As introduced here, these Warm Recollections are random cullings from thirty years of notes files…
Taking off from O’Hare, and for a moment a line of clouds rests exactly on the horizon of the Great Lake, making it look as though there’s no break between the two.
A feeling of relief, as always, when seeing these odd optical illusions from a plane — that one has finally seen through the fakery.
I disagree. Now I have to work out why.
The exaggerated sense of self that comes through being alone, rather than having to cater for, and adapt to, a 360° of other humans around you, in real time: this is what colors much of online life. It encourages and enables us to be social while in reality we are being at our most anti-social, living by the rules of solitude.
This deep-level disjunct lies behind at least some of the volatile nature of online interaction: we are unsettled by private behavior let loose in public spaces.
The novelist Jim Harrison is correct in declaring that one should be open to the notion that life is not one long self-improvement exercise — but fried ice cream really is running against the tide of history. Why not Fried Beer? Or Fried Cigarettes?
I mean, I’d try them, obviously…
It would have pleased Buddha that self-proclaimed Buddhists in the West are so annoying. There is no false seduction.
As always, if you can think of anyone who might enjoy this Substack, please spread the word.
These always bring a cackle!
I think because we evolved to be social creatures that are safer in tribal groups, the psychological fear of being alone and vulnerable is a difficult one to overcome. Of course, we’re hardwired to fear death and if we knew our own death date we’d go mad with fear as we got closer.
Seeing as Time is a human construct, how do we solve this problem?
For me personally, it involves using our own mind, spiritual awareness and life experience to let go of that fear. It can be done.