We were born spontaneous, unpretentious, authentic, and mostly joyful. Then our parents told us to be less so, to do as you are told. This becomes more so when you go to school, to learn to get the right answer, keep quiet, raise your hand to speak. You are not ever asked your opinion or whether you want to do it. It is expected!
Then you get a job, now someone has the power to take away your livelihood if you dont comply.
Maybe you get married. Now someone has to be in charge. Power struggle over every aspect. Maybe you have kids, and raise them just as you have been raised.
This is what it means to be civilized. We are domesticated animals raised by domesticated animals, and so on, each generation less connected to innate authenticity, spontaneity, and joy, numb to our own bodies, the world around us, and the wonder of Life all around us. It's a deep hole we have to climb out of. Are we up for the task? Pain causes awareness so how much pain will it take? Time will tell.
We were born spontaneous, unpretentious, authentic, and mostly joyful. Then our parents told us to be less so, to do as you are told. This becomes more so when you go to school, to learn to get the right answer, keep quiet, raise your hand to speak. You are not ever asked your opinion or whether you want to do it. It is expected!
Then you get a job, now someone has the power to take away your livelihood if you dont comply.
Maybe you get married. Now someone has to be in charge. Power struggle over every aspect. Maybe you have kids, and raise them just as you have been raised.
This is what it means to be civilized. We are domesticated animals raised by domesticated animals, and so on, each generation less connected to innate authenticity, spontaneity, and joy, numb to our own bodies, the world around us, and the wonder of Life all around us. It's a deep hole we have to climb out of. Are we up for the task? Pain causes awareness so how much pain will it take? Time will tell.
Hey Max, thanks for sharing this. Yes. Time will tell.