Why’s everybody editing now? Is my neurosis contagious?
Give me 10 mins, I’ll edit this one, too…
Just a reflection…:
What is this “society”?
It is certainly not an entity. Isn’t it just a crowd of individuals conditioned in certain ways…some of which go in the same direction? To me - a society is not a living thing. But individuals are.
And what is the definition of “a criminal”?
I don’t think TNH has any tolerance for criminal activity. He does, however, display infinite compassion for any human being.
I don’t know…but it seems to me that I am a victim of my mind. The conditioned mind. Certainly my parents contributed to both the positive and the negative conditioning. So did any of the authorities (individuals, all of them)I encountered while I grew up.
If you put them together they make up “a society”.
People often say: “You have a choice, you know. You can choose not to act that way”
Do you really have a choice when you are not conscious? Who in you is choosing if you are not there?
It is so easy to judge another…
We are so hard on ourselves.
Do “criminals” read TNH?
Do you think they are in any way in need of his compassion?
Has the crimerate increased because of his views on “criminals”?
May all your Nows be Here
So I think many of us agree that this particular thread, standing alone, is not really fair to Thich Nhat Hanh. It started out as another discussion, and when I chipped in with what bothered me about him, (after Ether chipped in with something which bothered him about him) it was not a thread entitled ‘Thich Nhat Hanh’. Well, the thread went on from there and got named ‘Thich Nhat Hanh’ by a moderator.
It’s a very focussed discussion about one arguably-problemmatic aspect of Thich. So what now? Rename the thread? ‘Thich Nhat Hanh – a social constructionist?’ Or just ignore it?
Any advice? (Please omit advice containing phrases like ‘David, in future’ 
– I already know.)
My advice is let’s all have another beer and talk about Chogyam Trungpa.
Ha Ha Ha! He was a great man, flawless and perfect all the way through, and not a social-constructionist bone in his body! 
eeewww- budwater. But if it’s free I’m there.
i’m the one guilty of splitting the subject. 
i felt there was more to say about TNH but
we were talking about something else. I figured he is prominent enough that it would evolve beyond what we were saying, so I just gave it his name. I did put a link to this back where we were.
Jim, I’m an editaholic too. As soon as I click the “submit reply” I see something I don’t like.
Usually a misspelling, but I have to admit to a couple anal things like mis-alignment. Editing is so nice because when I think of “one more thing” I can add it instead of cluttering up
the forum with one-liners.
I feel drawn to make comment here. I don’t wish to start this topic off again because, as has been said, it does not represent Thich Nhat Hanh and his work.
The posts I would align myself with would be Katrine’s post and Jim’s first post, and of course the calls for a pint - mine’s a Guinness of course 
I respectively dis-agree with you David and Ether, and hope we can agree to dis-agree. I do also repect your opinions and will keep an open mind myself about the whole subject.
Yours in tranquility
Louis
Louis, we all said a number of things. One thing Jim said actually agreed with what I said. So I don’t know what you agree with or disagree with in my Ether’s, Jim’s or Katrine’s post(s).
Which is maybe fine. Maybe it doesn’t matter.
If you are merely ‘rooting for’ Jim and Katrine posts, and against Ether’s and mine, that’s fine. Ether ‘n’ me will just get you in a dark alley, when you have had too much Guiness.
David, I would’nt dream of “rooting”for one ego over another, no matter how big they are.
I would prefer to think I was rooting for the truth, as I’m sure you are also.
I have replied in more detail by email to you, hope you like it.
From the dark alley
>> I have replied in more detail by email to you, hope you like it.
Yes I do like it. You are proving yourself an opponent worthy of my sword. And it’s a shame it has to be private. As an Irishman might say ‘A private fight is such a waste of the public’.
I’m Irish too by the way, and I also resent these stereotypes.