Another little parable that I found on my computer that I had written a few weeks ago. It is the exchange between a Master and a Student.
"Master, what does it mean to live?"
"You must first die to realize that answer."
"What do you mean die?"
"Tell me, do you feel alive when you receive your pay. When you are with your lover. Do you feel lonely when ignored, angry when wronged?"
"Yes of course!"
"Then you must die."
Yeah. I really don't get this one. I see no reason why one shouldn't feel alive. Perhaps those instances aren't the best examples. I d'no. I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteheh, no problem. the main idea that i believe is conveyed is that one must rid themselves of attachments to things. most people tend to only feel "alive" when they have a certain attachment that they believe they need, whether it be a lover, money, attention, etc.
ReplyDeletefeel free to leave questions or commentary whenever.
- andrew
alright, so if i'm not attached to any part of this life, what is it to live? is it to float aimlessly, or to watch everything with an ice-cold eye from the outside? doesn't sound like any life i'd understand.
ReplyDeleteyou missed the point but no worries. it means that you should not base your happiness on anything in life, to be free of such attachments is to truly live. definitely feel free to enjoy certain aspects of life though, i know i do!
ReplyDeletealso, lemme clarify attachment. it is when you BASE your happiness on something. if you no longer have it, then you are no longer happy. happiness as I stated later, comes from within. hope that helps :)