The Danger of Assumptions (2) Most of us feel enraged when people lie to us. Some become volcanoes, they erupt, when they have been deceived, or, even when they discover that others, that they trust, are prevaricating. But, what happens when we lie to ourselves? I guess most of us do it. I am increasingly being aware of illusions and deceptions, especially self - deceptions. At times, they are not glaring constructs -- they may be wrapped in the garb of assumptions. There are 3 assumptions that have been on my mind for a few days now. One, the idea that we have time. Two, the perception of money, as the ultimate metric, and the third, that profundity is complex, and that complex is good. I wont insult you by saying that enduring progress is anchored on TRUTH. I wont insult you by suggesting that falsehood, in whatever form, is a weak foundation, for building true treasures. But, lets quickly look at these assumptions. Allow me to start from the last. I often read highly intellectual stuff. They used to fill me with awe. Now, they oft amuse me. A huge chunk of yesterday, was spent conducting research on some articles I am writing. Some of the literature I perused are from the best university in the world. I was reading what I already know. A lot of academic types worship complexity. They have a disdain for simple concepts and approaches. Its quite possible that some have lost the capacity to be simple. As I studied, I was paying attention, I was absorbing the content. I was exploring the evolution of some critical changes in a particular discipline. I had a nice time. A few hours later, while strolling to take a bus, thoughts flooded in, about what Id been studying, and I found it amusing, that what some of those scholars praise, as milestones, in the evolution of the discipline, are concepts that a true seeker (on the spiritual path), can easily perceive and put together, without writing tomes on it. A key part of their approach, is silo thinking. They have divided reality into neat boxes. They ignore the interconnectedness of life. They worship assumptions, abstractions, and, models. By assuming that life is complex. By celebrating complexity, the disciples of the obscure, often waste years, decades...on the most simple insight. If we think it is complex, it will be. This post is getting long! Permit me to frame the other assumptions, as questions. Do you really believe that money is the ultimate metric? You dont? But, do you live your life like it is? Time. We act like we have an infinite supply. The truth is we do. But, here, in this vale of matter, were only allotted a finite fraction. Were on the stage, for a while. Then, one day, the curtains are drawn. Deep in our hearts are we focused on eternal treasures? Do we really have the time for the tinsel and the trifles most of us are entangled in? Michael Newman
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:54:18 +0000
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