I have been reading lately. That book - the world without us (Wiesman) - has somehow been validating thoughts I have had long ago. Humans are addicted to thoughts of being indestructible. We are somehow trained to believe that even though we will die, like the leaves in the fall, there will be a future either in heaven or hell.
We want to hold on to everything; if we are not holding on to some worldly possession, we are trying to hold on to thoughts of a loved one, or thoughts...and these sometimes becomes thoughts of an everlasting life.
We become gamblers - compulsive gamblers every Sabbath - in a game where we have a 50% chance that we will have an everlasting life. Every Sabbath day, we hope to increase our chance by chanting and reciting words of reinforcement, and thoughts that we hope will help maintain our peace.
But what does this have to do with reading this book by Alan Weisman? Alan works on showing us that the earth takes everything back, recycles it, changes it, but fundamentally the earth wins the game of life. We die, and our remains turn to soil, something grows as a result. That's it! The soul is an invention made up to keep our addiction to life going.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Self Entitlement
On the first day they met, he lied a little, but to cover the little lies, he had to use bigger lies. Eventually the lies could not be covered up any more. The day arrived when they would be in the water, and he had lied that he could swim. Slowly the boat sunk and everyone who could swim jumped in the water, holding out for the 50 yards swim.
He sat at the bow of the sinking ship. What lie could save him now? He sat and hoped for a miracle. The time passed, water rushed in, and he cried in desparation.
A stranger saw this and threw a miracle line to him. He saw this opportunity and in a few minutes he was on shore. Knowing that the old friends from the boat did not see this action, he thanked the stranger and promised to repay for his kindness. He promptly ran to his friends and talked about the dangerous water and the swim from the boat to shore.
"Thank God we could all swim!", exclaimed the old friends. He joined in, but never revealed the Strangers act of kindness. This was a secret. As far as the old friends were concerned, he could swim. So, as it was in the beginning, he began to weave a new yarn, but this time he was careful not to jump in the boat with them.
People can be so unkind to themselves.
He sat at the bow of the sinking ship. What lie could save him now? He sat and hoped for a miracle. The time passed, water rushed in, and he cried in desparation.
A stranger saw this and threw a miracle line to him. He saw this opportunity and in a few minutes he was on shore. Knowing that the old friends from the boat did not see this action, he thanked the stranger and promised to repay for his kindness. He promptly ran to his friends and talked about the dangerous water and the swim from the boat to shore.
"Thank God we could all swim!", exclaimed the old friends. He joined in, but never revealed the Strangers act of kindness. This was a secret. As far as the old friends were concerned, he could swim. So, as it was in the beginning, he began to weave a new yarn, but this time he was careful not to jump in the boat with them.
People can be so unkind to themselves.
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