[Buddha-l] Oops--Article is from NY Times

[Richard Hayes]

On Aug 28, 2010, at 11:36, sjziobro at cs.com wrote:

> Thinking for oneself is not restricted to sinning, Richard.

Of course not. It is only when one's own thinking does not accord with another person's understanding of God's thinking that accusations of sin are made. 

> Implied in your concept, at least seemingly, is that any notion of the divine and orientation thereto precludes authentic autonomy, with the result that only sin ensures this autonomy.

I thought I had taken great care to make it clear that it is only autonomy that contradicts what others claim to be God's thinking that is considered sinful. Apparently I was mistaken in thinking I had made that clear. 

> I admire your brand of hubris.

I get my hubris at discount prices at Costco. That's because I'm too proud to be seen at Walmart or Sam's Club. 

Years ago I read that Stoic teachers trained their aristocratic disciples by making them carry water jars in the public market places. Toting water was something only slaves and peasants did. I think a modern Stoic master might humble a disciple by making them carry plastic shopping bags filled with Gummy Bears out of Walmart. If I had an astute Stoic master, she would make me wear clothing bought at Target or K-Mart rather than at REI or L.L.  Bean. Druther die. 

Richard