Recent Posts

Struggle isn't good, but indulging any impulse that comes from god knows where isn't good either.

Do you deny yourself everything, or deny yourself nothing Gopal? Or if it's somewhere in between, what decides?

For me, will power is a finite resource but it is a real thing.

Well Sasquatch appears to have imploded thus removing himself from my sphere of influence <ironic HA> but Sunshine can take an enforced break for that one. Ban will expire 2 Feb.

Edit: Oh Great, you oughta know I'll have Alanis Morissette in my head all day now.

Laughter pulled me in to this thread. I've skim read the gist of it, so apologies if my understanding isn't totally on the mark.

As far as the Laughter's complaint about Jay's not-very-veiled insulting post goes, I thought that Tano gave as good as she got in reply, so I'll judge that one a draw.


Well it's a straw man argument. I thought your point Tano was well made - we need to have seen the darkness in order to appreciate the light. Contrast as you say; I agree. You did not say there's nothing wrong with it, and you didn't say war was beautiful.

Jay distorted and polarised what you said so that he'd have something to disagree with. I don't know if he's aware of doing that or not. I suspect not, and it's a common internet game to then say "AH HA! You feel into my trap".

For me, this subject gets to the heart of the spiritual life: Is the world perfect as it is, or do we work to try and change it to how we think it "should be" ? Both Jay and SDP get points in my book for reflecting back to Tano that she flip-flopped from one to the other, which I don't think she's seen yet.

My view is that Jay - and this is reminding me of our one time contributor Q -is trolling and then making the suggestion that he's performing a service to his victim in reflecting their hypocrisy, ego and myopia back to them. Which he is, true yes, but the method is flawed. When the egos have become engaged during trolling, it's next to impossible to step back from that and see the truth of the matter. I think.

So Jay, two things come to mind:

• Needing recognition from others, be it spiritual or intellectual, is probably going to cause you to engage in mind games that other people don't enjoy playing.
• Pricking the balloon of another's claims to spiritual attainment is going to cause arguments. It can be done - with great care - but if someone isn't ready to see it, they won't see it. The wise man would walk away at that point, I think.

Our Guidelines for forum behaviour are clear so, Jay, you can either stop the trolling or leave the board.

Peter

PS Tano, at 857 posts and a Senior Member you cannot be considered a "Poor wee Newbie" (I paraphrase), so that plea doesn't wash. I think you're quite able to look after yourself as far as trolling and insulting are concerned - as your attempts to have a member banned by sending PMs to Moderators show. You're a main player too.

You argue well Reefs, very articulate. Solid logic. You obviously put a lot of thought into that.

I've said what my limited involvement as Moderator would be - cleaning up the spam mostly - but I got pulled in Wren sending a PM (which is received as an email) to Shawn and myself entitled "Official Complaint" so that pinged on my radar. Yes I agree there's probably some gender bias there - I see you lads as being able to take care of yourselves as far as verbal abuse is concerned. I did post about having revised that opinion somewhat.

I didn't tell you that your complaint was archived because I didn't deal with it and I didn't archive it. Farmer might choose to explain why he didn't follow up with you on that one.

Yes, indeedy more deflection. Well, ZD has said he's willing to intervene if there's no improvement so hopefully we'll see some one way or another.

P

PS The example I'm setting is: not perpetuating an ego fuelled food fight. Did you see me walk away from my discussion with Gopal? Did it again there.

And there he does it again. Well I have said in the past that attempting to 'Teach' someone when they've not asked you to is a hazardous undertaking at best and that perception is being played out here.

OK Gopal, you're not able to go there right now and I can't make you.

Why? Why not say "Gosh you're right there Peter, a person claiming to be on the Spiritual Path should really not being going around suggesting the someone's behaviour is deserving of a good whupping. I really regret my lack of self control and reactive speech there." ?

We were talking about personal volition at the time. My opinion is that 90% of brain activity is taken up by people's self-justification of behaviour that they have next to no control over. It's subconscious, the justification "just happens".

The sub-conscious mind quite literally doesn't allow the conscious mind to see what it's not willing to admit to itself.

That's my take on what in the blazes is going on, anyhoo.