29 October 2014
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
It's been awhile since I've actually sat myself down like this for a chat with myself.
Over the course of the past year or so, there have been moments of revelations on the finer points of living. These I want to share here today. So that I may (or may not) one day return to watch myself grow up.
1) The purpose of life, is to enjoy the experience.
This becomes obvious when you begin to question why we are alive and here today. Are we here to prepare the future generation for the world? Are we here to ensure our continued existence? It's never ending. It's an infinite progression. We survive to ensure we survive. So in the absurdity of the situation, the answer which resounds true to our selves manifests itself naturally in front of us. We are here to enjoy the experience we call life.
2) Make a living. Don't make a fortune.
The world is finite. The more I have, the less the rest have. Simple economics. And please do not attempt to use the argument that other people will still take the profits even if I do not. Today, Google celebrated the 100th year from the birth of a great man - Jonas Salk. Reading about his attitude towards his life and work made me tear. Here was a man of great intellect who channeled his life towards the advancement of mankind.
He man discovered and developed the first successful inactivated polio vaccine... When news of the vaccine's success was made public on April 12, 1955,
Salk was hailed as a "miracle worker" and the day almost became a
national holiday. His sole focus had been to develop a safe and
effective vaccine as rapidly as possible, with no interest in personal
profit. When asked who owned the patent to it, Salk said "There is no
patent. Could you patent the sun?" The vaccine is calculated to be worth $7 billion had it been patented.
3) No one is important. No thing is important.
The universe wouldn't notice if Earth disappeared tomorrow. We are all dispensable. All our possessions can be taken from us. Life would still go on. Enjoy this moment, while you can, because it is already gone.
4) Anything worthwhile takes time to achieve.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
As well as countless other quotes singing the same tune. The beauty of life is not that we can dream. It is that we can work to make our dreams reality. Sadly, everyone has a different vision of what the future of humanity should be - that is, if they even care about the collective future.
5) Mind your own business. Interfere with others only when addressed.
Everyone is on different stages on the path to enlightenment. One cannot force them to progress beyond their capabilities. On the other hand, one can continually develop oneself.
Point 5 is questionable, I do have some internal conflicts with it. I may examine the case for and against another day.
Older Post | Newer Post
29 October 2014
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
It's been awhile since I've actually sat myself down like this for a chat with myself.
Over the course of the past year or so, there have been moments of revelations on the finer points of living. These I want to share here today. So that I may (or may not) one day return to watch myself grow up.
1) The purpose of life, is to enjoy the experience.
This becomes obvious when you begin to question why we are alive and here today. Are we here to prepare the future generation for the world? Are we here to ensure our continued existence? It's never ending. It's an infinite progression. We survive to ensure we survive. So in the absurdity of the situation, the answer which resounds true to our selves manifests itself naturally in front of us. We are here to enjoy the experience we call life.
2) Make a living. Don't make a fortune.
The world is finite. The more I have, the less the rest have. Simple economics. And please do not attempt to use the argument that other people will still take the profits even if I do not. Today, Google celebrated the 100th year from the birth of a great man - Jonas Salk. Reading about his attitude towards his life and work made me tear. Here was a man of great intellect who channeled his life towards the advancement of mankind.
He man discovered and developed the first successful inactivated polio vaccine... When news of the vaccine's success was made public on April 12, 1955,
Salk was hailed as a "miracle worker" and the day almost became a
national holiday. His sole focus had been to develop a safe and
effective vaccine as rapidly as possible, with no interest in personal
profit. When asked who owned the patent to it, Salk said "There is no
patent. Could you patent the sun?" The vaccine is calculated to be worth $7 billion had it been patented.
3) No one is important. No thing is important.
The universe wouldn't notice if Earth disappeared tomorrow. We are all dispensable. All our possessions can be taken from us. Life would still go on. Enjoy this moment, while you can, because it is already gone.
4) Anything worthwhile takes time to achieve.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
As well as countless other quotes singing the same tune. The beauty of life is not that we can dream. It is that we can work to make our dreams reality. Sadly, everyone has a different vision of what the future of humanity should be - that is, if they even care about the collective future.
5) Mind your own business. Interfere with others only when addressed.
Everyone is on different stages on the path to enlightenment. One cannot force them to progress beyond their capabilities. On the other hand, one can continually develop oneself.
Point 5 is questionable, I do have some internal conflicts with it. I may examine the case for and against another day.
Older Post | Newer Post