I've sung the praises of Voranai for a long time but there is one columnist of Bangkok Post that dates even longer back in my likings list and I have quite liked her articles throughout the years. She just came to my mind with this one, which I think is fantastic.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -moral-rut
Another fine columnist
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Bamboo Grove
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Another fine columnist
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Re: Another fine columnist
Yes, she is good. Yesterday I translated that article on Google to Thai and sent it to a bunch of people. Those I talked to seemed to have really liked it. Pete 
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: Another fine columnist
Bamboo Grove wrote:I've sung the praises of Voranai for a long time but there is one columnist of Bangkok Post that dates even longer back in my likings list and I have quite liked her articles throughout the years. She just came to my mind with this one, which I think is fantastic.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -moral-rut
AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
Re: Another fine columnist
Can be applied to almost any religion (if not all) and most (if not all) countries. Good article - thanks B G for the link
Re: Another fine columnist
I hesitate to address the article rather than the columnist but he makes such good points, it is hard to resist.
'...our society's political, social and environmental disintegration are the natural consequences of a breakdown in morality. Unless we see that, we cannot hope to salvage our country, and our souls, from the rut.'
I have not had much exposure to Buddhism beyond a few Tibetan monks coming to retreats and sharing their knowledge. My spiritual bucket was already full exploring Christianity and Yoga. I do remember laughter was a big part of their delivery.
My experience of spiritual enquiry made a lasting impression, and converted me from a scathing MrS-like cynicism into a supportive dove. Despite his best efforts I believe in the existence of a 'Soul' and all that springs from that. I don't care for the negative aspects of organized religion, since the 4 great faiths have become degraded over centuries. However, the core messages of the religions are intact, if you look for them and are universal. Tolerance, compassion, love, self-discipline and so on. As long as we have uneducated masses and I count myself among them, there is a need for wise guides, gurus and teachers to remind us that bringing over-sensitive forum members ('Fire' Types) to the boil, might be good sport but is decidedly unspiritual.
Some of us need a road map in order to navigate through life. We also need constant reminders and support around us. I've yet to see a Church of Aesop's Fables, or a Richard Dawkins retreat that offer them. Religions still have the infrastructure.
Religion may be dying due to the failings of its leadership but it is also under sustained attack from those who worship another god.. 'Money'. Like all those who live in darkness, they hate those who live in the light and do not want any impediment to the cultivation and gratification of our senses. Their sociopathic High Priests brook no competition for our souls and work night and day to bring down religion and 'wipe it off the map'. They are succeeding.
Freedom from religion comes with a price. If there are no constraints on our worst impulses, we are just animals, mostly operating out of instinct and someone else's conditioning. If there is no development of the higher mind or consciousness, we are destined to live and die 'passive consumers'. If there is only a psychiatrist to go to when we are wounded, who can help us?
My experience of religion has been transformational. While most of those professing religious beliefs are only spiritual for 2 hours on Sunday, there are nevertheless inspirational figures working in centres, retreats and elsewhere in the world. The mass media will rarely tell you about them. Not all of them are 'god-botherers' speaking an archaic language but decent, caring people who work without fanfare. On many occasions I have been surprised when they have revealed that a strong faith underpins their compassion.
Our leaders are rotten to the core, whether in politics, industry or matters of faith. Hence I like the comment... '...we cannot just keep on passing our moral responsibility for others and ourselves onto monks.'
'...our society's political, social and environmental disintegration are the natural consequences of a breakdown in morality. Unless we see that, we cannot hope to salvage our country, and our souls, from the rut.'
I have not had much exposure to Buddhism beyond a few Tibetan monks coming to retreats and sharing their knowledge. My spiritual bucket was already full exploring Christianity and Yoga. I do remember laughter was a big part of their delivery.
My experience of spiritual enquiry made a lasting impression, and converted me from a scathing MrS-like cynicism into a supportive dove. Despite his best efforts I believe in the existence of a 'Soul' and all that springs from that. I don't care for the negative aspects of organized religion, since the 4 great faiths have become degraded over centuries. However, the core messages of the religions are intact, if you look for them and are universal. Tolerance, compassion, love, self-discipline and so on. As long as we have uneducated masses and I count myself among them, there is a need for wise guides, gurus and teachers to remind us that bringing over-sensitive forum members ('Fire' Types) to the boil, might be good sport but is decidedly unspiritual.
Some of us need a road map in order to navigate through life. We also need constant reminders and support around us. I've yet to see a Church of Aesop's Fables, or a Richard Dawkins retreat that offer them. Religions still have the infrastructure.Religion may be dying due to the failings of its leadership but it is also under sustained attack from those who worship another god.. 'Money'. Like all those who live in darkness, they hate those who live in the light and do not want any impediment to the cultivation and gratification of our senses. Their sociopathic High Priests brook no competition for our souls and work night and day to bring down religion and 'wipe it off the map'. They are succeeding.
Freedom from religion comes with a price. If there are no constraints on our worst impulses, we are just animals, mostly operating out of instinct and someone else's conditioning. If there is no development of the higher mind or consciousness, we are destined to live and die 'passive consumers'. If there is only a psychiatrist to go to when we are wounded, who can help us?
My experience of religion has been transformational. While most of those professing religious beliefs are only spiritual for 2 hours on Sunday, there are nevertheless inspirational figures working in centres, retreats and elsewhere in the world. The mass media will rarely tell you about them. Not all of them are 'god-botherers' speaking an archaic language but decent, caring people who work without fanfare. On many occasions I have been surprised when they have revealed that a strong faith underpins their compassion.
Our leaders are rotten to the core, whether in politics, industry or matters of faith. Hence I like the comment... '...we cannot just keep on passing our moral responsibility for others and ourselves onto monks.'