[MD] Philosophy and Abstraction

[MarshaV]

On Dec 1, 2010, at 6:13 PM, 118 wrote:

> On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 1:44 PM, MarshaV <valkyr at att.net> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Mark,
>> 
>> Pardon for the interruption, but I have been considering how one is
>> encouraged to turn intellectualizing about Quality into the direct
>> experience of Quality.
>> 
>> Marsha
>> 
>> [Mark]
>> 
> Hi Marsha,
> Good question.  For me, the first step was to realize that intellectualizing
> about Quality was in fact a direct experience of it.  So, what does this
> mean?  It means that if one becomes aware of the process of
> intellectualization (in a mindfulness way, I suppose) then things become
> more easy.  This is of course the path of Zen, which I will not even try to
> put down in words.

Marsha:
Of course intellectualizing about Quality is a direct experience with static 
value.   A direct experience without static value is also possible.    


> So, I would encourage those who you are encouraging, to pay attention to
> what they are thinking.  Such thinking can be considered as happening to
> one, which makes it easier.  By consistently being mindful, the choices of
> Quality become more obvious.  This is of course a trick of the mind, but it
> seems to allow the illusion of freedom to gain predominance.
> 
> A quote from ZMM comes to mind which I paraphrase since I do not want to
> look it up.  But it happened while Phaedrus and his son were cycling into
> some town and Phaedrus was contemplating the look on people's faces in their
> cars: "So difficult when contemplated in advance, so easy when you do it".
> Quotes are just to distinguish and not real quotes (I don't think).

Marsha:
I've agreed with your quoting this before.  I still agree.


> The question is: Is there ever enough information to make the right choice?
> If so, how do we know when we have got that?  Living in Quality, as in Zen,
> means to respond immediately.  Believe me, there is a lot more information
> already present than can be further accumulated.  Right at your fingertips.
> 
> Of course, the Westernization of Zen has always been difficult.  We believe
> so much in the inherent existence of objects and pursuit of happiness.
> Gives us something to do I guess.
> 
> Just my own analogies, of course.  I hope they are useful to you.
> 
> Mark