"Idiot Compassion" does not mean to say in any way, shape or form that you (the
giver) are an idiot or that those to whom you give are idiots. The term means
that this brand of compassion is unthinking (in my mind) -- unthinkingly giving
to others can have bad consequences -- like the expression "pearls before swine."
"Pearls before swine" does not mean that you or those to whom you give are swine
but that giving pearls of wisdom indiscriminately will not always be appreciated
or even understood by those who enthusiastically take in your "pearls." I think
Jesus first came up with the term "pearls before swine." I encountered the term
"idiot compassion" about twenty years ago in a Rolling Stone article (written by
Cameron Crowe of "Almost Famous") about Jackson Browne. Browne (a long time
Buddhist and Tai Chi practitioner) stated that a friend had accused him of giving
out "idiot compassion."...Browne liked the term so much (the combination of the
sublime with the abrupt and the rude sound of "idiot") that he told his friend to
use it in a song. I have encountered it elsewhere in various American Buddhist
sources – perhaps even Ram Das used it at a certain point.
I still believe it is important to think about how you give if it causes you
pain. If you want to continue to give but nevertheless want everyone to say
"please and thank you" and pay you for postage, etc. without establishing
boundaries -- that is your prerogative. I really meant no offense -- but I do
mean Bunki that for me (cr) to give and give as a teacher ultimately was very
destructive and I needed to learn to bring in the reigns for myself. We look at
everything in life from our lense – and from my vantage point, giving
unthinkingly hurt me as teacher and student of life as I wrote in my previous e-
mail.
Maybe after reading everyone's responses here people will think twice about
asking for lessons or whatever without sase's and/or thank you notes -- but I
still believe we live in a multi textured world in which not everyone sees or
even follows the same credos or rules of conduct…(I often find it shocking.)
That is only my opinion – and I feel I have had to learn the hard way to
establish boundaries. It’s only my opinion not a personal attack. You have your
view and I have mine and that makes the art world and teaching world a richer
place.
As for being a lurker I believe that there are a majority of people here who read
and lurk and glean. Maybe it’s time for me to say thank you to all who have
supplied lesson plan ideas…when my own lesson plans are ready for public viewing,
I will be happy to post them and share and expose them to public scrutiny and
critical discourse – watch here for a posting in late August.. As for those who
are lurking, they will no doubt respond in time and at the appropriate time if
they feel it’s necessary. We may see their responses here in this forum, or we
may see them in a scholarly article or book about the joys and vicissitudes of
teaching art in public and private settings. We may see the seeds others have
sown in craft books, art texts for high school or grade school, or monographs
published by The Getty. Or perhaps you will be travelling in Bali and you go to
an orphanage there and the art teacher has been subscribing to this list serve
and you see a lesson that you taught and posted being taught with some variation
in his/her classroom. One of the respondents to your missive spoke of "bread on
the water" – you never know where it will go or whom it will ultimately serve.
Also in terms of signing my name -- I thought signing it "cr" was appropriate --
how am I supposed to sign this? This is a public server so I don't know the
proper way of doing this. You have my e-mail address - what else am I supposed
to write here? If you want to know who I am, write to me and I’ll send an
address that will enable you to access my bio and argue with me about whatever --
- even pearls before swine or idiot compassion or a recipe for carrot cake or
teaching by admonition as opposed to teaching by example or the fact that I have
been a lurker for two years and suddenly felt the need to speak up.
Best wishes to all and most especially the indefatigable and wonderful Bunki –
who has a great site and doesn’t quit.
