Courage/Cowardice

[Ildi]

I saw this on the N-Word thread and thought it was worth a few thoughts:

Cowardice is the opposite of recklessness, Courage is in the center and thus Courage is neutral.

Sooo, what is "cowardice" exactly? And what is "courage"? Who or what action - or lack of it - do we qualify as "coward(ly)"? I have a bit of a problem with that qualification. I think of different situations people can get into, and have a hard time coming up with things that make a person a "coward". I suppose it stems from "fear", but I believe that people have a good reason to feel fear, it's a natural reaction that's purpose is to protect one's self. So where does "cowardice" come in? Who is exactly a coward? Is there such a thing really, or it's merely a word we use to insult people whose actions we don't agree with?

Courage. What is exactly "courage"? Who is qualified as courageous? Is it someone who does things we don't dare to? Or someone who takes risks we wouldn't? Is someone who is willing to risk for life for any reason "courageous"? Are soldiers who fight wars "courageous"? Is a "courageous" person truly brave or it's again a word we use to honour people whose actions we applaud?
Who is brave and who is a coward? I've had some trouble with those distinctions for some time. Seems like such a black and white issue, and yet to me it's as gray as something could possibly be.
Any thoughts?

[bee]

hi ildi, for what it's worth...maybe courage is the strength to admit one can sometimes be cowardly.

[alchemistic]

Agree bee!

I read that on the other thread and thought to my self, isn't " cautiousness " is the opposite of recklessness
Then thought, couldn't someone be cautious in being reckless...

I have a bit of a problem with that qualification. I think of different situations people can get into, and have a hard time coming up with things that make a person a "coward".

Same here...
Everyone is wired differently and everyone reacts differently at different times. One person may react one way one day, then react quite differently on another day, depending on how they're feeling, what they've learned in the past, are their batteries high, or are they on reserve...

[Ildi]

hi ildi, for what it's worth...maybe courage is the strength to admit one can sometimes be cowardly.

But what is "cowardly" BJ?

[bee]

well, that all depends...are you wanting my opinion, society's opinion, a synonym, a dictionary definition, all of the above or none of the above Ildi hon lol?

[Ildi]

Your opinion of course BJ. Reading people all over the place I have a general idea about society's opinion, but the people on this forum are different. We don't quite swim with the current here, do we?

[bee]

coolio. well...i guess you have a good idea already right - you know me well enough by now to know i'm gonna frame it in the context of my beliefs and thus in my understanding of Buddhadharma (side-note: i am just a simple layman travelling down the path and thus my comments on Dharma should be taken as such lol)

the thing with the word cowardliness is that implies some kind of moral judgement. perhaps if i were to use the term aversion or fear it somehow seems less judgemental. i'm not sure if that steers my answer wildly off-direction but perhaps you see where i'm coming from.

so then, the question becomes what is aversion or what is fear? i think in a way it is a reaction to some kind of stimulus we encounter that we find, in the case of aversion - displeasing, in the case of fear - threatening to our sense of self.

so, to tie back to the previous answer i gave - people don't often like to admit to themselves their weaknesses, or indeed any shortcoming. this is a fear. similarly we may find others less than agreeable when we see what we percieve as shortcomings or weaknesses in them. this is aversion. further, the aversion may often arise as deep down we recognise those shortcoming are really lying in ourselves as much as themselves. in that respect all people are our teachers as they hold a mirror up to ourselves. we should try to be grateful to them in our hearts!

well, i guess there's a whole heap that could be said on top of that and i've only really spoken about fear and aversion in relation to self and others but i'll leave it there for the moment.

thankyou for the questions

[alchemistic]

That was pretty damn deep bee

[being human]

I am born anew in your genius..
that was seriously on point there homie..
indeed you are wise..

[Revenant]

Let's all convert to Beeddhism !

Did you find your inner Jon yet?

Ballll-ooooonnnnn ooooooonnnnnn - balllll ooooonnnnn balll oooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn(new mantra, enlightenment guaranteed!)

Hey, did someone just turn the light on?