Dear Mark,
You are the best. I so enjoy reading your responses. They are thought out and articulate. Thank you.
[I am responding to Mark's comments about the video clip "Why Men Complain. You can see his remarks below]
In the Hindu tradition Truth is not seen as it is here in the west. Truth is a state of mind, or a way of living. For example lets say someone is a recluse and I run into their home screaming “fire” and that person runs out of their home and comes into contact with other people and nature. Assuming that contact brings them into a place of balance and love, then it is not relevant if there was a fire or not. Truth would be created by bringing that other person into a state of balance. So if Krishna was a real person of if he was who he said he was is not relevant to a Hindu. What is important is the stories ability to bring you into a place of balance and love.
Westerners don’t like this kind of thinking because people could be deceived and there is some truth to that. But because of their fears sometime people may miss seeing the greater meaning or allowing themselves to be moved to a place of love.
I am not trying to create a 5 minute video that answers all the worlds problems and spells out the TRUTH for every relationship and every person on the planet. I am always trying to create a spirit of love and connection. My prayer is that people look at that clip and laugh. My prayer is that for a moment they relax and enjoy the thought that maybe their spouse does love them. My prayer is that it brings the viewer into a state of light and love. I don’t care if it is TRUE or not. The truth I seek is always LOVE.
I love you man, thanks for your feedback.
Brett
Brett,
Thanks for your response.
I viewed the youtube video [Why Men Complain] again. I was looking for signs of the old Brett. What occured to me on the second viewing is that maybe there is a cultural and gender bias in your message. I was thinking of the Hebrew (I think) word kvetch. A constant complainer/nagger.
The Jewish (actually typical of all Middle Eastern cultures in my experience and most New Yorkers even if they aren’t Jewish) mother and father both are complainers about everything. Especially in bargaining. Bargaining in business, bargining with the neighbors and with themselves.
So, one could conclude from the video that women should think of a man’s complaints about time/effort spent on their spouse as a sign of love when that time and effort is actually spent as a bargaining chip.
What about the other way around? Women complain about what they put up with/do for their husbands. Is that also a sign of love?
By the way, I always do the cooking and the dishes. The first time I was in the apartment of my wife to be I did her dishes. (RIGHT WHEN I WALKED IN THE DOOR!). I don’t complain, I just do it how I want it.
“The Practice of Love” is such a wonderful book. It is rich with wisdom and practical things to think about inluding of course “You Can Be Right of Your Can Be Married”.
So, respectfully, I disagree with your premise in the youtube video that the way a man shows love is by complaining about the supposed sacrifices they make for their significant other/spouse.
Sadly, perhaps your newer message is a reflection of the times. That is, you are trying to help people that have lost their dreams.
Mark G.
