[MD] my question

[John Carl]

Well I'd say that's the essence of Ron's question of Bo, Marsha.

On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 1:13 PM, MarshaV <valkyr at att.net> wrote:

>
> Greetings All,
>
> Whether the Intellectual Level is SOM, or not, does it affect the question:
> How can I live a better life?
>
> Thoughts?
>

And I can almost hear Bo's response, about his angst of unknowing relieved
in 1978 by THIS VERY INSIGHT....

yeah, I've heard that a couple of times.

So, no.  I don't need to hear it again.

I do appreciate a direct approach to an old question, so thanks for asking.
 I myself have my own "opinion" which I've shared in the past, that the idea
of making the 4th level "intellect" is ludicrous, so I've got my own
label-attachment disorder.

I think the SOM level is an interesting phenomena that bridges the social
third level and the symbolic/artistic/aesthetic/philosophical level of the
4th - shortened to "philosophical" in the true sense of the word - Wisdom
married to Love.

  SOM is the kindergarten of this level.  The first bare perception of the
self/other dichotomy  as significant.

I also concur with Pirsig that this level has been present in humanity since
humanity has been human.

Over all advantage of my viewpoint?  Well it's a two-fer, it's logical and
It makes me smile.  I smile to see Bo mired in the kindergarten of
intellectualism, while bemoaning the fact of intellectualism.

I realize "makes me smile" isn't a serious answer and depends upon the same
silly reasoning I gave to dave when he goes, "why even defend theism?
 What's in it for you?  Why do you like the idea of God?".

But I've got a longer answer to the question, if you want it.

Love with Wisdom, (or put it conventionally)

Philosophically yours,

John