Daniel asked the other day for my thoughts on some things he had posted on his blog. I had neither the time nor direct inclination for the consideration he expects or the posts deserved. However, after some deliberation, I have decided to post not my response but the response of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180).
What follows is ever so closely linked to what proceeds; it is not the procession of isolated events, merely obeying the laws of a sequence, but a rational continuity. Moreover, just as the things already in existence are all harmoniously coordinated, things in the act of coming into existence exhibit the same marvel of concatenation, rather than the bare fact of succession. (Book Four, 45)
Let it be clear to you that the peace of green fields can always be yours, in this, that, or any other spot; and that nothing is any different here from what it would be either up in the hills, or down by the sea, or wherever else you will. You will find the same thought in Plato, where he speaks of living within the city walls 'as though milking his flocks in a mountain sheepfold.' (Book Ten, 23)
One thing hastens into being, another hastens out of it. Even while a thing is in the act of coming into existence, some part of it has already ceased to be. Flux and change are for ever renewing the fabric of the universe, just as the ceaseless sweep of time is for ever renewing the face of eternity. In such a running river, where there is no firm foothold, what is there for a man to value among all the many things that are racing past him? It would be like setting the affections on some sparrow flitting by, which in the selfsame moment is lost to sight. A man's life is no more than an inhalation of the air and an exhalation from the blood; and there no true difference between drawing in a single breath, only to emit it again, as we do every instant, and receiving the power to breath at all, as you did yesterday at your birth, only to yield it back one day to the source from which you drew it. (Book Six, 15)
1 comment:
Indeed, as in the East, so in the West. From Plato to St. Francis Asisi to Thoreau to Zoroaster to Han Shan to The Grand Poobah.
Time marches on, life goes on, food for worms, etc. Gather the rosebuds, do or do not, Way is permanent, peace like the river, etc.
Which is all to say, whatever is to happen is to happen and who am I to call for one outcome over another?
Of course, I am interested in the reduction of human suffering and the perpetuation of the human race for the progression of consciousness.
The difference between Aurelius' time and now is the gravity of the stakes. There comes a tipping point where the fish tank can not clean itself of all the shit, where all life ends.
As conscious humans, we should be acting to prolong our race. Animal populations wax and wane and go headlong into extinction out of self-interest. Our cognitive differences should allow us to not follow into the same fate...but maybe I give too much creedence to the collective conscience. Maybe we are at heart just animals who will fling poo to the very end.
The key, I believe, is to not attach suffering to the realization of this point. Do what you can do, find hope not in ignoring reality, but in believing in your ability to influence change and create the world you want to be in.
The old hell of heaven and heaven of hell.
At some point, if we continue this endgame, it'll get harder and harder to find the silver lining in life, but until the bitter end, there will always be a choice to focus on that which is good or that which is bad. Or should I say, to acknowledge the bad, while revelling in the good.
Compartmentalizing.
Never to be overlooked.
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