It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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SarathW
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It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by SarathW »

It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Sadguru said that it is better to stary around with people who disagree with you rather than agree with you all the time.
What is your opinion on this?
Perhaps this is a topic for the suggestion forum.
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binocular
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by binocular »

SarathW wrote: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:58 amSadguru said that it is better to stary around with people who disagree with you rather than agree with you all the time.
What is your opinion on this?
That Sadhguru needs to go out more. It's easy to pontificate about such matters when one is safe in one's little cocoon.
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Spiny Norman
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by Spiny Norman »

SarathW wrote: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:58 am It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?
I find it rather tiresome. :tongue:
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Bundokji
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by Bundokji »

It depends on why they agree and/or disagree
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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BasementBuddhist
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by BasementBuddhist »

In some ways yes. In other's no. Being around people who have different veiws from your own is a great teacher. On the other hand, it's very easy to become overwhelmed by strong emotions, if you get yourself into the wrong situation.
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markandeya
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by markandeya »

BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:47 pm In some ways yes. In other's no. Being around people who have different veiws from your own is a great teacher. On the other hand, it's very easy to become overwhelmed by strong emotions, if you get yourself into the wrong situation.
Sadguru is spot on, and he said if you have the sophistication and equanimity, so these qualities are important. Jaggi Vasudev is a modern day reformer with huge influence. If he just stuck to his small group he would be limited to just a small sangha but through adversity and challenge he built up a very successful programme and has positively changed people lives around the world. Accept him or not he is very succesful with what he does, his social welfare programmes and cultural rejuvenation is only to be applauded.
binocular wrote: Sat Jul 14, 2018 9:03 am
SarathW wrote: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:58 amSadguru said that it is better to stary around with people who disagree with you rather than agree with you all the time.
What is your opinion on this?
That Sadhguru needs to go out more. It's easy to pontificate about such matters when one is safe in one's little cocoon.
I would imagine that Jaggi Vasudev sadguru gets out more than you, maybe you need to get out more to know what he is doing, and has done and how much he gets around.

Siddharta could have quite easily just sat in jhanas and higher lokas and waited for his parinibbana, and there were many people in his day that opposed him.

Also to teach about the truth there needs to be some reflections on duality or opposites to establish truth, its inherent within our condition and the world we live in, unless one wants to build up some false Utopian ideal. To make changes there is a need to face those things and not hide away from them.

:anjali:
Last edited by markandeya on Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
binocular
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by binocular »

BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:47 pmBeing around people who have different veiws from your own is a great teacher.
In what way is that a great teacher?
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binocular
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by binocular »

markandeya wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:03 pmI would imagine that Jaggi Vasudev sadguru gets out more than you, maybe you need to get out more to know what he is doing, and has done and how much he gets around.
Is he ever faced with an opponent on equal grounds?
Or does he only face them when he is in the position of power, like in the interview above?
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markandeya
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by markandeya »

binocular wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:06 pm
markandeya wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:03 pmI would imagine that Jaggi Vasudev sadguru gets out more than you, maybe you need to get out more to know what he is doing, and has done and how much he gets around.
Is he ever faced with an opponent on equal grounds?
Or does he only face them when he is in the position of power, like in the interview above?
Why ask me, why not find out more about him and then make a decision. I would say that some of the things he has had to face would break most peoples resolves and they would be running off to the mountains to find peace and get away from it all.
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BasementBuddhist
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by BasementBuddhist »

binocular wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:04 pm
BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:47 pmBeing around people who have different veiws from your own is a great teacher.
In what way is that a great teacher?
I meant that you learn about yourself. When someone disagrees with you, you generally react to them in some fashion, and this teaches you about your own attachments. It's also a great opportunity to practice Metta.
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Sam Vara
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

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Off-topic and pointlessly ad hominem posts have been removed.
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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Verse 61. Do Not Associate With The Ignorant

If a wayfarer fails to find
one better or equal,
steadfast he should fare alone
for a fools no fellowship.


Image

Explanation: People need companions. But if one does not find a person who is better than, or at least equal to oneself, it is better to be alone rather than keep company with foolish people. There is no profitable companionship with fools.

Verse 78. In The Company Of The Virtuous

Don’t go around with evil friends,
with rogues do not resort.
Spend your time with noble friends,
and worthy ones consort.


Image

Explanation: Do not associate with people who have evil ways. Avoid the company of wicked, evil people who are mean and bad. Associate with worthy friends. Keep the company of noble persons who are superior in quality and virtue and who will be able to elevate you.


:anjali:
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binocular
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by binocular »

BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:26 pm
binocular wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:04 pm
BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:47 pmBeing around people who have different veiws from your own is a great teacher.
In what way is that a great teacher?
I meant that you learn about yourself. When someone disagrees with you, you generally react to them in some fashion, and this teaches you about your own attachments. It's also a great opportunity to practice Metta.
What have the Indians, for example, learned under British rule?
The British, clearly, held different views than the Indians. What have the Indians learned from being around people who disagreed with them? What have the British? Did it help either of them to stick around people who disagreed with them?
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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markandeya
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Re: It is better to stick with people who disagree with you?

Post by markandeya »

binocular wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:38 pm
BasementBuddhist wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 5:26 pm
binocular wrote: Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:04 pm In what way is that a great teacher?
I meant that you learn about yourself. When someone disagrees with you, you generally react to them in some fashion, and this teaches you about your own attachments. It's also a great opportunity to practice Metta.
What have the Indians, for example, learned under British rule?
The British, clearly, held different views than the Indians. What have the Indians learned from being around people who disagreed with them? What have the British? Did it help either of them to stick around people who disagreed with them?
With all due respect Binocular its best to comment on things that you have some understanding on. The situation is far more complex.

you say Sadguru is disgusting because you have listen to one minute of him speak.

Please take a look at the abject poverty he is fighting in India to restore the country to its rightful state as a peaceful unfied tradition that was never in such a shambles that the British left behind and is still under siege by the west. He is feeding the poor through his social welfare programmes, thousand upon thousands everyday are given free food every single day where people hardly have the right nutrition, opening and setting up free education and medical treatment in areas you wouldnt want to go and visit.

Disgusting isnt it, what a terrible man.

what have you done today to help anyone else, its a question. Maybe you could start a post and tell us all that you have done and effected in this world.

I can only ask you to do more research and educate yourself properly before speaking on things you clearly have no idea what your saying.

He is very favourable to Buddha, its inherent in the mind of an advaitins to see unity and not division, but at times that division or the cause of division has to be met, and it takes a very brave person to do that.
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