Bites out of Life- A Lecture

I had been meaning to write for a while but thought it would be better if I let things simmer down abit. Not that it has been brought to a seething boil, but because sometimes, when you let things "be", clarity follows.

The task of attaining "clarity" was a fierce battle of ego and pride. Too often, I find myself "caught up" enough to react the way I usually do, brash and mindless. And mindfulness is key. Only when you are mindful; and I mean this in the most simple way: can you act clearly? How many of us, too many a time, have decided to "let it out", because it "feels" right or good? While the ego and pride becomes appeased, it does nothing for character or the soul. After all, it is not how you feel, but how you act that defines you.

Ask then: What defines you?

I have read and I have travelled. I have reignited ties with people from my past and strengthen ties with the present. I have gone beyond comfort. Opting instead to learn more about myself, or more importantly, my limits. You can only do so when you start asking.

The process of self knowledge stems from the basic cursory idea that there will come a point in time, though it differs from one individual to another (time and place), where we ask the fundamental/insane questions.

"Is this enough?"

"Why am I not happy?"

"Is there more?"

"Why am I doing this?"

"Did they really raise prices of my frappucinos again?"

Now, the fact that the last question is greeted with mockery at once, illustrates one thing. The heart/soul/self (depending on whether you are ruled by logic or emotions) already knows what is most pertinent. Vital for survival. Without question. So it leads to the question: How?

Truth: "You can only learn what the (heart) already knows."

Or, If you get it, you get it.

If you don't, you don't.

Sounds abstract?

Not quite. If you want to apply this logically, add the factors of time and place.

Once the questioning starts, therein lies a restlessness, which left untempered will eat you whole. You will see this "hollowness" in friends, family, acquaintances.. You will recognize them when you see them. They seem detached and unfulfilled despite the overall good living circumstances. Surprisingly, this is more common in the middle and upper classes of society. Maslow's hierarchy of needs at its best. When basic needs have already been met, restlessness lies in the need for something more esoteric. Unfortunately, the esoteric cannot be attained through tangible gains and assets.

Therein lies the discontent.

Remedy is in knowledge. Seek and learn. And to do so, you need a teacher. Or books. The person (teacher) or the medium (books) through which his teachings have been passed down. Why? Simply because to learn, we need to be taught. And most of the time, we need a guide to coax that answer out of us.

It is more of an awakening instead of a transference of new knowledge. After all, "You can only learn what the (heart) already knows."

Exhausting, I know.

What is Life then, without struggle (jihad)?