A very intelligent mind often questions in dynamic ways that shatter old, traditional acceptances and assumptions. Albert Einstein, for example, often questioned standard assumptions, and his ground-breaking theories were proven correct by subsequent testing. Einstein once said, “It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.”
Organized religions and society (in general) do not want us to doubt much and question much. They want us to fall in line and follow unwaveringly. And most of us carry loads of deep-rooted conditioning, much of which we would never think of questioning. For instance, our very perception of the world around us (and of ourselves) is largely based on fragmentation, separation, delimitation, and learned distance and time. Most of this is fallacious and delusory, not holistic and of deep insight. When most of us cling to fallacious suppositions and presumptions then disorder is what ensues. And look at what is going on worldwide. (For one thing, if more people questioned wisely, the grocery stores wouldn’t be full of sugar-oriented products and adulterated foods that are shelf-stable but very unhealthy; and we wouldn’t dare dump sugar and crap into our automobile gas tanks.)
If one is fortunate enough to have a good, healthy brain, one can — perhaps — question wisely. Then going beyond crippling conditioning is a tremendous joy, adventure, and blessing beyond words, beyond limitation, beyond mediocrity, beyond time.
From E.E. Cummings: “Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.”
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How thought-provoking Tom, raising a vital question about how we have fallen into that trap of being conditioned to follow people or a system that sends us over a cliff. This isn’t a case of the blind leading the blind, but cases where we all too often see the ignorant leading the naïve and more ignorant. You would think that eyes would be open to, as some say, the “pissing on me and telling me it is raining” scenario. 😠
Your quotes by Einstein and Cummings goes to show how the deterioration of the mind is by our gullibility and wayward thinking. Great piece my friend. Praying that you are doing well and staying healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually! 🥰🙏🏼😘
Thanks so much for the very sweet comments, Kym. 😊
Yes, it’s almost unbelievable to see how gullible many people are… in seeing the stale urine as rain. 😁 Like in America, for instance, there is a political party that caters to billionaires and wants to cut Medicare and Social Security from the middle class… yet many middle-class people have propensities to associate themselves with the very well-to-do — which they are not — and so stick with the nefarious, diabolical party. It’s so ludicrous that it is amazing. They are drenched in urine, and it’s sad yet laughable! 😉
It’s sad and more so pathetic Tom. It baffles me how people just can’t see through the B.S. Yet, it also amazes me that some see but just don’t give a rat’s ass. Unfreaking real. 😫
Yes, “seeing but not giving a rat’s ass”… well, it is not seeing. Deep perception helps to solve problems; it acts. Such perception is action. Partial (and fragmentary) perception — which is not full perception whatsoever — remains indifferent, dull, mechanically reacting, and apathetic. 😟
One problem is that culture is so bound up with conditioning. If I decide, for instance, not to celebrate a certain festival because I don’t believe all the stories or the superstition around it, I end up feeling I’ve lost the social and cultural connections as well.
Bound up with conditioning… yes.
It’s OK to lose social and cultural connections some. I still celebrate Christmas with a passion (because the essence of it involves togetherness, love, and sharing); it is a beautiful holiday! 😁
But we can also stand alone. The Gospel of Thomas — i wish they would discover more of the pristine Greek texts of it — mentions the beauty of “standing alone.” It advocated not being a follower. That is why the high priest Caiaphas had Christ killed. (And the later readers of the Gospel of Thomas were all annihilated.)
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Nothing is insurmountable if you apply yourself. I am reminded of that as I see this tiny bug attempt to climb up this plant, which might as well be a mountain to it.
Well, in reality, there are plenty of things that are insurmountable even if you apply yourself, one has seen. However, sometimes (or timelessly) the impossible can happen and one should never rule that out. 😉 Looks like a Bombardier Beetle and it’s likely that he is in his “spot” waiting for other insects to fall in. These beetles are predacious on other insects.