"Mysticism" without Love = Nightmare

Just a quick question: Wouldn't lovingly accepting an earlier death deny the person who is to be euthenized the opportunity for "education through suffering"? I've been back and forth on this subject and am right now on the "erring on not allowing" side of the fence! In my earlier years (early teens), I was on the pro side but that was mostly due to seeing my grandfather endure a ghastly death from a cancerous brain tumor.Brian

013007tues

Dear Brian,

The wise believe, as you said,that suffering is an educational aspect of these lives on earth. But to obey the commands and directions of Love always takes priority over the Taoist Way of "flogoing," or just allowing things to take their courses. That is why, if a mystic saw a dog being beaten, or a woman raped, she would not just yawn and say, "Big deal; karma."

No, her Love-trained and Love-triggered conscience would move her to direct action, or activity. For the same reason, mystics do not simply dismiss the sufferings of the sick, the hungry, the lonely, the mentally challenged, or any other. Mystics often care for the needs of other creatures, but, most of all, fellow human beings.

Mysticism is not merely an intellectual understanding of the world; if it were this kind of cold intellect, what you say would be the guiding and determining factor. But the true mystic is always, in every circumstance and condition, moved and touched by the deepest Love. This creates soft empathy, and empathy creates a loving response.

To dismiss suffering as an "educational experience," although this is technically true, would create, in time, a heartless, not to mention thoughtless, person. This frigid emotional nature would, in time, probably neutralize any Love within it, leaving, not a warm, enlightened person, but only a cold zombie.

Greater enlightenment and understanding always create more, not less, Love. And greater Love always creates greater responses to any suffering that we can change. There are many that cannot be changed; so, we must here adopt the Taoist attitude. But when suffering can be lessened, it is the duty and obligation, not to mention the joy, of every mystic to take corrective and healing action.

Wherever and whenever, and with whomever, the mystic can alter circumstances of suffering, or help alleviate it, she must do so, in the name of Love. Without Love, intellectual mysticism could lead to monstrosity.