Sunday, August 1, 2010

Status

It's said that pride goeth before the fall (or destruction).
In most religions we are taught to walk humbly before whichever deity we serve.
But the problem with this is that such humility is often shown in service to others.
And such service - status.
And often with this status comes pride.

3 comments:

brohammas said...

Hence what we call the pride cycle.

CNu said...

But the problem with this is that such humility is often shown in service to others.

Do you suppose that some who commit themselves in service to others have experienced a transformation of their psyches such that their physical bodies are in this world, but their experience of "reality" is otherworldly?

And such service - status.
And often with this status comes pride.


If the experience of the humble servant is otherworldly, of what consequence are the awed assignations of others?

If by her service the humble servant participates directly in the uncreated energies and experiences the infinite - of what possible consequence could status within the finite world be?

Once again, the gist is completely lost and the standards and values of this world imposed to profane something not of this world....,

uglyblackjohn said...

@ brohammas - Yup.

@ SeeNew - I don't know...
I help others because it was what I was taught.
A woman asked why it was that I could help people I didn't even know or others I didn't even like.
"Because they needed it.", I said.
She couldn't understand this thinking and sometimes neither can I.
It's as though it's become almost instictive.

I may be the most worldly person alive - but I really don't care about things beyond what I need for any given task at any given time.
I'm far too pragmatic to ever be a saint.
But I like that my parents respect me.
I like that my friends love me.
I like that my elderly neighbors call me "A fine young man.".
I like that children are drawn to me.
I like that I can give my word and have that be enough.
I like the freedom and resources afforded me by any limited status I've earned.
In my case - any transformation of the psyche is incomplete.

Is this a case of salvation not being from deeds alone?
Is such a transformation of the psyche beyond the worldly even neccessary?