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In reply to the discussion: So Tonight... My 85+ Year Old Mom Is Sobbing Uncontrollably... [View all]vlyons
(10,252 posts)22. I'm 68 and I'm no longer amazed at how crazy the world is
I'm a buddhist, and in my tradition, it is taught that our current cycle of time is that of Kali Yuga, the age of degeneration. It's sort of an "end times." People get very greedy and selfish and value money and power. There is great suffering, hatred, wars, hunger, deprivation, chaos. But the good news is that for those of us, who practice loving kindness and helpfulness towards others, it's easier to achieve enlightenment and true happiness. The externals of how the world is, we have little control over. But we can have complete control over our point of view. A degenerate world is a target-rich field for the practice of compassion. I hope you find this thought helpful.
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Nice post. Lapsed Buddhist here (if such is possible); I'm now full-tilt Marxist (materialist) but
KingCharlemagne
Feb 2015
#29
After Bush and Cheney I stopped believing in karma in any meaningful sense. (I probably should
KingCharlemagne
Feb 2015
#34
This is very helpful, vlyons. Makes it a tiny bit easier to process what madness goes on around us.
calimary
Feb 2015
#70
I am 73 years old and that is what I was thinking. Set down beside her and hold her in your arms.
jwirr
Jan 2015
#16
I join you in feeling like crap also. Wish I could say something to help. Just take this:
kelliekat44
Jan 2015
#13
Like we're any better than ISIS. Just yesterday, Texas executed an inmate with an
KingCharlemagne
Feb 2015
#31
There's a line from Shakespeare that comes to mind: "Oh, it is excellent to have
KingCharlemagne
Feb 2015
#52
What a wonderful caring person. Your post brought tears to my eyes. People like your mother...
BlueJazz
Feb 2015
#27
If you have access, Beethoven's "9th Symphony" (and the 4th choral movement)
KingCharlemagne
Feb 2015
#33
When I was young, the Mother of one of my friends had passed through the death factories. . .
Journeyman
Feb 2015
#36
I'm sorry. Seven billion of us, most are okay. TV makes it hard to remember that.
LeftyMom
Feb 2015
#41
Your parents survived the sacrifices and horror of "The war to end all wars".
johnnyreb
Feb 2015
#61