Comments on: Quotes you disagree with

by: Sandra

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:15:33 +0000

Erica, I thought of you, actually, as I was writing “at deep peace with themselves.” Buddhists and those who practice mindfulness do seem to be more present, more in the moment, than others.

I guess I don’t see cheerfulness as necessarily an end result. Maybe more of an inevitability. When I meditate, I come closer and closer to the deep understanding that I create my own problems. When I accept things as they are, without my ego leaping in to “fix things” or “be an authority” or pass judgment, I fall, almost by default, into cheerfulness.

And is sitting zazen strenuous? My dSO “just does it,” and I find my little 20-minute daily meditation times to be things I look forward to. If there’s strain in there, I haven’t found it yet… Am I not meditating enough? ;)

by: Erica Orloff

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:03:06 +0000

Food for thought. I agree with you on the first one. I think we need to see things as they really are. We might dream of something better . . . but if we see reality, then we’re moved to change it and strive for something more.

However, as a Buddhist, I agree with the cheerful one. Buddhists “practice” their discipline . . . and it includes maintaining a cheerful and peaceful mind. Given all the negatives in the world, it takes a form of discipline to remain in the moment, free of worry about tomorrow, not allowing yourself to be negative, striving to wish peace and happiness to all–even your enemies. It’s a mind-set–at least in my own experience. :-)

Peace!

by: Alyssa

Thu, 24 May 2007 20:01:41 +0000

I don’t know, but it seems to me that if it requires “strenuous discipline” to be cheerful, how cheerful can you really be to have to work that hard to achieve it? I do like the third quote though.

by: Terri

Thu, 24 May 2007 03:40:43 +0000

So many of the quotes that pepper our lives leave me thinking “What? That made no sense.” I hope that Edwin Percy Whipples’ cheerfulness quote was pulled from a body of work that would explain the one sentence - because standing on its on - huh? And I wonder how he gained such insight “… most cheerful people …” Did he do a survey?

On the other hand, I appreciate the simplicity of R.J. Rehwinkels - it packs a punch in just a few short words.

My current favorite quote is “Powerful dreams need more than just a little weekend gardening.” Author unknown.