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Talk: 19840428-Larry_Rosenberg-UNK-learning_how_to_live_part_i-1505.json Start_time: 00:49:52 Display_question: How do I distinguish between my doubt, and the influence of, my partner’s doubt? Keyword_search: Western philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, experiential learning, theoretical learning, religion, Orient, doubt, tradition, practice, spiritual, love, romanticism, superstition, respect, growth Question_content: Questioner: I’ve been learning about my doubt. Larry: Doubt. Questioner: Which is a new one for me, because my practice is not terribly extensive, but it’s been going on for a couple of years. And it’s kind of personal… but recently I’ve fallen in love with a man, who's a Western philosopher. In fact, he teaches philosophy. His orientation is completely Western, completely material. He knows nothing about Eastern philosophy or religion, and has no interest. But I love him, and I find in coming here that a lot of his skepticism, and his thought mode completely permeates my practice. And I'm feeling all this doubt. Larry: Doubt of this practice. Questioner: Yeah. But it's also… his tradition. Again, I know very little about Western philosophy. His tradition is very rational, and when I speak to him of what it is for me. My practice is an experiential thing, an experiential learning, not a theoretical learning. Larry: Yes. Questioner: I find it very hard to explain to him. And I guess that's sort of the answer to the doubt that I'm feeling. I'm trying to find my way through that, to continue my practice…and care about him. Larry: Yes. Okay. I just want to make sure that I understand you. So that you've learned that some of your doubt, is really his doubt, that you've taken on? Is that what you're saying? Questioner: Yeah. Larry: I don't want to put words in your mouth. Is that… Questioner: I think it may be more complex than that. Larry: But do you really doubt, this? If you can separate yourself, it may be impossible at this point. Questioner: No, not anymore. Not anymore. Larry: Yeah. In other words, you're here, right? So, you must think it’s good. Yeah. What I trust most in what you said, is that you love him. But again, you have to be careful because you don't want to deform yourself. In other words, the love should be, in the service of your growth, as well as his. It means that you don't have to make him over. And… also I don't tend to see it so much as Oriental versus Western or any of that anymore. Just go to the Orient sometime, you'll see they have as many problems, as we do. Also, he can be very helpful. He can help keep you honest. Questioner: I feel that. Larry: There's a lot of nonsense in spiritual circles, romanticism, and superstition and… a lot… and if he keeps you that…if he questions you that way, it could be very helpful. As long as you both respect each other. You don't have to be identical. But, I mean, if you respect each other's, right, to be different, then I don't see a problem. Can you share what you learned with him? That would be nice, if you could. Not in the spirit of changing him. Questioner: I hope to. Larry: Yeah. Questioner: I hope to. Thank you. End_time: 00:52:46
