Don't solve your problems. Outgrow them.
By this I specifically mean to increase in wisdom, to get an ever higher perspective. This is nifty because the people who compulsively read blogs tend to be most strongly developed cognitively, that is to say, in their thinking. There are other ways to grow, for instance through heartfelt use of ritual, or enlightened ascesis. But for people like me and probably you (since you are here), wisdom is the key. Not pure theory, it must constantly be grounded back to practical life, otherwise it may run off and become unhinged. There is a lot of that on the web, in case you had not noticed.
By reading the words of the wise, wherever we can find them, we can feel the joy of truth, and are lifted up to a higher perspective. Here we can see clearly what seemed such a maze from below.
It is easy to see that humans have a higher perspective than animals, which are easily trapped and snared. It is easy to see that our perspective widens as we grow older: A toddler cannot see the connection between his stomach pain and recently stuffing himself with sweets, but an adult is aware of such things normally. A teenager may not see the connection between dropping out of school and living a life of poverty, but the connection is there, and poverty is not very romantic and heroic for most people. In the same way, many adults suffer from a low perspective, and this causes problems. Oh no! What shall I do? On one hand I want this, on the other hand I want that. Even at an arm's length, a small coin seems larger than a distant palace.
Simply living and observing calmly will give wisdom eventually. But it can't hurt to get a helping hand from the accumulated wisdom of the past. If it becomes too distant and abstract, double back till you find something that connects to life, your own or that of others. That is what we need it for.
A lot of problems don't need solving: They become trivial, forgettable, once we look at things from a higher point of view.
I still have some problems, so I still need to grow. But other things have fallen by the wayside, and I expect that to continue... if I continue.
3 comments:
Great Post.
Thank you
Fascinating. I have some thorny problems on the table that would save me much grief to leave behind.
The whole imbroglio around mating, for example. I am terrified of ceasing the effort. It seems like death, perhaps?
But, much of the hoops one jumps through for the sake of it are not edifying.
To soar above, immune and beyond...would be peaceful but can't seem to make that leap.
Other things I have transcended and I now look down on them as if I was in an aeroplane ascending to cruising altitude.
Most of my pain and cravings surrounding my work and my art have been dropped.
Greed is gone.
Desire to be socially accepted, gone.
Desire for a conventional life, gone.
Other things remain. The plane labors on through cloud banks.
Good post MI. You are a good soul to be in contact with.
I am not qualified to teach about mating, I'm afraid. I know there are ways to use sexuality to promote lasting happiness in another, but it is not my path. If you are married, you should certainly try to learn deeply about intimacy in marriage, but I do not teach that course.
I am glad you are making progress with your life, and I wish you an abundance of joy and peace.
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