Hooray! It seems I'm down for another post, so it seems I won't have to make an excuse for not completing the double.
The next topic is a question, coming directly from Mr. Sanderson: "Is suffering necessary to achieve enlightenment?"
Now, this question unleashed a pool of repressed thoughts for me, although they might not be what you would expect. I have had no one close to me die, nor have I experienced great pain. As far as I am aware, I live in what most people would consider a comfortable life. This position I have been given, grateful as I am, creates a unique kind of dread. It is fear of change, fear of death.
I look at all of these people who have been motivated by the passing of loved ones, people who have found their "purpose" because of dying wishes or advice, and it scares me. I, too, want to make my parents proud, but I find it impossible to avoid taking them for granted. Is this a result of my comfortable life? I do not know loss, so how do I know if I really love them? And if I do love them as much as I hope, will I live the way they would want me to after they pass? Or will I be gripped with so much grief that I lose passion in everything?
Personally, I am afraid to answer the question posed by Mr. Sanderson. If I say yes, then it gives me a reason to be thankful for death. I never want to feel good that my loved ones are gone. If I say no, then I fear I will never reach "enlightenment", for the comfortable life given to me produced a mind which is easily satisfied with the status quo. Where else will I find such motivation?
Too personal? Maybe. Am I too lazy to switch it out for something else? Absolutely.
Certainly in your life you have experienced forms of suffering. Perhaps not extreme suffering, but suffering, nonetheless. I relate to this post, because I've lived a relatively easy life myself. But when I think back through the years, I know I have experienced pain and sorrow. The fact that my suffering does not equal that of others does not diminish it's significance in my life. In short, we all experience suffering to varying degrees. Further, I do believe that suffering can deepen our appreciation for life and lead to enlightenment, but depending on the perspective of the suffering individual. How one chooses to experience the suffering... to learn from it or to use it as an excuse to pity oneself
ReplyDeleteI believe enlightenment is whatever you want it to be. The path to get to it therefore is also all up to you. It is common for people to accept tragic happenings by means of enlightenment coming from it so that there is something within those events other then pure tragedy. Whether it takes a family members passing, or missing out on a new item you wanted if the outcome helps you in some way you may be able to say it has enlightened you. Your question on what to do after the death of a loved one is something truly serious. I believe it is the common idea held within peoples head to not be depressed or sorrowful for too long and it is for this reason that you see people use the deaths of loved ones as starting points for a life change. Your mothers whole life purpose has been to care for you and make you happy so her wish no matter her state of living will always be that and in an attempt to honor those actions people take that sorrow and pain and unleash it by making life changing decisions. It is not to say you are happy with their passing, but more of you wont let yourself live unhappily in honor of their name and the only way to make you happy from such sorrow is an extreme occurrence. Just my two cents cause that question is super serious.
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