[Buddha-l] Re: Greetings from Oviedo

[Dan Lusthaus]

Dear Joy,

> I agree with this wisdom, but the leap of faith towards belief in the
> possibility of seeing things as they are (yathaabhuutam) is too big for
> me at the moment.

Maybe not a leap, but baby steps -- hearing, thinking, meditation. Paying
careful attention to the evidence and the arguments of others, thinking
critically and clearly about it, and then pondering further in as many
registers and as focused a way as possible -- while still listening,
thinking, etc...

> No, I see you as someone who doesn't want others to settle in easy
> generalisations (sometimes by giving other a taste of their own
> medecine). And that is a very endearing quality IMO.

Thank you. I also find your earnestness endearing.

> I see your point, but how can you say that "he would not be wrong to do
> so" if he would feel guilty for it the rest of his life? Not wrong with
> regard to an absolute right or wrong, but simply wrong because it
> poisons the rest of his life.

The alternative is that no one would have come out of the camps alive. That
would have been wrong and unnecessary. The remainder of their lives were
certainly impacted, but they had lives, produced families, had children and
grandchildren, etc., who not only could help dispel the poison, but perhaps
help others not repeat this again with still others. We are all haunted by
their memories because they survived as witnesses with memory. Surviving is
difficult.

best,
Dan