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The Buddhists talk about ways to enlightenment. Obviously each of us has to follow his / her own path and not be a sheep in life, but here's the question. Is it better to pursue a path of 'perfect association' with the World, that is, endeavouring to work hard, interact, understand, prosper etc. as the Chinese brand of Buddhism suggests. Or is a path of 'perfect disassociation'....meditation, avoiding the unpleasant aspects of life, interactions, society, work etc and believing this is all a prelude to something else better, much in the way the Indian version of Buddhism suggests?

I think travelers often face a similar question. It often crosses people's minds whether to return to their homeland and jump back into a job and all that entails, or to just hang out and cut themselves off from some of the unpleasantness of everyday life for while.

what's your opinion

As an uber-zealous, 'spiritual philosopher' [! well, having completed a wee course and generally having a he-uge interest in Philosophy/Religion/this kinda shit!], I'd have to go with 'Association' or to paraphrase: 'finding quiet amidst the crowd'. This is to say you don't need complete/literal detachment from the big, bad world to appreciate life/be spiritual/have 'quiet time'/meditate/'time out'/your space, whatever it is that you do when you need to 're-group', 're-assess' or basically just chill out and reflect on what really matter and all that... While oft-difficult, you can do that whilst existing and functioning in the material world/capitalist society that most of us inhibit... For me, it's about 'balancing' life's practicalities with 'your own spiritual path', thereby ensuring you don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Besides, complete detachment would mean sacrificing the good shit! Aah, who said y'can't combine Bhuddist principles with hedonism... Bhuddonism anyone?
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ps. This 'was' what you were talkin' about, no?

I'm more for finding the balance between the two. I think that people who do nothing but dissociate from the world wind up missing a lot. Nights out with good friends, times with relatives, good music, good books, etc., etc., etc. Can the world be nasty and horrible and worth escaping? Bet your arse. But it's not all bad, and much of it is worth experiencing and learning from.

But at the same time, when it is shite and terrible and what-not, I think it helps one's perspective to remember that there just may be something else 'out there' and 'beyond us', whether it's some kind of god way up, or just the inner divinity in ourselves and all that. You've got to have something to hope for, after all...

I used to ponder a similar question: If you went into a cave to meditate, and ponder the mysteries of life, and, if then, if you found the truth you were seeking, would you stay in the cave, content with knowing, that it is up to each individual "to choose" to seek and find the truth in their own way...or do you come out of your cave and share what you have found with the rest of the world, [or at least with all those who care or seek to listen?]

I've come to this conclusion. If you truly found something great and beautiful, would you not want to share it? Would you not want all who seek it, to know it? Would you not want the world to grow and prosper and to become a better place by leaving behind just one more ray of light? Would you not want to ease just one other persons burden?

To keep it to yourself and not share it is miss the key reason why we are here, and why we hid it from ourselves to begin with..."We once had it all, knew it all, were it all, and yet could not fully appreciate all that we had. We knew it all and yet had nothing "lacking" to compare it to.

Question: If all you ever knew was having abundance, what would you ever really know about need or want? Would you appreciate all you had, or would you come to take all that you had for granted?.

We once had it all and chose to leave it all behind and start fresh...this time without the intrinsic knowing, that we are a part of everything that exists, and everything that exists is part of us.

You and I are the same, and it is only an illusion, that life seems seperate, [once removed from being whole] and that all things are not connected. This life is a quest...a puzzle with a billion pieces. It is up to each person to figure it out and then add their 2 cents to it. It is up to everyone who sees, to add to that pool of knowledge called "the wisdom of the ages". "Everything that has ever gone before, goes into making that which is. We are the makers of that which will be!"

I think there are as many paths as there are souls walking them. I also think there are times when action is needed and times of non-action. It all depends on where you are on your path. That, of course stands for lifetimes as well as short periods within a life. I've seen monks in spirited discussions and playing with children, but you can bet that have a quiet center going! It's all about non-violence. And non-violence starts within. First you must practice being non-violent with yourself (which is why ginch's reply pained me so). One of the precepts of the Noble Eightfold Path is called Right speech, or as i like to call it, correct speech. Vulgarity is violence; to oneself and others. It hurts to read it and it hurts to use it. Now, I don't want to prosteletise so what I'm getting at here is that it doesn't matter how "active" you are as long as you practice the precepts.
OM Peace, Peace, Peace