Profound and wise words from Cheeni, as always. I enjoy every conversation I have with him.
Deepa. On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 9:50 AM, Srini RamaKrishnan <[email protected]> wrote: > On Thu, Apr 26, 2018, 3:38 AM Vani Murarka <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > ---2--- > > > > The media cannot resist tapping into our fear instinct. It is such an > easy > > way to grab our attention. In fact the biggest stories are often those > that > > trigger more than one type of fear. Kidnappings and plane crashes, for > > example, each combine the fear of harm and the fear of captivity. > > Earthquake victims trapped under collapsed buildings are both hurt and > > trapped, and get more attention than regular earthquake victims. The > drama > > is so much stronger when multiple fears are triggered. Yet here’s the > > paradox: the image of a dangerous world has never been broadcast more > > effectively than it is now, while the world has never been less violent > and > > more safe. > > > > > Entertainment preys on an evolutionary reward mechanism that boosts happy > chemicals when an imminent danger is avoided, or at the very least keeps > one riveted to whatever is going on. Fear and lust are the best ways to > grab attention, even nature TV channels sprinkle gratuitous shots of snakes > with this intention. This is such a reptilian, amygdala pre-brain thing, > that this age is in danger of seriously retarding or regressing human > evolution. > > The human brain needs to be rewired to survive this age, or many will soon > check out on drugs and other short cuts to stupor. Trump's election and the > resultant endless news cycle shot cannabis sales through the roof in the > US. The day is not far when one in two will use drugs at least periodically > to deal with the world. I foresee more and more drugs becoming socially > acceptable recreational pursuits. > > No grabbing plot line can exist without some conflict, so the violence has > gone from battlefields and famines into our minds as we consume fear and > inadequacy all day long. The net suffering remains the same, it's just at > this abstract level, where everyone struggles to be happy. Happiness is > considered some Holy Grail of the times, like a full stomach was in British > Raj era India. Whereas happiness should be the normal condition of the > human. The US even settled for the pursuit of happiness, as if it's always > only available tomorrow. The pursuit of happiness is much the same as the > pursuit of a full stomach, little else can be done in life without it, but > unlike a full stomach it's not easily attained. Go about it in the wrong > ways, and one harms oneself and others. > > Yogic practices involve a lot of austerities and penance, because it > rewires the brain to appreciate there's true pleasure in pain, and very > real pain in illusory pleasures. > > Anyone who's run a marathon or even a 10k can tell you it's not madness > that makes them nearly kill themselves, it's a quest for some inner calm. > > The calm comes from learning to appreciate the battles of life as necessary > and energizing. > > In the near future, or even today, in some parts of the world, the only > people who can be truly happy will be those who are prepared to work for > it. Who've overcome their reptilian instincts and exhibit greater will > power. > > The time for hard work has never been greater than today when we have > leisure. > > > >
