So after watching these videos assigned to us, I'm honestly at a loss with what to say. I think the reason for that is because a lot of this philosophy kind of derails everything in my life, everything I do every day, and the way our society functions. I actually thought to myself, while considering the ideas given, " Am I really living?" I mean, I've always been a really goal oriented, future thinking person-- it's true that that's how we're raised as a people, always in preparation. We're taught to prepare more than anything else. And I never really saw that as a bad thing until well, just now. I definitely understand being in the moment, experiencing the moment fully and without judgement for it, but with a lack of preparation for the moment after that moment is kind of...unfathomable. I think that these concepts need to be explained a little more, because this is a lot to swallow, you know?
I appreciate the videos, but I think this is something I'd like to discuss-- but then, it's also such a broad and intensive topic-- are you really living? God, what a question.
I think my favorite thing about the videos, and what I understood best, was the aspect of living being spontaneous. That no matter who's life you look at, that's true and no matter how planned you try to be or how convinced you are that you're living for a specific purpose in some far off future, you have your most amazing moments when you are simply in the moment, alive, and acting on your truest impulses. The moments I think of, personally, are when I'm on a roller coaster and I take in a deep breath to scream on the drop down. Or someone making a joke and laughing unabashedly. Or deciding I want to do something or I like someone regardless of what other people think of it. It's just... being who you are. Reacting to the world just as it is right then. That's living.
Rio
I agree Rio that these ideas need to be discussed. However, I also know (as someone who has spent years trying to "figure it all out") that the mind can only understand so much. Ultimately, the deeper questions can only be lived. Only by living moment to moment can I fully understand how it is possible to live moment to moment. At the moment, I am quite far from doing that! lol. However, whenever I stop trying to think about the moment and simply become aware of my breath or the sensations of my body or whatever, I realize that the moment is not a "thing" for me to get in touch with. It is not an accomplishment. I can never pat myself on the back and say, "aha, I have done it!" The moment I do that, I lose the moment.
ReplyDelete