Survival of the kindest...

[wil]

Anyone read about this challenge to Darwin?

 

[talib-al-kalim]

I haven't read a book about it, but I understand what it means. Do you want to discuss a book or a topic?

 

[Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu]

What about "escape of the kindest"?

 

[wil]

What about "escape of the kindest"?

Whatever floats your boat.

Even Darwin thought 'survival of the fittest' was misinterpreted

Even Charles Darwin thought "survival of the fittest" was misinterpreted. Instead, consider "survival of the kindest."

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu]

Whatever floats your boat.

Highest kindness floats the boot out of the wheel of food chain, doesn't binds one back in it, leads not only toward the Brahma-realm but even beyond, when understanding the truths on cause and effect, good householder. Nothing different would float any boat out of suffering.

 

[Thomas]

Anyone read about this challenge to Darwin?

I never realised Darwin promoted 'natural selection' but not 'survival of the fittest' as a theory.

I did know that the latter theory owes a lot to the predominant white male privilege thinking of the so-called 'Enlightenment'.

I had read about symbiosis – mutual cross-species interaction – as an engine of 'evolution' (I read that term to mean progress that might be towards a distant goal or up a blind ally, I'm not sure Nature's too bothered).

So symbiotic relationships I can see. 'Survival of the Kindest' I'm not so sure about as a process rather than as a human ideal?

(Having said that, of course I am mindful of the Beatitudes as a statement along those lines.)

 

[wil]

Nothing different would float any boat out of suffering.

Suffering is the given right? Why is that? Is it training in this existence?

 

[Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu]

Suffering is the given right? Why is that? Is it training in this existence?

Chosen. Why? Because of not seeing, knowing and craving, being wander on in the circle of birth, aging, sickness and death, good householder.

 

[wil]

Chosen. Why? Because of not seeing, knowing and craving, being wander on in the circle of birth, aging, sickness and death, good householder.

What makes suffering required in any of that?

Have I not lived life unless I suffer?

I don't have much time..I don't know where to start.

 

[Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu]

What makes suffering required in any of that?

Suffering is an effect of taking on what's not required, no refuge, not real, good householder.

Have I not lived life unless I suffer?

No. Desire for sensuality, desire for becoming or not-becoming, has always suffering as it's effect. What ever good householder does, moment for moment, is all just a try to escape it.

I don't have much time..I don't know where to start.

That's a good observance!

Not taking on anything that's not real, not lasting, no refuge. Abound what's unskilful, eg. doing bad, develop what's skilful, eg. doing good (by body, speech, thoughts).