tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103358114789081524.post5062755276863340779..comments2014-06-08T02:32:47.414-07:00Comments on Adventures in Compassion (in the Screen Trade): Hey, anyone need a kidney? I'm more compassionate than you are! Nyeh nyeh! Getting out of my head and inspired by "the Happiest Person in the World"Jon Rubinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045952265714480474noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103358114789081524.post-82725075024447131662009-09-23T21:00:02.061-07:002009-09-23T21:00:02.061-07:00Harold, thanks so much for your comment - I totall...Harold, thanks so much for your comment - I totally agree with you, and I was totally inspired by your story in the book. When I read the book, I thought just that - if I were called upon to do it for a family member, I would in a second. The thing that I struggle with is giving a kidney to a total stranger, even though I know inherently that there's no real difference in the value of, say, my mom's life, and that of another. I hope I was clear above - I totally admire what you and others have done. The posting was more about how I felt inadequate about the fact that I was not willing to give as much as you were. It felt like I was keeping score, which I talk about as "spiritual materialism." Obviously that's ridiculous - and not being willing to give a kidney to a stranger is based my my own ignorance, really, that even though I know intellectually that there is no difference between my mom and a stranger, I find it hard to imagine doing what you did. While I know that with cultivation, I'll grow more compassionate, this posting was more about how I simply need to do what you said above, just be compassionate. Because while I'm fretting about it, I'm not making a difference for anyone. Again, thank you for your kind comments. <br /><br />JonJon Rubinsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15045952265714480474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7103358114789081524.post-21579592892240833052009-09-23T20:48:01.930-07:002009-09-23T20:48:01.930-07:00Jon. You make the statement above... "I don&...Jon. You make the statement above... "I don't know if I could give away my kidney." We've never met, but allow me to ask a few questions of you. Is your mother still alive? I truly hope so. If she is, here's my first question. If she were ill and the only way to save her life was for you to give her one of your kidneys tomorrow morning, would you do it? I've asked that question of thousands of people. The overwhelming answer is almost always, "Yes. Of course." When I ask them why, 8 out of 10 give me the exact same answer... "Because she's my mom." Hmm. Ok. Well what about your brother or sister? "If they were really going to die without one of your kidneys... Would you give them one of yours?? Ok, almost done. Stick with me... What about your best friend from high school whom you haven't even spoken to in years. He's going to die tomorrow without your kidney. Dead. No more. What would you do?<br /><br />You say that you don't know if you'd be able to give away your kidney. Jon, I don't even know you and I'll bet I know how you answered the above questions. If you were called upon as the last hope of saving your mom, your brother or your best friend from high school - I'm betting you'd make the same decision I, and a growing number of other NORMAL people did... <br /><br />Organ donation, blood donation, giving a buck to the homeless guy on the corner... There are no big acts of compassion or small acts of compassion. It's simply compassion. And we all have it. Right?<br /><br />Harold Mintz<br />One of Chapter 7's Kidney Donors in Field Notes...<br />USMintz@aol.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com