We are driven by our egos, our intransigence and our fears, and we are presumptuous, selfish, and self-centered in making judgments about the nature of our world, and we do it constantly, about everything.
Continue reading about everything
The primary cause of our discontent is the incorrect and misguided application of our will.
What “every thing” is it that will be OK when we say, “Everything will be OK?”
The phrase, “Everything will be OK,” is a vague and sometimes irritating consolation if we’re not in the mood. But it does work.
This is our domain. We define each event in a uniquely personal way, particular to us alone, and have an immediate, visceral, instinctually emotional response to it.
When we decide if something is wrong or right a contextualising is taking place.
We don’t allow the authority and accuracy of our opinions of what is right and wrong to be questioned by others, but we still find it necessary to strenuously explain and justify it.
Whether we like it or not, whether we take responsibility for our part in it or not, everything that happens is in a sense “supposed” to happen given the existing preconditions and the interaction between them.
We live our lives in such a judgmental manner, and it can be demonstrated in a simple and practical way by means of a short written exercise.
Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy, is an allegory of the journey of the soul towards God. It tells the story of Dante’s descent into and journey through Hell, followed by Purgatory, then ascent to Paradise.
This is the greatest power that can possibly be granted us; the capacity and the means by which to change ourselves. The gift that it gives is the precious insight to see the active and sometimes debilitating role we have played in our own lives.
A lack of honesty and clarity of thought is an issue that we must face bravely throughout the writing of any inventory.
Though I can be reasonably confident that I understand certain things about the mechanical and physical way the world works, I am much less certain that I understand anything about the truly important things.
By way of contrast, “Try not to be an arsehole” seems to me to be a clear and worthwhile aim, and spiritual in nature. It’s easy to understand and of practical value in daily life.
Yes I might be a cynic, but I not unromantic or closed-minded. My critical faculties are not infallible, but neither are they malicious.
