We are all individually irrelevant ... unimportant ... inconsequential - it is a harsh fact. So how does one get past this fact and continue to close the gap on Truth, Wisdom, and Happiness? I believe it must begin with inner transcendence.

Transcendental - That which is Beyond.

Inner Transcendence - That which emanates from within and reaches Beyond.

I will backtrack and qualify just a little: in this physical realm, if one is lucky, one shares mutual relevance with a few and may have some consequence in specific settings or sets of circumstances. However, as illustrated in the old analogy of removing your hand from a bucket of water, if one is removed from a setting, a set of circumstances, or removed entirely from this physical realm, this may cause a few ripples, but the medium soon settles and Life goes on. The fact remains that in the grand scheme, we are all relatively irrelevant.

This all sounds brutal, harsh, and somewhat depressing, but I don't believe it is. I believe it relates directly to previous discussions that have expanded upon the concepts of Exoteric Goodness, Inner Peace, and the thoughts of Epictetus who said that nothing can truly be taken from us. He maintained that inner peace begins when we stop saying "I have lost it" and instead say "it has been returned to where it came from." The world owes us nothing, so when we are able we should take great care of those things the world temporarily allows us to have and we should live each day adding to a legacy that emphasizes anonymous Goodness for the sake of Goodness. This perspective is liberating. It is the embodiment of the transcendental nesting within the empirical. Regardless of one's specific transcendental beliefs, day-to-day existence in this physical realm is given meaning through a dichotomy of harsh reality and ineffable/intuitive spirituality.

Please see this post (Happiness Beyond Words) for a more thorough examination of the process of recognizing transcendental, and this post (Internalizing Happiness) for a more thorough explanation of why I tend to believe that transcendence originates from within.

I have stated several times throughout these posts that I strongly believe one should 'Do No Harm'. Last week I touched on this (rather clumsily), so this week I would like to revisit the concept and refine my interpretation in the context of inner transcendence.

First I'd like to restate that I strongly believe one should 'Do No Physical Harm'. I believe this applies to people, nature, and all things physical of, from, or for this world. One may argue that there may be occasions when one has to choose the lesser of evils (for example harm or be harmed) but I believe that for most of us these occasions are very rare to non-existent and more often serve as an excuse for running roughshod and losing sight of that line (mentioned last week) between personal impact and doing harm.

Secondly I would like to examine the impact uninhibited truthfulness has and differentiate between 'doing harm' (personal, intentional, or vengeful) and the 'potential for harm'. Each one of us can choose our reaction to another's input regardless of the degree of uninhibited truthfulness. Common reactions to outside input include the following:

1. one can analyze and disagree thus eliminating or mitigating harm;
2. one can determine a degree of agreement and work through a reasoned, empathetic process of change;
3. one can simply ignore another's uninhibited truthfulness; or
4. one can become defensive and/or go on the offensive thus creating a potential for harm.

And once one party reacts, the initiating party must then choose their reaction. If one gains a reputation for defensive or offensive reaction (or input) it encourages a mirrored reaction or no reaction at all; which in turn increases potential for harm and decreases potential for learning, growth, change, and progress. Bottom Line - Uninhibited Truthfulness should not be discouraged based on the 'potential for harm' because in so doing the potential for growth is also discouraged and likely eliminated. Still, one must carefully examine and understand their personal motives to ensure they are not intentionally seeking harm in the guise of uninhibited truthfulness.

Next, I want to examine hope, fear, and comfort zones. Everywhere I look, I see roving gangs of hopes, fears, and comfort zones looking for every opportunity to assault our sensibilities and beat down uninhibited truthfulness. Fear of reprisal; fear of the unknown; fear of loss; fear of pain and adversity; fear of fear. Fear is a bully. Hope is debilitating in that it encourages inactivity. Comfort zones lull us to sleep and encourage apathy. Working together they are formidable and they Do Harm. But we can battle back.

French Revolutionary Rabaut Saint-Etienne was credited with saying, "Our history is not our destiny." He paid for his revolutionary thinking with his head; guillotined in 1793. There are times today when (figuratively speaking) one may fear being handed his head and therefore does not speak out. Yet, as stated above, if we do not speak out we are doing a disservice to progress. It was French Philosopher Rene Descartes who initially proposed the idea of 'tabula rasa' or 'blank slate' which encourages/requires rejection of all preconceptions and inherited beliefs deriving from tradition. One should doubt, question, and contemplate/analyze all ideas without distinction. It was also Rene Descartes who said 'Cogito Ergo Sum' - 'I Think therefore I Am.' Hopes, Fears, and Comfort Zones smother independent thought and demoralize individual being.

It feels like there is a lot said in this week's thoughts - from irrelevance to inner transcendence to exoteric goodness and inner peace to 'Do No Harm' to uninhibited truthfulness to doing harm vs. potential for harm to hopes, fears, and comfort zones to the French Revolution, Descartes, and the meaning of existence. I may let this simmer, and expand or refine these thoughts next week.

One final thought ...

To live wholly one must immerse oneself in the harsh reality and ineffable/intuitive spirituality of daily existence by avoiding hopes, fears, and comfort zones through inner transcendence. Easier said than done, I know; but I think it may be pretty important ...