"One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing."
-- Morris L. West
Thank you in advance for your contemplative answers.
2007-07-06 01:37:30 · 26 answers · asked by Kallan 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
mypublicident- how does that quote counter this one? Seems to me that they agree with one another. Please expound.. you have an interesting perspective.
2007-07-06 01:52:39 · update #1
One must let go of one's preconcieved idea of what is and, usually, how one has been "taught" things are (i.e., relinguishing the security that following such traditional avenues of life oft times seems or appears to afford the individual) and become open to other possibilities, new views and understandings, new experiences, etc., so as to enable the individual to more fully experience life and thereby to actually live.
One must not automatically accept for knowledge that which one has been given or provided by others. This "doubt" can lead one to feeling as if that one was alone, even "lost" in the darkness of the unknwn so as to reach what then becomes the known.
Each pays a price for knowledge, leaving the familiar and accepted behind so as to enter into the new land of the truth.
A wonderful quote. Thank you for bringing the same to this one's attention.
may it all be well with you.
2007-07-06 01:52:02 · answer #1 · answered by Big Bill 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
To me this means we have to just suck it up and jump right into the chaos of discovery. We cannot hide from truth and exploration because we think we might not like the answers....we have to dive right in and take the truth as it comes, even if we hate the truth..we have to accept the truth.
We have to be prepared to be miserable and confused by the truth, to have our illusions shattered and our world conceptions destroyed. We have to look past all these and keep moving forward and comes to grips with reality as it truly is, not the reality we wish it was.
mypublicident> I see your quote and i think it compliments West's quote...I do not see how Jefferson's counters it.
Ann H+HEVN BD> God gave us a mind to be used not to be ignored. You believe what you want but i think you are spitting in God's face by throwing the gift of intelligent reason right back in it's face.
Bill S> Possibly. I like to think that God is happy when I run towards the new and try to understand and discover how this glorious thing called the universe works. I would think God would be proud that we question and reach and stumble towards our full potential to understand creation, however imperfectly. I like to think God created humanity not as a static being already at our best but as a form that can grow and advance until maybe humanity equals the angels...and that maybe after that step we could evolve until we can rejoin with God itself
2007-07-06 08:43:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If in searching for security, we are courting fear, would it not be best to question the premise that we will ever find joy, happiness or freedom in that search? These freedom and security are always at-odds with each other. For me, it is better to accept that darkness may be the 'cost of knowing'...that we are never complete safe from that which we fear. It lurks ever in the fear-based reality we've constructed with the intent to protect ourselves from pain.
2007-07-06 14:14:55 · answer #3 · answered by Rev Debi Brady 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is the crux of existentialism....This philosophy proposes that we live in an absurd, hostile and meaningless world; and, therefore, must make our own path. Knowing that, at death, is oblivion; so, we leave our 'mark' on this world via our choices.
This esoteric piece is highlighting that, to be ones own woman/man in said world -- one must embrace the doubts and ambiguities of life fully.
As opposed to me, as a Christian: 1. I am saved by grace...it is a 'gift from God', 2. my life has a purpose (to continue and further God's evolutionary plans), 3. my suffering is meaningful, in that, it is done 'for the Kingdom' and not for my own self will, 4. Part of the package is: Living by faith is - Living with God's mysteries and His awesome and subtle Ways, 5. As a Christian, there is oppression and hassles conducted by those who are slaves of 'the god of this world' ! Hence, #6, God has a crown, stored up glory and a place for me in His heaven and I have become a son to Him.
Maranantha
2007-07-06 14:59:46 · answer #4 · answered by Bill S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It seems counter-intuitive sometimes, that you can't always rush headlong *towards* something if you want to get it. That letting go gives the freedom to actually reach a goal.
Security, however you define it, isn't something you can reach by dogmatically clinging to one particular thing and focusing on just that. You need to be aware of your threats and weaknesses, understand them well enough to know how to secure against them, and be fluid enough to react to them. You can't do that from a mindset of worry - only by staying calm and alert, which comes from letting go.
2007-07-06 14:08:15 · answer #5 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
security= complacency ...and knowledge the prize of experience is not attained through this way of living[it also promotes laziness of thought]....as far as doubt and darkness are concerned yes you must delve into that which makes you uncomfortable and into all those corners in your mind where most would rather not go to turn the light on and dispel your fears and doubt otherwise you will wear them like a noose around your mind restricting you to a life of ignorance
2007-07-06 09:01:37 · answer #6 · answered by master A 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Those who seek knowledge and go in pursuit of the truth, do not care about themselves. On this less trodden path,one comes across both the dark side as well as the illuminated one, the reality only revealed at the end,
The only guide for them is their faith...to which one has to adhere.
Kallan... you changing into a philosopher these days..?
2007-07-06 10:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by bakhan 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We learn little from our successes but volumes from our errors, if we are not to reach out and take some risks how will we ever know what we are truly capable of?
Life is to be lived not merely survived!
2007-07-06 09:37:15 · answer #8 · answered by Fluffy Wisdom 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Discovery is a dangerous process. It can also be cruel and at times violent. But how poor of Spirit would we be if we were not willing to take the risks to explore and expand our consciousness.
2007-07-06 22:08:22 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Courting doubt and darkness is not much of a price for knowledge.
But yes, trading knowledge and freedom for safety is very irresponsible.
To exist... or to live?
2007-07-06 08:44:43 · answer #10 · answered by Skye 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋