Musings

Musings

DirtySciFiBuddha29 Comments

Every [philosophy/aphorism/religion/teaching/etc] seems to function as a causal map—an attempt to chart a pattern of consequence that steers me towards fulfillment and cautions me against undesirable pitfalls.

Ironically, all the worthwhile ones seem to be saying the exact same thing:  it’s fine to use them as guides (especially in the beginning) but in the end, I have to figure things out for myself.

29 thoughts on “Musings”

  3. Definitely think for yourself! Everything is legit the same old shit. But I would be put of work if everyone was a free thinker. So… maybe help me corral the sheeple towards my pig pen? (This is your muse, talking to you, after all)

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  5. We agree. The highest levels in any of these belief structures are more comfortable with other structures. because they know that. Some people cling to the details trying to differentiate their ideas when the most enlightened way is looking for common ground.

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    • There’s a feeling of comfort and safety in tradition, but just like it’s better for parents and children to evolve beyond a parasitic relationship (though it’s definitely necessary at first), it’s better for people to evolve beyond mindless obedience to a given tradition, and apply the deeper principles behind whatever they were venerating.

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      • I agree. I find it important not to allow this evolution to isolate me from those yet to evolve. Sometimes, one can find them selves alone, with no family or friends to be with on intimate terms. It is never “I and they,” it is always “we.”

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      • In “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,” the main character, whose name escapes me, was “fitting in” until he discovered himself. But then he rejoined his community as a contribution. The journey is a circle.

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      • I read it when I was a kid—Dan Millman. I don’t really remember the idea of community being a big thing in there, but a sense of isolation was. From what I remember, it arose from his skewed perception

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      • I would say it isn’t skewed if you acknowledge that it IS skewed, but it’s skewed if you think it isn’t. From what I remember, Dan thought he had it all figured out until Socrates taught him otherwise.

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  7. This thought/musing makes me agree with it on a slightly broader scale. At face value, there are many “guides” to progress through life in an “acceptable” manner. I think no one is better than the other (my opinion). They all offer a means to get through trials and be a part of a community. Then you mention that they “run out of material”. There is no end game for many of these systems/guidelines. It’s as you say, you have to think for yourself, or seek the final answers for yourself. I believe the reason is that none of these systems have “proof” of the existence of the next level of things. When our mortal bodies expire, there is only anecdotes and claimed experiences that give any hint that we go on. In addition to that, we suffer from our survival instincts… a desire not to die. I feel the need to suppose that many of the folks that came up with these systems/guides succumbed to that survival instinct. They reaced the point of facing their own mortalities and ran out of ideas… or the ability to think rationally. The “fear” of death is base instinct in mortal animals like us. The fear of the unknown is part of that, me thinks. So, when these systems run out of material, I would posit that it is because like everybody else, we must achieve an acceptance of our ends. We have to come to terms with the possibility that when we take that final nap, the lights really do go out, and there is nothing after that. Some are fortunate enough to possibly reach a threshold and catch a glimpse of what might be next and come back with some idea of what might be (near-death experience). But given the possibility of something next, whatever is next is less than interested in revealing itself to us mortals until we are at the threshold. Those that get that glimpse are left without proof, and all we can do is believe/hope that they are right. It’s up to the individual at that point to accept what might be. No guideline for that, I guess…

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