Reflections on Peace, Philosophy, and Life
Isn't that what everybody says? Isn't that what we all strive for? Every action we make is ultimately for the perceived benefit of the feeling of happiness that the action should, in our estimation, lead towards. What do I mean with "happiness"? To me, it's that feeling we have, when everything is - at that moment - right with our world; that feeling we have when we say that we'd like this perfect moment to last forever. You know what I'm talking about. It's the feeling we try to recreate by repeating whatever led up to the moment. Perhaps on holiday somewhere, we experience that moment, so let's go there again next time - only the next time isn't like the first time and the feeling doesn't happen again.
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I've been reading a lot of "religious" texts lately, including the Koran, the Torah, The Gnostic Gospels, The New Testament and a number of Hindi texts and Scriptures. In all of these texts, there is reference to God as the Almighty, All powerful, Creator of everything, All knowing, All merciful, All love. And yet, when reading the texts which purport to describe and proscribe the purpose of human life, these aspects are frequently replaced by a petty minded, vengeful, mean and sexist God. These two aspects cannot exist together. And don't come with "God moves in mysterious ways" as an explanation. That is not an explanation for a completely contradictory description.
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The image that keeps occurring to me to describe the current situation is the world, is that of the ship "Titanic". The world is the ship, and it's slowly sinking; meanwhile - because there is no competent captain - the passengers are squabbling amongst themselves, as to which cabin they have and what the furnishings should be and who can be where. The crew, that is there, is trying frantically to warn the passengers and trying to slap patches on the multiple leaks, but nobody is listening because they are too busy squabbling.
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The image used includes the following description:
Memento Mori mosaic from excavations in the convent of San Gregorio, Via Appia, Rome, Italy. Now in the National Museum Bath of Diocletian, Rome, Italy. The Greek motto gnōthi sauton (know thyself, nosce te ipsum) combines with the image to convey the famous warning: Respice post te; hominem te esse memento; memento mori. (Look behind; remember that you are mortal; remember death.)
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There is so much bad news about our environment available. Nobody can escape it. From the devastating heating up of the environment as seen by heatwaves everywhere - even the permafrost is melting - to the endless numbers of species which have died out, to the devastating wars, the endless misery of refugees and starvation of millions - even the rich UK has an increase in children with malnutrition - and the homeless and poor everywhere. On top of that, the most fundamental sources of food we have are poisoned through the crap we put in the water and ground. Even the air is poisoned.
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... as thyself. A version of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. First found in the Old Testament. Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate this commandment.
Often quoted, not lived often enough, sadly!
What does it mean to me? Who is my neighbour? Is it really just the persons living in proximity to me?
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