Violence in our hearts

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Deepak Chopra is on the radio now and making me think. Which is hard to do while working. He's speaking of looking at these attacks as a result of the anguish and suffering in this world which has been ignored. of how we must not think of us against them but as just "us" and how we all suffer. What will retailation get us, he asks. And suggests we will never end this kind of suffering until we all look to rid our hearts and minds of violence. This is very well in theory but how does one act this, consistently and how can living as such influence the actions of the greater world? (and yes, I realize I *am* Oprah.)

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

obviously by killing deepak chopra first.

― Geoff, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

To answer myself: I'm not a violent person but I do surprise myself sometimes with my ability for hatred. Lately I've been engulfed with hatred towards my guy's ex-wife. She has really hurt him and is in general, a hosebeast. The two of us got into a bar brawl this weekend which has left me with a combination of triumph and self-disgust. Should I offer her an olive branch? (ps, she threw the first punch.)

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hit her with a balloon. Actually giving olive branches is a good idea because they are useless and clutter the place up. SHe will therefore bin it, allowing you the moral high grtime you go round and politely ask "Where's that fucking olive branch? I had it specially flown in from Greece". Cue new catfight.

― Pete, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dude, this is the sort of bullshit that makes my mind fill with violence. I HATE DEEPAK CHOPRA.

― Ally, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fess up, Pete; you applied to be a script-writer for "Dynasty" when you were a child, didn't you?

Despite broadly agreeing with the sentiments expressed, I must admit that my first reaction was also, "Kill Deepak Chopra."

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So i take it you're not a pacifist Ally? I flirted with it when I was younger and still favor non-violence over it's more rowdy cousin. Ganhdi sums it up (paraphrase): if we live 'eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth' then we will all end up blind, toothless and crippled.

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Presumably a leg for a leg too, then.

― Sam, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yeah, there was some sort of limb in there too. Pete, I like the literal olive branch idea. Maybe if she's just too offensive I can thrash her with it instead.

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's not that I am for violence or war, it's that it's just a stupid, stupid thing to say. It's all well and good for him to sit around and say things like that but it doesn't work in a real world context at all, and I hate people who do that, sit around saying completely impractical, OBVIOUS statements and then getting paid lots of money to do so.

― Ally, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Should we revisit the Dr. Phil throwdown?

Really, Oprah's all about HELPING PEOPLE. And selling books.

― David Raposa, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i don't know who dr. phil is. I really never watch oprah.

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes, but the difference between Dr. Phil is that he actually sits down with these people, listens to their issues and gives them advice. Deepak Chopra does not. He sits on the radio and lectures us all about our level of forgiveness. There is no give or take, there is no reply, there is no bloody feedback besides some windbag commentator nodding sagely and agreeing with him. And people fall for it!

― Ally, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't know much about Deepak Chopra either. I haven't been much inclined to learn mainly b/c I see him as a trendy celeb-guru. But I found his comments today thoughtful and and worthwhile. (btw, this was a radio call-in show so there was back and forth).

― Samantha, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I must say that a radio show where Deepak Chopra listens to people's problems and counsels them with, "You have too much violence in your heart," strikes me as highly entertaining.

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have little respect for people who lecture on how to live a good life, be forgiving, have higher self esteem etc. in that context alone. I am receptive to the advice of people giving sermons, writing novels, or having conversations with me, but not that of people who make a living giving advice. That sort of counsel isn't the kind of learning that sticks with me unless it comes unexpectedly.

As to ridding our hearts and minds of violence, that's so hard. I've been trying to be less defensive and just let things go because I figure not proving my point has to be better than getting into a fight over something trivial, but it's so natural to fly into anger over an unkind comment or an untrue criticism. I don't know of any easy ways to stop but I think the effort is of the same nature on a small scale as on a large one.

― Maria, Thursday, 20 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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