Each of us is born and grows up with
unique strengths and weaknesses. Maybe a few have only strengths or
weaknesses. Society would be better if everyone had only strengths and
impossible if everyone had only weaknesses. Interactions between individuals
with different weaknesses and blind spots can be lethal. We have god-like powers
of procreation, productivity and creativity. The combination of personal
weaknesses with god-like powers can also be lethal.
An immature response is to despise those
perceived as weak whereas maturity tolerates or helps weakness. A guy I worked
with had two weaknesses: he was very low ability in the job and so worried about
whether he was ok with other people that he kept putting it to the test, "trying
the patience of a saint" of whom there were none in that work place. A confident
and out-going colleague commented, "People like him latch onto people like me."
Why are some entire lives spent without
any reflection or growth in self-awareness? Since zazen is the practice of
awareness, Zen trainees can become aware of their weaknesses but usually not
fully aware in the time left between starting to meditate and dying. Major blind
spots can remain. I used to disregard anything that I did not see as important
even though it did concern the people around me. Pondering ultimate issues
brought me to zazen and to a Marxist understanding of society. I now give more
attention to immediate social interactions but can still get them wrong to say
the least. We need more time but can only use the time that is given.
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