Gari, I had no idea about the history of self-immolation. You know that I have an understanding of cults from personal early experience. People will sometimes do anything for their dear leader, including kill and die for them. Their minds have been taken over. I find what happened with this guy to be very unsettling. Trump has called for protests and violence. He has told people he is the victim and that he is 'God', etc. There will be more blood on Trump/MAGA leaders' hands before this is done. Anyway, I appreciate the history and the update on Johnson. Things are lookin' up :-)
Yes, things are indeed looking up. I fear it’s in real solidarity for when there is greater unrest abroad. And such shifting sands. Been such a long battle in becoming more unified, ditching the maga caucus, has been a real fight. I’m feeling just a bit lighter. The whole mindset is different in a western cult as to sacrifice or showing fealty to dear leader. I recommend looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation or not as it’s descriptive, IIt just imparts a less direct form of sacrifice or worship. The section though on political protest is shocking in that this is not a single instant by Americans. Maybe someone will talk about it a broader sense although I’d think better about it. With the way yougers are being so stupid about protests, we’d have an army of copycats. Truly awful so never mind on that. It is however protest in its intent.
We will have to get used to some really difficult events and understanding things we never wanted to. We’ve got some tough years ahead. This Trump era has brought a true mess.
I would also contend that self immolation is a sign of desperation and powerlessness. Who knows what demons this man possessed and to suggest this is some "noble act" is reckless. Suicide is almost always an act of desperation and not to be lauded.
I sincerely doubt the guy who set himself on fire was Buddhist. It is despair and mental illness leading to suicide. Why are we discussing something we have little information about? How about giving the situation a bit of time before jumping to conclusions?
John, I’ve thought a lot about your comment and can hear your upset about this awful, violent self destruction. I tried to talk and inform in the most neutral way, to offer a partial understanding of what we all saw, some in real time. A rarity these days. I also wrote early afternoon, if that timing matters.
I simply don’t know. I don’t doubt he was part of a group or read something and dedicated himself to a bogus or even real temple with twisted ideas. But you’re right, we don’t know.
My report indicated or tried to point this form of suicide isn’t a typical act of suicide but has a history of being a protest. Desperation and depression, suicide is an act usually done in private or privately, jumping from a bridge. Pills, a gun. This is an act meant to be seen and to shock or as the monks did to inspire others, it can be a path to enlightenment.” For many monks and laypeople in Chinese history, self-immolation was a form of Buddhist practice that modeled and expressed a particular path that led towards Buddahhood.” I don’t know if he had enlightenment in mind but he did have his message, wholly unclear as it is.
Bottom line, crazy people do crazy. Crazy in a particular way, does a particular crazy. The behavior can cross all lines of religion and culture and time. I don’t mean to diminish the pain, his or ours, with the word crazy, but I’m not a clinician and don’t have a diagnosis. I am happy to distance myself some in the words I choose. I’m writing about this because the time demands it. I want my overall body of work to be a reflection of the time I lived, but that is my personal agenda in understanding why I tackled this and how.
I was trained as a journalist and take communication seriously. I invite you to notice how many “I don’t know” and “I’m no expert” in your response. Neither you nor I know much about this tragic event and by rushing to speculation we dishonor both the victim and our readers. Time will wait for truth and clarity.
I hear your anger that I’m not responsible enough. I am not a journalist. I never said I am. I went to art schools. I’m indeed a graduate. I also studied classical ballet dancing and hatha yoga, taught both for 30 years or more, ran a florist shop, designed weddings, did the work, did deliveries. I’m a creative writer writing about my experience and my observations. I don’t have much social or family life, these were somewhat choices as especially dancing and hatha practice are so solitary. The piece was temporal as I pointed out. It was an impression of mine in an effort to understand, in a flow of time with the information at hand and within me. I do all that very seriously. If you feel I’m dishonoring you or anyone, it’s not my intention. Only here to join in the rhetoric as it’s evolving and share my opinions. Writing helps me and sharing it is always full of nerves and fear of rejection. Since it’s of myself, and not strictly telling the story as a journalist, there is vulnerability and wounding at times. I’ve enjoyed our conversations. I ask for no pay from you or anyone for my words in this venue. You are free to come and go at your pleasure.
Damn fine writing Gari. Thank you.
🙏🌸
Gari, I had no idea about the history of self-immolation. You know that I have an understanding of cults from personal early experience. People will sometimes do anything for their dear leader, including kill and die for them. Their minds have been taken over. I find what happened with this guy to be very unsettling. Trump has called for protests and violence. He has told people he is the victim and that he is 'God', etc. There will be more blood on Trump/MAGA leaders' hands before this is done. Anyway, I appreciate the history and the update on Johnson. Things are lookin' up :-)
Yes, things are indeed looking up. I fear it’s in real solidarity for when there is greater unrest abroad. And such shifting sands. Been such a long battle in becoming more unified, ditching the maga caucus, has been a real fight. I’m feeling just a bit lighter. The whole mindset is different in a western cult as to sacrifice or showing fealty to dear leader. I recommend looking at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation or not as it’s descriptive, IIt just imparts a less direct form of sacrifice or worship. The section though on political protest is shocking in that this is not a single instant by Americans. Maybe someone will talk about it a broader sense although I’d think better about it. With the way yougers are being so stupid about protests, we’d have an army of copycats. Truly awful so never mind on that. It is however protest in its intent.
We will have to get used to some really difficult events and understanding things we never wanted to. We’ve got some tough years ahead. This Trump era has brought a true mess.
I would also contend that self immolation is a sign of desperation and powerlessness. Who knows what demons this man possessed and to suggest this is some "noble act" is reckless. Suicide is almost always an act of desperation and not to be lauded.
It is Buddhism, not I that hold it in high regard.
I sincerely doubt the guy who set himself on fire was Buddhist. It is despair and mental illness leading to suicide. Why are we discussing something we have little information about? How about giving the situation a bit of time before jumping to conclusions?
John, I’ve thought a lot about your comment and can hear your upset about this awful, violent self destruction. I tried to talk and inform in the most neutral way, to offer a partial understanding of what we all saw, some in real time. A rarity these days. I also wrote early afternoon, if that timing matters.
I simply don’t know. I don’t doubt he was part of a group or read something and dedicated himself to a bogus or even real temple with twisted ideas. But you’re right, we don’t know.
My report indicated or tried to point this form of suicide isn’t a typical act of suicide but has a history of being a protest. Desperation and depression, suicide is an act usually done in private or privately, jumping from a bridge. Pills, a gun. This is an act meant to be seen and to shock or as the monks did to inspire others, it can be a path to enlightenment.” For many monks and laypeople in Chinese history, self-immolation was a form of Buddhist practice that modeled and expressed a particular path that led towards Buddahhood.” I don’t know if he had enlightenment in mind but he did have his message, wholly unclear as it is.
Bottom line, crazy people do crazy. Crazy in a particular way, does a particular crazy. The behavior can cross all lines of religion and culture and time. I don’t mean to diminish the pain, his or ours, with the word crazy, but I’m not a clinician and don’t have a diagnosis. I am happy to distance myself some in the words I choose. I’m writing about this because the time demands it. I want my overall body of work to be a reflection of the time I lived, but that is my personal agenda in understanding why I tackled this and how.
🙏
I was trained as a journalist and take communication seriously. I invite you to notice how many “I don’t know” and “I’m no expert” in your response. Neither you nor I know much about this tragic event and by rushing to speculation we dishonor both the victim and our readers. Time will wait for truth and clarity.
I hear your anger that I’m not responsible enough. I am not a journalist. I never said I am. I went to art schools. I’m indeed a graduate. I also studied classical ballet dancing and hatha yoga, taught both for 30 years or more, ran a florist shop, designed weddings, did the work, did deliveries. I’m a creative writer writing about my experience and my observations. I don’t have much social or family life, these were somewhat choices as especially dancing and hatha practice are so solitary. The piece was temporal as I pointed out. It was an impression of mine in an effort to understand, in a flow of time with the information at hand and within me. I do all that very seriously. If you feel I’m dishonoring you or anyone, it’s not my intention. Only here to join in the rhetoric as it’s evolving and share my opinions. Writing helps me and sharing it is always full of nerves and fear of rejection. Since it’s of myself, and not strictly telling the story as a journalist, there is vulnerability and wounding at times. I’ve enjoyed our conversations. I ask for no pay from you or anyone for my words in this venue. You are free to come and go at your pleasure.