There is only one sane response to the conditions of living in this apparent world; and that is to laugh. Often. What on Earth do I mean?
Well, look; here you are, you have been born, apparently into a body, and the future of that body is quite certain — it is going to die.
Your body might die of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, more lung disease, dementia, cancer, diabetes, road traffic accident, fatal diarrhoea or tuberculosis1.
Your body might even die of old age2. But die it will.
They all do.
And all your possessions and worldly achievements go with it.
Two men were standing chatting outside a shop when they saw a funeral procession go by.
“Ah, that’s poor Harry” said one. “Died suddenly two weeks ago”.
“Oh, sudden was it?” asked the other. “Did he leave anything?”
“He left everything!”
That gurgling little baby in the pushchair you saw one day is going to the same place as the rest of us.
And yet: we behave as if we are immortal3.
Ya gotta laugh. Or cry, but that’s taking it all too seriously.
Look around you. The human species behaves as if its endeavours would render permanent results. As if its arguments and disputes are significant. As if always pursuing the same goals had some meaning. As if the created media, what we call entertainment, and including that source of gossip we call ‘the news’, was something other than scripted and plotted, then performed by people whose task is to pretend to be what they are not. As if we can hand over all responsibility for our life to others; politicians, doctors, priests, bosses.
Yet all bodies die, including those of politicians, doctors, priests, bosses.
Ya gotta laugh. Or cry, but that’s taking it all too seriously.
Perhaps you want to get off the bandwagon? Leave the flock? Abandon the herd?
How?
Ya gotta laugh. Or cry, but that’s taking it all too seriously.
And if you do spend your time guffawing at everything, everywhere, you will soon meet some experts wearing medical coats you won’t want to meet. So laugh, but not madly.
Better, start developing the habit of a smile.
One philosopher said to the other, “So you actually believe that there are no absolute truths?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!”
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this, and attaining enlightenment will be the least of your problems.
It is assumed that the sceptic has no bias; whereas he has a very obvious bias in favour of scepticism.
Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanour.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The regular meeting of the Clairvoyant Society will not take place this month, due to unforeseen circumstances.