Is There a Correct Way To Live Life?
How do Gil Fronsdal’s “A Perfect Balance,” Dzigar Kongtrul’s “Old Relationships, New Possibilities,” and Eckhart Tolle’s “You Are Not Your Mind” relate with the way we treat the people we love? In what ways do the articles agree and disagree on meeting enlightenment? What do they say about how people should go about life to conquer our goals?
Focusing too much on family and friends is a person’s natural instinct, especially when all people do is try and please others. Today, people need to focus on who and what is more important to living a successful and drama free life. Fronsdal, Kongtrul and Tolle all have different views on ways we treat the people we love. Fronsdal states his opinion about treating others, “You should choose friends who have no great attachment to beings or possessions...In choosing such a friend, if you happen to pick the elder I described just now, it could be a bit of a problem” (Fronsdal 4). Equanimity creates better friendship by looking past the negativity. The Eight Worldly Winds are what Fronsdal believes people should stay away from in order to obtain the balance in life. Pandita, who also contributed to ‘The Perfect Balance” states, “We have a lot of attachment and desire associated with people we love, and also with our pets. Sometimes we can be what we call “crazy” about someone. This experience does not contribute to equanimity, which is a state of balance” (Fronsdal 2). Pandita believes that attachment to people leads to destruction and worrying about friends more than what is actually important, ourselves. In comparison, Kongtrul also thinks people focus too much on others. “In the midst of our romance, marriage, or parenting, we find ourselves responsible for someone else’s loneliness and their emotional or physical pain” (Kongtrul 1). Kongtrul’s belief ties along with Frondsal’s, when people focus on others, they will start to focus more on their problems and less on their own. Not only does this lead to stress but Kongtrul believes this creates unnecessary setbacks in life. Kongtrul thinks of Lenchak when people have a form of attachment on others. Lenchak refers to an unhealthy relationship which can also lead to change in people and their actions. People are never satisfied with others which is another reason why Kongtrul believes attachment towards others is unnecessary. Tolle has a completely different explanation when it comes to the way we treat others. Tolle believes people should focus on anything they put time or effort into. But, he also explains how a high comes with a low. When a person is feeling happy, they will eventually reach sadness. Which means, having a good friend and treating others right, comes with negativity as well. The three articles also share the topic of enlightenment and the ways to …show more content…
Fronsdal believes that people shouldn’t be attached to the people or things we love, which would lead to focusing on others rather than ourselves, while Tolle makes the effort to making everything count. When people conquer their goals, Fronsdal believes people should follow Equanimity and the Eight Worldly Winds. In Kongtrul’s article, “Old Relationships, New Possibilities,” she connects the way people meet enlightenment while conquering their goals. Kongtrul and Fronsdal both believe unhealthy relationships can cause setbacks in a person's’ life and that only focusing on themselves is the best choice. Kongrtrul focuses on the disadvantages of Lenchak throughout her article as well. In Eckhart Tolle’s article, he disagrees on the ways of meeting enlightenment and states that is only for Buddhas. “ In that state, even my desire to become free or enlightened is just another craving for fulfillment or completion in the future. So don’t seek to become free of desire or “achieve” enlightenment. Become present. Be there as the observer of the mind” (Tolle 10). He speaks in a negative tone and explains that people don’t use their mind at all, and if they did, they would have a better chance of conquering their goals. For example, he thinks humans are meaningless. He disagrees with Kongtrul and Fronsdal on the way people treat others, Instead of setting time aside for yourself, he thinks people should pay close attention to anything that are important to them. These three articles focus on these the topics while informing the reader how he/she
How do Gil Fronsdal’s “A Perfect Balance,” Dzigar Kongtrul’s “Old Relationships, New Possibilities,” and Eckhart Tolle’s “You Are Not Your Mind” relate with the way we treat the people we love? In what ways do the articles agree and disagree on meeting enlightenment? What do they say about how people should go about life to conquer our goals?
Focusing too much on family and friends is a person’s natural instinct, especially when all people do is try and please others. Today, people need to focus on who and what is more important to living a successful and drama free life. Fronsdal, Kongtrul and Tolle all have different views on ways we treat the people we love. Fronsdal states his opinion about treating others, “You should choose friends who have no great attachment to beings or possessions...In choosing such a friend, if you happen to pick the elder I described just now, it could be a bit of a problem” (Fronsdal 4). Equanimity creates better friendship by looking past the negativity. The Eight Worldly Winds are what Fronsdal believes people should stay away from in order to obtain the balance in life. Pandita, who also contributed to ‘The Perfect Balance” states, “We have a lot of attachment and desire associated with people we love, and also with our pets. Sometimes we can be what we call “crazy” about someone. This experience does not contribute to equanimity, which is a state of balance” (Fronsdal 2). Pandita believes that attachment to people leads to destruction and worrying about friends more than what is actually important, ourselves. In comparison, Kongtrul also thinks people focus too much on others. “In the midst of our romance, marriage, or parenting, we find ourselves responsible for someone else’s loneliness and their emotional or physical pain” (Kongtrul 1). Kongtrul’s belief ties along with Frondsal’s, when people focus on others, they will start to focus more on their problems and less on their own. Not only does this lead to stress but Kongtrul believes this creates unnecessary setbacks in life. Kongtrul thinks of Lenchak when people have a form of attachment on others. Lenchak refers to an unhealthy relationship which can also lead to change in people and their actions. People are never satisfied with others which is another reason why Kongtrul believes attachment towards others is unnecessary. Tolle has a completely different explanation when it comes to the way we treat others. Tolle believes people should focus on anything they put time or effort into. But, he also explains how a high comes with a low. When a person is feeling happy, they will eventually reach sadness. Which means, having a good friend and treating others right, comes with negativity as well. The three articles also share the topic of enlightenment and the ways to …show more content…
Fronsdal believes that people shouldn’t be attached to the people or things we love, which would lead to focusing on others rather than ourselves, while Tolle makes the effort to making everything count. When people conquer their goals, Fronsdal believes people should follow Equanimity and the Eight Worldly Winds. In Kongtrul’s article, “Old Relationships, New Possibilities,” she connects the way people meet enlightenment while conquering their goals. Kongtrul and Fronsdal both believe unhealthy relationships can cause setbacks in a person's’ life and that only focusing on themselves is the best choice. Kongrtrul focuses on the disadvantages of Lenchak throughout her article as well. In Eckhart Tolle’s article, he disagrees on the ways of meeting enlightenment and states that is only for Buddhas. “ In that state, even my desire to become free or enlightened is just another craving for fulfillment or completion in the future. So don’t seek to become free of desire or “achieve” enlightenment. Become present. Be there as the observer of the mind” (Tolle 10). He speaks in a negative tone and explains that people don’t use their mind at all, and if they did, they would have a better chance of conquering their goals. For example, he thinks humans are meaningless. He disagrees with Kongtrul and Fronsdal on the way people treat others, Instead of setting time aside for yourself, he thinks people should pay close attention to anything that are important to them. These three articles focus on these the topics while informing the reader how he/she