Any sized post -- doesn't matter

Do feel free to bring up anything of interest to you from a broadly buddhist perspective, particularly those of you who share present or past experiences within the Shambhala community (but that isn't a requirement). This can directly concern buddhist teachings or practices, or it can bring in either interpersonal or collective / societal / cultural matters. Please don't be cowed by the length of the posts thus far appearing. I often write posts of a page or so in length, finding it instinctively a good span for saying something of substance, while stopping far short of an actual essay. But a single paragraph is fine!

It's not at all difficult to see that members of another particular group, not content with reflexively downvoting nearly everything I write on their own group, come over here and do the same thing. I have reported this to Reddit, so if the intent is to sabotage this group, it won't succeed. Instead of doing this, why not have an actual conversation? I love agreement and disagreement both -- so long as there is openness and respect. In fact, many of the online conversations I've most valued have been with those who see one or another of the aspects of the topic under discussion differently. I treasure the building of bridges, and mostly what I have found is that a high percentage of disagreements turn out to be mostly, when not entirely, rhetorical in nature.

One exception to this has surfaced in a big way in recent years. I refer to the propagation of actual disinformation and conspiracy theory. I've learned to avoid discussions in which those are present, because they lack all openness. Facts do exist, and there is no point in debating outright falsehoods, all the more when they are fervently believed. But beyond this very unfortunate development, in large part a product of social media, there is still a vast range of discussion to be had in good faith online.

And in fact, as a counterpart to this conspiracy-spinning madness we see so much of today, it has been marvelous to see, for example, so many lifelong conservatives having such friendly podcast conversations with so many lifelong liberals. You get to the end and realize they more or less entirely agreed with one another. What should this tell us?

I think it tells us, again, that much if not most of the time we get lost in language. Specifically in emotional investments which are bound up in language. When we are able to see the other person as separate from their views, and separate from the specific lexical and syntactical habits they reach for to express those views, we encounter the full human being who stands in front of us. Conditioned by a million factors, as we are ourselves. Buddhist practice, in my view, demonstrates that underneath all of our surface imperfections and confusion lies the same basic mind. Functioning in the same basic ways. Containing an orientation towards confusion, and also an orientation towards wisdom. With just a little bit of openness, people can reach each other.

Furthermore, we need to be doing this more than ever. The times are dangerous, but also hold much potential.

In any case, yes, please do consider leaving a post here, of any length. I think it could be a positive space. In the meantime, I'll keep writing periodically.