Thank you for writing such an eloquent and powerful piece. One thing that comes to mind about walking that path is that sometimes things are concrete and black or white. And many times they are not. We can have BOTH of the greys and the solid shades. For example, common sense things like if you fall off a cliff most likely your chances o…
Thank you for writing such an eloquent and powerful piece. One thing that comes to mind about walking that path is that sometimes things are concrete and black or white. And many times they are not. We can have BOTH of the greys and the solid shades. For example, common sense things like if you fall off a cliff most likely your chances of living (depending on the height of the cliff) are super slim. Or if you do not look both ways on a busy road you might get hit and die.
My point is not in opposition to your wonderful article btw. I am just adding a complementary perspective coming from my own life experiences. I am also speaking more generally about life and not into anything specific like current events or politics.
I realize now that ironically to say there are no black and white things in life is well, very black and white. Singular. So I like to add to the conversation here that a big YES we walk the middle path and sometimes we might need to take a stand on morals and what is harmful vs helpful in any given situation. Somethings are black in white as far as if they cause suffering or harm to other beings. I think you would agree. Of course the way we interpret that can be biased and clouded by our own beliefs and past experiences. It's really subjective though with morals but I do think its has a place. Or rather what do we value?
I hope this makes sense. And I am curious to what you have to say about it. Also, I am on the autistic spectrum (high functioning) and I struggle greatly with black and white thinking. I am getting much better but I also now see that it has a place sometimes. :)
Thanks for reading and for your reflections! Yes, it makes sense what you're saying, and I certainly agree that sometimes things are quite clear - and indeed, walking a middle path doesn't mean we're wishy washy or always 'a little of this, a little of that'.
In the conflict resolution model I'm trained in, for instance, the process of 'coming to peace' only works if we are all in contact with the principles outlined in this essay. So if, for instance, someone is aggressive within the practice, the facilitator intervenes to reinforce the commitments to these principles. Firm boundaries or clear 'no's' very much have a role to play.
That's just one thought coming up in response to what you shared. Thanks again for connecting with the piece :)
Thanks again for writing it. It really helped open up my mind as I tend to get constricted with my thinking and have rigid patterns at times. Trying to unlearn that. I believe most humans have a load of unlearning, relearning and learning to do on so many things. After all that is why we are here, right? To learn by living and live by learning.
My current motto is: "I am living to learn and learning to live." That sums up my life.
Thank you for writing such an eloquent and powerful piece. One thing that comes to mind about walking that path is that sometimes things are concrete and black or white. And many times they are not. We can have BOTH of the greys and the solid shades. For example, common sense things like if you fall off a cliff most likely your chances of living (depending on the height of the cliff) are super slim. Or if you do not look both ways on a busy road you might get hit and die.
My point is not in opposition to your wonderful article btw. I am just adding a complementary perspective coming from my own life experiences. I am also speaking more generally about life and not into anything specific like current events or politics.
I realize now that ironically to say there are no black and white things in life is well, very black and white. Singular. So I like to add to the conversation here that a big YES we walk the middle path and sometimes we might need to take a stand on morals and what is harmful vs helpful in any given situation. Somethings are black in white as far as if they cause suffering or harm to other beings. I think you would agree. Of course the way we interpret that can be biased and clouded by our own beliefs and past experiences. It's really subjective though with morals but I do think its has a place. Or rather what do we value?
I hope this makes sense. And I am curious to what you have to say about it. Also, I am on the autistic spectrum (high functioning) and I struggle greatly with black and white thinking. I am getting much better but I also now see that it has a place sometimes. :)
Thanks again!
Hi Jamiel,
Thanks for reading and for your reflections! Yes, it makes sense what you're saying, and I certainly agree that sometimes things are quite clear - and indeed, walking a middle path doesn't mean we're wishy washy or always 'a little of this, a little of that'.
In the conflict resolution model I'm trained in, for instance, the process of 'coming to peace' only works if we are all in contact with the principles outlined in this essay. So if, for instance, someone is aggressive within the practice, the facilitator intervenes to reinforce the commitments to these principles. Firm boundaries or clear 'no's' very much have a role to play.
That's just one thought coming up in response to what you shared. Thanks again for connecting with the piece :)
Thanks again for writing it. It really helped open up my mind as I tend to get constricted with my thinking and have rigid patterns at times. Trying to unlearn that. I believe most humans have a load of unlearning, relearning and learning to do on so many things. After all that is why we are here, right? To learn by living and live by learning.
My current motto is: "I am living to learn and learning to live." That sums up my life.
Some more thoughts to add to the convo :)
100% agree! The unlearning is crucial, and it's a sign of courage and wisdom to be able to recognize when our thinking gets rigid.