable Muslims, sometimes called "moderates," to do something about the jihadi few in their midst. ... A German jihadi cheerfully extolling the virtues of slavery and beheading is an example of how difficult that task would be. endsnip------------------------------------------------------------------ Please bear in mind, from my POV, it is the mindset and thought process that is relevant, specific nationalities are not. yhs shunka

We are hosts to a constant bevy of a variety of virii and bacterium . Most people are regularly exposed to any number of diseases but their corpus succesfully disposes of them. Some continue to live on without affecting us. There is a school of thought , that what we classify as disease only occurrs because the body is so far out of balance that it can no longer deal with the little buggy things. It is my limited understanding that Chinese medicine attempts to assist the body in getting back into balance and proper functioning - ie: "clearing channels" , " balancing heat vs cold", " too much yin or yang in a given vessel" etc. Once the body is back in balance the symptoms resolve themselves. So the effort is directed to discerning the imbalances in the bodies energies and re-balancing them. One would not have a great interest in trying to balance the energy of little buggy things. -or, I could be wrong. yhs shunka

Few of us can see into another's heart, mind, spirit, memories or intentions. Thus for third parties to attempt to discuss them is folly, in my humble opinion. We can hear another's words, we can witness their actions. Did this person actually do this thing ? Simple question, simple answer. We can, very simply, judge their actions as right or wrong . I think It is important not to get caught up in the whirlwind of artificial complexity. yhs shunka

It has been written about at least as early as the mid-to-late 1800's and glorified as a way to be recruited into "The Great Game" . see Kipling's story "Kim" concerning a young orphan who is simultaneously pursuing a sacred path by way of an India Guru, and being trained and recuited into the British military spy business. nothing new under the sun, the wheel turns. yhs shunka

BTW - since I pushed "like" on the Asterix cartoon posted by gatito... I need to go off and deal with the karmic burden incurred and meditate on "why" I liked it and if that needs fixing...... yhs shunka

to dustybeijing - I beleive the real difference is between how the "fundamentalist extremists" and "modern moderates" believe, respond and react. Here is a little ditty that has been going around the webs since it was popularized in the tv show "The West Wing" . It uses quotes from the Old testament to lampoon the thought process when one "interperates it literally". ----------------------------------------------------- "I need some advice regarding some of the specific laws from the Old Testament and how to best follow them. - When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? - I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? - Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? - I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I hire it out? - eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), how should I deal with the transgressors at Red Lobster? - Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? - Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die? - I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? - My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- also - whilst it might be unwise ( and definitely unkind) to lampoon another person's "sacred cow" in the western world, the 1st World rule of law demands court action and appropriate consequences, as opposed to 3rd World summary "judge, jury , and execution" , especially of the non-participants. Perhaps we could pursuade these ones to take up Amish "shunning" instead ? yhs shunka

re the article "These troubled men who project their self-hatred on others " ------------------------------------------------- ' He felt rejected by his family after his father took two more wives, marginalising his mother. <<<<<<<<<<<<<< He drifted to Lebanon, started attending a mosque and listened to radical preachers. "I had no one," he told my friend when she remonstrated with him. "They were my family." ' they are described as having an "immature and psychopathic personality" ------------------------------------------------- fighting, weapons, and eventually killing seem to "define manhood" for these broken child-men . They seem very similar if not identical to "disenfranchised, troubled youth" who join street gangs ( crips, bloods, 13 etc ) and remarkably similar to the descriptions I have read of Hitler and the Brown Shirts - ( somewhat chilling, nicht wahr?) they cast about, angry and lonely, finally meet others like themselves, gather together, affirm and empower each other, and glorify their "broken-ness" . In these specific cases, they are literally sought out, recruited, and further trained by militant radicals with specific agendas, and are then used as disposable pawns in greater schemes. I am certain that such recruiting has been going on for decades in all countries by shadow agencies out to collect and use such cannon-fodder. yhs shunka

Salmon Rushdie made a statement Jan 7: --------------------------------- In the linked statement, Rushdie said that “[r]eligion, a medieval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms.” “This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today,” he continued. “I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.” “‘Respect for religion’” has become a code phrase meaning “‘fear of religion,’” Rushdie concluded. “Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.” --------------------------------- Tonight , Salmon Rushdie appeared on Bill Maher's show: --------------------------------- Rushdie also elaborated on his statement earlier this week that Islam has seen a“mutation” caused by religious extremism. “This has been a mutation that a lot of work has been put into. A lot of governments — from the Sunni side, the Saudi government; on the Shia side, the Iranian government — have been putting fortunes of money into making sure that extremist mullahs are preaching in mosques around the world,” Rushdie said. “And in building and developing schools in which people of a whole generation is being educated in extremism, and trying to prevent other forms of education.” --------------------------------- yhs shunka

there is no rock there is no bottle shunka

absolutely, my taichi master once said "everything is qigung - walking, standing, beathing . be conscious of it" yhs shunka

Greetings my Dear Rara - yessir, keep pushing the daemons away. beat them back. .. heavens, you remind me of someone... I wonder ... ah yes, me about 30 years ago ... Yup - Breathe keep doing what you need to do to breathe. keep driving the demons out. they will come back, because that's what they do - the very reason for their existance ( see "The Screwtape Letters" ) deny them any power over you - they have none. If monkeymind keeps interfering, drive out the monkey. if you must, beat the monkey's head against the wall until it stops moving . do whatever works for you as long as you do no harm. if you screw up (as we all do) realize it; aknowledge it; own it; learn from it; let it go; move on I must say it's fascinating to sit here now and watch myself back then ... hth shunka

what is the opposite of egg?

It seems as though every time I turn around, someone else is proclaiming the end times. At every turn-of-the-century for what the last 5 or so? multiple times in the US during the mid 1800's . At every really bad war, plague, or famine. Ultimately I have to wonder if some people are suffering so much they simply want the world to end ? And that's why I find Budhhist studies more appropo yhs shunka

there are far too many comments to try to quote & respond. Further, rather than try to refute a person's assertions,I will try instead to make a few observations that I hope might bring some positive to the discussion: RE Free Speech: much of the western world does follow the precept of free speech, which in itself allows these discussions on this forum and others like it; as opposed to strict totalitarian regimes such as many Muslim Countries, Red China, North Korea, etc where even these considered dialogues could result in imprisonment or death. As has been pointed out earlier one must exercise free speech with discernment - for example the famous example of "Crying 'Fire' in a crowded theate"r. However, the thought of "free speech police" deciding what may or may not be "safe", "allowable", PC, etc brings chilling thoughts of the Eras of the Stazi, Gestapo, Stalin, Mao's Red Guard, etc ... ------- MOTIVES: Yes, There is great injustice in the world, stemming from many directions (when in doubt, follow the money). Yet "we" individuals can neither control it nor be held responsible - how can I be justifiably be held personally responsible for what William Randolf Hearst publishes, or for the corporate policies and actions of Standard Oil let alone the actions of the U.S. , Canadian, Mexican, or French Government? And Whilst it can serve great purpose to try to understand one of these terrorists individuals and their motives, it will most likely prove futile, and one may find oneself unwittingly becoming an appologist for what is nothing but a deluded person who became a psychotic murderer. ------- I can and will decry the actions of such murderers. If by chance I am present at such an event I pray that I will have the presence of mind and courage to do what I can to prevent their actions. Should that involve violence, I will accept that burden with the knowledge that I will have considerable work to do to "deal with" that burden appropriately; If I survive I pray that I will have sufficient time in this pitiful life to do so. In any event I am certainly without a doubt that any price I may pay to stop harm from being perpetrated upon innocents will be worth it. While I have been taught Above all Else Do No Harm, I offer further: Nor through inaction allow harm to be done (please see Tenzin Gyatso's quotes below) . It has also been said that all that Evil needs to succeed is that a Good Person do nothing. ------- I do have some small education in the matter of the sayings of The Prophet Mohammed. ( BTW If I recall correctly few of the entries in the Koran were by his hand, but were recorded by those around him- much in the manner of the Buddha). It is important to remember that Mohammed himself taught that if fighting were necessary only combatants were to be engaged- not women, children, animals, innocents, non-combatants, and not even a tree in the street . Thus any fools who claim they are practicing a "holy jihad" in the name of the prophet are terribly mistaken. An Imam with whom I was acquainted spoke publicly regarding that, and further stated that in the modern world a "holy jihad" should actually be a battle with the deamons within oneself, and that those who tried to fight a modern war in the name of the prophet were being deluded and used. ----- RE HATE We can and should identify and stop such criminals and murderers. It is likely and unfortunate that extreme means are required (as we saw in todays news) - but try above all else not to hate them ! The negativity both inward and outward has extra-ordinary effects and repurcussions , and will only further the problem. Hatred and Vengence fuels and continues more wars and blood-feuds than anything else. Hate begats and fuels more hatred just as Loving-Kindness can be extended and returned and extinguish hate. Jesus said "Love Thy Enemy" - The Dalai Lama extends Love to the Red Chinese Government and the very soldiers who drove him out of Tibet and murdered and tortured Tibetan Monks and Nuns. We should strive to follow their examples. ------ Cause and Effect - can be more complicated than we think. I believe it isn't just a cartoon lampoon that casued this. Whilst Manitou offered considerable discussion, I beleive it goes further back to historic manipulations and machinations for power and money, on the part of numerous governments, power brokers, certain wealthy factions, as well as misguided maniacal religious fundamentalist extremists. It is even worse than trying to play "what if" - trying to untangle the web of casue-and-effect in cases like this can lead one in conspiracy loops and drive one mad ------ What Would XYZ Do? Jesus turned the other cheek; When Rome came to arrest , torture and kill him He told Peter to "put up his sword". (However he had foreknowledge of his fate and had resolved to make the sacrifice). the Dalai Lama ( incarnation of Compassion) at a lecture in Seattle, May 2001: Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama made a three-day visit to Portland, Oregon during which he said: "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." Sunday, January 18, 2009 The Dalai Lama, a lifelong champion of non-violence on Saturday candidly stated that terrorism cannot be tackled by applying the principle of ahimsa because the minds of terrorists are closed. "It is difficult to deal with terrorism through non-violence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said delivering the Madhavrao Scindia Memorial Lecture here. He also termed terrorism as the worst kind of violence which is not carried by a few mad people but by those who are very brilliant and educated. "They (terrorists) are very brilliant and educated...but a strong ill feeling is bred in them. Their minds are closed," the Dalai Lama said. He said that the only way to tackle terrorism is through prevention. Remember too what the Dalai Lama previously taught: - Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. - Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. - It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance. ― Dalai Lama XIV ------------- It may be difficult to understand, but these concepts are not mutually exclusive. One can put down a dangerous savage rabid dog, not out of hatred, but out of necessity with sadness, sorrow and compassion in ones heart. yhs shunka (edited to fix strange artifacts)

I am sorry to hear of this, I would find it difficult also. I have been taught that everything happens for a reason. the trick, of course, is to discern the reason , then accept it. yhs shunka

Howdy Folks - lurked a bit, decided to join the interesting conversations. shunka