Why?




Peter

Great question!

Because we're here?

It's complicated...   

Why not?

Bill, tgo

"Why" is just a word/concept that we humans invented when we realized that we could.

I like Bills's follow up of "Why Not?" Just as valid of a question.
The "why" and the "why not" work to together and/or cancel each other out. Similar to Good and Bad, Light and Dark, Yin and Yang, etc.


But WHY?

Darn it! Now you got me wondering!

When there is no longer identification with that which appears to be asking the question, the answer is revealed.

Seriously, the curse of the human condition reveals the 'frog mind'.  I have reserved a book from the library that is supposed to reveal secrets on how to squelch the 50,000 thoughts that pass through our brain in a day.

As Dave inferred the answer is revealed when the question goes away - true serenity comes from being/ living in the present moment - again the curse of the human condition makes the practice of being present rather difficult (at least for me - as noted by my many thoughts that are processing while typing these few sentences).  Truth be told the inner peace of presentness  should be attainable with a clear mind.... sometimes the most tranquil moments are found when we augment our reality with substances from natural sources.

I need to practice more!

I would argue that always being "present" is not a natural state for a human.
Not natural to remain in that state anyway.

I think that we have just been bombarded in the last 30 years with self help, self actualization and eastern practices that proclaim the being "present" is the way to peace and happiness.

It is natural for Humans to wander intellectually into the past and into the future. It helps us.



Take buddhist monks for example... How productive are they? What do they contribute to society by sitting and meditating and attempting to be present so much of the time.

That said, I definitely would agree that lingering in the past or projecting into the future too often is unhealthy.

As one of the moderators, it occurs to me that we are in this thread starting to stray from our posting guidelines.  Perhaps we should leave it at "why not" before we get too far off the rails.

Quote from: David Houck on March 30, 2018, 04:42:53 PM
Perhaps we should leave it at "why not" before we get too far off the rails.

Told you guys it was complicated. 

Why?

Why am I not at band practice tonight? Because I'm waiting for Jack Casady to take the stage with Jorma. I'm kinda' hoping it helps me forget for a while that I can't feel half of my fretting hand.

Peter, I have heavier things to contemplate at this time so your question will have to take a backseat. Nine months have ended and I realize I have to get serious on figuring out ways to spoil the our first grandchild just so I can tell dear daughter I told you so.

Congrats, Keith!!! 
Been there 4 times now, and I can assure you, the spoiling does not get less fulfilling with time.


Peter