A Gift of Dharma for 1.8.10
by Danny Fisher
Today’s quote is yet another from our friend and former Naropa University professor Dr. Reginald A. Ray, whom I previously quoted and wrote a little biography for here. This is it–a quote recently posted on the Dharma Ocean Foundation’s webpage:
“I’m helping others” is an especially seductive thought. It can be an excuse for all kinds of mindlessness and ignorance, and cause us to overlook our own self-serving motivation. It can even become a welcome excuse to abandon our practice. When our minds are filled with the thought, “I’m helping others,” it usually means that we aren’t helping anyone, even ourselves.
Argg. I disagree with Ray’s words. A person can “notice” that he is helping others if he is helping others — and that would be appropriate.
I wonder, Rev. Danny, if the quotes below your picture in the sidebar are not instances of you noticing your notices of helping others — and thus pretty much what Ray denounces
You bring up the quote … for personal reasons, do you, Danny?
I think Reggie is talking about being lulled into a sense of certainty that we are helping–leading with our own projections about what is or is not helpful rather than engaging with a greater spirit of openness. I think he would certainly agree with your statement that “a person can ‘notice’ that he is helping others if he is helping others.” In fact, I think that’s kind of what he’s talking about: noticing when we’re are and are not being helpful and adjusting accordingly.
Oop. That last part is something *I* should learn.