Im not sure whats so "fascinating" about someone not trained as a philosopher or scholar ending up contemplating the deeper meanings of life. Anyone with an inquisitive mind can and might even be expected to do so, regardless of their education. It reminds me of the surprise europeans felt at learning some native american societies had a…
Im not sure whats so "fascinating" about someone not trained as a philosopher or scholar ending up contemplating the deeper meanings of life. Anyone with an inquisitive mind can and might even be expected to do so, regardless of their education. It reminds me of the surprise europeans felt at learning some native american societies had a deeper understanding of freedom and governance than they themselves did(a fact they ultimately downplayed and denied). Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth for us "uneducated" thinkers.
"Perhaps others have reached the same conclusion, in some retreat or hermitage. But few have done so in such a dire situation, and with so many threats hanging over their heads. If mindfulness is possible in those circumstances—with so little to see, touch, hear, or taste—imagine what riches it can offer to us, with the whole world at hand." Idk if you can really make that claim, that "few have done so in such a dire situation", as im sure many that have never made it back to tell us about it, or didnt decide to write a book. And im kind of inclined to argue that his mindfulness was a product of those circumstances and not something that happened in spite of them. I would say such mindfulness is actually much harder to come by "with the whole world at hand".
Great comment! I think "mindfulness" is more difficult living at the centre of things than isolated from them (Muslims tend to think not that there's no monasticism per se but that the monastic spirit is, rather, brought into the city).
Also, I think it's very interesting that mindfulness is often talked about as an end in itself, without reference to an object of thought/love. Always loved Iris Murdoch's: " the quality of our attachments is the quality of our understanding."
Im not sure whats so "fascinating" about someone not trained as a philosopher or scholar ending up contemplating the deeper meanings of life. Anyone with an inquisitive mind can and might even be expected to do so, regardless of their education. It reminds me of the surprise europeans felt at learning some native american societies had a deeper understanding of freedom and governance than they themselves did(a fact they ultimately downplayed and denied). Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth for us "uneducated" thinkers.
"Perhaps others have reached the same conclusion, in some retreat or hermitage. But few have done so in such a dire situation, and with so many threats hanging over their heads. If mindfulness is possible in those circumstances—with so little to see, touch, hear, or taste—imagine what riches it can offer to us, with the whole world at hand." Idk if you can really make that claim, that "few have done so in such a dire situation", as im sure many that have never made it back to tell us about it, or didnt decide to write a book. And im kind of inclined to argue that his mindfulness was a product of those circumstances and not something that happened in spite of them. I would say such mindfulness is actually much harder to come by "with the whole world at hand".
But im really excited to read this book!
Great comment! I think "mindfulness" is more difficult living at the centre of things than isolated from them (Muslims tend to think not that there's no monasticism per se but that the monastic spirit is, rather, brought into the city).
Also, I think it's very interesting that mindfulness is often talked about as an end in itself, without reference to an object of thought/love. Always loved Iris Murdoch's: " the quality of our attachments is the quality of our understanding."