A year or two ago I believe I commented about two Old Testament items. I'd
like to repeat my observations here.
In the Old Testament, and specifically in the Ten Commandments, there is
only one commandment which provides a "reward." Curiously, perhaps, it is
that one which compels us to honor our father and mother so that our days
shall be lengthened.
Now the rabbis of old, a contentious bunch (Judith's two Jews, three
opinions), sought to answer the question about why this one commandment
among the ten should have the attachment. Does one live longer by
respecting mom and dad? No.
They decided that what it means is that your days shall be more
fulfilling--"longer" because of the grasp we have of each moment. Hmmm.
Sounds like something I've also read associated with some other creeds.
When I was a kid, studying talmuc in a Jewish school, there was one year
when I despised my teacher. Don't ask why. Simply speaking, a small,
pimply middle-of-the-class kid suddenly began exhibiting all this
affective behavior in class. To this day, the poor man's words echo deep
inside me, words whose essence I did not understand for at least another
20 years: (translated from the Hebrew) "Mallis, Respect comes before the
Torah....Get up, get out (of the room)."
This concept, "respect," I came to realize long after the fact, literally
translates "the way of the land," or "path" or "route." Just think of it!
What native Americans have been saying ever since they have been saying!
What Tibetan monks manifest as they walk their paths amid the high peaks!
Before you can subscribe to a Law, you must subscribe to your small place
in the greater scheme of things.
And we think we're so big and powerful and all-knowing and all
that...Nope. We've always been the same at heart. Let's remember that as
we share here.
Rumi wrote about this, too:
Walk to the well.
Turn as the earth and the moon turn,
circling what they love.
Whatever circles comes from the center.
Warm regards,
--Barry Mallis bmallis@markem.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>