Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
Bodhidharma retreated to a monastery and settled down there, facing a wall, where, as we are told, he remained in absolute silence for nine years- to make the point that Buddhism proper is not a function of pious works, translating texts, or performing rituals and the like. And there came to him, as he sat there, a Confucian scholar, Hui K,o by name, who respectfully addressed him “Master!” But the Master, gazing ever at his wall, gave no sign of even having heard. Hui K’o remained standing– for days. Snow fell; and Bohidharma, in perfect silence, remained exactly as he was. So finally, to indicate the seriousness of his purpose, the visitor drew his sword and, cutting off his own left arm, presented this to the teacher; at which signal the monk turned.
“I seek instruction,” said Hui K’o, “in the doctrine of the Buddha.”
“That cannot be found through another,” came the response.
“I then beg you to pacify my soul.”
“Produce it, and I shall do so.”
“I have sought it for years,” said Hui K’o, “but when I look for it I cannot find it.”
“So there! Its is at peace. Leave it alone.” said the monk, returning to face the wall.
And Hui K’o thus abruptly awakening to his own transcendence of all daylight knowledge and concerns, became the first Ch’an master in China.
“I then beg you to pacify my soul.”
“Produce it, and I shall do so.”
Wise indeed. But 9 years sitting in front of a wall? A severed hand just to arrive at this obvious truth? Still, I guess it was not obvious in those days.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft - 01 June 2011 07:56 AM
“I then beg you to pacify my soul.”
“Produce it, and I shall do so.”
Wise indeed. But 9 years sitting in front of a wall? A severed hand just to arrive at this obvious truth? Still, I guess it was not obvious in those days.
Yup, maybe some folks just need to suffer more intensely and for longer than others before they get it. IMO, our job, as moral beings, is to try to reduce the intensity and length of their suffering. I think real knowledge born of rationality is the best way to do that; the best way to help them see the truth faster.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft - 01 June 2011 07:56 AM
“I then beg you to pacify my soul.”
“Produce it, and I shall do so.”
Wise indeed. But 9 years sitting in front of a wall? A severed hand just to arrive at this obvious truth? Still, I guess it was not obvious in those days.
Sometimes the difference between knowing and understanding is measured in time and suffering.
“Ignorance is servitude and knowledge brings hope, but only understanding is freedom.” Idries Shah
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft - 01 June 2011 08:34 AM
Yup, maybe some folks just need to suffer more intensely and for longer than others before they get it. IMO, our job, as moral beings, is to try to reduce the intensity and length of their suffering. I think real knowledge born of rationality is the best way to do that; the best way to help them see the truth faster.
Real knowledge is also born of suffering. As a survivior of horrors at the hands of not one, but two, predators, as a mother who lost her only son, and as a nurse who has suffered looking on the kinds of things most people run away from, I can tell you beyond any doubt that real knoweldge comes from suffering. Not only that, but the kinds of knowledge we need to care for one another comes from suffering. You don’t learn how to be a viable member of a social order in a fucking lab.
Just lost a fight to save to a patient from being moved from their house to a rack ass nursing facility and was being pissy.
Again. I’m sorry.
It’s OK, Star. We all have bad days. But do remember that those who work in labs are human, too, they suffer and have bad days and all the other normal probelms others have. Before I was a lawyer I was a teacher and before that I was a nurse so I have seen a bit of suffering myself. My hope is that I will never end up in a long nursing facility. I have my plans in place to avoid such a horrid end. Death should be accomplished quickly, simply and painlessly.
I just lost my battle to help a friend whose husband is hospitalized with Alzheimers. His life isn’t miserable enough, and the doctors want to give him chemotherapy for his newly diagnosed cancer. It’s turned into a big legal mess.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft - 02 June 2011 11:58 PM
stardust91977 - 02 June 2011 08:24 PM
Ok, that was a complete over-reaction. I’m sorry.
Just lost a fight to save to a patient from being moved from their house to a rack ass nursing facility and was being pissy.
Again. I’m sorry.
It’s OK, Star. We all have bad days. But do remember that those who work in labs are human, too, they suffer and have bad days and all the other normal probelms others have. Before I was a lawyer I was a teacher and before that I was a nurse so I have seen a bit of suffering myself. My hope is that I will never end up in a long nursing facility. I have my plans in place to avoid such a horrid end. Death should be accomplished quickly, simply and painlessly.
Have a good day.
Oh I’m acutely aware that we’re all human, that’s part of the problem. Evidently, to be a nurse in today’s world requires that you see people as dollar bills first. All else is secondary.
I just lost my battle to help a friend whose husband is hospitalized with Alzheimers. His life isn’t miserable enough, and the doctors want to give him chemotherapy for his newly diagnosed cancer. It’s turned into a big legal mess.
I am genuinely sorry that you and your friends are having to go through that, Saralynn. Alzheimer’s is such a terrible disease anyway, and then to have to deal with cancer on top of it. What a nightmare.
Who are the docs fighting, the patient or his spouse? People don’t ‘have’ to get chemo, and in fact, it’s a violation of the hypocratic oath to foist something like that on a patient.
What am I saying? “Violation of an oath”.. as though that ever matters when people get on a power trip.
All the burnouts, and the never-gave-a-shits, and the moneygrubbers, and the overinflated egos, the territoriality, the infighting, and on and on, are so aggravating I could pitch them all out a window sometimes. Let them lay in that bed and have someone cut corners on their care. I can hear them now, expressing their frustrations and sense of powerlessness. Then, of course, the nurse would come back out and I’d have to care for the fuckers. What’s a girl to do?
The position I have now is a simple per deim thing where all I have to do is cover the triage desk and help coordinate volunteers. Simple enough, until someone decides that they know what’s best for a patient who made their wishes known before becoming unconscious but, in fact, is not doing what the patient asked. My assumption is that this is because the patient has a developmental disability and is regarded as incapable of knowing what he wants. It’s simpler to move him to a facility that arrange for ATC care, and lord knows we musn’t tire ourselves while at work.
If I recall correctly, you used to be a caregiver and went through a burnout, didn’t you?
Stardust: If I recall correctly, you used to be a caregiver and went through a burnout, didn’t you?
Long story, but, I led a support group for people with mental illness of one kind or another. I didn’t burn out. I became emotionally involved with many of the members of the group, and when one killed himself, I crashed and burned. . It’s more complicated than that, but that’s the basic story. I wish I had a tougher personality because society’s treatment of the mentally ill is disgraceful and I’d like to get involved in hospital care programs, but I don’t have the emotional strength to do it. I’d like to help people recognize that they are not powerless…that there are techniques and strategies for dealing with mental illness if you can learn detachment and objectivity. I would stress cognitive therapy, meditation, and fellowhip with other sufferers….sort of like AA. Of course, this would not work with extremely deranged people, but, it would help many patients who are plagued by symptoms, but who are nevertheless capable of recognizing they have an illness, but are not their illness. From my experience, all that is done for the mentally ill is give them medication, then send them out the door.
As for the Alzheimer’s victim with cancer…the patient is not cabable of making the decision to undergo treatment and his wife is also frail and has recurring bouts with mental illness, so she is not considered competent. As you may have guessed, this woman is one of the people iwho was in my group. So, they are going to give him chemo because it is against the law not to treat someone. Crazy. He’s miserable as it is, crying to go home every day. Now he is going to be sick and confused. Sounds like Hell to me and it just doesn’t make sense. considering that he is elderly. Where are those death panels when you need them?
Stardust: If I recall correctly, you used to be a caregiver and went through a burnout, didn’t you?
Long story, but, I led a support group for people with mental illness of one kind or another. I didn’t burn out. I became emotionally involved with many of the members of the group, and when one killed himself, I crashed and burned. . It’s more complicated than that, but that’s the basic story. I wish I had a tougher personality because society’s treatment of the mentally ill is disgraceful and I’d like to get involved in hospital care programs, but I don’t have the emotional strength to do it. I’d like to help people recognize that they are not powerless…that there are techniques and strategies for dealing with mental illness if you can learn detachment and objectivity. I would stress cognitive therapy, meditation, and fellowhip with other sufferers….sort of like AA. Of course, this would not work with extremely deranged people, but, it would help many patients who are plagued by symptoms, but who are nevertheless capable of recognizing they have an illness, but are not their illness. From my experience, all that is done for the mentally ill is give them medication, then send them out the door.
As for the Alzheimer’s victim with cancer…the patient is not cabable of making the decision to undergo treatment and his wife is also frail and has recurring bouts with mental illness, so she is not considered competent. As you may have guessed, this woman is one of the people iwho was in my group. So, they are going to give him chemo because it is against the law not to treat someone. Crazy. He’s miserable as it is, crying to go home every day. Now he is going to be sick and confused. Sounds like Hell to me and it just doesn’t make sense. considering that he is elderly. Where are those death panels when you need them?
Kevorkian, who just died, had it right. There is a time when ending one’s own life simply becomes the right thing to do.
