Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. ~Rumi
In a recent chat with a friend, the issue came up about the state of the world, and the path we are on as a species. Light topic with tea and cookies!
My first thought was a line from Another Roadside Attraction, by Tom Robbins. Whenever a character would pick up a paper or turn on the news, “the world situation was desperate as usual.” The book was published in 1971. Nothing much has changed. I suspect the line could have turned up just as accurately in a book in 1771, or told around the fire in front of the cave.
So what is the appropriate attitude towards the world, my friend asked – hope or despair?
One or the other? Perhaps neither. Here is a story from Inner Chapters, by Chuang Tsu:
When you wrack your brain trying to unify things without knowing that they are already one, it is called “three in the morning.” What do I mean by “three in the morning”? A man who kept monkeys said to them, “You get three acorns in the morning and four in the evening.” This made them all very angry. So he said, “How about four in the morning and three in the evening?” –and the monkeys were happy. The number of acorns was the same, but the different arrangement resulted in anger or pleasure. This is what I am talking about.
Therefore, the sage harmonizes right with wrong and rests in the balance of nature.
The world is as it is. There is beauty and horror, compassion and violence, transcendence and tragedy. How do I judge this? I don’t know.
I told my friend about when I fell off the roof of my cabin. I was conscious as I fell to the deck, hitting the edge and flipping down the hill below. Oddly, I was aware of the potential harm to my body and yet I was serene, knowing with a flash of inner clarity that whatever happened was perfect. It wasn’t that I thought I would be spared injury, but that I could see beyond my usual assessment of good or bad, which no longer seemed to have any meaning. For a moment, I was in the balance.
The world did not change that day, but I did.
The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. ~Marion Zimmer Bradley
related posts: Falling into Now; What I Know for Sure
I love this, especially as I realized I have had a situation of balance (twice, when I almost drowned - funny how it's related to accidents!) That leads me to believe that all is well and peaceful on either side. Nothing to fear. Then of course we "come to" and find things to worry about, but I am working on it :)
ReplyDeleteJulie, That's true about accidents, isn't it? Time really does slow down and you enter a thin place, I think, between the worlds. It doesn't last, though, at least in the fullness of that moment. We do return to our usual way of thinking, but we can remember that moment and we know that we've had a glimpse of.... Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThis post gives me a lot of think about. My automatic answer to the question, how should we view the world, would be "with hope." Does the story reveal that there is a middle place of balance between despair and hope? Or that life contains both, and that signifies the balance of nature?
ReplyDeleteTina, Einstein said that we choose to see the universe as hostile or friendly. I think that is sort of a hope or despair choice. I think that the story reveals is that there is a space beyond dualities or opposites. Chuang Tsu would call it the Tao, or the Way. It contains both because both are merged into unity. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteTina, definitely with hope! :) Galen this was such a nice little read, I was smiling by the time I got to the end. It's still a beautiful world, a beautiful life, treasure it all.
ReplyDeleteBernadette, As the closing quote says, the road of hope is definitely more pleasant to travel! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteThank you for sharing. I love story from Inner Chapters. I might have to try to find that book. Sounds like an interesting read. I understand the feeling that you felt when you were falling. The serenity of being completely in the moment. I was on a Sea Do waiting for the people to come pick it up and it was hailing and raining and I was with my dad and I said to him smiling as the hail pelted us, "Dad this is amazing. I feel so alive."
ReplyDeleteHave a great day Galen!
www.findingonespath.blogspot.com
Sebastian, It is an interesting book, but I would start with the Tao Te Ching. That is the source of the wisdom in Inner Chapters. Loved the story of you and your dad. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteIt is truly always about changing ourselves...or at least changing our view of things. Wherever we find ourselves, we have a choice of how to perceive it. It is, for me, a balance about being real (feeling the fear/worry) but not staying there....remembering that I can move away into a better knowing and feeling. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSandra, Feeling the worry but not staying there--beautifully said. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteHey Galen!
ReplyDeleteIn a coincidental, we-are-one sort of way, I was writing this morning about how the future arrives whether I tug and yank or quietly wait. Then I read your piece about balance and realized I'm there!
You know that I've been through several months of fret and worry. And still the future arrived. Just yesterday I realized that I was no longer worried, not because everything is rosy and financially secure but because I'm content to do what's in front of me to do while I wait to see what happens next. That's a pretty big step for one who is accustomed to creating the future in her mind and then micro-managing its outcome!
Have a fun and frolicking day!
Beth, After a shock and unexpected transition, it's not easy to get to a place of acceptance and moving forward. Your description of yourself as creating the future in her mind and then micro-managing its outcome is one I can relate to! It is a huge step to let go of that illusion of control. You rock. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteReally deep post. I enjoyed it! I've been reading a book called "The Condolences of Philosophy" and this post reminded me of some of the quotes I read in it..here is one particular one that comes in mind...
ReplyDelete"We must learn to suffer whatever we cannot avoid. Our life is composed, like the harmony of the world, of discords as well as of different tones, sweet and harsh, sharp and flat, soft and loud. If a musician liked only some of them, what could he sing? He has got to know how to use all of them and blend them together. So too must we with good and ill, which are of one substance with our life."
~ Montaigne
Thanks for making reflect this morning!
Jessica, I love the title of that book! Thanks for adding the quote to the discussion. I appreciate your comment.
DeleteHope or despair, each leading down the same road . . . I'm so reminded by your post, Galen, that carrying a positive attitude with us on our life's journey makes the trip so much better, even in the tough times.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me much food for thought, my friend, and, yes, much more substantial than tea and cookies! :)
Blessings!
Martha, Yes, a positive attitude changes our whole perspective. Thank you for commenting. Blessings back to you.
DeleteLife is all about choice, isn't it? The day that I hit the realization that my state of emotions are within my power to govern, and thus, change, I began to grow exponentially. There is so much freedom and ease of breathing down to the very Soul when we embrace living consciously. It doesn't mean rough stretches aren't there before us, but it does mean we can shift the perception of just how rough they need be. :)
ReplyDeleteNamaste',
Dawn
Dawn, Absolutely. That realization is life changing, isn't it? Thanks for commenting.
DeleteAfter I fall, I often say a quick prayer about any of my pain, but it is not necesarily an ask for help but a peace knowledge that it is not real. And I promptly forget about it. later I realize I have no pain, but I don't remember it going away. It's those times I know I am connected. xo
ReplyDeleteJodi, That mind/body connection is fascinating, isn't it?! The lessons I'm reading now in A Course in Miracles are focusing on the illusion of sickness. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteGalen! What deep thinking - I love it! I'm far from such acceptance but I hope I am on my way. You felt serene as you fell from your roof? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the quote by Bradley. I'm all for the road built on hope.
~ smile ~
Lori
Lori, Yes, I was serene. If you click on the link at the end of the post to "Falling into Now," you can read a ore detailed account of the story. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteDeep spiritual truths materialize in the depths of meditation and when rolling off roofs:) Thanks for sharing your insights and reflection here Galen. We can't change anything around us but we can change everything within us and that really does change everything. Some say that's the foundation for miracles to materialize:)
ReplyDeleteVishnu, Ha! Well, it's not a meditation technique I would recommend, and I've stayed off ladders and roofs since. Thanks for adding your wisdom to the discussion.
DeleteIt is a beautiful world when we chose to see it that way. Yes, times change, people change, etc. If we chose to see negative in the world that is what we will get. if we chose to see the positive in the world that is what we will see.
ReplyDeleteThe choice is ours and we can make the world better by always looking on the positive side.
Thanks Galen for sharing your friends and your conversation.
debbie, It is a choice, isn't it? You have set out our alternatives very clearly. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteYou always do such fantastic posts. I always learn something from you. I believe in the word hope and I try to live my life in hope. All of us have those despairing moments which are an essential part of life. We always learn so much from both the good and the bad. We always have the choice of how to react to our life experiences.
ReplyDeleteBlessings for this one!