Traveling on a scooter or on a bicycle, for that matter, is a terrifying prospect. You quickly realize how delicate life is. Unless one is meandering down a quiet country lane, the individual is exposed to danger and death on a constant basis. One error on the part of the approaching traffic holds the end of your mortal life. The other evening, for example, a motorcyclist crossed over onto my side – perhaps they had only momentarily glanced down at their phone. More and more people have the phone built into the car’s dash or console or placed between the handlebars. This is extremely distracting. It requires but a lingering second to have irrevocable consequences.
This holds an immediacy that is both terrifying and yet exhilarating, at the same time, and only reinforces the gift that each of us holds, figuratively, in our hands – the cadeau of life itself. We are reminded that we are mortal and have but one life, in this dimension, to mature our mission. One often questions why more people do not view life this way. If they did, we would soon begin to see a noted decline in anger and violence as social phenomena. Society would slowly begin to migrate to a state of mindfulness (1) and peaceful interaction. Naïve: do you think so? If people grasped that consciousness is a tremendous bequest awarded by God, Gaia or the universe, given on a single occasion, then war as a reality would be thrown into the dustbin of history, to paraphrase Trotsky. (2) I should die when I have so much to live for and contribute to society? I think not.
Why subsequently sacrifice it to some nonsensical patriotism or ideology? Young people are less and less caught up in the games of political aspirants. This has been replaced by the doctrine of the good life — the independent life. This stance, however, has its own profoundly negative consequences. Due to social media, our society, the young in particular, are less and less interconnected and therefore not as political. They are perhaps also less caring and more self-centered. (3) What is the way forward?
In my estimation, it must be with the concept of life itself. When we fully comprehend that all life forms are sentient and flourishing, we begin to develop an appreciation for existence itself. This includes my life. But, as Socrates (469-399 BC) tells us, the unexamined life is not worth living. If we are constantly distracted by our phones and other social phenomena, when will we have time to think and reflect – to critically think?
When we do, we will soon realize that the only reality that truly exists is the moment. The past is finished and only conjured up in my own imagination, the future a conceptualized ideal. It is in this instant that all is possible and beautiful. All self-reflective beings have or should comprehend these thoughts. My life is precious and, to extrapolate, existence itself is exquisite. This will allow us to acknowledge the momentary blessings that surround us.
Pope Benedict XVI (4) leaves us with a ubiquitous thought: On the one hand, faith is a profoundly personal contact with God (Gaia or the universe), which touches me in my innermost being and places me in front of the living God in absolute immediacy in such a way that I can speak with Him, love Him, and enter into communion with Him.
A closing thought: One way to quickly come into contact with your own immediacy is to abruptly cease your activities for a period of time — 10 seconds, 20 seconds – you choose how long. This shelters you with a sense of control and peace. My world is taken in through my five senses. I control my reality, quite literally. It is the untrained sixth sense, notwithstanding, that allows access to my infinity.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the immediacy of life and the personal context that I must place it in.
To be noted: This from the Roman philosopher and sage, Seneca (5) — It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko2_WjP4id4&ab_channel=FranceMusique
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr4wvDz9kJ0&ab_channel=AcademyofIdeas
This week on your pensive walk, please ponder the thoughts that you presently reflect on.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: This morning, the sun rose and I appreciated that I was alive.
Footnotes:
1)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBfCW67xT8&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
2)http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/trotsky_leon.shtml
3)https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/11/generation-self-what-young-care-about