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From: pur-ee!surge@en.ecn.purdue.edu (PhD-in-Training)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Question on detachment
Keywords: Buddhism
Message-ID: <1990Nov29.005643.6034@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 29 Nov 90 00:56:43 GMT
Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Lines: 22
Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov

I am a novice to Buddist ideas and there is one question that has
been gnawing at me about detachment.  I understand (to some
extent) that attachment to objects in this world leads to misery
or unsatisfaction (the first noble truth) and that detachment
from desire is the first step to freedom from this misery and
cycle of birth.  However, if I imagine myself completely detached
emotionally from all things and desiring almost nothing, don't I
lose a quality of being alive?  Isn't passion an integral part of
living?  Detachment makes me think of the character Spock from
the TV series "Star Trek", something that is more of a machine
than human.  If one is detached from feeling misery, does one
lose touch with all feelings (good or bad)?  It seems like one
must lose the good feelings in life to rid oneself of the bad.

I know that it takes time to understand such matters, but maybe
someone can point me in the right direction.  Thanks.

-- 
...........................................................................
TIE(TakeItEasy),        :  I said to the almond tree
    Surge               : "Sister, speak to me of God,"      Saint Francis
                        :  And the almond tree blossomed.      of Assisi        ........................surge@ecn.purdue.edu...............................