02-27-2008, 10:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Anagami
...
Punafish, Buddha would say "get away from that unhealthy place. They are interested only in external experiences and sensual delights.". I am not painting everyone with this image, but it is certainly the majority. A statement of reality is not a judgment....
Religion is subjective but I have a feelign Buddha would not have said that.
It is unfortunate that you feel like this area was such a negative experience. Puna is not for everyone, nor is Hawaii and I thank the gods that it isn't.
I just dont see the majority that you are seeing. And I truly feel sorry for you, for you have missed all the wonderful peices. The majority I see and I have been here a long time, are full of aloha, fairly positive, fights for their beliefs. We do have the problems you mentioned, drugs, vog, etc, as any where does and I too have been around the block so to speak. But if time and care are taken you will see the love in the sunrise, and the peace surronding our kapuna among a few choices. Have you been to the Puna Developement meetings - lots of caring people there - a couple even with dreadlocks. Or those who are workiing with the new Puna clinic.
Kehena is like going to Venice Beach in California. All the freaks hang out but it isnt representative of who we all are any more than Venice is the same as other parts of So Cal.
I am curious if you dislike being here so much - why you took the time to write instead of packing your bags and moving on? I don't see / understand what your intentions are.
The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion. We will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our expectation, if we want others to like us, if we do not get something we want,etc. In other words, getting what you want does not guarantee happiness. Rather than constantly struggling to get what you want, try to modify your wanting. Wanting deprives us of contentment and happiness. A lifetime of wanting and craving and especially the craving to continue to exist, creates a powerful energy which causes the individual to be born. So craving leads to physical suffering because it causes us to be reborn.