tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4265664361660036427.post4098942808186624922..comments2023-09-12T08:35:22.199-07:00Comments on Itzik's Well: Rosh Hashanah 5774: Burning and LongingIrwin Kellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05323759149022497395noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4265664361660036427.post-15208979652198319652013-09-19T10:59:19.482-07:002013-09-19T10:59:19.482-07:00Beautiful drash. Thank you!
One minor point; I t...<br />Beautiful drash. Thank you!<br /><br />One minor point; I thought that your characterization of Buddhist philosophy was not quite correct. The way I understand Buddhist philosophy, suffering is not caused by longing, but attachment to the transitory. The Buddhists don't believe, in a god per se, but the clear light of reality. Enlightenment, which is the "goal", is to merge with that clear light. <br /><br />According to what I have read, been taught and experienced while studying Buddhism, longing is not something to cut yourself off from. Longing for the infinite is everything. <br /><br />You described in your drash, the longing to feel safe, and the feeling of safety that you have in your lover's arms. The issue of attachment in this scenario, is that most likely, you won't be able to always use your lovers arms as a gateway to that feeling of safety. Because of the transitory nature of this life, your lovers arms will not always be available to you, at which point you will experience suffering from that attachment. The point of this being, that things in this world are transitory, and rather than spending all of your time and energy on finding relationships and acquiring things that give you the feelings you seek, it is worth the time to develop your relationship with the infinite, which is available to you at every moment of your life, even at the moment of your death. The infinite is with you even when backpacking, at Wallmart, when you are stuck in traffic, etc. This is basically the point of the mystical teachings of every religion I have come across, and is also what you teach. <br /><br />The whole idea of burning man seems very Buddhist in that people destroy the physicality of the community, and take with them only what cant be destroyed.<br /><br />So, to conclude, what does the buddha and my vacuum cleaner have in common? They both have no attachments. See you soon!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02682579884066778110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4265664361660036427.post-10634722923895315732013-09-07T16:15:16.367-07:002013-09-07T16:15:16.367-07:00My friend Michael posted this article to me, and I...My friend Michael posted this article to me, and I am so glad he did!! I have never been to Burning Man, but have thought it would be fun to go. I was not expecting profound thoughts on it, but am most happy to find them here. I also found here a synchronicity, in that Just two weeks ago I read from the Song of Songs at my brother's wedding to his Catholic bride. I very much liked your words on our imperfections and longings being blessings. Thank you. -- Emily S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4265664361660036427.post-50350455203374467442013-09-07T14:07:19.046-07:002013-09-07T14:07:19.046-07:00Thank you for this drash, Irwin. The thoughts abou...Thank you for this drash, Irwin. The thoughts about longing are so thought-provoking to me.Lisa Weinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4265664361660036427.post-8730626877403612402013-09-05T08:01:46.962-07:002013-09-05T08:01:46.962-07:00Thank you my friend. How serendipitous, your essay...Thank you my friend. How serendipitous, your essay is in line with my thoughts and thus very supportive of what is currently happening in my life.<br />WazirAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com