I have been insulted by someone of great intellect and i feel like trash. How should i react to this?

[Uncle Erik]

Not to cross a line here, but give some thought to picking up Steve Hagen's "Buddhism Plain and Simple."

Nothing supernatural or particularly religious, just a different take on life and the meaning of suffering. A different perspective might be helpful for you.

It was for me. I picked it up on a whim some years back after a bad period in my life. Not to go into that, but among other things, I nearly bought the rancho in a car accident. I expected it to be a primer to something I didn't know much about, but instead found it very useful.

Before you worry about the rest of the world, get right with yourself. This book isn't the only way, it is one of many ways.

Another text I found valuable is Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations." Written by a Roman emperor a few years back, it's very comforting and frighteningly relevant to modern times. A dash of truly old-school stoicism might help. I found his appreciation for his teachers, mentors and relatives especially touching.

And you might find a little enlightenment in another text I've enjoyed for years, the "Principia Discordia." Maybe it's a joke and maybe it isn't, but consult your pineal gland and see if Eris has anything to say to you.

But what you're doing to yourself right now is indulging in misery. Lots of people are happy with their lives. Spend some time exploring different options and open up to different perspectives. There are many ways to get there. Focus on that instead of wallowing and dwelling where you are now.

 

[kostalex]

The denial leads to nowhere, it is just "from". To get somewhere, you should set up "to", the goal. Otherwise you may jump from one unpleasant places to another, probably even more bad.
 
What do I hate? -> What do I love?
I do not want this -> I want that
This is bad -> That is good
 
And when you have a goal, check if it is realistic. Look for the way to achieve it, "can I (we) really move from X to Y?". Otherwise goal would be just a dream.
 
Quote:

the reason i hate humanity is because of what i see every day. people being killed. famine disease. war. poverty, the rich abusing the weak etc. any responses to this would be highly appreciated.

 

 

[elbuzzard]

Quote:

Nothing's free, least of all our health care.  We're paying for it with our taxes...as a result there's less money to go around for other things.  It may just seem to magically come out of nowhere, but it's just out of our pockets to begin with...but the healthy ones end up paying for the unhealthy ones in this case.

Ok, wrong wording....you have guaranteed health care.   The healthy ones are generally of higher social status who enjoy an all around better quality of life with less stress.   So  maybe this is what BCasey is referring to when he talks about uneven distribution of wealth and subsequently health.  ...but hey, pot is legal up there so be happy bout that.
 

 

[buffalowings]

Quote:

Nothing's free, least of all our health care.  We're paying for it with our taxes...as a result there's less money to go around for other things.  It may just seem to magically come out of nowhere, but it's just out of our pockets to begin with...but the healthy ones end up paying for the unhealthy ones in this case.

umm..are their any healthy americans left?... about 30% of americans are obese (for lack of a better term, fattys) not to mention a certain percentage of that consists of our beloved little tikes 
 

didn't realize you were in canada, then again, obesitys also rising there as well

 

[bcasey25raptor]

Ok, wrong wording....you have guaranteed health care.   The healthy ones are generally of higher social status who enjoy an all around better quality of life with less stress.   So  maybe this is what BCasey is referring to when he talks about uneven distribution of wealth and subsequently health.  ...but hey, pot is legal up there so be happy bout that.
 

pot is illegal in canada just liek the united states. plus i stay away from all mind altering substances.

umm..are their any healthy americans left?... about 30% of americans are obese (for lack of a better term, fattys) not to mention a certain percentage of that consists of our beloved little tikes 
 

didn't realize you were in canada, then again, obesitys also rising there as well

in british columbia obesity is practically non existent. but i myself am a little overweight. but i could care less. i think about 10% of british columbians are over weight.

 

[elbuzzard]

Seemed legal in the village @ Whistler.   No effort to hide the green at all by folks I assumed were "locals".   Smoking, drinking and acting a fool.  Stuff that would get you face down in cuffs in most places here in Cali.  Santa Cruz and San Fran are 2 exceptions.

 

[bcasey25raptor]

Seemed legal in the village @ Whistler.   No effort to hide the green at all by folks I assumed were "locals".   Smoking, drinking and acting a fool.  Stuff that would get you face down in cuffs in most places here in Cali.  Santa Cruz and San Fran are 2 exceptions.

they were fools. it's just as illegal here as it is in california.

 

[Yoga Flame]

 

 

[Confispect]

Awesome.

 

[MrSlim]

Gonna put that on my wall right now..

 

[wind016]

Quote:

 

O HO! They should teach this in schools! 

 

[Confispect]

^ Darn straight.
 
Seriously needs to be a wallpaper on my desktop.
 
Done.

 

[TheWuss]

casey i've been where you are right now.
i had a close friend of several years tell me i was selfish and inconsiderate.
 
and it really devastated me.
 
i went around for a while fishing other people for answers.  "do you think i'm selfish?"
trying to get a baseline of measurement in my life.  was he alone in his view?  or did other people find me selfish?
or was it a quality he brought out in me when we were together?
 
i was pensive, and withdrawn.
or, as erik so eloquently put it, i "indulged my misery."
 
none of this really got me anywhere.
but, the moping gradually gave way to a period of great self-reflection in me.  one that i think still exists in many ways.
 
it took a while, but i realized he was mostly right. 
i also realized that the intervention needed to correct my selfish behavior wasn't the end of the world.
 
since then, i always choose my words and actions more carefully.
and i always try to show a modicum of respect and kindness, even when i'm being tested.
 
i can tell, from the mere fact that you started a thread about it, that the comments have lingered with you and are resonating with you.
 
i wish you the wisdom to know what to make of them.
and when you know what to make of them, i wish you the courage to act.
 

 

[customcoco]

Quote:

 
 Hell, those people even sell off AIDs pills that we donate to them.
 
 

Hell, "we" have "donated" ebola and machine-guns to "those people"

 

[wind016]

 
Quote:

Hell, "we" have "donated" ebola and machine-guns to "those people"

What are you talking about?
 
We help those to fight for their own freedom and I'm not sure what ebola has to do with Americans.