A Haggard Meme
by Frederick
It must be the holidays. I’ve been memed. Oh that Adorable Girlfriend! The rules:
- Find the nearest book.
- Name the book and the author.
- Turn to page 123.
- Go to the fifth sentence on the page.
- Copy out the next three sentences and post to your blog.
- Tag three more folks.
The results…
Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis by D.T. Suzuki, Erich Fromm, and Richard DeMartino
If you turn to page 123 and count down 5 sentences, the next three go a little something like this:
Whatever terminology one uses, the essential point is that, in the psychoanalytic concept, greed is a pathological phenomenon: it exists where a person has not developed his active productive capacities. Yet neither psychoanalysis nor Zen is primarily an ethical system. The aim of Zen transcends the goal of ethical behavior, and so does psychoanalysis.
So ahhh, hmm. I tag NavySwan, Sumo, and Hill Country Gal.
-Another reason to hate memes, you never get the whole thought half the time. The next three sentences, in case you were wondering:
It might be said that both systems assume that the achievement of their aim brings with it an ethical transformation, the overcoming of greed and the capacity for love and compassion. They do not tend to make a man lead a virtuous life by the suppression of the “evil” desire, but they expect that the evil desire will melt away and disappear under the light and warmth of enlarged consciousness. But whatever the causal connection between enlightenment and ethical transformation may be, it would be a fundamental error to believe that the goal of Zen can be separated from the aim of overcoming greed, self glorification, and folly, or that satori can be achieved without achieving humility, love, and compassion.
Comments
In or out of context, this is interesting reading, and remarkably applicable to the mental and ethical condition of The Great (un)Decider. He could definitely use some psychoanalysis and Zen transformation to overcome his greed, self-glorification, folly, and miscellaneous evil desires.
The first thing that came to my mind was the the attempted de-homofication of Ted Haggard. And the just plain old falsehood of the modern Christian mentality. But Bush will work as well.
I agree with Bluegrrrl. It just applies to the “Understander.”
… but they expect that the evil desire will melt away and disappear under the light and warmth of enlarged consciousness.
I’ve found that Zen has been especially helpful in this regard in my personal life. It allows for the stuff which is most relevant and important to me to stand out more readily and be more easy to concentrate, thereby leavin’ less free-mind for the distractions.
I always did dig Fromm, too.
You all read such “decent” books. I, on the other hand, like to read anything by Ann Rule and I adore a local writer named Ben Rehder, who has been described as a Texan Carl Hiaasen. He is HILARIOUS!!! and writes a series called Blanco County mysteries. Great stuff!!
Very nice. This one was an easy one. It really could have been worse.
Sorry, can’t see Zen and Bush in the same universe. A good book though. Don’t anyone send this meme to George Bush. He would have to send out some poor flunky to find a book with 123 pages.
Bad joke ignore it.
Have to agree with Fallen, it’s unlike that zen and Bush are possible of marrying.
i’m on it now!