Surviving a life of ease

[Dan~]

We know it to be true that without gravity, our muscles and bones degenerate.

But what is the gravity that our mind needs in order to remain healthy and strong?

The main thing, as far as i know, is to use the mind, in as many a way as possible.

But there also might be meaningful then meaningless activities.

Maybe meaning doesn't need to be there.

[Ben JS]

I think we all must follow our path.
The path that may bring one happiness, might not bring happiness to another.
Also, one's path need not be in a single direction.
Perhaps it may entail doublebacking - retracing one's steps - walking over ground previously passed with fresh eyes.
There is no singular way to travel through life.
-
What is right in a moment, does not necessarily remain so throughout a lifetime.
Change is a natural part of our journey.
Need is the mother of invention, and there are many needs in the world.
One may want to prioritise different needs at different moments.

Perhaps ease is suitable during critical points in one's life,
but not necessarily all points.
Perhaps it is a cycle.
Perhaps one is made uneasy by needs felt unaddressed.

[Ben JS]

I hope life's treating you well, friend.
Wishing you all the best.

[origami]

I agree that the mind needs something to chew on. If it just turns on its own axis without overcoming anything real or of significance, anything that offers resistance or is consequent, then what exactly has been exercised?

I suppose the reason a life of ease is a danger is precicely that it offers the possibility of meditating on the meaningless without it being a threat to one's survival. The easy thing, but also the thing that degenerates your brain.

On the other hand, something can seem meaningless, but be consequent by simple virtue of being a difficult to do. Mastering such a thing is, in my mind, evidently excercise. Still, if it is only difficult things that have no direct relationship to risk and reward in real life for real people, then it is a little like athletes that do super muscle specific advanced work outs in the gym, instead of working in a farm or something and just being tough as nails, and their bodies suffer injuries easily.

[Dan~]

So far, both of your posts / comments make sense to me.

I feel something was lost when we made the
transition to modern life.

Life was more hard and challenging back in old times.

But we were not as dependent also.

[Dan~]

I hope life's treating you well, friend.
Wishing you all the best.

[origami]

You had less money in old times.

But having a bunch of money should be no excuse for a soft brain. Certain currents of thought in your society convinced people that they should not worry about themselves, things like self improvement and maintenance of a sharp mind, and that they should put themselves in the hands of the authorities. Poor people tend to have a natural distrust of non divine authority because they know as day to day reality that they will suffer bad consequences if they don't take authority over their own selves. But there are plenty of people that are either rich or live in rich societies that insisted on maintaining sharp minds and caring about the real world and being responsible for themselves even with those currents of thought.

That is my opinion.

[Dan~]

The gravity of the mind is probably something like desire.
It binds us to goals and events.
But it can be restrictive or even counter productive,
if miss applied or miss used.

[will2010]

Dan,

Great post!!! I agree with most of what you have said so far! Could you please share an (or your personal) example of the productive use and miss-use of desire or brain??? If I read between your lines, you have a “certain morality” to judge what’s good, bad, productive, unproductive, restrictive, nonrestrictive. Correct me if I am wrong And I personally come from a place where “no rules” “no morality” should be there in order to achieve your goal. As Machiavelli says “ends justifies the means”. I know this is a very ruthless view but I have personally lived it without apology, and I am so proud of what I have accomplished in my life! Anyway, very curious to know your view point.

[Dan~]

Dan,
Great post!!!

Thanks lots.

I agree with most of what you have said so far! Could you please share an (or your personal) example of the productive use and miss-use of desire or brain???

A human body is like a cell colony. And each part is required for the whole.
Remove one vital organ, and then all the rest soon fail as well.
What ever is best for the cell colony, is good desire, good brain work, etc.

Being alive is a form of work and computation.
All the little cells working together, trying to sustain an existence.

If I read between your lines, you have a “certain morality” to judge what’s good, bad, productive, unproductive, restrictive, nonrestrictive. Correct me if I am wrong

Morality is a big part of what i am.

And I personally come from a place where “no rules” “no morality” should be there in order to achieve your goal. As Machiavelli says “ends justifies the means”. I know this is a very ruthless view but I have personally lived it without apology, and I am so proud of what I have accomplished in my life! Anyway, very curious to know your view point.

If it works, it works.
Even no morality is a kind of morality.
It's just that it is different from case to case.
Non linear patterns that confuse and frighten the lay person observing it.