Tag: behavior

What is truly striking about humble people is this ability, no doubt forged by necessity, to simply live in the present, letting whatever happens, happen. They seem to know that worrying is pointless, and that it is unwise to fret over hypothetical problems, which are sometimes unfounded and sometimes unsolvable. They live in the now, whether enjoying or suffering, but experiencing what actually is. It is somewhat ironic to have to study stacks and stacks of books to arrive at such a natural solution.

The computer was a magnificent invention; the telephone, was not. The latter killed off letters, a far more useful and refined means of communication. Letters required one to reflect on what one was about to communicate to the recipient; the telephone, by making communication instantaneous, also made it thoughtless, and ultimately trivialized relationships completely. As bad an invention as it was, it evolved into an even worse one: the cell phone. Let it be proclaimed here and now that whatever qualities this device may possess are nothing compared to the terrible harm it has caused. We must now establish a new definition for the human being who wastes hours of his day with his face buried in that device, not only wasting time but continuously damaging his brain functions. In the future, there is no doubt that this narcotic will be displayed alongside lobotomy instruments in museums.

Perhaps the greatest benefit civilization has offered man is the ability to plan in a far more comprehensive and precise manner, making it possible not only to guard against adversity but also to project himself into the future with some degree of certainty, calculating the circumstances he will face depending on his actions. To project, to prevent: these verbs have become ingrained in his psyche, taking up much of the space once occupied by others of immediate consequence. One can already see where all this leads. The man of today lives, to a much greater extent, in the future; and lives less in the present, whether due to lesser need or lesser inclination. And here, evidently, lies a problem, which makes it extremely difficult to grasp the meaning of what the Indian sages have been repeating for centuries.

Success in the world depends more on opportunities than on abilities, because the latter depend on the former to develop. And it is opportunities that not only pave the way, but also determine the greater or lesser number of obstacles, facilitating or hindering progress. To a certain extent, it is possible to create them; yet there is no shortage of examples of futile efforts and wasted abilities. After all, it is making the best of what one has, and being grateful for even the smallest of things, which always seem to be there, that has given rise to the manifestation of value.