After a very long wait, I did come across a wonderful blog, that seems to comment adequately, comprehensively, and collectively, on behalf of all those who were 'subjected' to my blog posts!
This time, I just 'cut and paste' it cheerfully, taking care to add my own response, only below that...
quote:
Since the past few days, i have stopped reading ST blogs and articles... well, more or less. Because, suddenly, i ruefully realised that everyone is going round in circles, and worse news, I MYSELF am going round in circles!!
Its always the same story, i reflected. Those who believe in God, cite the ‘virtue’ of having Faith, the sanctity of scriptures, the beauty of their own respective gods, the magnificence of the natural world as proof that there is a Designer up there (or somewhere/ everywhere). On the other extreme are those who believe only in the scientifically verifiable knowledge about this universe, and hold that a God is not necessary for our world to be like what it is, and every mystery can be explained by science.. if not now, then in the future. And then there are also those seekers who have no set position, and are only on a journey towards 'knowing'... So, we have amongst us - the Theists, Atheists and Agnostics. And as it happens, their opinions and views on any and every topic here is based on their religious/non-religious stances. That is quite okay in itself, you see... but its just that it gets a tad bit predictable in most cases, as to what and how the person is going to opine on a certain topic. (Me is included in this group, so it is a collective self-criticism)
Though, what ACTUALLY pushed me to take a break were, i guess, the multitude of preachy stuff people write about. Some try to be clever and innovative, by attempting to intellectualise completely 'apparent' things, like how we should be honest, we should love everyone, we should be optimistic and positive, we should be non-judgmental and we should not run after money and success, we should be punctual and we should be vegetarians, and all that moral science stuff. (Okay, they are fine too i guess; i just wish they were written in a more original and creative way, with inputs from their real life experiences. And god forbid, if it is one of those cut-copy-paste from-multiple-sources-work, then i completely go into statue-cant-read-mode)
But what is MOST laborious and tiring is to see people getting so over-philosophical and airy, that they end up sounding strangely impressive in an abstract way... but really, making no sense to any fairly right-minded person. For instance, they will write royally that "Truth is what IS" and hey, we are supposed to see the light at the end of the existential tunnel that way. Or they will say something equally useful like "Look INSIDE and you will find the truth" (very helpful and practical, again, thanks). Some say Depression is Lovely (or smthing like that), some others say, be Identity-Less, Lose your sense of Me... Merge with the Universe... (you mean How? Is your body and brain going to disintegrate and all the atoms go shooting into space like star-dust?) You know, its alright to “talk in trance”... but please do it in your own room, why blog about it and confuse the already confused souls here?
Another reason why i dont like preachy stuff is when people write it as if IT IS A UNIVERSAL FACT, and not like, “I believe it is so”, or the more convincing “I have experienced it to be so”. Take an example: you tell me in a high-moral-ground-tone: “Unconditional Universal Love is the only real love, and it is the only way to realise God”. Now, c’mon, i would believe it only if YOU experienced this particular truth, and given that you do not exactly behave like someone ‘enlightened’ or even ‘loving’, i know for sure that you have NOT experienced this truth. So there’s really no need for making sweeping statements. It doesnt help me and, it doesnt really help you either. Most of us are struggling to love our own families, relatives and neighbours, unconditionally, for god’s sake (oh well). Why, what about loving all the seekers here on ST itself, for starters... Easy, huh??
And more often than not, i have noticed that those who preach about being egoless are the ones with the most ego and cant have a meaningful discussion with anyone with contrary views, without getting miffed. Those who talk about depression being lovely, and loving others unconditionally have no idea about depression and love. Most such people, while they huff and puff over flattering comments, will not even respond to critical comments, but will let their proxies chase the ‘real thinking seekers’ away from their blogs. I mean, once i remarked that I did not understand the blog and if she could explain it to me. The reply i get is “Your doubts will be cleared WHEN the divine chooses” (Ah, the emissary of God that she is, how do i thank her!)
The other day, someone wrote on some blog that he KNEW about Karma, reincarnation, moksha and souls. But ofcourse, he didnt elaborate when i asked HOW he KNEW. If he had said that he got it from this and that source, and this and this is why he believes in it, then its perfectly alright. But ofcourse any ordinary person can tell that he cannot ‘know’ about life after death, till he is still alive! Now you see why such sweeping announcements and declarations do not help, dont you...
I do understand that everyone is free to write whatever they wish to, but we must reflect why we write something, and learn to ask ourselves, am i convinced myself? Can we ask questions about our own beliefs and answer the questions convincingly...? I believe, THAT is the real learning, and not the wrestling of words and playing intellectual monopolies or constructing beautiful sounding sentences. I believe that it helps to reflect on what our own beliefs are, and why we are writing all that we are writing. It helps to be flexible in our viewpoints, and it helps to have an open mind where we question others, but more than that, where we question ourselves the most.
(I wonder why i am writing all this that i am writing. And why am i preaching towards the end! Oh, the incorrigible Speaking Tree seeker in me, i guess!)
Post Script: Notwithstanding what i have written above, i love the blogs of many good seekers here, and i follow the posts and comments of quite a few wonderfully thoughtful people, and i have learned massively from them.
PSS: I am done with my rant, and i am empty now. Thanks for bearing! :)
*END*
unquote:
My response
quote:
Immensely invaluable!
Not just about blogs even..... Most of the 'successful' conversationalists conduct it so successfully, only because they play too safe!
But then why spend so much time and effort to write? (Maybe conversation is unavoidable, when imposed face to face...).
Some where, there could be a lurking question .... quite serious enough.... 'am I okay'.... this coupled with another greater need, that sense of belonging without strings attached.... that might be a good reason... In western countries, we have those 'pet-shops'... not 'live' pets... inanimate objects have successfully replaced the 'live' pets..... One can buy any or few of these crude looking objects, and start 'petting' them! It gives a sense of consolation (without attributing any sense to the word 'sense', sensibly!)....
..
Incidentally, that 'post-script' was almost redundant! Anybody who can write so pin-pointedly, HAS TO HAVE the ability to also distinguish the other type from which we can "MASSIVELY" learn from... (this post script almost sounded like an apprehensive film director, who safely introduces some 'song' sequences, 'comedy' scenes, though absolutely redundant to the central theme of the movie..... though , the movie even without these scenes would have made an excellent film!)
..
And, I personally feel a sense of deep gratitude for this blog-post..... I still await honest criticisms for my own blog page, where I have written some 300+ posts, stupidly waiting to know whether it was worth the effort at all? This post perhaps speaks on behalf of most of my readers! Yes, I also further compounded my stupidity by sending a copy of those posts to my group of e-mail recipients, with hardly any response!
Thank you very much!
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