[Buddha-l] How Khushwant Singh does

[Jo]

No, Erik........David Living wrote this--what I wrote was below his
comments. 

On 10-08-11 09:32, JKirkpatrick wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com
[mailto:buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Erik Hoogcarspel
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 10:07 AM
To: Buddhist discussion forum
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] How Khushwant Singh does

As you mention, it is very difficult to say anything definite about birth in
general, because women have such different stories about it and much of the
pain is compensated by emotional rewards. Besides the attitude towards pain
is so different among cultures and individuals.
When I was thinking about death and birth it struck me that death is an
individual phenomenon and birth symbolises basically your interdependence
with others. Birth is more than coming out of the womb, it is also becoming
someone for others, getting a name and status and a future. My guess at the
time was that existential philosophers missed this point because of an
individualistic bias. For me pain is something that happens and it becomes
ever less significant in our society because of the many ways available to
alleviate it. I don't mind going to the dentist, because I know that if he
does a root canal, I will not feel excessive pain. This is quite new, but
the symbolic value of birth will never change.

erik


On 10-08-11 09:32, JKirkpatrick wrote: [No Dave Living wrote this--what I
wrote was below hid comments]

> I think birth is traumatic for everyone involved. My mother survived 
> the birth of her first child, sadly the child was stillborn. For me it 
> was "a piece of cake" apart from a slight scarring around the ears! I 
> think I must have got the painful end of the deal there come to think 
> of it - story of my life! She was up and about the next day which was 
> very rare in 1949 apparently.
> Meanwhile it was a few years before I could get up and about.  [etc]
>