Comments for [D]mergent

Comment on Don’t Believe the Lie by rkuss52

rkuss52 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:06:11 +0000

Great articulation of a true and deep need. Thanks, Lee.

Comment on Don’t Believe the Lie by Rev. J.C. Mitchell

Rev. J.C. Mitchell — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:06:09 +0000

The hard part is they themselves believe the myth. While I agree with you it is true that children can be a great entry point for many, and not even those with children. As a single adult I came back to church, knowing I was looking for something greater for myself, (of course I was called to ministry), but it was the children’s ministry that engaged me and kept me coming. So yes don’t believe the myth but use it wisely and stay innocent. Someone said that better.

Comment on Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea by josephpusateri

josephpusateri — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:50:17 +0000

Of the many delights and revelations that Buddhist practice has given me is the awareness of the constant change, flow and unfolding of life. Just as one cannot step into the same river twice, there is something about even our very selves that is constantly flowing and changing, rising and falling, birthing and dying. Whether or not the fundamental truth about the cause of suffering is indeed our “clinging,” I think deserves a rigorous, continued conversation. I do believe that the Buddha speaks truth, but truth out of context is impotent at best and abusive at worst. I think this article is a terrific contextualization of dukkha.

There is something attractive about Buddhism that appeals to our individualist, existential alienation and anxiety as westerners. While the Buddha surely intended as much an emphasis on the sangha as we do for the inward isolation of contemplative meditation and detachment, I think that we in the West have co-opted certain parts of the Buddhist tradition that we think will give us the most inner peace. To our own peril, I believe we overlook the compassion imperative that must be expressed in community. Most of the conversations I have with Western Buddhist practitioners never get around to justice issues.

I for one prefer to work within a paradigm that confronts and resists the empire impulse within human societies in search of the Kingdom of God. I don’t think that the Buddha and the Christ are mutually exclusive, quite the contrary.

Nonetheless, as your article indicates, there is certainly an unbearable amount of friction that comes from grasping anything that is constantly moving. Jack Kornfield aptly described this as “rope burn.”

Comment on Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea by Doug Sloan

Doug Sloan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:55:34 +0000

There is only the way
It is not about practicing the way
It is not about embracing the way
It is not about traveling the way
It is about becoming the way
It is about being the way
It is dying
It is resurrection
It is transformation
It is the Kingdom of God
It is the Nirvana
It is The Way

Comment on Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea by Derek Penwell

Derek Penwell — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:26:42 +0000

Indeed. Thanks Leanne!

Comment on Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea by leanne mcginney (@leannemcginney)

leanne mcginney (@leannemcginney) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:36:37 +0000

Love it! But letting go takes practice.

Comment on Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea by Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea « The Company of the Eudaimon

Why Holding on too Tightly Is a Bad Idea « The Company of the Eudaimon — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:09:46 +0000

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Comment on RECLAIMING EDUCATION by Doug Sloan

Doug Sloan — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:15:02 +0000

Standardized testing is NOT the answer.

http://yourbottomline.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/08/u-s-public-education-a-race-to-the-bottom/

Comment on RECLAIMING EDUCATION by josephpusateri

josephpusateri — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:08:24 +0000

I agree. I appreciate the parsing as well. I purposefully choose the language of conflict (although I am uncompromisingly nonviolent myself) because I think it is important not to inadvertently sanitize the gospel. Overthrow, revolution, subversion, resistance… these words make white, middle class Americans like myself uncomfortable. But if the status quo that makes me comfortable is the same status quo that oppresses my sisters and brothers, then the status quo needs to be dismantled, despite our comfort level.

Thanks again. I greatly enjoyed the post.

Comment on RECLAIMING EDUCATION by Doug Sloan

Doug Sloan — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:05:53 +0000

“The Good News does not oppose the Empire. The Good News is constantly engaged in non-violently replacing the Empire with the Kingdom of God.”

When you espouse a differing message that is non-violent and non-participatory in its response to Empire, then “oppose” seems to carry a contrary connotation. Thus, I prefer “replace”.

Thank You for caring enough to leave a comment. It’s obvious we’re on the same side of the fence.

Peace,
Doug