My Perspective
1. Being human
We are all human. We are undoubtedly the most advanced species at least in the solar system, if not the galaxy. Yet, as advanced and different from the other animals we are, we must not forget that we are animals ourselves. Our uncles and cousins are the ape and the Neanderthal, not the gods. We are not failed beings that should strive for ideal action, for that is unhuman. So long as we don’t hurt anyone, we should embrace our humanity; enjoy a eating good meal, a warm shower, a beautiful woman as well as the so called 'finer things' like the arts, knowledge, and noble pursuits. To hold that the latter are preferable to the former is a misunderstanding in what we are. A healthy human enjoys them all guilt-free, so long as they do not become an addiction.
In recognizing our animal heritage, as a combination of drives and desires not altogether rational, one may develop a sympathy and tolerance when we see this aspect of ourselves in others. There is a sense of human comedy in our predicament. If we understand this we can see our monkey cleverness with admiration rather than humiliation. We can, instead, grin at our shortcomings and limitations because they are part of who we are.
Anyone who has felt a strong hunger or desire for a thing can look at a man who has stolen what he desired, with compassion and delight. Even though what he did was harmful, it was the animal part of our nature showing through, just as we are delighted by the antics of animals themselves. At cat is not unfaithful when it doesn't return till the next night, a dog is not a theft when it takes our slipper; a lion is not a murderer when it kills to feed itself and its cubs. It is because we have raised our idea of who we are so much above the animals that when we see those animalistic drives in ourselves we are disgusted. We are not so god-like though, and its about time we realized and accepted that.
I am not suggesting that we should allow people to harm each other, we must still face the consequences of the wrongs we do. But let us not hate those who do wrong, be disgusted by them, or hold them in a lower standing than all other people. They are our kin, and we both feel the same desires, so who are we to condemn those who make the wrong choice every once in a while. Besides, we are all criminals of one sort or another; it is the unfortunate ones who get caught.
Also, this perspective of naturalism or humanism, as one may call it, is certainly not hedonistic. It is not good for a person to go around satisfying every desire he feels. It is best to live modestly; the middle way as the Buddha calls it. It is perfectly fine to enjoy the pleasures of this world, with restraint. One should be cautious to not allow anything to become so important that it's attainment controls them, as happens with those addicted to drugs. One should always remain in control of themselves.
2. Attitudes
I find it best to take a detached attitude towards the changing situations and events in ones life. Being detached, one can stand back and see the poetry in it all. A detached person is never rushed, he has eternal patience; he is not desperate or fervent, but genuine and calm. It is the attitude of the man who possesses the winning hand in a poker game, and knows it. He has no worries; he is smiling underneath the fake serious face. He is amused by the other players as they worry and stress over what the outcome will be. Everyone else is busy and serious around the detached person, worrying about their outcome and always worrying about the immediate future and themselves.
I am occasionally struck by an awareness of the current moment. We don't often recognize the importance of this moment right now. Our entire lives take place within this conceptual window, yet we so often forget to give it our attention or recognition. We are too busy regretting the past, or worrying about the future. I try to take time out and just 'be'; block out all thoughts are worries and just experience the world through the senses. In this state, the most mundane thing can become a thing of beauty and wonder. The person who doesn't take the time to do this may be struck by it too late, once most of their life has already passed, and then they will regret the things they did not accomplish.
Don't get me wrong here. Though I promote this perspective, I know that the universe is not OBJECTIVELY sad, dreary, or tragic, nor is it spectacular, glorious, or perfect. These are simply perspectives on life we can choose. Some are more accurate to reality than others, but all have their own value and should be explored to find it. We choose which perspective best suits us, but let us not mistake our perspective for how things TRUELY are. The world is not REALLY happy or sad, it just is what it is. Those words are valuations we put on it based on our own subjective experience.
3. Love of Life
Many think that work and the serious things are what's important in life; your job, reputation, religion, and so on. I disagree, it's when we are with our good friends and the hours are passing like minutes, and we have not a care; those unexpected moments of clarity that hit us out of the blue; when we play as children, or with our children; relaxing on a warm soft recliner after a long day of work; those empty moments in time. These are the times we are truly alive. The majority of people take everything too seriously. They are pained by their problems too much, and enjoy their pleasure too little.
Some may wish for a world of no conflict, where everyone is happy and get what they need and live to old age, and then die painlessly. I would find such a world quite dull and though it is a good ideal to work towards, I much prefer the world as it is, with all of the deceits and corruption, pain, cheating and failure. In an ideal world there would be no surprises, no uncertainty about our life, no color or flavor. If you really love life, then you must love every part of it. The human mind is charmingly fallible, that's what makes life interesting. The world is only imperfect when compared to a lofty ideal in ones mind. The world is as it is, no matter how we may wish it to be, and in that sense, it is a perfect world. It can't not be, for it is the only one that exists.
We don't have much choice but to be happy for having existed no matter how pleasant or unpleasant. Surely living a life of hard work for an overbearing government in harsh conditions still affords enough joys, if taken with the right attitude, to be preferable to not existing at all. All pain and turmoil is a necessity of living and one should not be angry at the world for not accommodating to your predilections and desires. The world is as it is, you can take it or leave it.
Imagine a story in which, in the beginning the characters are all happy. Then, they continue to be happy, and in the end, they are still happy. Wouldn't such a story be incredibly boring? Likewise it is good that our lives are like a good tale, with main characters that are initially happy, then run into conflict and must struggle through that conflict before coming though in the end; having learned from it and feeling joyous for overcoming it. This pattern repeats many times throughout our lives and, as the connection has been made before, are much like a good book with many chapters. Man may wish to live in heaven, but he is bound to live on this earth, along with all it's so called imperfections.
I am reminded of the monumental conclusion of "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. The Savage and the Controller are discussing society and the value in different things. In the interest of social stability the Controller states, "We prefer to do things comfortably." The Savage replies, "But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." "In fact," said the Controller, "you're claiming the right to be unhappy." "All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy." "Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen to-morrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind." "I claim them all." This savage understood what living is about.
4. Our Finitude
It is healthy and good to sometimes consider a universe in which we have no inherent purpose and we are errant and finite beings, even if one does not believe this view. If it is so, all we have is each other, so let us be all the more loving for it, because we only have each other to love and be loved by. We should recognize our predicament and remain decent and cheerful in spite of it. There is no inherent purpose in the universe; we must create meaning for ourselves. Even in such a universe, what incredible creatures we are. Any universe that has birthed such splendid accidents as us is surely one worth being in. "For if men believe, as I do, that this present earth is the only heaven, they will strive all the more to make heaven of it." - Su Tungp'o.
If we look at the world we live in, we realize that there is nothing eternal or permanent; all things have an end. Why should we not think that we also have an end. Finding ourselves alive is like being invited to a ball. We are pleased at being thought of even if it is not the best one we can imagine. After a few hours of dancing and socializing and making friends we grow weary and the ball naturally comes to an end. It is the natural progression of all things. The fact that it eventually comes to an end doesn't make the whole things pointless or any less enjoyable while it's taking place. All those attending know that it will eventually end, this doesn't cause a disturbance. Some wish it to go on forever, but in their distress about its inevitable end, they may miss out on enjoying it while it's taking place. We are glad that we were able to experience it.
We should be careful not to lift ourselves too high, or think ourselves too great. Anything we do, create or conclude is unreliable because we are by nature prone to make mistakes. We are all stumbling through life trying to keep food on our table while also reflecting on our experience and trying to find our own meaning. We all do this imperfectly in the sense that we weren't designed for such contemplation (either by a creator or undirected natural laws). But it's the only choice we have and we should take to it with joy not contempt.
We are all human. We are undoubtedly the most advanced species at least in the solar system, if not the galaxy. Yet, as advanced and different from the other animals we are, we must not forget that we are animals ourselves. Our uncles and cousins are the ape and the Neanderthal, not the gods. We are not failed beings that should strive for ideal action, for that is unhuman. So long as we don’t hurt anyone, we should embrace our humanity; enjoy a eating good meal, a warm shower, a beautiful woman as well as the so called 'finer things' like the arts, knowledge, and noble pursuits. To hold that the latter are preferable to the former is a misunderstanding in what we are. A healthy human enjoys them all guilt-free, so long as they do not become an addiction.
In recognizing our animal heritage, as a combination of drives and desires not altogether rational, one may develop a sympathy and tolerance when we see this aspect of ourselves in others. There is a sense of human comedy in our predicament. If we understand this we can see our monkey cleverness with admiration rather than humiliation. We can, instead, grin at our shortcomings and limitations because they are part of who we are.
Anyone who has felt a strong hunger or desire for a thing can look at a man who has stolen what he desired, with compassion and delight. Even though what he did was harmful, it was the animal part of our nature showing through, just as we are delighted by the antics of animals themselves. At cat is not unfaithful when it doesn't return till the next night, a dog is not a theft when it takes our slipper; a lion is not a murderer when it kills to feed itself and its cubs. It is because we have raised our idea of who we are so much above the animals that when we see those animalistic drives in ourselves we are disgusted. We are not so god-like though, and its about time we realized and accepted that.
I am not suggesting that we should allow people to harm each other, we must still face the consequences of the wrongs we do. But let us not hate those who do wrong, be disgusted by them, or hold them in a lower standing than all other people. They are our kin, and we both feel the same desires, so who are we to condemn those who make the wrong choice every once in a while. Besides, we are all criminals of one sort or another; it is the unfortunate ones who get caught.
Also, this perspective of naturalism or humanism, as one may call it, is certainly not hedonistic. It is not good for a person to go around satisfying every desire he feels. It is best to live modestly; the middle way as the Buddha calls it. It is perfectly fine to enjoy the pleasures of this world, with restraint. One should be cautious to not allow anything to become so important that it's attainment controls them, as happens with those addicted to drugs. One should always remain in control of themselves.
2. Attitudes
I find it best to take a detached attitude towards the changing situations and events in ones life. Being detached, one can stand back and see the poetry in it all. A detached person is never rushed, he has eternal patience; he is not desperate or fervent, but genuine and calm. It is the attitude of the man who possesses the winning hand in a poker game, and knows it. He has no worries; he is smiling underneath the fake serious face. He is amused by the other players as they worry and stress over what the outcome will be. Everyone else is busy and serious around the detached person, worrying about their outcome and always worrying about the immediate future and themselves.
I am occasionally struck by an awareness of the current moment. We don't often recognize the importance of this moment right now. Our entire lives take place within this conceptual window, yet we so often forget to give it our attention or recognition. We are too busy regretting the past, or worrying about the future. I try to take time out and just 'be'; block out all thoughts are worries and just experience the world through the senses. In this state, the most mundane thing can become a thing of beauty and wonder. The person who doesn't take the time to do this may be struck by it too late, once most of their life has already passed, and then they will regret the things they did not accomplish.
Don't get me wrong here. Though I promote this perspective, I know that the universe is not OBJECTIVELY sad, dreary, or tragic, nor is it spectacular, glorious, or perfect. These are simply perspectives on life we can choose. Some are more accurate to reality than others, but all have their own value and should be explored to find it. We choose which perspective best suits us, but let us not mistake our perspective for how things TRUELY are. The world is not REALLY happy or sad, it just is what it is. Those words are valuations we put on it based on our own subjective experience.
3. Love of Life
Many think that work and the serious things are what's important in life; your job, reputation, religion, and so on. I disagree, it's when we are with our good friends and the hours are passing like minutes, and we have not a care; those unexpected moments of clarity that hit us out of the blue; when we play as children, or with our children; relaxing on a warm soft recliner after a long day of work; those empty moments in time. These are the times we are truly alive. The majority of people take everything too seriously. They are pained by their problems too much, and enjoy their pleasure too little.
Some may wish for a world of no conflict, where everyone is happy and get what they need and live to old age, and then die painlessly. I would find such a world quite dull and though it is a good ideal to work towards, I much prefer the world as it is, with all of the deceits and corruption, pain, cheating and failure. In an ideal world there would be no surprises, no uncertainty about our life, no color or flavor. If you really love life, then you must love every part of it. The human mind is charmingly fallible, that's what makes life interesting. The world is only imperfect when compared to a lofty ideal in ones mind. The world is as it is, no matter how we may wish it to be, and in that sense, it is a perfect world. It can't not be, for it is the only one that exists.
We don't have much choice but to be happy for having existed no matter how pleasant or unpleasant. Surely living a life of hard work for an overbearing government in harsh conditions still affords enough joys, if taken with the right attitude, to be preferable to not existing at all. All pain and turmoil is a necessity of living and one should not be angry at the world for not accommodating to your predilections and desires. The world is as it is, you can take it or leave it.
Imagine a story in which, in the beginning the characters are all happy. Then, they continue to be happy, and in the end, they are still happy. Wouldn't such a story be incredibly boring? Likewise it is good that our lives are like a good tale, with main characters that are initially happy, then run into conflict and must struggle through that conflict before coming though in the end; having learned from it and feeling joyous for overcoming it. This pattern repeats many times throughout our lives and, as the connection has been made before, are much like a good book with many chapters. Man may wish to live in heaven, but he is bound to live on this earth, along with all it's so called imperfections.
I am reminded of the monumental conclusion of "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. The Savage and the Controller are discussing society and the value in different things. In the interest of social stability the Controller states, "We prefer to do things comfortably." The Savage replies, "But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." "In fact," said the Controller, "you're claiming the right to be unhappy." "All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy." "Not to mention the right to grow old and ugly and impotent; the right to have syphilis and cancer; the right to have too little to eat; the right to be lousy; the right to live in constant apprehension of what may happen to-morrow; the right to catch typhoid; the right to be tortured by unspeakable pains of every kind." "I claim them all." This savage understood what living is about.
4. Our Finitude
It is healthy and good to sometimes consider a universe in which we have no inherent purpose and we are errant and finite beings, even if one does not believe this view. If it is so, all we have is each other, so let us be all the more loving for it, because we only have each other to love and be loved by. We should recognize our predicament and remain decent and cheerful in spite of it. There is no inherent purpose in the universe; we must create meaning for ourselves. Even in such a universe, what incredible creatures we are. Any universe that has birthed such splendid accidents as us is surely one worth being in. "For if men believe, as I do, that this present earth is the only heaven, they will strive all the more to make heaven of it." - Su Tungp'o.
If we look at the world we live in, we realize that there is nothing eternal or permanent; all things have an end. Why should we not think that we also have an end. Finding ourselves alive is like being invited to a ball. We are pleased at being thought of even if it is not the best one we can imagine. After a few hours of dancing and socializing and making friends we grow weary and the ball naturally comes to an end. It is the natural progression of all things. The fact that it eventually comes to an end doesn't make the whole things pointless or any less enjoyable while it's taking place. All those attending know that it will eventually end, this doesn't cause a disturbance. Some wish it to go on forever, but in their distress about its inevitable end, they may miss out on enjoying it while it's taking place. We are glad that we were able to experience it.
We should be careful not to lift ourselves too high, or think ourselves too great. Anything we do, create or conclude is unreliable because we are by nature prone to make mistakes. We are all stumbling through life trying to keep food on our table while also reflecting on our experience and trying to find our own meaning. We all do this imperfectly in the sense that we weren't designed for such contemplation (either by a creator or undirected natural laws). But it's the only choice we have and we should take to it with joy not contempt.