[vitue] Why is contentedness not good?

The Reverend Bob said:

Stoic resolve is not the same as contentment.

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uh huh, in the same way that a wing is not flight (why would it need to be?)

The Reverend Bob said:

And he was violent

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No, not really. Only on the outside.

The Reverend Bob said:

and he was a man of action not inaction

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Like I pointed out, "not striving" doesn't mean "not doing".

The Reverend Bob said:

and I saw that movie, he was pissed off and angry at those two jerks

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Watch it again. The Man with No Name never got angry. That was the whole point of his character: he was supposed to be the western embodiement of the Japanese Zen warrior from the
Kurosawa film that the first movie in the series (A Fist Full of Dollars) was based on.

Spoiler: graphic violence

I see peace as contentment which has nothing to do with complacency. Without peace mankind is at war with everything. Contentment is making peace with others and one's self. Contentment is when somebody is motivated highly for the cause of Peace. I dont think its possible to be content with everything.

It would be great if society had common purpose, and higher motives but competition runs deep in human nature. I sort of imagine society transforming into a place where the goals of society are to help all people. But that is a life commitment that takes a great deal of understanding. There has to be incentives and social structures that make something like that happen based on our survival instincts.

Quagmire said:

uh huh, in the same way that a wing is not flight (why would it need to be?)



No, not really. Only on the outside.



Like I pointed out, "not striving" doesn't mean "not doing".



Watch it again. The Man with No Name never got angry. That was the whole point of his character: he was supposed to be the western embodiement of the Japanese Zen warrior from the
Kurosawa film that the first movie in the series (A Fist Full of Dollars) was based on.

Spoiler: graphic violence

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If he was the epitome of contentment why did he need all that gold and why did he choose such as violent profession as bounty hunting? This the worst movie you could use as an example for contentment. I would have went with Forrest Gump and the Lt. Dan in the storm scene

The Reverend Bob said:

If he was the epitome of contentment why did he need all that gold

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So he could open an ashram in Dodge City.

The Reverend Bob said:

and why did he choose such as violent profession as bounty hunting?

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Who knows. Anyway he wasn't a real bounty hunter, he was part of a two man con-team where he posed as one.

The Reverend Bob said:

This the worst movie you could use as an example for contentment.

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No it's not, it's the best (Cool! Let's have a declaritive statement contest!!)

The Reverend Bob said:

I would have went with Forrest Gump and the Lt. Dan in the storm scene

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[/QUOTE]

Really? You equate lunacy with contentment?

Quagmire said:

Really? You equate lunacy with contentment?

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You're equating murder with contentment!

The Reverend Bob said:

You're equating murder with contentment!

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So you don't actually want to understand any of my points.

OK, guess I'll go play somewhere else then.

pcarl said:

If contentedness becomes complacency.

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Sadhu, householder Carl.

Ordinary people, if using contentment, place such toward good mental qualities and are not content at all in regard of material and outwardly things.

When contentment is praised by the wise, it's about less to no demand of outwardly gains, yet to be content in regard of mental de-veloptment would be ones "death" for any grow upwardly.

Talks on such contentment is one of the topics suiteable for contemplatives, yogies, people on higher paths.

For the less who might be content with just such, means for a higher, letting go of worldly desires, here some teachings on it: Contentment, from
Noble Conversation: A Study Guide, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2003; 59pp./176KB)
An exploration of right speech, based on the Buddha's list of ten ideal topics for conversation.

"'This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth at all, any old almsfood, any old lodging, any old medicinal requisites for curing sickness at all."

— AN 8.30

"'This Dhamma is for one whose persistence is aroused, not for one who is lazy.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk keeps his persistence aroused for abandoning unskillful mental qualities and taking on skillful mental qualities. He is steadfast, solid in his effort, not shirking his duties with regard to skillful mental qualities."

— AN 8.30

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Cambridge online dictionary said:

Content:
adjective
pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement

Satisfied:
pleased because you have got what you wanted, or because something has happened in the way that you wanted

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Oxford online dictionary said:

Content:
adjective
1. In a state of peaceful happiness.
1.1 Willing to accept something; satisfied.

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Here we have two different definitions for "content". The cambrige version means "pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement". The oxford version means "in a state of peaceful happiness" and doesn't say whether or not a person hoping for change or improvement. Which definition do we intent to use when we use the word "content" in this thread?

There are many different things/situations a person can content with. Is contentedness always a good virtue, or is it always a bad virtue, or is it sometimes good and sometimes bad depends on what things/situations a person is content with?

Note, it can appears that a person is content with some things but not content with other things. It is not neccesary that a person who regard contentedness as useful/good virtue must means they're content with or we should content with every things and situations.

The Reverend Bob said:

I am not presuming anything...

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No, your posts presume quite a bit about me. Primarily that my contentedness as I had a cup of coffee yesterday morning somehow meant I was complacent and that I somehow was ignorant to the suffering in the world. There is suffering right here in this thread. Why? Because...

The Reverend Bob said:

I can only judge you...

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Judgment itself is what leads to suffering. Judgment of self and judgment of others. Judgment of things that are beyond one's ability to control. Perhaps if you were able to perceive the people of the world without judgment, do your best to live as virtuously as it is possible for you to live, you would experience contentedness.

No, I can't fill all the hungry bellies in the world from where I stand, but I can offer the hungry work so they can buy food or I can offer charity to those beings in need. I do what I can...without judgment. This is why I can be content.