[MD] Contentment - the enemy

[John Carl]

Marsha,

Happy new Calendar Year,

Love to hear  some plains talk on this post.  What is your
> objection?


It's hard to conjure up any real objection to contentment, or any real
longing for suffering, even though I know intellectually that it is the
suffering that drives the evolving, the irritation that creates the pearl.

My main objection to contentment is my own tendency to attachment.



>  It seems to me the first step is to understand
> the nature of all patterns so they are not pulling you this
> way and that.


Whew!  The nature of ALL patterns is such a daunting project.  You have to
start small and work your way outward.

But even understanding patterns doesn't guarantee you're free from them.  A
sailor understands the winds, but must obey them still, but as you know
well, she can trim her rudder and sails to use the winds rather than let
them use her, an art and a science.


 Once understood, it would be easier to
> determine if when desires are in conflict, the conflict is
> social/biological, or intellectual/social.  Buddhism offers
> some great explanations of the transitory/illusory nature
> of ALL patterns.
>

I agree.  However, pat answers or methodology can get in the way when you
think you've got it all figured, plain and simple and in the pocket, so to
speak.  Complacency is the enemy of  sailors everywhere, there's a storm
coming, the reefs are close and a thousand little adjustments to be made
along the way.



>
> How well do you know contentment, to recognize it as
> an enemy?  It sounds like you are for some reason
> afraid of it.   No one is talking about sloth.
>
>

Au contraire, mon ami,  I'm talking about sloth.  I'm talking about myself
and my tendency to slothful contentment.

Contentment is an old friend.  I find it in many strange places and at odd
times.  I don't hate it, but a little dialectical opposition, now and then,
is relished by the best and worst of men.

And a good friend that imprisons you is actually the enemy.

And an enemy that stretches and expands you, is actually your friend.

Irritation can be irrigation,

your friend

!

John