Sunday, September 18, 2011

September 18

Chapter 4 pt. 1

The Rule of Benedict September 18

Numbers 10-13 provide a fascinating commentary on number 9.  Our culture generally conceives of the golden rule with regard to simple pleasure or pain: "I don't want to feel pain, so I won't cause it in others," but Benedict prescribes a treatment of the self that is difficult and unpleasant in the service of transformation.  So perhaps I should ask myself the question, "which me does not want to be treated in such a such a way," when considering my actions towards others.  Do I want to be transformed, or do I want simply to feel pleasure and not pain?  How does this effect my practice of the golden rule?

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