[MD] Contentment - the enemy

[MarshaV]

New Year's Greetings John,




On Jan 1, 2010, at 3:27 PM, John Carl wrote:

> 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.


I do not relate to your explanation of contentment as an enemy, but then it 
is constructed from your experience, not mine.      


> 
> 
> 
>> 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.

Not so daunting; just one will do.



> 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.

I think to be free from all patterns would be to be in a coma.  That's not
something that appeals to me: dnr.         

I read the books, took a couple of power squadron courses and made 
observations over the years, and I don't remember being in a agitated 
state during the learning process.




> 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.

Steve Hagen's book is wise, thoughtful and sane; reading the book, writing the 
quotes, hearing the words seemed like the right thing to do, but I'm not a Buddhist.   
And if a big storm is coming, a sailor would do what needed to be done.  
Contentment is not complacency.  



>> 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,

You are a friend.



Marsha   
  
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Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars...