tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post201494816786642341..comments2023-08-22T06:35:21.959-07:00Comments on The Bridge: A Science and Spirituality Resource: Betraying Spinoza - by Lois Isenman based on Rebecca Goldstein's BookThe Bridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05465639815205663666noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-8468751469153377562009-08-23T08:50:51.707-07:002009-08-23T08:50:51.707-07:00Aldous Huxley addressed the topic of "holy re...Aldous Huxley addressed the topic of "holy resignation" in his book on comparative religion, The Perennial Philosophy. <br /><br />Catholic theologians speak of it in terms of the disturbance (or more specifically here, otherwise), of one's "interior economy".<br /><br />I believe, rather, that holy resignation depends not on "standing outside oneself", so much as "dying to oneself" a little more each day, very much aided by a strong faith/awareness of Divine Providence. <br /><br />Religious faith and knowledge form a continuum, as that continuum forms another metacontinuum with our secular faith/knowledge continuum; turning on the light switch and expecting the light in the room to come on. <br /><br />It just occurred to me that that also requires one of the other two so-called "theological virtues; Hope! As for Charity, the closest to that that can be adduced here, I expect, is that one has to be alive and "looking forward". <br /><br />In short, it is a matter of dying to ourselves in this life, to find our true selves, partially, while still here on earth.<br /><br />The locus of the pain has to be filled with a usurping, positive replacement, and that means making room for such inspiration. <br /><br />In some situations there are "tricks" for coping with emotional pain. If you know someone has been speaking ill of you, perhaps wrongly, ask yourself how many times you may have done the same.<br /><br />Another device is - mindful of God's Providence, which is never derailed, whatever the appearances - accepting the particular trial as a direct gift of God, and "offering it up", as Catholics put it. All very moribundiferous!Paul Beckenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-31815716320291512142007-04-20T08:56:00.001-07:002007-04-20T08:56:00.001-07:00this idea of going beyond identity seems so Buddhi...this idea of going beyond identity seems so Buddhist to <BR/><BR/>But Buddha didn't go beyond his identity. He lived 40 years after is enlightenment as a real flesh and blood man. He had an identity. He didn't become a mirror or a door. He was a personAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-49250946525500693072007-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:56:00.000-07:00Lois, I am glad you wrote this piece on Spinoza. T...Lois, <BR/><BR/>I am glad you wrote this piece on Spinoza. There is so much coming out on him, and I feel as if I am missing all these events and publications for various reasons.<BR/>Somehow, this idea of going beyond identity seems so Buddhist to me.<BR/>Also the state you describe near the end of the article sounds like one of the Buddhist Jhanas or Absorptions.<BR/><BR/>I am off to the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies for 10 days to study the jhanas. I will know more, hopefully when I return on April 23.<BR/><BR/>Blessings, RosieThe Bridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05465639815205663666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-50251102485332071742007-04-20T08:55:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:55:00.000-07:00Thank you for asking me to think about Spinoza, wh...Thank you for asking me to think about Spinoza, whom I loved when I ready the Ethics long, long ago. I think of him as very much a philosopher's philosopher, and have wondered about the recent revival of interest in him, especially in Jewish quarters. I rather think it has to do with the world-wide revival of religiosity and religious extremism. Spinoza offers something else, that, as you clearly indicate, provides some of the emotional satisfaction of religion without a radical sacrifice of reason.<BR/><BR/>I do like Spinoza's rationalism, although it is hard to put into practice. I understood his 'conatus' to be a sort of impetus or striving for life, something like that is also described by Schopenhauer, but more as a passion. Spinoza describes it simply as a kind of self-preservative appetite implicit in the very possibility of individuality - not at all the self-absorbed 'me-first' kind of modern preoccupation that I suspect Goldstein describes and that you were struggling with on that ugly day. Sometimes it seems to me to be close to an 'elan vital', but most importantly, if you follow out the ethical implications, it means that aggrandizing the self to include more than the survival of this little mind and body, but all that is understood and cared for, then you can put up with the small affronts and failures more easily. Not a bad philosophy to hold when so many things are interconnected and so much at risk. The alternative is to curl up into a tight little ball of ferocious resentment, and that is also very widespread.<BR/><BR/>I admire you for thinking through the things you do and books you read so carefully. You read all the books I think I ought to read, but don't get around to.<BR/><BR/>HildeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-65902111978611690172007-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:54:00.000-07:00I'd say you should indeed continue to betray Spino...I'd say you should indeed continue to betray Spinoza and search the depths of that sensation which seems to have been so exhilarating. <BR/><BR/>This is the first time I come across your blog, but it will be worth to continue reading. <BR/><BR/>May you consider in your further reading of Spinoza the fact that us, as humans are now walking a path on becoming multi sensorial beings. Which may well enhance our congnitive capacity to in-depth intuition, as you best state it. <BR/><BR/>Best regars, I look forward to continue reading.<BR/><BR/>El Usuario Anomine<BR/>http://allroadsleadtobuenosaires.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1531022799523194033.post-27239153671463246022007-04-20T08:34:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:34:00.000-07:00I originally published this on my own personal blo...I originally published this on my own personal blog. I had transferred some of these comments.Lois Isenmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824175568923217819noreply@blogger.com