Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Dalai Lama Tactical Tip Tuesday












“The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.” - Dalai Lama XIV

Why is His Holiness laughing? Without intending offense to owners of Kimber 1911s or any other pistol with a four-figure price tag and twice that in customization, please consider what HH says about ego.

So far as I understand it, the term "ego" actually originates outside of Buddhism, in Western psychology, and it refers to the psychological construct that is our identity. In both Western psychology and Buddhism, the term refers to the self, to "I."

When you invest your ego in a firearm you fall into spiritual error. Plus, you fool yourself, because, as every shooter knows deep down inside, the more you 'improve' a pistol the less reliable it becomes. The plain GI Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1  that I was issued in the 1980s U.S. Army was near-perfect in reliability, yet it rattled when I shook it, barely had any sights, used worn plastic grips, and had practically no finish left on the slide. Carrying that pistol taught me to give up ego when it comes to defensive gun use.

His Holiness knows why he is laughing. A custom Kimber with all the most expensive improvements is a gun you show your friends. A plain Glock or a humble J-frame .38 is a gun you show your enemies.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

TSB: My prediction for the Veep candidates: Hillary will nominate someone who is JUST THE RIGHT AGE (think Goldilocks), who has a reputation for honesty and truthfullness and can speak espanol.

Trump will nominate someone who is a 'WHITE GOVERNOR OR FORMER GENERAL, JUST THE RIGHT AGE, HAS BLOW DRIED HAIR, AND ISN'T A BILLIONAIRE! HE WILL HAVE A RECORD OF SUPPORTING SEVERAL OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES BESIDES THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND LOOK GOOD IN A BULLETPROOF VEST. gwb

TSB said...

Trump's VP drama is getting the attention now, but Hillary's choice is much more of a mystery to me. I can't guess who that will be.

Anonymous said...

TSB: I love it that Bernie gave a 23 minute speech to the Urban Hispanic Institute yesterday and didn't mention HRC ONCE! Looks like he got a little too 'politically correct' for his own good and his $27 contributors have discovered Jill Stein who actually has a chance to sink Hillary.

Also, Juan Cole, points out that Tunisia is a great example of the folly of the GWOT. A fledgling democracy which got rid of an odious dictator but can only get $55 million in US aid annually mostly to strengthen the police and military while massive peaceful demonstrations by it's unemployed youth who want education and job opportunities go unanswered. Hillary promised them our full support but now many of them are prime recruits for terrorism. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: turkey. US officials caught off guard by coup. "snap meeting held" in at WH
2:37 PM - 15 Jul 2016 WHEN HAVE US OFFICIALS EVER BEEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY ANYTHING IN THE MIDDLE EAST? IS THIS A COUP? OR NOT A COUP? WILL HE BE OFFERED ASYLUM BY HILLARY? DOES HE GET TO KEEP THE MONEY?
Thanks!
gwb

Anonymous said...

OOps! TSB: I see ErdoGone is seeking asylum in Germany. gwb

James said...

Erdogan is back. I think it was a sham put on by Erdogan and his allies to cover a crack down on opposition.

Anonymous said...

TSB: My sources (Drudge Headline) are saying it was a staged coup by Erdogan himself!! gwb

My wife has a Neice who is living in Nice while getting a masters degree. She says it was awful and everyone was told not to go out of their houses the next day. She says it's like a ghost town. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: John Kerry: The entertainer!! gwb

Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured today in Luxembourg, said he would entertain an extradition request.

Anonymous said...

TSB: That Coup/No-Coup in Turkey this weekend was really 'TIDY'! Their religious right is just as easy to manipulate as ours! (Just say Terrror/GAYMARRIAGE! and they go nutz! and wan't to chop off some heads and torture people.) Our thoughts and prayers go out to the losers! gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Turkey Denies Reports Of Explosion, Says Building Caught Fire, Blaze Under Control....There are reports of a huge explosion at a TV station in Ankara today
and also a huge IMPLOSION at the Republican Convention in Cleveland as it turns out the speakers have nothing to say but how great is the Donald and how everyone is threatening to destroy our way of life. (Gay marriage, Terrorists, Black People, ISIS, NATO, TURKEY,High Taxes,Mexicans, Weak Leadership,Benghazi) Most agreed though that Melania is better looking than Hillary and Trump advisors made it very clear it was great to be able to meet Trump in person and get a sense of how great he will be as PRESIDENT!
gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: James; Here is your Tuesday Tickle! These are just a few of the voters yesterday's convention was appealing to. gwb

https://youtu.be/kjPmzw1SbBk

Anonymous said...

TSB: The WORST speaker last nite was Michael Flynn..I almost took a nitro hoping he would finally bring it to an end. Turns out he basically admitted (to Michael Isikoff yesterday)that he took money from Russia Times to promote their website in the US and got to sit next to Putin at a big dinner in Moscow. This guy is a pro-Putin lunatic! He's also worked with Russian oligarchs in the past. gwb