It's intriguing to know people have such attachments to their values. I agree also that people's values must not only be positive but must be useful to the general good of the people.
It takes a different kind of strength to put your career and livelihood on the line for what you believe in. You’re already showing bravery in a different way—through your actions and your commitment to your values. Keep going.
I’m not sure I fully agree that searching for what makes us feel good will lead us astray. If we have done the work to deeply know ourselves, to gain clarity on what is important, we will have increased personal awareness. This insight reminds us that sometimes we may have to do things that don’t feel good in the short term to get to feeling good in the long run. But how we feel, if we are aware, is an excellent benchmark for going in the right direction.
Thanks, Donna, for your comments. Your sentence here captures what I meant: "This insight reminds us that sometimes we may have to do things that don’t feel good in the short term to get to feeling good in the long run."
What’s interesting about that picture is so compelling it begs us without asking directly, for what would you burn? One needn’t know much about the context. The story is on his very emotionless and willing facial expression.
The answer to the question isn’t obvious to this reader. I imagine many will struggle to find an answer, but also imagine that Thich Quang Duc hadn’t imagined one either until this ideas occurred to him.
Most of us won’t have to make this decision premeditatedly. But it’s still fun to ask the question.
What’s also smuggled in with this exploration is a story about how powerful we can be when pushed to consider the unthinkable. That’s in each of us.
Reading of self immolation cases always shock me because I can never fathom ending my life in such a painful way for any cause. I understand if the cause was for the greater good, but was there really no other way? Either way, I appreciate the discussion on good and bad values, and I might need to readjust mine after words. Thank you for sharing Mo, I look forward to more.
I hear you. It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling that’s their only option. It definitely makes you reflect on your own values and what you stand for. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—I appreciate it!
Mo, Thanks for this discussion of values and what they mean. They're not valuable if we only speak about them; they must be implemented. Your strong dedication to learning inspires me. I love to learn, too. I'm dedicated to daily meditation and would like to strengthen that dedication all the more.
Thank you Mo, your piece gave me food for thoughts. I don't believe in good and bad because what is good for me can not be for someone else so I don't believe there is such things as bad values for in "manipulation, self-centredness, people pleasing, comparing, judging, trying to be rich for the sake of being rich", there is no value at all, simply harmful intentions, sometimes not even conscious, to oneself and others, I can say it more plainly that I have been a people pleaser for most of my life and it wasn't one of my values for they are kindness, respect, love, joy, patience, trust and lots of others which I live by now. Value means something valuable so I don't really think it as a word to be used for an action or a belief that is not but 1st I don't hold the truth and 2nd I would really like to know what you think about that. Lots of love.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Geraldine! I like how you frame values as things that hold true meaning and impact, not just actions or beliefs.
It's intriguing to know people have such attachments to their values. I agree also that people's values must not only be positive but must be useful to the general good of the people.
Absolutely! A shared sense of purpose rooted in the common good can really spark change.
I have put my livelihood and career on the line for my values, but I don’t know if i could ever do physical harm like that. That’s so brave
It takes a different kind of strength to put your career and livelihood on the line for what you believe in. You’re already showing bravery in a different way—through your actions and your commitment to your values. Keep going.
thank you Mo
I’m not sure I fully agree that searching for what makes us feel good will lead us astray. If we have done the work to deeply know ourselves, to gain clarity on what is important, we will have increased personal awareness. This insight reminds us that sometimes we may have to do things that don’t feel good in the short term to get to feeling good in the long run. But how we feel, if we are aware, is an excellent benchmark for going in the right direction.
Thanks, Donna, for your comments. Your sentence here captures what I meant: "This insight reminds us that sometimes we may have to do things that don’t feel good in the short term to get to feeling good in the long run."
What’s interesting about that picture is so compelling it begs us without asking directly, for what would you burn? One needn’t know much about the context. The story is on his very emotionless and willing facial expression.
The answer to the question isn’t obvious to this reader. I imagine many will struggle to find an answer, but also imagine that Thich Quang Duc hadn’t imagined one either until this ideas occurred to him.
Most of us won’t have to make this decision premeditatedly. But it’s still fun to ask the question.
What’s also smuggled in with this exploration is a story about how powerful we can be when pushed to consider the unthinkable. That’s in each of us.
Great perspective, Damon. Thank you.
Reading of self immolation cases always shock me because I can never fathom ending my life in such a painful way for any cause. I understand if the cause was for the greater good, but was there really no other way? Either way, I appreciate the discussion on good and bad values, and I might need to readjust mine after words. Thank you for sharing Mo, I look forward to more.
I hear you. It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling that’s their only option. It definitely makes you reflect on your own values and what you stand for. Thanks for sharing your thoughts—I appreciate it!
Mo, Thanks for this discussion of values and what they mean. They're not valuable if we only speak about them; they must be implemented. Your strong dedication to learning inspires me. I love to learn, too. I'm dedicated to daily meditation and would like to strengthen that dedication all the more.
Thank you so much for this! I couldn't agree more—values only matter when we live by them.
Thank you Mo, your piece gave me food for thoughts. I don't believe in good and bad because what is good for me can not be for someone else so I don't believe there is such things as bad values for in "manipulation, self-centredness, people pleasing, comparing, judging, trying to be rich for the sake of being rich", there is no value at all, simply harmful intentions, sometimes not even conscious, to oneself and others, I can say it more plainly that I have been a people pleaser for most of my life and it wasn't one of my values for they are kindness, respect, love, joy, patience, trust and lots of others which I live by now. Value means something valuable so I don't really think it as a word to be used for an action or a belief that is not but 1st I don't hold the truth and 2nd I would really like to know what you think about that. Lots of love.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Geraldine! I like how you frame values as things that hold true meaning and impact, not just actions or beliefs.