No, I have never seen a CHILD be mean. I have seen a school age child be mean....but that isn't what I was referring to. I guess you need everything qualified. Children have to LEARN to be mean. As a result, you'll very rarely see a child under the age of 5 be mean. In most cases, what you intrepret as mean is a child protecting his/her "turf". Meanness begins as children begin to pick up on their parents' subjective behavior towards people. For example, I once inadvertantly said to my 4 year old son "you can't have candy, it'll make you fat." Bad decision on my part. Last time he saw an obese man, he said (loudly) "that man eats too much candy!" Ouch. He wasn't being mean. He was making an honest observation based on information he'd been given, and he was right (based on the information he had). On the other hand, I have a friend who makes derogatory statements about certain people in front of his kids. His oldest is 7, and he is now beginning to repeat the statements - not as my son did, as an observation - but as means of getting a rise out of people the way his father does.
I realize the Buddhist saying itself is of Zen origin, but it is derived from other, earlier statements that were meant to get adherents to believe in themselves. The popularization of Buddhism required alterations in its basic tenets (I think I added "for lack of a better term" to the secularization...but if not, that was an oversight), just as Christianity and Judaism did. Those alterations diluted the essence of these religions to make them more palatable. Iconography is a popular thing, as is having a "guru", "sensei", or "spiritual adviser". As a result, the original intent of the religion is lost to more "secular" (for lack of a better term) needs.
Rand did think that way. But she also respected people who were able to argue their views in strong terms, regardless if they were the same as hers.
I never said He didn't have moral opinions. I just said He didn't interfere in the outcome. If humans live immorally, He doesn't insinuate Himself in their lives UNLESS they request it. |
