have been doing a lot of thinking over the past years. been thinking about what life is about and what have i, as a human being, been born for. i still have no answers.
the reasons why i thought about this stemmed from the fact that i see many rushing and getting caught in the rat race... and then they grow old. and die. yet, for many all they seemed to be aiming for through their whole life is the whole concept of material and wealth. two very important concepts of what most would framed as `quality' of life. and almost every other straight person i meet and ask tells me give me variations of answer that point to them are working hard to ensure that their family is well provided for if an when they die, or when they grow old and have the money to enjoy life, or to enjoy the luxuries of life through their life... i reflected deeper into each of these responses and i thought - why was it that it all centered on the idea of self? and also, on material wealth? no, don't get me wrong. i am not saying that the `self' and `material and wealth' áre not important. they are. they are definitely important. but i think there are two other ideas that are, some would argue, more important.
and these are the ideas of `society' and `spiritual well-being'.
why do i say so? let's look at the ideas of `self' and `wealth'. my own personal view is that `wealth' is important as long as it fulfils the basic needs of each individual and their immediate responsibilities. and these responsibilities are transcient and will expire with time. when that happens, each individual do not need much to survive. using me as an example. my mum is my responsibility. so, i will need to take care of her. this needs money and time, resources that i will need to earn and make available. but once she leaves me, i only need to focus on myself. and that is easy. right? well, you might say - but you are gay and it's easy. yes, and no. yes for the fact that i do not have other liabilities/ responsibilities. and no, gay lifestyle can be very expensive too, that is, if i chose to live it. now, let's look at a straight person - he/ she may argue that he/ she is saving for the kids. but look here, once the kid grows up, wouldn't it be logical that they earn their own living, considering they have every capability to do so by then?
many a times, i see people chase after wealth so much that they are blinded by it. they became greedy. they forgot about their spiritual well-being. they forgot about their community. they become self-centered. they become over-cynical about people at large. they forgot about their fellow human being. and when this happens, more harm can only follow. it is a dangerous development. it breeds hate. it breeds negative energy. so, i go back to my initial point - that material well-being is important. but up to a point. and this point invariably center on the whole concept of `self'. beyond this point, one needs to direct his energy towards fulfilling his obligation to the community, the society, the human species. for if he does not do so, he would have failed as a member of the human spcies. right? i don't know. what do you think?
for me, i will continue to reflect on my life's purpose.
:-)
the reasons why i thought about this stemmed from the fact that i see many rushing and getting caught in the rat race... and then they grow old. and die. yet, for many all they seemed to be aiming for through their whole life is the whole concept of material and wealth. two very important concepts of what most would framed as `quality' of life. and almost every other straight person i meet and ask tells me give me variations of answer that point to them are working hard to ensure that their family is well provided for if an when they die, or when they grow old and have the money to enjoy life, or to enjoy the luxuries of life through their life... i reflected deeper into each of these responses and i thought - why was it that it all centered on the idea of self? and also, on material wealth? no, don't get me wrong. i am not saying that the `self' and `material and wealth' áre not important. they are. they are definitely important. but i think there are two other ideas that are, some would argue, more important.
and these are the ideas of `society' and `spiritual well-being'.
why do i say so? let's look at the ideas of `self' and `wealth'. my own personal view is that `wealth' is important as long as it fulfils the basic needs of each individual and their immediate responsibilities. and these responsibilities are transcient and will expire with time. when that happens, each individual do not need much to survive. using me as an example. my mum is my responsibility. so, i will need to take care of her. this needs money and time, resources that i will need to earn and make available. but once she leaves me, i only need to focus on myself. and that is easy. right? well, you might say - but you are gay and it's easy. yes, and no. yes for the fact that i do not have other liabilities/ responsibilities. and no, gay lifestyle can be very expensive too, that is, if i chose to live it. now, let's look at a straight person - he/ she may argue that he/ she is saving for the kids. but look here, once the kid grows up, wouldn't it be logical that they earn their own living, considering they have every capability to do so by then?
many a times, i see people chase after wealth so much that they are blinded by it. they became greedy. they forgot about their spiritual well-being. they forgot about their community. they become self-centered. they become over-cynical about people at large. they forgot about their fellow human being. and when this happens, more harm can only follow. it is a dangerous development. it breeds hate. it breeds negative energy. so, i go back to my initial point - that material well-being is important. but up to a point. and this point invariably center on the whole concept of `self'. beyond this point, one needs to direct his energy towards fulfilling his obligation to the community, the society, the human species. for if he does not do so, he would have failed as a member of the human spcies. right? i don't know. what do you think?
for me, i will continue to reflect on my life's purpose.
:-)
2 comments:
It reminded me of my r n r in great keppel island in 1997.
You must have left a footprint with him. Otherwise he will not have contacted you with a xmas card.
It's amazing!
Do keep true friends close to yr hearr always
Jiayou
:-)
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