Dear Friends,
It seems to me… what you see depends on what you look at. If all you look at is suffering then all you will see is suffering. If all you look at is joyous things all you will see is joyous things. The wise however, step back and take a look at everything, both the good and the bad. Then judge life worth living based on a rational, more objective view, than either the nihilist or optimist. One thing is certain, I wouldn’t wish my worse enemy to be a nihilist, let alone a loved one. The optimist is taken advantage of more often, but lives a much more fulfilled and happy, if Pollyannish life. We have a choice though. We have chosen to observe what we observe. We focus on the bad, the good or all of it… by choice. Therefore we can choose to look at something different if we want.
Our culture pushes the lie, that we must all constantly enjoy the pinnacle of pleasure perpetually, without suffering with which to measure our joy… as the highest good. Our cultural leaders have led us to this place. They have taught us in movies, TV and books, that any time not in the midst of an orgasm is suffering. I could not think of a more pernicious, maladaptive and hobbling notion to enter the head of a person. Such thinking puts all of life in the category of suffering, compared to the pinnacle of physical enjoyment. Leaving out other satisfying acts, like laughing your rear end off at a joke, kissing a loved one, reading a great novel, walking in the woods, time spent in quiet contemplation, gathering with friends, enjoying a good meal and even doing the dishes listening to your favorite music.
Solon famously told Croesus of Lydia, that one cannot measure the happiness of a life until it is ended, any prior judgment could omit great tragedy or triumph. An adage soon proved right in Croesus’ own life. Focusing only on past tragedies, victories and enemies then, is a way of measuring the happiness of a life before it has been lived. Every life has adversity. More often than not we create our own adversity to satisfy some personal suffering quotient. Nevertheless, a life spent in early want, can end in great wealth… or visa versa. Instead of focusing on our wants, and by force of will, manifesting them again and again in the world, perhaps a more profitable path would be to look at where we want to go. That way we could end in great triumph instead of tragedy.
Many of the atrocities of the Twentieth Century were the result of “humanitarian actions.” People judging whether or not other people’s lives were worth living, their genes worth passing on, or their ideas worth allowing. To that end many were executed, sterilized and sent to Gulags. The “judges” observed that which they saw and omitted the rest. Arrogantly considering themselves worthy of such authority because they are, themselves. Observing the French Canadians in early Twentieth Century Vermont, and judging that because they had accents (being bilingual) they were intellectually deficient, and so were sterilized… per Buck v Bell. In this case we can conclude, from the evidence, that no one is omniscient enough to usurp such authority. Due to our innate observation bias.
This applies to our own lives as much as it does to the world. How we judge ourselves, our lives, the world, etc… is from our cave, through our lens, and while overwhelmed by idols of the marketplace. Do we look at the good or dwell on the bad? Is our choice self fulfilling or self destructive? Since that choice is voluntary, why not choose to look at all of life, in context, and thereby grow as human beings, Taking in the good, bad and indifferent, meanwhile, enjoying the little moments, as if they are as important as the pinnacle of physical pleasure. Because they are. Remember, focusing on someone else faults leads to crimes against humanity, while focusing on our own, in context and with compassion, leads to self improvement. Life is what we see, what we see, is what we choose to look at.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
