Tradition betrayed

[Cato]

Zen Parable- -And I am the 4th Pupil


Learning to Be Silent

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence.

On the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: "Fix those lamps."

The second pupils was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.

"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.

"I am the only one who has not talked," concluded the fourth pupil.

"I want the color that is in the bag."

[Brahmsian]

Vegetarian Thanksgivings are certainly a betrayal of tradition.

Vegan Thanksgivings are an even greater betrayal.

[Karl Henning]

Too true : )

(Is this seitan in my stuffing?! . . .)

[Cato]

Too true : )

(Is this seitan in my stuffing?! . . .)

Worse, is that stuffing in your Tofurky?   

[bwv 1080]

the perfect alternative to Turkey for your annoying vegetarian friends and family



http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/11/04/t-minus-20-beyond-the-bird-a-bacon-pig/?&hpt=hp_c2

[Josquin des Prez]

Porchetta is where its at. 

[Josquin des Prez]

You need a girlfriend.

I broke up with a girl just a few weeks ago. It was a rather miserable affair. You need to be pretty shallow to think women are the answer to every existential question.

[Karl Henning]

I broke up with a girl just a few weeks ago. It was a rather miserable affair. You need to be pretty shallow to think women are the answer to every existential question.

You need to be pretty shallow to think that this is a question of thinking women are the answer to every existential question.

[Josquin des Prez]

Well, if i pose an existential problem, and if the answer to said problem is "get a girlfriend"...

Need i say more?

[chasmaniac]

You need to be pretty shallow to think that this is a question of thinking women are the answer to every existential question.

Indeed. I was thinking, rather, that a romantic relationship might dilute JDP's evident terror of The Other. Worked for me upon a time. Eh bien!

[Cato]

Well, if i pose an existential problem, and if the answer to said problem is "get a girlfriend"...

"I want the color... that is in the bag."   0:)

[Karl Henning]

"I want the color... that is in the bag."   0:)

!!!

[chasmaniac]

Well, if i pose an existential problem, and if the answer to said problem is "get a girlfriend"...

Need i say more?

You needn't say anything at all. If existential problems were tractable, if they could be solved the way riddles are solved, they wouldn't be existential. They can be grasped and answered, though, in action, by undertaking a certain way of life. (Shades of Wittgenstein here.) Friends and lovers fit into this version of things quite nicely, I think. And if they don't work for you, pick up an instrument or a pallette or a chisel or a pen or a shovel or a telephone and at the very least make yourself useful. Balanced against such created value, existential problems are quite liveable. "In the beginning was the deed."

[Florestan]

You needn't say anything at all. If existential problems were tractable, if they could be solved the way riddles are solved, they wouldn't be existential. They can be grasped and answered, though, in action, by undertaking a certain way of life. (Shades of Wittgenstein here.) Friends and lovers fit into this version of things quite nicely, I think. And if they don't work for you, pick up an instrument or a pallette or a chisel or a pen or a shovel or a telephone and at the very least make yourself useful. Balanced against such created value, existential problems are quite liveable. "In the beginning was the deed."

Eminently reasonable.

[Josquin des Prez]

Sentimentality is not an answer to existential problems. This seems, however, to be the only solution modern society has to offer. Mediocrity and frivolousness everywhere, as usual.

[Josquin des Prez]

Good Ridiculous Average: You're batting two for two ; )

No, you are right. There's no difference between academia and what the general public prefer to waste their time on. Mediocrity across the board. sorry for making that comment, it was unwarranted.

[Florestan]

Sentimentality is not an answer to existential problems.

You have been suggested sentiments, not sentimentality.

[Josquin des Prez]

Friends and lovers fit into this version of things quite nicely, I think.

What version? Of what things? More sentimental crap that makes no sense. Atheists always talk from this angle of course, when speaking of the value of life.

[Josquin des Prez]

You have been suggested sentiments, not sentimentality.

I don't see the difference.

[Florestan]

I don't see the difference.

Don't or won't?