The world does not pause to heed your cries

I have met countless people who endlessly talk about their tribulations. While I do not object to people opening up, and sharing what bothers them, I am a little disturbed by those among us who think we should stop what we are doing and listen to them.

The world does not, cannot, must not, will not, stop to heed the cries of any one of us. Yes, life is difficult. But wait a minute, who said it would be easy? Who promised you that upon your entry into the world, only the good things awaited you? If nobody promised you anything in particular, why are you complaining? What premise do you have?

That sounds tough, even irrational but I do contend that it is how things are as I see them. We cannot go on complaining of how bad the situation is, for complaints alone, wont change the nature of things. We must proactively engage ourselves in those activities that have for their express purpose, the extermination of those things we find disagreeable.

The theory of the survival of species makes known to us that only those among us who can muster this "difficult" life will survive today to breed tomorrow! Those of us who will die in the battlefields of today's problems might as well start preparing for the world to come. Perhaps there, you will be given a second chance!

Therefore, in lieu of complaining, crying, lamenting e.t.c about the unfairness of today, let us pause to think of how best to resolve the issues that are before us.

Worry not over that which you cannot change

When Jesus saw his disciples troubled over what the next day had in store for them, when he realized that humanity was struggling even with the unknown, when he saw that people were wasting a lot of their energies with that which they had not in their control, he told them something that may appear to be very simple: he told them not to worry about tomorrow for it would take care of itself. He categorically told them that enough for the day was its own troubles.

Interestingly, paradoxically even, since his time to date, the people of this world have not fully comprehended the wisdom of his words. They have been troubling themselves with things which they did (don't) have control over. Anxiety of what is before each one of us seem to dictate the nature of the lives we live.

I have watched an interesting movie on Tibet (I don't remember the title) in which one of the actors gets very philosophical. Thinking of the nature of the nature of reality surrounding him, he opines that one should not worry over that which they cannot change for no amount of worrying can change anything. He adds that if you can do something, do it; if you cant, let it be.

The words are surprisingly simple. perhaps that explains why most of us dont take them seriously. We rubbish them as common sayings that mean nothing beyond the words themselves. However, the philosophy in them is profound and can impact greatly on the life of the person who takes them seriously.

The challenge therefore is for each one of us to see the amazing wisdom in the apparently simple utterances. The choice before us is to choose to struggle today and live it to the fullest,or to die slowly today worrying about tomorrow.

As for me and my house, we have made our choice. Have you?

Eldoret Town Review

Parks

Eldoret Town Review

Parks

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Palin Pause, Pose and Listen to Nyong'o

Prof Anyang' Nyong'o wrote in yesterday Sunday Standard that Sarah Palin's new book portends ill for America and the world.

In America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag, Palin, argues Nyong'o, re-ignites rascist tendencies.

The good Prof faults Palin for having issues with Michelle Obama's assertion that after campaigning for her husband, "for the first time in her adult lifetime she was really proud of her country."

Nyong'o reminds Palin of the America of the sixties and seventies. He however is skeptical and wonders whether Palin with "her common garden philosophy and ruther rustic junior school civics, ...remember who Dr Martin Luther King Jr was and how he relates to what Michelle says today".

My knowledge of African American literature stirs in my misty soul the painful experiences of Blacks right from the days of slavery.

Palin can have free lessons from me as to the nature of slavery, how it was sustained and what the Blacks thought and think of it.

Back to Nyong'o. For him, Palin's 'philosophies' smacks of "the spectre of the pure but violated Aryan race".

He warns that "when mediocrity climbs the ladder of power, and pretends to dine with philosophers like Plato, then we should know that Armageddon is beckoning to prey on our worst fears and to unleash some of the most intolerant ideas into the lexicon of governance in the world's most powerful nation. It will come in the guise of patriotism, exceptionalism or some form of populism not yet known to humankind".

Lets hope she has heard. And somebody needs to tell that to these Kenyan tribal chiefs!

The Four Noble Truths: A Budhist Insight into Life

A few experiences in my life and that of others, some recent and others old, move me towards sharing this with you.

With your tacit indulgence, let me take you briefly through four truths of life as understood by Budhists.

First, life is suffering. Nothing new there, I guess. Pain and agony characterise life.

Second, suffering is due to attachment. Imperfection and impermanence is the juice of our reality. Clinging to things of this world, which can never last nor be perfect, is the best recipe to hurting.

Third, suffering can be overcome. Sigh of relief. Choose not to be attached and choose not to suffer.

Fourth, there is away of doing this (three above). Follow the eightfold path. Google!

Examine your life. Find out whether at the root of your suffering, lies attachment to fleeting things and experiences. Now, what about a paradigm shift?