[Buddha-l] neuroscience: neural plasticity

[Michael Paris]

--- Joy Vriens <joy at vrienstrad.com> wrote:

[snip]

> >Seems easy to use "spiritual" as a tool of judgment, i.e., spiritual
= good, or at least better than average, and certainly much better than
non-spiritual. Related to a question of moral purity, perhaps? 
> >

> Anything can be used as a tool of judgment, any stick will do to beat
> a dog.  

No, not any stick will do to beat a dog.

To really induce shame, one must use the right tool at the right time.
There are settings where an accusation of "lacking spirituality" can be
particularly unsettling. It's so vague that the mere mention could
easily be sufficient to hurt another's feelings or the disapprobation
of others.

My Catholic upbringing is a superior example of the right tools of
shame for the right sins. 

This reminds me: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's accused
his legislative opponets of being "girlymen." Oh me, oh my. How is one
to respond to that? Merely stating "I'm not a girlyman" means one has
entertained the thought that, perish forbid, one may be indeed. It gets
worse, of course. I'm worried about my manhood since I even mentioned
the subject.


[snip]

> >So, why not study meditation to learn how it could help people in
> need? 
> 
> I have my doubts about the motivation behind this. Why not teach the
> same people that Jesus loves them. I am sure it would have a very
> positive effect on some.

I'm not sure at all. Could be quite the opposite. Depends on what
group. Besides, isn't meditation "better" than just preaching? Or is
it?

 
> Buddhism is a gradual path. One of the most basic things the Buddha
thought was to simplify one's life, the right way of living, to create
conditions that are in favour of dare I say a more spiritual life.  
>  

Just about anything worth doing is gradual. "Rome wasn't built in a day
(and neither was Syracuse)" - The Three Stooges. 

Thoreau preached - and practiced - simplicity as well. Sometimes I
wonder that there are a lot more enlightened people about than one
might think. Just not Buddhists. Anything but, in fact.

[snip]

> Simplicity is a main ingredient of spirituality. If one can find a
place in one's busy life to cram in simplicity and a bit of detachment,
then that would be fine I guess, wouldn't it?
> 

Sounds like good meditation to me.

Question: from what I hear, Tibetan meditation systems involve a great
deal of complexity, not to mention struggle. Is that so?


Michael



 
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