Hmmmmm....watching people suffer.....moral? immoral? For me, it
depends on the source of the suffering. We need to suffer to grow.
Is it moral to try and alleviate an alcoholic's suffering, when to do
so may (and usually does) lead to more suffering? Alcoholics don't
stop til they hit bottom. How are they going to hit bottom if we
eliminate/alleviate their suffering? Unless you look at the BIG
picture. Then to let them suffer actually (ultimately) helps them
ease their suffering in the long run.
Also, in regards to the modified quote from Lila (replacing
punishment with suffering) - the terms are not equivalent. They have
overlap, but they're not interchangeable. I can suffer without it
being from punishment. Later in that post, Jackbrn1o says:
>Just because we cannot eliminate suffering all together doesn't
> mean we shouldn't attempt to relieve some suffering. By that rational it
> could be argued that taking a shower is unnecessary because we'll just get
> dirty again anyway. Or why eat to eliminate our hunger pain (suffering)?
> We'll just be hungry again later.
This reminded me of the quote: "If you give someone a fish (ease
their suffering) you feed them for a day. If you teach them how to
fish, you feed them for the rest of their life." In doing so, we
haven't eliminated suffering (hunger still exists and there is work
involved in fishing) Ulitmately, it depends on how you try to help
ease a peron's suffering. Think about parents who over-protect. I
don't know a soul who this form of parenting has helped.
Suffering is not the enemy. It is an intrinsic part of life. From
The Road Less Traveled (M. Scott Peck) - "Life is difficult. This is
a great truth, one of the greatest truths.* It is a great truth
because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly
know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept
it-then life is no lomger difficult. Because once it is accepted, the
fact that life is difficult no longer matters." (the "*" above leads
to the footnote-"The first of the 'Four Noble Truths' which Buddha
taught was 'Life is suffering.")
William Glasser (psychiatrist who developed "Reality Therapy") stated
that the biggest problem in life is people's avoidance of suffering.
The more the try to avoid it, the more suffering they encounter. If
followed to a conclusion, this avoidance of suffering leads to
neurosis and then psychosis.
Shalom
David Lind
Trickster@postmark.net
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