To lose a precious but impalpable jewel is to be reminded
that one day we must lose all palpable things. And then what will be left us? What
will we carry not only to Avalon, but to the life after that? Impalpable is not
the same as illusory.
This seems to be a time for losing the precious but
impalpable, and the approaching twilight augurs badly for recompense. I’m glad
I weep at deliverance and not adversity. Mostly.
4 comments:
did you ever think of doing charity volunteer work somewhere in the world to pass some of that time? It would get you out of your own head and maybe find more meaning to existence...
I spent years doing charity volunteer work. I investigated the possibility of doing it 'somewhere in the world' a while ago. I discovered that you need to be either very young or have the right bits of paper.
I've done lots of things in my life, moved in many circles, some conventional and some not. At the moment I'm inside my own head where I have a right to be.
As for finding meaning to existence, the search for that illusory concept has always been my primary preoccupation, and I've found that the only proper place to look is inside one's own head. It's too easy to lean on external props like God and religion. Why take the easy road if you can tolerate the discomfort of the harder but more meaningful one. I've always erred on the side of self-teaching, you see.
I do, however, appreciate your concern.
I think it's both- following God is easy in that you don't have to think but then again it contradicts human nature...so it is hard&challenging too.
I don't think it does contradict human nature, Zhen; I think the concept of an individualised God who makes laws, judges, punishes, helps, grants favours - in general, rules - is just the kind of prop that human nature desires. The fact that people choose to identify him with an ancient Hebrew tribal deity is what gives me most trouble, because it traps people into a simplified concept and keeps them from seeking greater meaning.
This is why the only religion I favour is Buddhism, because it has no such Being but teaches spiritual self-reliance. The problem is that Buddhism - like all religions - has become bound up with rules, dogma, precepts, the notion that what's right for one person is right for everybody. It's why I venerate the Buddha above all beings, but I would never be a Buddhist.
Post a Comment