Dear John B. and David B.,
John wrote 25/4 4:26 +1000:
'the mystic is offering a radical alternative. Few mystics, it seems, have
been active in social causes. Their message is broadly that the sort of
involvement I describe above is fundamentally an exercise of the ego, hence
doomed to fail. The political struggle actually increases suffering, since
it fails to deal with the root of suffering. Personal transformation comes
first, only then does return to the market place and the bodhisattva vow
("no matter how limitless beings, I vow to liberate them all") have a
place.'
I don't agree that this describes all types of mysticism. At least Quakers
combine mysticism and activism without the detour of first seeking personal
transformation and only then 'returning to the market place'.
In the words of William Penn (Quaker founder of Pennsylvania) in 1682:
'True godliness don't turn men out of the world but enables them to live
better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it... Christians should
keep the help and guide the vessel to its port; not meanly steal out at the
stern of the world and leave those that are in it without a pilot to be
driven by the fury of evil times upon the rock of sand of ruin.'
I very much agree with what David B. wrote 27/4 17:07 -0600. I hardly
recognize the David B. that denounced 7/4 13:26 -0600 John B.'s 1/4 posting
as relevant to only a tiny percentage of the population and that forecasted
7/4 15:58 -0600 John B.'s mystical 5th level to become necessary only by
Tuesday June *th 9999 at 8:44 GMT ...
I very much agree also with what John wrote 25/4 4:26 +1000:
'Only liberation within can free me to act morally in the world.'
I only don't see why liberation within and acting morally in the world can't
proceed simultaneously.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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