Jodi, this post is so insightful. Life is a balance, and like you say, nothing is all bad or all good. Perhaps some of both. From the sounds of it, your nightmares do indicate that you are having a peaceful conscious life. Great discussion here.
I like the idea of balance. I will say this, that the yin/yang (Asian Studies major here) isn't good/bad. It IS about balance. It's about give and take, masculine and feminine, assertion and submission, etc. There IS NO good or bad when you really look at the world in Asian philosophy, just these opposite (and not necessarily opposing, just pulling in different directions, like a pendulum swinging back and forth) directions.
That Judeo-Christian judgement doesn't exist as strongly in Asian philosophy. It is provocative to learn that the Dalai Lama was shocked to hear Westerners would feel guilt when he talked about Buddhism. The Tibetan language didn't even had words for it!
I found the study so provocative! And I thought it was interesting that most Westerners think of yin/yang as good/bad, but it so isn't!
I also wonder about how the described it too him. According to the story, it wasn't easy! He had no way to empathize with the feeling.
As for the guilt, it's because Westerners, when they hear information about a topic like mindfulness or meditation or the like, their minds tend to go to how they fail at it or are bad at it, which is odd to some people. We insert failure into everything when it isn't even present in or relevant to the topic! So interesting.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great reminder that there is always a balance at play, even if it is beyond our understanding. For an essay, I’ve been reflecting on a period in my life that felt tumultuous and terrible. Writing has allowed me to shed light on all the small kind interactions that kept me afloat.
This reminds me of what (PBS TV Show Host) Mr. Rogers’ mom has been credited with saying regarding after disasters - “look for the helpers.”
The small, kind interactions that kept you afloat while going through a tumultuous, terrible time - they must be examples of the helpers she mentioned.
Jodi, this post is so insightful. Life is a balance, and like you say, nothing is all bad or all good. Perhaps some of both. From the sounds of it, your nightmares do indicate that you are having a peaceful conscious life. Great discussion here.
Thank you so much for your comment !
💙💚
I like the idea of balance. I will say this, that the yin/yang (Asian Studies major here) isn't good/bad. It IS about balance. It's about give and take, masculine and feminine, assertion and submission, etc. There IS NO good or bad when you really look at the world in Asian philosophy, just these opposite (and not necessarily opposing, just pulling in different directions, like a pendulum swinging back and forth) directions.
That Judeo-Christian judgement doesn't exist as strongly in Asian philosophy. It is provocative to learn that the Dalai Lama was shocked to hear Westerners would feel guilt when he talked about Buddhism. The Tibetan language didn't even had words for it!
Thanks for the food for thought. 💕
Oh wow! It’s not a good / bad thing? Just opposites? That’s super interesting! Thank you!! More for me to ponder. :)
I wonder how they translated “guilt” to him, when he had no word for it? Also, I wonder why folks feel guilty to hear about Buddhism?
I didn’t know you were an Asian Studies major! How interesting !!!
I found the study so provocative! And I thought it was interesting that most Westerners think of yin/yang as good/bad, but it so isn't!
I also wonder about how the described it too him. According to the story, it wasn't easy! He had no way to empathize with the feeling.
As for the guilt, it's because Westerners, when they hear information about a topic like mindfulness or meditation or the like, their minds tend to go to how they fail at it or are bad at it, which is odd to some people. We insert failure into everything when it isn't even present in or relevant to the topic! So interesting.
Wow !
This Puritan culture we have over here inserts guilt into everything.
Thank you for sharing. This is a great reminder that there is always a balance at play, even if it is beyond our understanding. For an essay, I’ve been reflecting on a period in my life that felt tumultuous and terrible. Writing has allowed me to shed light on all the small kind interactions that kept me afloat.
Yes! The constant balance at play. Exactly.
“Shed light on all the small, kind interactions…”
This reminds me of what (PBS TV Show Host) Mr. Rogers’ mom has been credited with saying regarding after disasters - “look for the helpers.”
The small, kind interactions that kept you afloat while going through a tumultuous, terrible time - they must be examples of the helpers she mentioned.