The Game

It comes natural to some people to wonder if there is a precise plan behind the human existence.  Seeing the huge difference among birth conditions, health and wealth situations, peace versus suffering etc., one cannot help wishing to understand the big WHY behind all this. Such considerations bring back the concept of “The Matrix”, this vast mental game where human beings think they are awake, while in reality they are maneuvered into just ‘believing’ they are. If this is true, what could be the goal of such deception? And, most of all, why are human beings endowed with a brain that keeps asking these questions if it is not possible to receive or find an answer? Or, on the contrary, is it possible to find an answer if they only look eagerly enough?

Lack of Proper Communication

Have you ever wondered about how serious your “problems” are? You might find yourself in a real predicament: in such case your preoccupation is justified, until you find a solution. But there are times when you, without realizing it, make a mountain out of a molehill, truly. Or someone near you does. When this happens, problems arise which create misunderstanding, suffering and upset, without a real reason. They just materialize out of nothing: starting from a simple word, or a facial expression, or a gesture which, from your perspective, is totally meaningless, the situation escalates to a point where it becomes a harsh confrontation, an argument, even a fight. Why? You just don’t understand how a simple statement or action could have been twisted around in such a way that you find yourself where you had never dreamed of being. No one is at fault here. The problem was created, once again, by the lack of proper communication. You say something, and the other interprets your words differently. Or the other way around. 

Three Choices

XY, talking about their own environment, or the person they live with, or their job, says: “I will never be happy in this situation”.

XY has three possible choices:

*Move somewhere else. In this case, they will have to make major adjustments. The outcome is not certain.

*Accept the situation and stay. In this case, they will have to make adjustments, give up some of their hopes and wishes. The outcome is not certain.

*Stay “unwillingly”. In this case they won’t have to make any adjustments and the outcome is certain: unhappiness - for good!

Another Mystery

Have you ever wondered how, at times, unexpected feelings arise from people's deepest part of their 'self'? Instantaneous likes and dislikes (even love at first sight) happen and it is hard to understand the dynamics. They cannot be explained according to logic or reasoning. Science says that the brain carries out a couple of million operations a second, according to which a judgment is automatically formed that creates the feeling. Is such explanation satisfactory? If this is true, how come that it doesn't happen all the time? Most people you meet don't  cause an immediate, clear reaction in you. Is this another mystery of human nature, a fascinating puzzle that makes life totally unpredictable?

Is It A Myth?

Some think that happiness resides in past events because the present is neither very pleasant nor fulfilling. Others hope to find it in the future, when their dreams may still come true. As the past has been disappointing and the present is not that good either, the only possibility - if there is one - seems to be in the future. There are even those who believe that happiness is just a myth because they see life as a dispenser of stress, disillusion, frustration. Its pursuit is therefore a yearning that can never be satisfied. On the other hand, a few see themselves as reasonably happy because they have found a way to face whatever comes with acceptance, and are content with what they have. Which belief reflects your personal outlook?

The Essence of Reality

The affirmation of most scientists that both consciousness and mind reside in (or, even worse, are created by) the brain is not convincing. The idea that consciousness (the deep knowing of one's existence) and that mind (the capability of creating thoughts) are manufactured by finite, material bits of matters called neurons, can be considered illogical. Music exists even if a piano is not there or if it isn't working properly. Music 'is'. It just needs a functioning piano to manifest itself materially in the physical world. But, even without a concrete externalization, it still exists, albeit in a virtual state. The same can be said for consciousness and mind. They are the organizing patterns that make Reality to be what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.         

Validity of Rituals

A ritual is a ceremony where certain actions are performed according to a prescribed order. There are many different kinds of rituals, such as prayer, meditation, pilgrimages etc. All traditions and cultures have their specific rituals and supporters follow them with constance and precision. A ritual may provide personal fulfillment because the repetition of specific words or the performance of certain repetitive movements of the body give the follower a sense of completion, of orderly behavior which may lead to spiritual uplift. On the other hand, there are people who find such fulfillment in feeling free from any rules or prescriptions because they prefer to pursue spiritual goals in their own personal way, without a specific 'routine'. The human nature is fantastically diversified, so all individual experiences can be accepted as valid, in their search for...whatever is there to find.     

Do Ut Des

The Latin expression Do ut des was a Roman law which was defined as "a commutative contract whereby something is given so that something may be received in return". This is justly applied in a "contract", where a service is provided and a kind of payment is expected back. But you can also refer it to personal relationships. If you offer someone your attention, for example, you expect to receive similar consideration. In writing a heartfelt message to a friend, it's only natural that you await a suitable response. In behaving lovingly toward someone you care about, it is not selfish to want to be treated similarly. Although you are told not to have expectations, such statement may be acceptable only to a certain extent. Your aim in doing a charitable deed is not to receive praise, reward or payback. But when you act, listen or write showing love and caring, it's only fair for your heart to be at least acknowledged.     

Finding Your Way

Some insects are moving on the borders of a swimming pool, but their behavior is different. Although they all move randomly, some find their way out of the puddle they are struggling in, while others just seem unable to recognize where the right direction is. They keep going back to the very edge until, finally, they end up falling into the pool, drowning. The usual parallel with mankind comes to mind. Don't many human beings behave exactly the same? The safe path is there, they even get upon it for a short while but then they can't help going back to the dangerous spot until they lose their way completely and make the final wrong turn.