My guiding philosophy is the Golden Rule. If everyone thought first about how they would like it before they act in a way that will affect others, we'd live in a much different world.
I think it would work a lot better if we stopped thinking about how we would like things to be and, instead, tried to understand how others want things to be. It might be different than what we ourselves want. I have never been a fan of the "golden rule".
I didn't mean how I would like things to be, but how I would like it if someone did to me what I'm going to do to them. For instance simple things like let my dog crap on their lawn, or leave a mess in a common laundry room or, to take it further, bomb their house and kill their children. Practicing the Golden Rule, as I see it, is not only a matter of common courtesy and respect, but it shows an awareness of the fact that our actions have broader consequences, sort of like karma. By the way, I do not claim to be a saint!
Clearly nobody would ever want to have their house bombed and their children killed. Seems a no brainer to me. Still, what I would like done unto me, you might not like done unto you, so it is a bit touch and go to use that rule. I think the rule would be better if it said "do unto others what they have said they want done unto them" or something like that. In your case, it would be to pick up the dog poop and leave the laundry room tidy.
Of course, bombing people's houses and killing their children should be a no-brainer! But it's not to people who think they are superior, exceptional and above the law and consider their victims sub-human! This is a prime example of never asking oneself for a second "how you like it", of amorality.
Your deeply caring heart struggles so urgently to make sense of life, to desire so strongly the world’s darkness be enlightened, that justice would reign so peace could be realized. So I recognize the light shining in you…a gift, for the those who suffer most in our world, using your mind and time to write and engage others to use their gifts in participatory transforming action where and as we live, move and have our being! So…just so you know many Christian people share your very same desires, even when I as one, am not stuck in a vision or worship of a deity to be appeased, thanked, prayed to, being asked to intervene to re-make the world a place where all had enough, none had more than enough any longer! Many of us, regardless of following any religious path for our lives…or none at all, instead, with eyes, ears, minds & hearts open can perceive the injustice, inequality, gross mistreatment of others of our same human race are engaged with communities all over the planet in acts of healing “this fragile earth, our island home”, our political systems, governments…while being I trust willing to examine our personal blindness or unwillingness to face courageously & honestly so we grow more compassionate & kind & generous-spirited. I give thanks for the light you shine & shed, this Winter Solstice day, when our planet tips slowly back toward our Sol!!
Too bad coca cola took ownership of that song about the world singing in perfect harmony. they made a lot of money from it. Exacerbated plenty of diabetic issues, rotted a lot of teeth. I would like to see the world singing in perfect harmony, but I would rather it was a harmony that coca cola didn't take part in.
On this biting cold evening in NYC, I'm feeling grateful for the internet, despite all it's flaws and hazards, that has given me contact with decent, thoughtful folks like you here and elsewhere. Having that presence in my present life has made a difference in my hope for humanity, which often gets damaged, as there seems to be no end to the treachery practiced by humans to inflict suffering on others. How much of this is a consequence of the ubiquitous cultural exhortation to achieve superiority? In our current condition, the word fairness is newly defined as: As long as I get mine, it's fair.
Christmas is, once you look past the crass consumerism of it, a holiday enshrining humility, graciousness, and compassion. Not the merry really. Our modern culture tries to eviscerate these human attributes from the human character. You're fated to be a non-entity, if you're not successfully ambitious. Power hasn't accrued to the meek. As far back as The Odyssey of Homer, he might have been ridiculing us as indolent dreamers indulging in a fantasy of peace in his depiction of the Lotus Eaters. In the early annals of the Europeans' arrival upon the "New World", e g the clergyman De Las Casas and the Puritan William Bradford, the indigenous people encountered are consistently described as welcoming and generous, prior to being enslaved and/or slaughtered.
From my view, one of the worst consequences of capitalism is the cultural enforcement of a paradigm of winners and losers, of the imposition to distinguish between the superior and the inferior. We all started to feel this pressure as children. Wealth or a natural gift might be a fact of life for some, but my question is why does that so often signify superiority?
The notion of superiority divides us, and robs us of so much caring and connection.
And I think our true natures just want to connect with others. The idea of superiority is inculcated in us for nefarious reasons, I believe.
I recall Christmas in my non-religious household growing up as a time of gathering as family -- aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings. Most people don't do this so much anymore.
My brother and I were talking about it last night, and how we miss those people, many of them long dead. They were always low key, but we enjoyed each other's company over a Christmas dinner.
We've lost our ability to connect, and I hope we can be intentional about rebuilding that.
Last night our community choir sang to a sold out audience, a seasonal and well-loved ritual. The MC introduced a couple and their young child who had just immigrated from Mexico, and we sang 'Feliz Navidad' to welcome them to our community.
Things like that give me hope. There are places where connection and community are nurtured.
I wonder how we rebuild a sense of community so that when the inevitable fall of the west comes along, we'll all be able to support each other. That's a very practical reason, but there are other really good reasons too.
We might be compiling a new literature of the common person as we comment here. How many acts of inter-racial affection have gone by without any record? We sure do get plenty of the opposite reported to us. I do believe that my outrage at seeing an act of brutality isn't as influential upon my disposition as to witness an act of kindness.
On a night as cold as this one, we would seriously worry about Henry. Down the street there's a shopping cart overflowing with floral bouquets. Henry passed away without notice just before the deep freeze. He was a homeless Haitian man in a white neighborhood. He was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was a kind and wise person who never asked for anything but was offered everything he needed short of an actual place to live. Many are in mourning and his absence is palpable. He was a true survivor who maintained a decency and friendliness none of the rest of us could equal.
As the neighbors can't stop piling on the flowers on the sidewalk spot he occupied, he succeeded in unifying us to each other in a city known for its hazard of anonymity. He left us a legacy of the intrepid human spirit that will not be defeated. The last known contact with him was with my wife who was out for a walk. He asked her where she was going. She replied, nowhere in particular, I'm avoiding killing my husband. "You shouldn't kill your husband" he said. "You need him."
If you can read up or listen to J. Krishnamurti and his musings, you will find in him a philosophy that can never be weaponized if only because it is so advanced that most people don't even understand what he is saying a lot of the time! 😂
Seriously though, give him a shot and you won't be disappointed at all and can only grow further as a human being from coming in contact with his works
My guiding philosophy is the Golden Rule. If everyone thought first about how they would like it before they act in a way that will affect others, we'd live in a much different world.
I think it would work a lot better if we stopped thinking about how we would like things to be and, instead, tried to understand how others want things to be. It might be different than what we ourselves want. I have never been a fan of the "golden rule".
I didn't mean how I would like things to be, but how I would like it if someone did to me what I'm going to do to them. For instance simple things like let my dog crap on their lawn, or leave a mess in a common laundry room or, to take it further, bomb their house and kill their children. Practicing the Golden Rule, as I see it, is not only a matter of common courtesy and respect, but it shows an awareness of the fact that our actions have broader consequences, sort of like karma. By the way, I do not claim to be a saint!
Clearly nobody would ever want to have their house bombed and their children killed. Seems a no brainer to me. Still, what I would like done unto me, you might not like done unto you, so it is a bit touch and go to use that rule. I think the rule would be better if it said "do unto others what they have said they want done unto them" or something like that. In your case, it would be to pick up the dog poop and leave the laundry room tidy.
Of course, bombing people's houses and killing their children should be a no-brainer! But it's not to people who think they are superior, exceptional and above the law and consider their victims sub-human! This is a prime example of never asking oneself for a second "how you like it", of amorality.
This is not a happy song, but it is an honest song and it gives me hope that this person is singing it. I think good people are honest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNoeFD80bbM
Susan, I agree with the sentiments of the song you shared. Thanks.
I can point immediately to gratitude and humility as traits common to "good people." I'm sure there are others, also.
For sure, important traits, Lenny. Happy holidays to you.
Back at you, Diana!
Let us raise up as often as possible in the new year breaking through the goodness of other humans everywhere we recognize it!
That is interesting 🤔what are the philosophies of good people ?
I would start with they don’t feel superior…
love Here comes the sun, such a great solstice song, thank you
I agree, Susan. You can't have an egalitarian society with people feeling superior.
For me 'Here Comes the Sun' is perfect for Winter Solstice.
Your deeply caring heart struggles so urgently to make sense of life, to desire so strongly the world’s darkness be enlightened, that justice would reign so peace could be realized. So I recognize the light shining in you…a gift, for the those who suffer most in our world, using your mind and time to write and engage others to use their gifts in participatory transforming action where and as we live, move and have our being! So…just so you know many Christian people share your very same desires, even when I as one, am not stuck in a vision or worship of a deity to be appeased, thanked, prayed to, being asked to intervene to re-make the world a place where all had enough, none had more than enough any longer! Many of us, regardless of following any religious path for our lives…or none at all, instead, with eyes, ears, minds & hearts open can perceive the injustice, inequality, gross mistreatment of others of our same human race are engaged with communities all over the planet in acts of healing “this fragile earth, our island home”, our political systems, governments…while being I trust willing to examine our personal blindness or unwillingness to face courageously & honestly so we grow more compassionate & kind & generous-spirited. I give thanks for the light you shine & shed, this Winter Solstice day, when our planet tips slowly back toward our Sol!!
Thanks, Karen.
And I send you blessings and wishes for a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season.
I'm not sure that I struggle to understand as much as I yearn for better for all of us.
And use my one voice to speak up.
Wishing you all the best in 2025. I hope that through solidarity and action we can help things to get to a better place.
Too bad coca cola took ownership of that song about the world singing in perfect harmony. they made a lot of money from it. Exacerbated plenty of diabetic issues, rotted a lot of teeth. I would like to see the world singing in perfect harmony, but I would rather it was a harmony that coca cola didn't take part in.
I didn't like that either, Susan.
On this biting cold evening in NYC, I'm feeling grateful for the internet, despite all it's flaws and hazards, that has given me contact with decent, thoughtful folks like you here and elsewhere. Having that presence in my present life has made a difference in my hope for humanity, which often gets damaged, as there seems to be no end to the treachery practiced by humans to inflict suffering on others. How much of this is a consequence of the ubiquitous cultural exhortation to achieve superiority? In our current condition, the word fairness is newly defined as: As long as I get mine, it's fair.
Christmas is, once you look past the crass consumerism of it, a holiday enshrining humility, graciousness, and compassion. Not the merry really. Our modern culture tries to eviscerate these human attributes from the human character. You're fated to be a non-entity, if you're not successfully ambitious. Power hasn't accrued to the meek. As far back as The Odyssey of Homer, he might have been ridiculing us as indolent dreamers indulging in a fantasy of peace in his depiction of the Lotus Eaters. In the early annals of the Europeans' arrival upon the "New World", e g the clergyman De Las Casas and the Puritan William Bradford, the indigenous people encountered are consistently described as welcoming and generous, prior to being enslaved and/or slaughtered.
From my view, one of the worst consequences of capitalism is the cultural enforcement of a paradigm of winners and losers, of the imposition to distinguish between the superior and the inferior. We all started to feel this pressure as children. Wealth or a natural gift might be a fact of life for some, but my question is why does that so often signify superiority?
I agree, Mario.
The notion of superiority divides us, and robs us of so much caring and connection.
And I think our true natures just want to connect with others. The idea of superiority is inculcated in us for nefarious reasons, I believe.
I recall Christmas in my non-religious household growing up as a time of gathering as family -- aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings. Most people don't do this so much anymore.
My brother and I were talking about it last night, and how we miss those people, many of them long dead. They were always low key, but we enjoyed each other's company over a Christmas dinner.
We've lost our ability to connect, and I hope we can be intentional about rebuilding that.
Last night our community choir sang to a sold out audience, a seasonal and well-loved ritual. The MC introduced a couple and their young child who had just immigrated from Mexico, and we sang 'Feliz Navidad' to welcome them to our community.
Things like that give me hope. There are places where connection and community are nurtured.
I wonder how we rebuild a sense of community so that when the inevitable fall of the west comes along, we'll all be able to support each other. That's a very practical reason, but there are other really good reasons too.
We might be compiling a new literature of the common person as we comment here. How many acts of inter-racial affection have gone by without any record? We sure do get plenty of the opposite reported to us. I do believe that my outrage at seeing an act of brutality isn't as influential upon my disposition as to witness an act of kindness.
On a night as cold as this one, we would seriously worry about Henry. Down the street there's a shopping cart overflowing with floral bouquets. Henry passed away without notice just before the deep freeze. He was a homeless Haitian man in a white neighborhood. He was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was a kind and wise person who never asked for anything but was offered everything he needed short of an actual place to live. Many are in mourning and his absence is palpable. He was a true survivor who maintained a decency and friendliness none of the rest of us could equal.
As the neighbors can't stop piling on the flowers on the sidewalk spot he occupied, he succeeded in unifying us to each other in a city known for its hazard of anonymity. He left us a legacy of the intrepid human spirit that will not be defeated. The last known contact with him was with my wife who was out for a walk. He asked her where she was going. She replied, nowhere in particular, I'm avoiding killing my husband. "You shouldn't kill your husband" he said. "You need him."
He had nothing, yet he had everything.
Thanks for that touching story, Mario. I'm so sad to hear about this lovely man's death.
If you can read up or listen to J. Krishnamurti and his musings, you will find in him a philosophy that can never be weaponized if only because it is so advanced that most people don't even understand what he is saying a lot of the time! 😂
Seriously though, give him a shot and you won't be disappointed at all and can only grow further as a human being from coming in contact with his works
Thanks, Uaifo, I'll see if I can find some of his words.