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Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sea_urchin who wrote (17464)	3/9/2003 1:42:17 PM
From: Gary H	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81949

Strauss certainly sounds like interesting reading. This will require more hard to find time to do so. Too many interests has it’s up and down sides. <It also shows they respect the "masters" of their profession, which I like, because I feel if children don't respect their parents then they don't respect themselves.> A book you would probably find interesting is one which is translated from the Confucian Classics titled “the Classic of Filial Piety”. I came by this from a 90 year old Chinese friend of mine. A truly amazing man. Even in his advanced years he is sharp as a tack and can decipher the many points of a multitude of subjects. He also gifted me with one the best Green Tea’s in the world. <On quite another tack, however, I have to say I am always suspicious of those who base their thinking only on reason, like philosophers, lawyers, mathematicians etc. For me, thinking has to be a balance between the left brain (reason, logic, truth, science, objectivity) and the right brain (feeling, emotion, intuition, art, imagination, subjectivity). Clearly, a suitable balance is often impossible to achieve.> Bingo! This brings to mind the many of things I have read in Zen and Buddhism but most of all the Buddha himself. What I found most interesting about him was that he made very few statements but rather asked very pertinent questions so that a person came to the answer or resolution themselves. This is inline with his belief that the all truths lies within. This truth is had to reach since we are so biased by all we have been taught and had imposed on us. Here we are at the box(s) again. It is good to be aware of the many boxes society would like to place us in or impose upon us and see them for what they are but the true adventure in life is to work outside of them. The following is from one of the posts at groups.yahoo.com ["It must offend their pride, also their taste, if their truth is supposed to be a truth for everyman..."] I once read of the Jews who were imprisoned during the second world war, and I’m afraid I don’t remember the author, but he stated that “ Those who risked their souls to save their lives, died. Those who risked their lives to save their souls, survived”.

To: sea_urchin who wrote (17464)	3/10/2003 8:32:43 AM
From: mcg404	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81949

Hi Searle: < For me, thinking has to be a balance between the left brain (reason, logic, truth, science, objectivity) and the right brain (feeling, emotion, intuition, art, imagination, subjectivity). > Agreed. A very good point. I've read your war-related discussions for several weeks (your politeness is admirable!) and frequently get the impression that an individual's position is frequently related to their left brain/right brain preference. (Too frequent use of the term 'evil' a possible a tip-off?). Pirsig spent a lot of time in the classic 'zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance' (now available in its entirety online at virtualschool.edu discussing how people tend to be dominated by one approach or the other (using the terms classic vs romantic reasoning). The interesting point he made (at least what I took from it) was that well developed, air-tight, left brain logic meant little or nothing to a person who approach to the world was dominated by right brain decision-making - and vice versa. So you better understand how your audience reasons before you try to convince them of anything - otherwise your wasting your time. Which seems to make sense with many 'non-debatable' topics such as abortion, religion, gun control, (and war?). Trouble is we never know when we are using logic, truth and objectivity...and when we are rationalizing our feelings. Otherwise we would all be good stock pickers, eh? 'Let the mind be the servant of the heart, not its slave.' (Garrett Hardin) John ps. charley reese is great!