[Avodah] Mindfulness and Being Present in the Moment

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Nov 16, 2007 9:44 AM, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:

> On Thu, November 15, 2007 11:48 am, Yonatan Kaganoff wrote:
> :   Are Mindfulness or "Being Present in the Moment" Jewish values?
>
>
> Buddhism teaches a person to stop striving, that desire and striving
> are the cause of all misery. Judaism calls on us to shteig up the
> sulam (to use three languages in as many words).


Buddhims aiui is not a releasing of action but of desire to succeed on one's
action. One acts from a "natural" space instead of from a forced space. It
might be the difference between acting out of yir'ah vs. acting out of
ahavah.

When acting out of yir'eh,. eima,resses etc. are concomittant  emotions.
When acting out of a Zen space one acts naturally, just as a river flows, it
is effrotless.  It is the natural act of a master.

A new driver is "up-tgiht "and VERY zahir whilst driving.   A master driver
is very calm yet also very aware.

Baron von Richtoven admonished his fliers:  "Do not be ALARMED but be ALERT"
[or something similar.  Accomplished dog-fighters have very little emotions
whilst in a dog-fight.





>
>
> Metaphor for the math geek: Buddhism is about maximizing f(t),
> Judaism, about maximizing df/dt.
>
> Zehirus is about watching what we do in terms of its consequences, not
> in-and-of-itself. Menuchas hanefesh, in terms of making the right
> choices. Hislamdus, to make better choices the next time. All have
> links to the future, not just leaving you in the here-and-now.
> Mindfulness is simply a non-Jewish spin on the concept; again, IMHO.
>
>
>
> I also think that Buddhism's ethic is too passivist.



SheTir'u baTov!
> -micha
>
> --
> Micha Berger
>

I tend to agree.  But it is not necessary a true Buddhist value because a
Buddhist CAN act ethically w/o being emotionally over-wrought.  Thus, a
Buddhist protesting war might  picket calmly and naturally. whilst a Jew
might picker passionately.  A really good Buddhist might not be passive just
dispassionate, more like Mr. Spock.   But I DO agree, Buddhists as they are
today are passive.


-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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