It is what it is - for the moment. This week I reviewed the post Time and Happiness because I needed the reminder. The past and the future are muddy and confused, and I am having difficulty focusing on the present. It's right in front of me, but of late the present moment has been a blur because of the whiplash-inducing motion of my simultaneous fixation on the past and future.

It appears that my sense of justice and my indignation will not change the world. I cannot sway indifference, right wrongs, rescue fair maidens, or punish evildoers. I am not a superhero.

But here is what I can do: I can live by guiding principles of my choosing. I can live with compassion and empathy for others. Having learned from the past, I can live in the moment, for the future. I can live without making excuses. And I can live with the knowledge that my humanity will interfere with the nobility of the thoughts above.

Humanity (singular or plural) is an enigma. John Donne said, "no man is an island." Orson Welles said, "we're born alone, we live alone, we die alone." Is there more Truth and Wisdom to be found in isolation? Or will we move closer to Happiness by contributing toward societal or group goals? Many (perhaps most) would respond that an appropriate combination of the two would be advantageous; but if only one path could be chosen, which would be the more enlightening?

40,000 years of history show us that those societies smaller in size and/or more geographically isolated tend to progress at a much slower rate, or not at all; (Australia and New Guinea are examples). But that is in terms of advancement from stone to metal to industrial to technology and from hunter-gatherer to agriculture/food production to manufacturing to service workers to present-day knowledge workers. So thus far most of this advancement has been empirical in nature. From a transcendental perspective one might argue that empirical advancement allows more minutes in a day for spiritual consideration, yet is the God of 40,000 years ago really that much different from the God of today? Considering that much of spirituality should come from within and is a result of one's search for meaning and purpose (Truth and Wisdom), and from one's fear of death, I don't believe personal spirituality has made great strides towards a consensus on the God/Life After Death question. It should also be noted that those seeking an empirical answer are no closer to a God Truth either. If anything, empirical advancement has made evident the necessity of transcendental questioning.

I don't believe it should be as simple as "no man is an island" for empirical considerations and "we live alone, we die alone" for transcendental considerations. Look at what large populations in proximity to other large populations have accomplished compared to isolated bands, tribes, or even small countries with smaller populations. Yet spiritually we have chosen to isolate ourselves in small bands, on separate islands, whose flora and fauna represent varying faiths, beliefs, and superstitions. Perhaps we need a Great Flood to bring us together; or a Great Drought to dry up the land and the seas, and show us we are not that far apart.

The point is that as individuals (singular) and as a whole (plural) we must find ways to transcend our humanity in order to close the gap on Truth, Wisdom, and ultimately Happiness.

I believe we must start with the singular. I believe that our transcendental thoughts and energies must be infused with a healthy dose of reason and logic. I believe rational thinking can be learned and must be taught (through examples of history's great thinkers) beginning at a very early age. I believe everyone should (respectfully) question everything. I believe that once a majority of the individuals (in this age of knowledge) understand and utilize reason over emotion we are more likely to advance spirituality as we have advanced tangible, worldly, empirical concerns.

Synergy and interdependence are underrated. The whole IS greater than the sum of its parts. But to experience the manifestation of this phenomenon we must first become a whole (plural), and to do that we must begin with the singular. I believe when it comes to transcendental progress the thought of this synergistic power may intimidate some and incite current 'powers that be' to fight this suggested uprising of reason and logic.

I know where I need to start: 'I can live by guiding principles of my choosing. I can live with compassion and empathy for others. Having learned from the past, I can live in the moment, for the future. I can live without making excuses. I can live with the knowledge that my humanity will interfere with the nobility of the thoughts above.' And I can live each day making a concerted effort to transcend my humanity.

"For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee."