Comments on: Do The Right Thing http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2482 Gerald Ford Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:58:44 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2482 I have to admit, from personal experience, I am a bad driver: impatient and just not that coordinated. But when I think of Baby, I tend to drive slower and try not to take so many risks. When she's in the care with me, even more so. So I know what Thich Nhat Hanh is talking about, but I think we're actually talking about the same thing. By remembering one's child in this case, it reminds them to pay attention to their driving (hopefully). :) I have to admit, from personal experience, I am a bad driver: impatient and just not that coordinated. But when I think of Baby, I tend to drive slower and try not to take so many risks. When she’s in the care with me, even more so. So I know what Thich Nhat Hanh is talking about, but I think we’re actually talking about the same thing. By remembering one’s child in this case, it reminds them to pay attention to their driving (hopefully). :)

]]> By: Kendall http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2479 Kendall Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:30:23 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2479 I have to disagree with a part of that first quote that says to practice mindfulness of your child waiting for you at home. What people should be doing is being mindful of their driving. People already drive with too many distractions, so our mindfulness their should be on driving. Though I do realize it was an example and I agree with the message it was trying to convey. I just feel it should have used a better example context. I have to disagree with a part of that first quote that says to practice mindfulness of your child waiting for you at home. What people should be doing is being mindful of their driving. People already drive with too many distractions, so our mindfulness their should be on driving. Though I do realize it was an example and I agree with the message it was trying to convey. I just feel it should have used a better example context.

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2481 Gerald Ford Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:56:41 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2481 Good point. We may not always know how to listen to our intuition, especially if our mind chatters away, so practice definitely helps. Good point. We may not always know how to listen to our intuition, especially if our mind chatters away, so practice definitely helps.

]]> By: Alice http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2480 Alice Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:02:09 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2480 "While you can argue over rules and legalisms, our intuition and sense of right knows better. Deep down you know what’s right...." That reminds me of the Lojong slogan, "Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one." It's saying that since you're the one who knows yourself best, go with what your intuition says is best. Of course, we also need to have massive amounts of discriminating wisdom in order to really know if we're doing the right thing. That's where practice comes into play. “While you can argue over rules and legalisms, our intuition and sense of right knows better. Deep down you know what’s right….”

That reminds me of the Lojong slogan, “Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one.” It’s saying that since you’re the one who knows yourself best, go with what your intuition says is best. Of course, we also need to have massive amounts of discriminating wisdom in order to really know if we’re doing the right thing. That’s where practice comes into play.

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2485 Gerald Ford Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:39:46 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2485 Arun: Thanks much. :) Chasing: Actually I was thinking of at least two, maybe three unrelated "challenges" to this notion, so I didn't feel like singling anyone out. :) Arun: Thanks much. :)

Chasing: Actually I was thinking of at least two, maybe three unrelated “challenges” to this notion, so I didn’t feel like singling anyone out. :)

]]> By: ChasingSanity.com http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2484 ChasingSanity.com Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:35:54 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2484 What, no link to my response in your post? ;-) Whether we agree or not, the discourse spurs thinking, thinking spurs reflection, reflection spurs steps toward self-actualization. I too like the new design. Cutline is easy to customize. I use it for my site and for another site I'm developing: www.elderguru.com What, no link to my response in your post?
;-)

Whether we agree or not, the discourse spurs thinking, thinking spurs reflection, reflection spurs steps toward self-actualization.

I too like the new design. Cutline is easy to customize. I use it for my site and for another site I’m developing: http://www.elderguru.com

]]> By: arunlikhati http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2483 arunlikhati Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:44:42 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2483 Great post, Gerald. And I love the new design! Great post, Gerald. And I love the new design!

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2487 Gerald Ford Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:10:23 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2487 Hi GGW, welcome to the L8B! You hit upon a great point: your actions, good or bad, do reflect upon the whole universe. This goes back to the Brahma Net Sutra (and the simile of the jeweled net) among other things. P.S. Your avatar icon rocks. No pun intended. Hi GGW, welcome to the L8B! You hit upon a great point: your actions, good or bad, do reflect upon the whole universe. This goes back to the Brahma Net Sutra (and the simile of the jeweled net) among other things.

P.S. Your avatar icon rocks. No pun intended.

]]> By: ggw_bach http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/01/10/do-the-right-thing/#comment-2486 ggw_bach Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:42:30 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=2410#comment-2486 keen to hear about your travels. Fairly new to your blog. "Buddhism is praxis, doing stuff. Buddhism practiced has clear benefits to yourself and others. When you do the right thing, you just know you’ve made the right course." that sounds right "You do not inflict yourself with the negative karma of guilt or the cycle of mental justification, you do not regret it weeks later" yes! one has acted in the interests of the universe, not that of the limited ego. keen to hear about your travels. Fairly new to your blog.

“Buddhism is praxis, doing stuff. Buddhism practiced has clear benefits to yourself and others. When you do the right thing, you just know you’ve made the right course.”

that sounds right

“You do not inflict yourself with the negative karma of guilt or the cycle of mental justification, you do not regret it weeks later”

yes! one has acted in the interests of the universe, not that of the limited ego.

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