Removing the Negative Stigma of Covid-19 Sufferers
For almost a year Covid entered my country, many people thought that this virus was dangerous. Moreover, seeing the death rate due to this virus is soaring. Will there be the best solution that can be accepted by everyone? Like everyone "forced" to accept the presence of Covid-19 without exception.
Meanwhile, there are still those who think that people who are exposed to this virus should be shunned. The initial goal is of course to prevent transmission. But does avoiding transmission by closing communication with people who are or may still be exposed to it be called human? It seemed too evil to call this kind of person a dead conscience.
Facts About Corona Virus
To people who have tested positive for Covid-19, there are many suggestions to get rid of the virus from the body immediately. Start by inhaling eucalyptus oil or dropping it on the middle of the tongue. Or drinking various kinds of herbs as an antidote to the virus. Some suggest always drinking warm water so that the virus in the throat dies. Is that right? Here are the facts.
Thousand Faces Disease
Covid-19 has a variety of symptoms that were initially difficult to detect as a new disease. Early in its appearance at the end of 2019 and entering Indonesia in early 2020, fever is the most common indicator of Covid-19 in a person's body. But then the term PWS (People Without Symptoms) was discovered. That is, the body carries this virus around before spreading it to other people.
The initial positive symptoms of Covid are similar to the common cold, which is now changing, increasing, like a gene mutation that occurs in movies. It is not only the lungs that are attacked and cause death. But also the blood flow is frozen, making the sufferer feel pain all over his body. Some experience severe diarrhea. So you need fluids to replace body fluids as soon as possible so you don't get dehydrated.
Some initially have no symptoms, then develop a red rash that is bothersome and torturous. How terrible this disease. Not to mention the data showing that this virus can only be detected accurately by a swab test. Meanwhile, PCR tools are still limited and mostly available only in big cities. It is also the price that one test can reach hundreds of dollars.
How are the commoners in the interior if they have to suffer positive Covid? Meanwhile, the number of positive cases is increasing. Health facilities are now getting full. Is it true that there are still those who have the heart to think that the person who is exposed is the criminal in the world of health? Like at the beginning of its presence, many thought that this disease was the result of a conspiracy.
It may be too naive to think of this pandemic as an international drama. Although yes, it is possible that it could happen. Because no matter how many good people on this earth, there are still more who are evil and want to rule. Isn't that awful?
Attacking the Immune System and Important Organs
Now, it's not only the lungs that are attacked when someone is suffering from Covid. Sometimes this virus attacks the stomach, blood vessels, and excretory system. Some (although small) are at risk of dying from this disease. No one could guarantee who he would attack. Or predict where to fall victim to virus transmission when interacting with multiple people.
Can Be Cured But The Risk Of Death Is High
No one has survived the risk of being exposed to this virus. But why does the negative stigma against Covid-19 survivors still think of it as negative? It is as if they are the main cause of this pandemic that never ends. Whereas when exposed to this virus, there are only two possibilities: recovery and safety from the virus because antibodies are formed. Or towards the gates of death.
Positive Covid Is Not a Disgrace
Indeed, when the medical team tested positive for Covid, this was not a disgrace. It's an opportunity to take care of yourself more and focus on positive affirmations. Because the immune system will not be fully formed when people around him feel sad. So this disease must be ready to be faced by anyone, anywhere. It doesn't matter high officials or commoners in all corners of the country.
There are advantages also in my country not strictly protecting its citizens from the transmission. The more positive Covid, the greater the possibility of herd immunity being formed soon. So that the majority of residents are protected from the Covid-19 virus. There should be no more negative stigma for those who are exposed and are still fine.
It all starts with the mind
Many of us think that physical health is much more important than mental health. This perception may arise because humans sometimes only focus on what is visible. In fact, in my opinion, a healthy mind and mind is the main thing. Everything in this world begins with the mind and heart. Yes, for that we have to think positively. But try to go beyond those positive thoughts so that you do not only adopt positive thinking but also the ability to have high self-awareness. Nothing in this universe is eternal. That is the first awareness that must be instilled in oneself. To apply this thinking we have to live the present, today, this hour, this second. Consciously.
If there is a question "What triggers stress?" My answer is to think about tomorrow and the past. We, humans, are often shackled by the question "How to deal with tomorrow, huh?" with the statement "Ah, I'm sorry I did that yesterday," and so on. Expressions like this are what keep us from giving appreciation to life in the present we are facing. The first step to generating more positive thoughts and mentalities is to be grateful for every second that we are going through, fully realizing that what has been obtained now is not yesterday or tomorrow.
In this world, we can never control anyone other than ourselves. Emotions and reactions can be controlled if we wish. We are the only ones who decide how to behave when faced with something. Therefore, to be able to control our thoughts, hearts, and actions we must learn to detach from worldly things regularly. Meditation or prayer can be a good habit to slowly maximize this self-control ability. You don't have to spend the same time every day. If you only have five minutes, then use it. The important thing is not to break up so that it becomes a habit and a need.
The first step to generating more positive thoughts and mentalities is to be grateful for every second that we are going through
It is important to get away from the worldly elements so that we can return to ourselves, focus on ourselves to raise a full awareness of the responsibilities that are carried. Most individuals sometimes forget how vital this is because it focuses on how to make physically healthier, more beautiful. Even though no matter how beautiful our bodies are, but not their minds, life will not be happy. All I have is the thought of how I look not what I feel. It is more significant if we think about whether the efforts we make to stay healthy can be of use to other people, as simple as whether we can interact well with the people closest to us. Whatever we do must be based on understanding that we deserve it. Not just reaching a target like losing weight. In essence, such achievements will have no end. An even better goal is to make sure that what happens to us today is what we planned earlier in the day or not. To ensure that all day long we have been honest, doing all our activities consciously.
No matter how beautiful our body is but not the mind, life will not be happy
Happiness comes from within yourself. Not from outside. We have to accept ourselves, accept whatever experience happens. If we wait for validation from external factors, the wait for self-acceptance will not be achieved. Therefore we must realize how only we are responsible for how influential a problem is. If we have high awareness and can balance the rationalism side, later we can control our emotions more easily. Be careful not to get too carried away when you bump into other people. For example, when I meet someone emotional I try to give dialogue to myself: "I don't know what he's going through, maybe he's in trouble," "I don't have to react the same way or go along with him. in a wave of emotions. " So, even though the environment around us is unstable, we can focus on ourselves. Not affected by the negative side from outside.
***"Happiness comes from within. Not from outside"***
In line with Grief
For the last 10 years, my life has been filled with death. One by one, my closest friends left her body. 2010, my neighbor died. I was close to him because we were together often and helped raise me.
At that time, I didn't know Zen or any other mental practice. I see it as plausible, even though there is a sense of loss that makes the chest tight. He was old and sick, then died. Nature is at work.
2014 has been one of the most important years of my life. Without getting sick, my best friend died, of a sudden heart attack. Previously, he was very healthy and active. Within seconds, he just left his body.
Great suffering befell me. I don't understand what happened. Common sense stuck. That's where I entered the Zen gates, until recently.
2016, I had to experience a breakup. It seems true, breaking up was as painful as losing a family member. A similar pattern occurred several times in the relationships I was trying to work out. Now, I am back alone.
Between 2016 and 2020, I had to leave two jobs that I love. This too feels very difficult. All absurd. However, with the development of my mindset and inner cultivation, I can go through everything with relief.
2020, my adoptive parents got very sick and passed away. To be honest, I've prepared for this. However, when that happened, the grief and anguish were so intense. This decade concludes with the death of one of the most important people in my life.
Common sense I understand. What is born must go. Everything change. Death is as natural as the wind blowing, and birds chirping, so my writing in the middle of this year.
However, understanding common sense does not always create a sense of peace in the heart. Restless and regretful kept coming to visit. There is a sense of emptiness felt. Mental cultivation still has to be endured.
Moods often take a sharp turn. Sadness visits more often. Relief filled the sidelines. They come and go with a faster rhythm.
When my adoptive parents died, it was as if this part of me had gone with him. Something dissolves in his departure. Flowers are no longer as fragrant as before. The sun is no longer as bright as it should be.
In sorrow, I kept remembering the ancient wisdom. The death of the parents is a blessing. It is in line with natural law. So, we should be grateful.
After all, no one died. Human life is energy. Energy never disappears. It just changes shape.
I also remembered my Zen practice. Always come back to the present. Use your five senses and breath to become aware of the moment. If the mind wanders, we only need to return to the present. The practice continues, without stopping.
Grief is not the enemy. They are part of life. It's just that, they are visiting more often nowadays. I welcome them. When it's time, I let them go. Now wasn't the time.
The laughter of friends and family also helps. The two beloved nieces filled the day with their laughter and tears. Greetings from friends also strengthen. Hours of conversation on the phone brighten up my dim days.
In the end, all of us must learn to live up to suffering. No need to hate and throw him out. He's not leaving. If expelled by force, it would sting even more.
I also feel lucky, I have experienced so many deaths at this young age. Trust me, if you haven't, you will experience it. Learn to live up to grief. Make him a brother who needs to be greeted.
Only then, amidst the burning sorrow, peace in the heart can still be felt. That's what keeps me sane and can still make this writing. Peace amid suffering is true freedom. Then we can still love, even though the world is not as beautiful as it should be.
Science and Global Challenges
We live in a world full of challenges. On the one hand, various social problems, such as poverty, war, and social inequality in various countries, remain and even spread. On the other hand, the environmental crisis has triggered various natural disasters in various places. We need the right way of thinking and method, to face these two challenges.
Science tries to carry out various studies to understand the root of the problem and offers solutions. Various studies were made. Various theories were formulated. However, often these are just piles of paper that don't make a real difference.
Research is currently being carried out to understand the various existing studies. So, "research on research". From a scientific perspective, this activity is necessary and interesting. However, from the point of view of simple common sense, this is a sign that there have been so many studies and theories born of multibillion-dollar research, while the results are still questionable.
Flood Theory
I call this condition the "flood of theory" and "the flood of studies". The study is made for the sake of the study itself. The theory is formulated for the sake of the theory itself. This is a fundamental mistake of thinking in today's academic world.
The conditions also created confusion, both among the scientists themselves, and among the wider community. In this kind of confusion, various problems remain. In fact, in some cases, the existing problems have grown and spread. Billions of dollars just disappear for absurd research.
Many studies take place at the theoretical level. The debate also takes place at the theoretical level. However, this was not enough. Humanity needs a new way of thinking, to face the world's challenges.
The essence of the theory
The theory is a series of words or symbols to explain a situation or phenomenon in the world. The theory is also a form of abstraction of the human mind on conditions or objects in the world. In this sense, it can be said straightforwardly that the theory is not a reality, but an abstraction which at the same time also means a narrowing (reduction) of reality itself. Theorizing means removing elements in reality that are considered important and means ignoring or even throwing away things that are considered unimportant.
Many debates then took place at the theoretical level. Scientists are busy with concepts, words, and symbols. They often forget that what they are talking about and researching is a human life with all its wealth. They then build a theory on theory, and so on, until it no longer has any roots in reality.
Thus, the theory does not help humans to understand reality. What happens is the opposite, that is, theory blurs human knowledge of reality. We can no longer understand reality as it is, but only reality as we theorize in our heads and research. And because there are so many theories, there are so many "realities", and it ends up creating great confusion.
The academic world creates a kind of new world, namely the world of imagination. This imaginary world contains words, symbols, and theories. It contains hopes and fears that are covered with a veil of formulas, formulas, or theories. All this makes people unable to understand reality as it is.
Going Beyond Theory
If we only understand the world through the theories and concepts in our heads, then we will not be able to understand reality as it is. If we can't understand reality for what it is, then we will go astray. We can no longer distinguish between reality and illusions that pop into our heads. As a result, we are confused, and we cannot respond appropriately to the various challenges that exist.
To prevent that, we need to understand reality for what it is. We need to move beyond theory and understand the world for what it is. The word "beyond" can also be replaced by the word "before" theory, namely the world as it is before we formulate the concept of it. German phenomenological philosophers, such as Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger, called it the world of life, namely the preconceptual world (before the concept). Eastern philosophical thinkers, such as Seung Sahn and Lin-Chi, called it the mind-less world.
How can we understand reality as it is? We must break away from concepts and theories. We must release ourselves from the habit of conceptual thinking. With this, then we can perceive reality as it is, namely reality before and at the same time going beyond concepts and theories.
In this sense, we no longer understand reality, but experience reality. We do not imprison reality into words and symbols, but rather allow reality to appear as it is into our consciousness. We move to a pre-thought level and then touch reality as it is. In this sense, there is no longer any difference between me and reality.
In contact and oneness with this reality, we also experience a change of consciousness. Our way of thinking changes. Our way of life changes. The decisions and priorities in our life then change too.
Confusion disappeared. People are confused because their heads are filled with concepts and theories. This situation creates excessive fear and hope that makes people do not see reality. The decisions he took then reflected the confusion in his life.
On the other hand, direct contact with reality makes theories and concepts disappear at once. Everything became clear and clear. People know what to do. The basis is no longer merely rational and logical considerations, but rather "intuition", namely direct experience with reality.
In this state, morality as a set of rules of action is no longer necessary. Doing good is something natural when people touch reality with their intuition. To do evil, in the sense of encouraging suffering, is also naturally avoided. People are not filled with "theory wars" and "concept wars" in their heads about good or wrong but live with a clear mind, to face everything that exists according to real conditions.
With this kind of clarity, we can work together, to face the challenges of our time. We are no longer stuck with theories and concepts. We also are no longer trapped in confusion and fear. However, this state must be practiced continuously, so that it becomes a real part of our life and not just a momentary sensation.
True peace can be formed when we give up our ideas about peace. We no longer insist on creating "our version" of peace. We are no longer trapped in the "concept of peace" or "theory of peace" which we think is true. When we can perceive reality as it is, at that time, we can experience true peace inside, as well as with those around us.
If You Love Me, Don't Create "Me"
If you love me, don't create "me". So said Ajahn Amaro, a Buddhist monk, when asked to talk about love. I immediately posted the quote on several personal social media. Some friends immediately asked, what does that mean? I was intrigued to provide an answer.
This is a matter of love. A timeless theme in human life that has inspired a million songs, films, books, and poetry. Who doesn't like it, when love comes to visit? The heart blossoms and the day feels like singing, without end.
However, love often ends in grief. The heart that sang was broken tormented with disappointment. Some continue to live in sorrow. Not a few also gave up hope and chose death as a friend.
Falling in Love Mechanism
Why did this happen? This happens because when we fall in love, we fall in love with an image. We fall in love with the concept of other people. We create "him" in our heads. The real "he" must be different from the "he" we imagine.
We fall in love with a "person". "Personal" is a collection of stories. It is not reality. A person is our creation who is looking at it and thinking about it.
"Person" is an illusion. "He" is also an illusion. When we fall in love with the person, then we fall in love with our head. No wonder, we fall into pain and sorrow.
Reality
Everything changes. Nothing is fixed. The people we know and love also change. Their physical properties and forms are constantly changing, like a river that doesn't stop flowing.
Because everything changes, there is no meaning that can be understood. No core can be held tightly. No personal characteristics to read. No character or character does not change.
Since everything changes, and there is no essence, nothing is certain. Attempts to obtain certainty will end in violence. This is the disease of both religious radicals and ideological radicals (Marxism, Liberalism, Fascism, and so on). Attempts to secure and control life end in violence and suffering.
Then, how?
So, we need to see and understand reality as it is. We need to live with life, not with our thoughts alone. Thoughts and emotions are then used as needed, not excessively. This is the highest wisdom man can attain.
When love arrives, don't make up stories about it. Don't guess the character of the person we love. Don't make any assumptions. Don't make "him" in your head.
Then, love will grow naturally. No useless distraction of thoughts and emotions. The beloved will always be seen in reality here and now. This kind of love has touched eternity.
Silence and Creativity
When we stop creating life stories, we will find silence. Even when our surroundings are noisy, our mind remains quiet and peaceful. Hopefully, the same formula can be pronounced. "If you want a happy life, don't make up any life stories."
In the silence, ideas flourished. Wisdom and compassion grow. There are no books to read, and no schools to go to. This is natural wisdom in line with the laws of nature (Dharma).
Creativity was also flowing. The urge to create comes forward. Concern for life grows automatically. We then become fully alive, with all the fire and peace that is in it.
Ajahn Amaro would be right. I've tried it. When I don't make up a story about anything, everything becomes clear and clear on its own. There is no higher pleasure than it. Are you interested in trying?
Oppressive Love
Countless friends and family have talked about how difficult it is to build a love relationship in the 21st century. Many ran aground in the middle of the road, because of family pressure.
In my country, matchmaking is not in private hands. Family is very decisive. Religion and race are important elements. Love and commitment are not important. Religious differences destroy the love and commitment of many partners. Racial differences followed behind him.
Not only that, wealth has become one of the main benchmarks. If religion, race, and property do not match, parents are ready to oppressive.
What is being played with is guilt and the primitive concept of sin. Children who dare to oppose their parents will be accused of disobedience, even going to a hell that never actually exists.
Because of their love for their parents, and their lack of common sense, many children bow helplessly. They live in falsehood to avoid accusations of disobedience or the threat of hell which is just an empty dream.
The impact
There are four things to note. First, with this kind of relationship pattern, the resulting pain is enormous. Many relationships that are coerced by parents end up in sorrow. An affair happened. Domestic violence haunts families and attacks existing children. The mental health of family members is affected. Stress, depression, and even suicide have become commonplace that are hidden from the eyes of the wider community.
No wonder, globally, divorce touches more than 50 percent. Marriage then becomes a futile institution that produces only suffering.
Second, on a broader level, this pattern of marriage based on race, religion, and property divides the nation. The state and its ideology are only slogans, devoid of meaning. Society is divided between small groups that are suspicious of each other. The spirit of plurality and multiculturalism, which is the most important characteristic of my country, is also in danger of disappearing.
Third, this kind of relationship pattern is a form of racism. Certain races, religions, and economic levels are considered superior to others. Racism is the curse of modern civilization that was born in Europe, and then spread throughout the world. In my country, because of the lack of critical thinking education, racism is spread deeply and widely.
Racist nations are divided into nations. Conflict and even mass murder can easily ensue if these are kept in silence.
Fourth, this kind of shallow relationship pattern is a dehumanization process. Humanity is measured solely by race, religion, and economic level. This is a heretical view that has generated much suffering and war in the past. In the 21st century, such heretical views should be thrown away.
Why?
Two things cause it. First, fear is the root of austerity in thinking. The relationship between the two is reciprocal. Plurality is terrible because it is full of uncertainty. Equality, whether religion, race, or economic class, provides the illusion of security.
Many parents fall into such narrow thinking and superficial fear. They pressure and oppress their children to live according to their wishes. This is fake love that is oppressive.
Second, all of this has more roots in the weak political, economic, and educational system in my country. The state does not provide a sense of security and does not educate its people. On the other hand, the state often becomes an obstacle to the prosperity and intelligence of its citizens. The political elite is deprived of the real interests of the people, thus making destructive policies.
As a result, people have full hopes for their families. Religion, race, and property then seem to be the main thing to maintain the integrity and safety of the family. Dare to oppose out means to dare to betray. People are then released into the jungle of the wider community, without any protection from their families.
If you pay close attention, the family is often a source of great suffering and problems in the lives of many people. Only fear and narrowness of thinking that often bind many families in my country.
Then, how?
At a broader level, if the political, economic, and educational systems are strong, then the people will feel safe, smart, and prosperous. Many suffering and social problems will be naturally avoided. People don't need to lean blindly on oppressive families. The state is ready to care for all its citizens, without conditions, and without exception.
So, the political system, education, economy, and the pattern of loving humans remain inseparable. A quality country will give birth to a quality family, which will not oppress in the name of falsehoods of love, let alone oppress in the name of a lack of religious thinking.
Love then takes its true form. It is rooted in consciousness and humanizes humans.
Feeling "Useless"?
A friend always complains. He works from 8 am to 9 pm, even on Saturdays. To get to the office at 8, he had to leave at 6 in the morning. Indeed, the income is large. Insurance and benefits are also high.
However, he felt tired. He has no time for family and friends. On holidays, he can only sleep, because he is very tired. He felt useless because life was only a corporate slave.
Another friend complained. Tired of working for other people, he started building his own business. However, the business climate is not good. Profits decline, even several times have to swallow losses.
Sometimes, he feels sorry that he has left the world of work. The business world is full of uncertainty. Sometimes profit, sometimes loss. He too, often, feel useless.
Another friend doesn't have a job. He spends time on the computer. Sometimes, he comes out just to buy food. He had been unemployed for a long time and had given up on finding work.
To build a business, he has no capital or collateral for a bank loan. His family was also reluctant to lend money. Finally, he could only surrender. Often, he feels suicidal, because he feels no longer useful.
Useless
So, whatever we do, we will always feel useless? Even activists who give their lives to help others often feel useless. They feel unable to make changes big enough to make things right. In fact, what does "useful" mean in this context?
Useful means making enough money. Useful means having the time and energy to enjoy the money with family and friends. Useful means that it can influence national policies with the available money and power. It is this kind of view that is widespread in our society.
This view is very unnatural. It was created by a certain ideology, namely the ideology of modernity which gave birth to modern capitalism and a materialistic mentality. Modernity is thick with the characteristics of physical progress that you want to continue to achieve. The fruit is modern capitalism, which is a life filled with an unlimited accumulation of economic profit. Not surprisingly, modern humans have become mercenaries.
Everything is measured in money, from love to friendship to relationships with God. Put in the right context, this view can breed well-being. People who reject economic development will fall into poverty. However, when it is too strong, this view of modernity (capitalism and materialism) will destroy human life. This acute, widespread feeling of uselessness is one of the signs.
It's Useful
If we look closely, our existence is naturally useful. Every second, we emit carbon dioxide which is absorbed by plants to maintain their existence. Every second, our bodies are home to millions of bacteria and various other organisms. Not only that, but even our feces become valuable fertilizer for plants.
When we smile, we already give happiness around us. When we are willing to listen to friends who talk, we have released them for a moment from loneliness. In essence, our existence has always been useful, whether we realize it or not. This is the fact of the interconnection of everything in this life.
The concept of "useful" versions of modern capitalism and materialism is a heretical idea. It creates suffering in vain for human life. This understanding also encourages people to be late heroes. They are people who go into politics for reasons of money and power but hide them for noble reasons. When the election approaches, we can easily witness the arrival of this late hero.
So, we don't have to feel useless. It is heretical thinking that breeds futile suffering. What is needed is to live the moment with clarity, then do what can be done. If there are people or things that need help, then we help. If not, we enjoy life with the bright sun and fresh air.
Just like that, why bother
Deconstruction of Death
Obituaries often beat us today. In many parts of the world, pandemics and conflicts leave us trapped in anxiety. Every day, the number of victims continues to grow. Without clarity and criticality, all of this can sink into the fear that kills them.
My best friend, an indie musician, also recently died. He is a figure who has inspired so many musicians in his community. The figure is strong and colorful. His death made his friends even more afraid and anxious, especially amid a pandemic which was continuously reported unequally by the media and the government.
However, if we realize it more deeply, death always lurks us all the time. Since birth, we are always on the way to death. Martin Heidegger, a German thinker, understands humans as creatures that are on their way to death (Sein zum Tode). Every second, since we were born, we are dying.
We often forget this. We feel death is an exception. Death is considered an extraordinary event. Not. Death is as natural as the wind blowing, and the birds sing.
Wrong View
Unfortunately, we are often poisoned by the wrong view of death. We live in a society that has a perverted view of death. Death is considered a defeat. Just look at the films shown in the media. Death is the final defeat of a hated enemy.
So, death must be avoided. People must live healthy so that they can live long. People should pray hard so that they can live long. Either way, death must be destroyed from life.
Even death is considered a disease. This is the view of modern technologists trying to get around death. The advancement of genetic engineering technology seems to make this possible. This perverted view only makes us confused and suffering, when death comes.
For those who are young and healthy, death seems far away. Often, they feel, that they never die. Healthy body. Lots of savings. Glorious career. Who has time to talk or think about death?
Even then, death only became news in the media. Death, in other words, always happened to other people. However, before long, death was bound to come. He can pick up friends or relatives, but also can pick us up.
Death, in the end, is just a matter of queuing up. Who was the first to go? Who is the latter? That's the only question. There are no exceptions.
Deconstruction of Death
In early 2020, Sadhguru, a Yogi from India, wrote a book that took the world by storm. The title is Death: An Inside Story. He said, "This is a book for those who are going to die." In short, this is the book for all of us.
This book talks about death straightforwardly. No filter by author. He wrote down all his knowledge and experiences about death. I felt a little horrified when I read this book intensively.
Speaking of death, Sadhguru did not quote the stories. He refuses to speak fairy tales about death. No heaven is used to deceive people. No hell is used to scare people. There is no manipulation typical of heretical religions.
The truth is, for Sadhguru, we never die. There is only change. We continue to live but in a new way of life. We move from one dimension to another.
This change (called "death") occurs slowly. When the body is damaged, whether due to illness or accident, people don't go away. The energy came out slowly and gradually. In some places, people can even come back to life, after they have been pronounced dead by doctors.
After "Death"
This change (death) occurs by the pattern of life previously lived. Everyone has habits in his life. Habit is what remains as energy when people "die". In Indian tradition, this habit is also known as karma, which is the pattern of our actions that shape our personality and habits.
For example, we used to do bad things. We used to do unfair things in life. We used to oppress. We used to envy and envy others.
After death, this habit of hate and evil remains. No more personality. There is only evil, hateful energy. Suffering is inevitable.
On the other hand, if we live with a kind and loving attitude, that's what's left, when we "die". We become gentle energy full of kindness. We become an energy that is also full of happiness. Therefore, we need to live well and love each other.
After that, the existing energy will look for a new body. This is the thinking basis for the process of rebirth, or reincarnation. The evil and hateful energy will find a body that is evil and full of hatred. Good and loving energy will also find a good and loving body.
Evil and good here are a matter of mental state. It exists beyond the morality created by society. Evil is a state of mind that is full of hatred. Meanwhile, good is a state of mind that is full of peace.
A criminal (in the eyes of society) can have a peaceful mind. On the other hand, a prominent religious leader (in the eyes of the people) can have a mind full of hatred. The two of them will be different energies. Their direction after death is highly dependent on the habits of the existing mind.
After "death", morality is useless. Morality is only a human creation to organize life together. It is never absolute. It keeps changing.
Big names, money, and power are also useless after "death" comes. These three things only matter if people have bodies. After "death", one has to let go of the body. So, big names, money, and power will also have to be released.
Sadhguru also emphasizes the importance of meditation. In this sense, meditation is a way of practicing mindfulness. We learn to be fully aware from moment to moment in our lives. We are not lost in thoughts or emotions, but we are still awake and aware of all circumstances.
When we "die," trained consciousness can make us free from suffering. We can choose to be born again, or not. In the Asian tradition, the person who is not reborn is free. He has experienced Mukti, Moksha, or Nirvana. If this conscious energy chooses to be reborn, then it will become a great person, either a saint or a great ruler.
Family and What's Left
What about the role of the family in "death"? Sadhguru emphasized that the family should stay away in the process of death. The presence of family can make people nervous, whether because of old memories, or disappointment that has not been completed. Due to anxiety and anxiety, one then cannot "die" in peace.
If a person is felt to be approaching "death", then he needs to be allowed to live alone in the open. Forests and mountains can be the right place. He must see himself as part of nature and will return to nature itself. Only in this way, "death" can be a peaceful and relaxing process.
Often, it is the family who cannot let go. Here the importance of ritual, namely to help families release the "dead" in peace. There are various forms of ritual introducing death. Each civilization has its characteristics.
What is important to understand is, that after "death", people have lost all their personalities. He is no longer the same human. He no longer has any connection with the family he left behind because he has let go of his body. It returns to the energy that only has certain drives and habits.
The belongings of the deceased must also be immediately distributed to various places. The family cannot own it exclusively. At best, the items of the deceased are donated to those in real need. With this, the energy released in the "death" process can go away in peace, unattached.
Ghost?
We are all ghosts. We are energy. There is energy still in the body. This means people are still alive. There is the energy that has been released from the body and is called "death".
After "death", personality disappears. What remains is habitual energy. Often the energy has not completely disappeared so that people who are still alive can still see its form. He was still left, then became a ghost for many people.
The reasons are various. Usually, it is a very strong bond with the world, or with the family that was left behind. The bonds are so tight and attract the life energy of a person, that they cannot leave completely.
This kind of ghost has no common sense. It has no will. He also has no personality. It is only the remaining energy, and only appears to the human eye. There are several rituals to get rid of ghosts. This means that this energy can be encouraged to completely fuse back with the universe.
Death is Life
In the end, death is life itself. Death is simply a change from one way of life to another. So, he shouldn't be afraid. He also doesn't need to be tabbed.
Death needs to be understood for what it is. It needs to be viewed as healthily and objectively. Only in this way, one can go through the process of death calmly and peacefully. His life was also lived with great relief.
Finally, to My Friends and victims of pandemics and conflicts around the world, there is no word of goodbye. What is more precise is, happy to live a new life. That's what happened. Hopefully, find enlightenment in the next life.
About Death
What makes death a "problem"? When viewed with a cool head, death is a natural process. It has been going on for tens of millions of years in various kinds of life, and it is certain that it will continue, until the unpredictable time. As Steve Jobs stated in a speech at Stanford University, death opens opportunities for the new to flourish, and the old to leave. Death ensures that the wheels of the world keep turning and that the world is renewed by new faces that did not exist before.
Death as a "Problem"
So, what makes death such a "problem"? When a family member dies, the person automatically loses his cold head. Emotion, sadness, and fear stabbed his soul. The power of analysis and reasoning immediately dimmed.
Death's ability to destroy reason and arouse fear is immense. The immediate ambush of death. It is unpredictable. It destroys the harmony in the family and in the relationships between people, which all their power has worked out before. This is the reason why death is such a "problem".
Death also creates fear. However, if examined more deeply, what is scary is not death, but death, namely the process of leading to death. People, by their very nature, are not afraid of death. However, everyone, even religious believers who yearn for heaven, does not want to go through the "death" process to death. This process is often tragic, such as bloody accidents, torturous diseases, and so on.
Death can be a problem because it can break up families. The death of one person can give birth to war, much like the one that sparked the first world war at the beginning of the last century. The opposite effect is also true, that death can also unite the family. Previously unfamiliar people became close, experiencing the same sadness and loss. The similarity of fate and sorrow transcends all differences, then binds people who were previously enemies.
For the families left behind, death leaves a deep wound in the heart. The word "heartbreak" here acts not only as a painting but is almost closer to reality. The wounds arising from death truly broke the hearts of those who were left behind. In some extreme instances, the death of one person can lead to the death of another, precisely because of the heartbreak he felt.
In my country, death is often a business field. In a sad situation, it is difficult for people to think clearly. As a result, he then becomes complacent and is easily deceived by money-scoopers. The price of food is doubled, when the bereaved family wants to hold a prayer together. Everything became more expensive, and the bereaved family had neither the energy nor the common sense to refuse. The death of one person can also mean the economic death of a family.
In the area where I live, death becomes a social event, a collective event. The mourning family has almost no choice what to do. All of them have traditions and procedures that must be followed, to meet social demands. Maybe, the intention behind it was good. However, the process that must be carried out is very oppressive, because the family must comply with existing social norms which are often tiring and costly, even though he is grieving a lot.
Life after Death
One of the important questions in human life is, what happens after death? This is a very important question. No scientific method can answer that. We need an approach that moves from religion to myth to science to provide several possible answers.
In various world civilizations, we can easily find the concept of life after death. The versions vary, but the patterns are more or less similar. After death, people will enter the next realm. There, if he lives a good life, he will find happiness. If his life is evil, then he will have to serve the punishment. This is a fairly universal pattern that can be found in mythological stories in almost all world civilizations.
This view was then continued by world religions with the concept of heaven and hell. Good people will go to heaven and find eternal happiness there. Meanwhile, bad people will go to hell and experience severe punishment there. There is also a kind of immortal entity (God, Dewa) who acts as a judge for each person after he dies.
In death, there is an idea of justice. Life isn't fair. However, death will correct that fact. We cannot prove whether this opinion is true, or just a story. However, there is something beautiful about the idea that death is always linked to the idea of justice.
From the point of view of modern science, which uses scientific thinking methods based on data that can be seen and measured, it is difficult for us to talk about death. The only argument which in this view makes the most sense is that life is energy, and energy is eternal. He just changed places. So, after a person dies, his energy will return to nature and become something else.
There is no world after death. What is there is emptiness, because energy is transferred to something else. However, like all views in science, this view too is only a possibility, because science can never provide truth or certainty, but the only possibility. Life after death is a possibility, although, from a scientific point of view, the probability is quite low.
The Meaning of Death
Based on these various views, we cannot be sure what happens after death. All views can only act as possibilities, but not the truth. We can just say, means we have to believe, and that is the essence of faith. However, I thought, how can we believe in something possible, or that is not certain.
I think, we need to shift the question, no longer "is their life after death", but, "how do we interpret death itself, our death, and the death of the people we love." The question of "the meaning of events" is the most important in human life, especially when he is facing a deadly event that hurts him.
There is no absolute formula for answering this question. Each person should try to personally assign meaning to death, both his death and the death of his loved ones. Meanings must be created and developed over time. It is not something that is fixed and stable, but dynamic and needs to be reinterpreted in line with the development of times and events.
I see the deaths of my loved ones as a turning point. Death changes circumstances and changes the human soul itself. Changing points are then interpreted as possibilities and opportunities, to determine a new direction, including the direction and way in which we live our lives. These turning points both surprises and opens up previously hidden opportunities.
I see death as the goal of life (Sein zum Tod), as I interpret Martin Heidegger thinking. However, it is not just any death, but death with dignity (würdevoller Tod). That is death as a sacrifice for others. Die for someone else. Nothing is more perfect than this.
Trauma, Suffering, and Freedom
Everyone must have had bad experiences in their past. It can take many forms, from minor things, like fighting with friends, to very painful things, such as being a victim of sexual violence. The incident may have long since passed. However, the marks were still painful at this point.
This is also investigated in the *European Journal of Psychotraumatology*. The data collected shows that more than 1.5 billion people experienced wars and major conflicts from 1989 to 2015. 350 million of them experienced trauma and major depression. The majority of them do not have sufficient abilities to overcome the trauma and depression they experience.
The data includes only war victims. To date, no data has been collected on a wider range of trauma sufferers. However, a reasonable conclusion can be drawn, that there are far more than 350 million people globally. Old scars that are still left on their feet, also known as trauma, are a source of suffering for many people.
Impact of Trauma
There are many studies on the impact of trauma on human life. Five things can be described. First, trauma is a shadow of everyday life. It clings to a person, like its own reflection. Without adequate effort, the trauma will stick, and make life difficult.
Second, these shadows make people unable to see the world as it is. He always adds or subtracts something from what is there. He lived a dream continuously. If this continues, people can become completely detached from reality, and go "crazy".
Third, living in a dream means living in suffering. People become so vulnerable in the face of life changes. When his wish was not fulfilled, intense pain gripped him. So many people live in this pattern in their daily lives.
Fourth, trauma suffering also arises in the difficulty of forgiving. People hold years of anger and resentment, even when sorry is exchanged. Nor is one able to go beyond the disappointment he experiences. His life is filled with trash from the past that he chose himself.
Fifth, all of this will bring about an imbalance in life. The effect is felt on the physical body. Various chronic diseases, namely organ disorders, will appear, starting from the heart, kidneys, diabetes, and so on. The immune system will also weaken so that people will be susceptible to bacterial or viral infections.
Beyond the Old Wounds
Seven things need to be understood to manage trauma. First, the main source of all suffering is the mind, that is, the mind that is in constant motion with analysis. The mind also often returns to the past or imagines the future. Without a clear understanding, people can think that their thoughts are real, and get caught up in suffering.
Second, emotions are a form of thought. However, he was so strong, that it was felt to the body. It could be said that emotion is a spicy form of thought. Emotions encourage people to do something, whether angry, sad, and so on.
Third, what we need to realize is that thoughts and emotions are not our true selves as humans. Both are how we react to life. It is formed by the parenting style of parents and the environment. It can be changed with the right effort.
Fourth, by realizing this, people will find space between themselves and their thoughts and emotions. This space is a space of freedom. The point is simple, don't take anything that comes to mind too seriously. Think of your thoughts as entertainment that is often creepy, but also humorous.
Fifth, it is much better if we don't touch the thoughts or emotions that arise. Let them come and go, without our interference. Think of your thoughts and emotions like a motorbike or a car passing by in front of us. If this is done, the distance between ourselves and existing thoughts and emotions will increase.
Sixth, this is all done from moment to moment. If that fails, there is another time to try again. Keep going, and don't stop, just for one or two failures. A Zen master from Korea once said, keep trying, for a thousand years.
Seventh, there are times, when thoughts and emotions rush in. It is time to return to the present. The five senses can be used. We can hear, feel skin and body sensations, or just breathe, so we can return to the present. This is what is called meditation.
Old wounds, or trauma, need not be scars that create pain. He can be a valuable life teacher, as long as it is managed wisely. We can learn a lot from various events that occur, especially painful events. After the trauma is managed, real-life can come back to the fore. It is not only full of peace but also full of freedom to bring about change.
Limitation of view
The water flows,
filling the empty cavities in the mind
delivers countless love and affection
unite ourselves for a journey to the heart
The blue sea,
as a temple of nature in the land of acceptance
irresistible let it come only a complaint
and tears of loss
A pair of gulls flew low among the pines
set aside time to look closely at the land of hope
when love leaves and slowly the darkness clears the juxtaposition
The heir of the land is still persistent
even if the dream doesn't go away
even though the view is dim and aimless
but the legs must remain certain
When Grief Visits
When something is lost, people mourn. Death and separation from loved ones trigger sorrow in the human mind. Grief also leads to a feeling of deep sadness, as well as loneliness. Grief is not only triggered, when death or separation alone, but also by the disappearance of work, failure of ambition, serious illness to change of residence.
Grief is unique. Everyone experiences and experiences it differently. However, he didn't need to be rejected. If rejected or suppressed, it will get bigger and bigger. Grief needs to be understood.
The stages of grieving
In the world of health, various studies show that grieving has stages. That is, grieving means undergoing a process. The human mind needs time to adapt after major changes have occurred. There are five stages to grieving.
First, grief triggers inner resistance. People reject situations that hurt them. There was a feeling of shock as well as numbness that emerged simultaneously. This is the body's response to sudden emotional changes.
Second, grief triggers anger. Disappointment makes people angry about the circumstances. On the sidelines of anger, there is a feeling of helplessness. Anger coupled with a variety of other bad emotions is a normal stage in grieving.
Third, grief creates regret. People repeat their memories. He thought if there could be more before all this happened. Regret often comes down to blaming yourself.
Fourth, grief also creates depression within. Grief creates sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, and prolonged feelings of sadness. Loneliness and regret also came to visit. At the worst point, suicidal thoughts arise.
Fifth, the final stage of grieving is acceptance. People accept that the situation is painful. Hope is broken. However, this is how it is. However, life must go on.
These five processes are unique to each grieving person. Sometimes, people have to get angry again, after they become depressed. In other words, people can return to the previous stage. All of this can be triggered by various things from outside, from the sound of a memorable song to a death anniversary.
Grieving also does not have a definite time. Many things affect a person's grieving process, from personality traits to family support. Usually, the grief feels bigger and longer, when the death of a loved one occurs.
Cultivating Grief
In the end, the human body is fragile. Even a slight change in balance can lead to pain. The knowledge that has been gained for decades disappears when the mind or brain is disturbed. Not only fragile, but life is also constantly changing.
What is strong and healthy will become weak, and sick in the future. What is beautiful and mighty will become worn, and defenseless in the future. That is the law of life. Not a single being can deny it.
Even if they change, the energy arrangements that makeup life, and the entire universe that exists, remain eternal. That is the finding of modern physics which is called the law of conservation of energy. No energy is lost. There is only a change in the form of existing energy.
So, there is no death. There is no separation. Everything is just a change from one form to another. Buried corpses will become food for various plants and animals on the ground. Life goes on.
Also, nothing we gain, and nothing we give up. Everything is always in the same amount. Only the shape is different. We only need to observe our surroundings closely to understand this.
Political Grief
I thought about the politics in my country last year, the politics in my country were filled with sorrow. Broken ambitions, due to defeat in the general election. Grief occurs collectively in various places in Indonesia. A collapsed ambition, especially with a huge loss of money, leads people to the gates of grief.
Rejection, regret, anger, and depression inevitably come and go. Some are unable to manage it, then get trapped in various forms of mental illness, and lose their sanity. However, this is not an absolute thing. Grief, as mentioned earlier, can be understood in a different light.
Failure and success are just moments that keep changing. Neither of them is eternal. In fact, on a closer look, failure, and success are not in themselves. They are all stamps that we attach to the various events we experience.
This understanding is liberation from suffering. Liberation from suffering means total acceptance of what is in the present. Nothing added. Nothing is reduced. All as-is.
About the Mistakes in Life
Are there mistakes in life? We often think that we have chosen the wrong. We don't consider all the elements in our decisions. When we feel lost, then we regret it.
Regret is one of the main sources of suffering. Many people are mentally tormented because remorse eats away at his mind. He searched for a million fugitives, ranging from drugs to suicide. How do we understand the mistakes in life?
About Morality
In general, mistakes are all actions that are against morality. Because morality is the basis of law, mistakes also mean all actions that are against the law. This view is simple and is taken for granted by many. However, there is a problem here.
Morality, as well as law, is constantly changing. What could be done in the past, can no longer be done. The opposite is also true. What was not allowed to be done before, has now become commonplace. Morality is relative.
A society forbids one act. Other societies allow it. There are so many examples that can be drawn. If people make this kind of morality their footing, their lives will be filled with confusion and even hypocrisy.
There is another type of morality that does not stand on what society says. This morality emerges from our humanity as universal beings. It rests on the laws that drive the universe. He did not forbid and colonize, but rather nurtured and cultivated.
This kind of morality contains only one thing, namely "life." When a person touches the life within him, he will naturally live this morality. A lasting feeling of peace, coupled with compassion for all life, will immediately flow in him. If on a closer look, it is this living in line with natural morality that is the highest goal of human life.
About Mistakes
In the face of the morality created by society, there is no absolute mistake. What exists is a continuous learning process. People try to improve themselves, without ever touching perfection. However, to some extent, social morality must be transcended.
In the face of natural morality, there is an absolute mistake. When a person is immersed in a shallow life and does not touch the life in him, he has made a mistake. He has wasted his life. He drowns in the superficiality and illusory pleasures of life which always lead to dissatisfaction.
The deepest regret is not to violate the morality created by society. They are all relative and keep changing. The deepest regret is when people do not use their lives to touch a deeper life than ambition and illusory pleasures.
Touching Natural Morality
How to touch natural morality, which is "life" which does not only exist in humans but all creatures? All Asian spirituality wants to answer this question. The goal of Asian philosophy and spirituality is not to seduce God to enter man into heaven but to liberate man from all the bonds that imprison him, including the shackles of morality, hypocrisy, and suffering.
There are two important points here. First, natural morality demands a fundamental inner revolution. People break their egos and touch their true selves. When the personal ego disappears or is delayed, one will realize that it is the universe itself.
At this point, natural morality emerges. It rests not on unreasonable prohibitions and rules, but on "life" and compassion for all beings. This kind of reversal of the ego is also called mental enlightenment. This is the highest goal of all Asian philosophical and spiritual traditions.
Second, natural morality demands that people turn around. The search is not directed outside, for example in the form of power, wealth, or momentary enjoyment. The search is directed inward, that is, into the process of consciousness which is the essence of life itself. People then live from this point, even though the changes and ups and downs of life get in the way.
At this point, there is no longer any intention to control life. All come and go. People watch with full awareness. There are peace and clarity naturally occurring within.
When the morality of the creation of society is surpassed, people come to one simple truth. The only mistake in life is not digging deeper into the spiritual element that resides in humans. The only mistake in life is living superficially in a life-destroying puddle of ambition and greed. Beyond that, everything is relative.
Relationships That Divide
We live now in a virtual world network. So many people spend their time on various social networking sites on the Internet, such as Facebook, Path, Instagram, and so on. These various sites are the main source of information. It is not even an exaggeration to say that these sites are now the main educational media for so many people in the world today.
With the help of websites in this virtual world, people feel that they are brought closer to one another. They feel close to friends and family, even though they are separated by distance and time. Social and political activists even use these sites to spread their mission and views. However, is the relationship created through these virtual world sites a quality relationship?
Social Shallow
We often see people gathered in a place, but they are busy alone with their respective phones. They are together, but not together. They are both near and far. Their bodies are in the same place. However, their minds were thousands, even hundreds of thousands of kilometers apart.
The community in the everyday world is separated, when precisely the community in the virtual world grows. People are more comfortable with computer screens than with the faces of their friends, or their families. Communication becomes so shallow because it is limited to a few sentences on a computer screen or cellphone which often creates misunderstandings. Gestures and facial expressions, which are an important part of human communication, are now being forgotten.
Sites in this virtual world, which are also referred to as social networks, are a form of separating relationships. They create pseudo relationships that destroy true human relationships. They break the relationship between humans. They make human relationships superficial and, often, full of falsehoods and lies.
What is created then is a disconnect between humans. True communication is replaced by false and pseudo communication. Indifference was created. People are more busy chasing the latest gossip, than thinking about the challenges of life together.
People then experience switching issues continuously. People are more busy editing the latest food photos, than working together to reduce poverty and injustice in different parts of the world. People are more hooked on the latest electronic goods, than on the wars and suffering their neighbors are suffering. People are displaced from the essentials of life and are led like goats into the realm of ignorance and banishment in the form of unlimited consumption.
Solidarity has become an almost extinct word. Society experiences atomization and distraction without stopping. True communities to drive change are divided. Communities of gossip and consumer goods worshipers thrive, like mushrooms in the rainy season. If solidarity dies, then cooperation between people to overcome various challenges together will also eventually die.
New problems were created. The social gap between the rich and the poor in various parts of the world is now getting bigger. The greedy corporate movement in various parts of the world now seems out of control. Imperceptibly, humankind is now moving happily and foolishly towards its destruction, without even realizing it.
Decided to Connect
When communication patterns between humans become superficial and false, then humans who develop in such communication patterns will become superficial and false. Therefore, existing communication patterns must be changed. In the context of the crowd of social networking sites with information suppression and falsification, we need to cut ourselves off from all of that, so that we can build true communication. We need to cut the network precisely to build a true network.
Breaking away from deceptive and superfluous social networks keeps us away from the situation. Distance will encourage deeper reflection and analysis. From here will be created wisdom. Wisdom helps us critically sort the various available information, and make the best decisions out of all the possibilities.
In the end, wouldn't life be so empty and shallow, if it was filled with unlimited consumption and news full of lies?
Wisdom from "Madness", Learn from Rumi
Rumi, one of the figures in the Islamic Sufi tradition, never stopped inspiring me. He once wrote: “Run from what is comfortable. Forget convenience. Live where you are afraid to live. Destroy your reputation. Be controversial. I have tried to live wisely. From now on, I will be crazy. "
Rumi voice echoed loudly in our times. An age where people live looking for comfort in all things, even to the comfort of life after death. An era where people lick left and right to maintain and enhance their reputation. An age where people seek safety, live cowards, and submit to the oppression of common sense.
Anti Establishment
It seemed, Rumi realized, that comfort is the enemy of life. The essence of life is continuous creation or creativity. Comfort will make life rotten. He imprisons people in the pleasure that sucks his life continuously and slowly.
Comfort makes people fall asleep. His consciousness decreased. He became weak and slow. Conversely, challenges and problems will keep people aware and awake. This is the real essence of life.
Forget security too. In this fragile life, there is no security. All the available technology and money can protect us. However, in the face of death, sickness, and disaster, everything seemed useless.
Every second, death is always in sight. Life is like an egg on the edge. He is very fragile. All knowledge and experience can disappear in the blink of an eye when the head hits hard enough.
Accepting this vulnerability is wisdom. Experiencing and accepting uncertainty is a certainty. This is where people can truly take refuge, and find peace. I remembered the words of Ajahn Brahm, a Buddhist master from England, “relax, nothing is in control. Take it easy, there is nothing we can control in this life. "
Rumi also invites us to leave the house which gives a sense of security and comfort. He invites us to live in a place that invites great fear. Fear is humanity's greatest enemy. It can only be surpassed by being faced completely.
In this way, even fear can show its true face. Fear is nothing more than fake. It is just a physical sensation that is easily lost in the change. With this understanding, people can get out of fear, and live in real peace.
Destroy Your Reputation
Destroy your reputation, so asked Rumi. Reputation is what other people think of us. Its nature is constantly changing, and very fragile. Living on your feet is life in prison.
Rumi wants to free us from what is apparent. He wants us to continue to renew ourselves. We must not be trapped and attached to a certain role or identity. Only then, we live to the fullest.
Rumi also invited us to become controversial human beings. This means that we are ready to dismantle existing traditions. We are ready to question the old, decaying views. And we're also ready to be hated, for doing it all.
We are ready to be known as the rebels. We are prepared to be seen as unruly, messy. It is all done to expose the hypocrisy and rottenness of the existing way of thinking. In fact, like the great thinkers of history, we are ready to be misunderstood and killed for it.
Living in Whole Life
Nietzsche, a German thinker, would have learned a lot from Rumi. Both of them emphasized that we must not live as cowardly humans. We can't just go with the flow, without being critical. We must not live comfortably and safely in our shallowness. And we also should not be locked in by fear which is a fraud.
In this sense, we need to be "crazy". We need to question the way most people live. We need to question widespread and profound superficiality and ignorance. It is precisely crazy that we become completely sane. We become human beings who live in all their colors.
We say YES! on life. What are you waiting for?
Meaning of life
It's been quite a while, some friends have asked me. Some are via email or questions on social media. What is the meaning of life? A brief question, but one that demands deep reflection.
This question becomes important when the crisis is haunting. Uncertainty threatens the future. Regret for the past also stabbed the chest. Pandemics add to the list of scary things in human life.
Why Ask About Meanings?
On closer examination, the question of meaning has three roots. First, the question of meaning arises, because we don't live. That means we don't experience life as a whole. We get caught up in the thoughts and feelings that arise. In the midst of it all, we lose our understanding of who we are.
Second, we ask about meaning, because we have lost our way in life. Maybe, all this time, we lived only for ourselves. We live only to realize narrow, greedy personal ambitions. We live only to satisfy the endless impulses of self, for example for pleasure.
Third, the question of meaning is also born, because we live in the wrong teachings. We may live in the confines of an oppressive religion and culture. We grew up in a culture that emphasizes fear and blind obedience, without questioning. At one point, it all seems fake, and we start to rebel and ask questions.
We ask about meaning, also because we are bored. Everything looks useless. We lose the motivation to continue living and working. What used to be pleasurable now seems bland and meaningless.
Life is Enough
To answer the question of meaning, three things are important to consider. First, the meaning of life is to live fully. That is, we experience everything from moment to moment in its entirety and fullness. Suffering and happiness are experienced to their fullest extent because they are both lives itself.
Life is not continuous fun. Life is also not drunk all the time. Life is not enjoyment without limits. Life is a dance between sorrow and happiness that alternates. Celebrate it all.
Second, by saying yes to all the elements of life, including suffering and happiness, we will get clarity. We can see the world for what it is. We are no longer chained by emotions or thoughts that torment the soul. Moment by moment, we too can take the right attitude.
There comes a time, we must be quiet and watch. We let life flow past all the obstacles. There are times, we must act to help solve the problem. Clarity helps us determine when to be quiet and gentle, and when to act and be tough.
Third, the question of meaning disappears, when we realize how rich our life is. Look inside our bodies. How rich and amazing are the various processes that occur within oneself, from the digestive, nervous, respiratory systems to organ movements that occur all the time. Everything happened naturally and so amazingly, without our interference.
Our existence in the universe is also very amazing. Earth is a unique and special planet in the solar system. It is the only planet that can accommodate complex life, such as plants, animals, and humans because it is very well positioned about the sun and other planets. Realizing how wonderful all this is, we will never ask for meaning.
In the end, the question of the meaning of life can never be answered completely. Philosophical formulas will only fall into useless debates that cause headaches. That question will disappear naturally if we live completely here and now with all its riches, both suffering, and happiness. Amid the ups and downs of life, we observe everything completely, dancing occasionally.
Perverted Tools and Purpose
It seems that the whole world is slipping into a thinking error. People are no longer able to see clearly, which is the tool and which is the goal. As a result, life together becomes chaotic. Almost all institutions have performance defects.
**Between Tool and Purpose**
Politics is an end in itself. Entering politics, people aspire to be a king who is worshiped and rich. The opportunities for corruption and stealing are high. Politics has become a useless system that only consumes resources.
Politics is not an end in itself. It is a tool for achieving mutual prosperity. When it only harms the people, it should be removed. Politicians are servants of the people and not little kings who are respectful and fond of stealing.
Something similar happens in the economy. The economy has become a hunting ground for money. If necessary, underhanded means were employed, without shame, even with pride. The economy has been uprooted from the purpose of its existence, which is to create common prosperity.
The purpose of the economy is to achieve common welfare, without exception. Poverty and social inequality are the great enemies of the economy. When the economy fails to create common welfare, and becomes only a hunt for money, it is no longer useful. Better, he was eliminated.
This is the worst in religion. Religion becomes God. It becomes an end in itself. People worship the religion and forget God.
Religion is only a tool. Its main purpose is to bring people back to God, the Creator of all things. When religion becomes God and is worshiped blindly, it doesn't play its main role. Better, he just deleted it.
Law is also colonized with this kind of misguided thinking. Law is a tool to arrive at justice. It must not be worshiped as an end in itself. Unjust laws, to quote a classic Latin proverb, are not laws at all. He is obliged not to be obeyed.
In this 21st century, we are bombarded with news every day. The news seems to be a goal in itself to fill our lives. The news is a tool for another purpose, namely a clearer and more complete understanding of the world. When news becomes an end in itself, and even creates fear and confusion, then it's best to just erase it.
Our life is also hit by communication technology. The internet is becoming a new "god" for many people. It becomes an end that is worshiped in itself. Many people spend their lives on the internet and are uprooted from the real world every day.
When the internet became addictive, it didn't play its main role. He has lost his way. He became the main goal. So better, he just deleted it.
All of this can be called corruption, namely the decay of function. Something that has lost its function is something that has gone rotten. Politics that do not serve the people is corruption. An economy that creates a gap between the rich and the poor is corruption. Deity religion is a form of corruption. Likewise, an unjust law is a corrupt law. Fraudulent news is corruption. Likewise with the internet which deprives humans of their lives.
**Modeling and Educational Crisis**
Why does this kind of corruption occur? Two things can be considered. First, we have long lost our example. The noble values of life are replaced by greed for momentary pleasures. This happened to both religious and community leaders. As a result, the entire community experiences an exemplary crisis. Corruptors and narrow radicals are praised, even considered kings. Meanwhile, virtuous people are marginalized, even left destitute in solitude.
Second, in various parts of the world, education is corrupt. He serves in radical religious teachings or teaches students to become worshipers of money. In my country, education officials have never been qualified, since a long time ago. This happens, because the position is the result of political and economic transactions. Quality is never the main measure.
**Our Consciousness**
All this needs to be recognized as a problem and a challenge. Most people are not aware of the severe corruption that is taking place in various fields. They are cool and preoccupied with their own narrow and shallow life. Or, they benefited from all the corruption that was going on.
Once consciousness is formed, changes must be made immediately. The example must be set immediately. There is no need to wait for community or religious leaders to set an example. They are the last to change because they often benefit from this kind of corrupt society.
Exemplary begins with us. Begin to become aware of corruption in various fields. Begin to clearly distinguish between tools and goals. Only then, the life we live can be truly meaningful, both for ourselves and for others.
At a broader level, the education system and philosophy must be completely overhauled. Education officials must be highly qualified. Avoid political economy transactions in educational positions. Only in this way, every nation has a hope to change for the better.
**Plenary Independence**
Ultimately, living alone is the goal of attaining liberation. Life is not an end in itself, let alone just looking for momentary pleasures that will disappear in the blink of an eye, and leave suffering. True freedom is freedom from corruption in various fields, both at the level of living together and in private life. This is the true essence of the freedom of every nation
Don't forget it. Or independence will only become new corruption. It rots. He is worshiped as a goal.
Independence is a tool to create a just and prosperous society. It is a golden bridge to create an intelligent and dignified nation. Again, don't forget this.
Inner Emptiness
Almost everyone born in the early 21st century feels something is missing in his life. They feel that they cannot live without recognition from society. They feel that they cannot be happy if they don't have a lot of money to buy things. This kind of feeling of lacking haunts so many people, for most of their lives.
People call it various words. Some say they are looking for happiness. Some say they are looking for meaning in their lives. Some say they are experiencing a life purpose crisis. All point to one state, namely the feeling of lack that lies in the mind. They then look for a way, to fill the inner void. They also looked beyond him. Drugs, sex, religion, mysticism, and consumerism are alternatives. However, all of them still cannot fill the existing inner emptiness. Suffering continues.
In the process of searching, when things get too complicated, they don't hesitate to hurt others. To maintain a consumptive lifestyle, as an escape from a perceived inner emptiness, people are willing to corrupt. People are willing to kill other people so that they can feel temporary satisfaction. The world too is filled with people who suffer mentally and then hurt one another.
This is what is currently happening in the world. Russia thought that they would become a great nation when they controlled Ukraine or even controlled various satellite countries of the former Soviet Union in the past. ISIS thought that they could found a medieval model empire if they continued to torture and kill innocent people. All live in the fundamental misconception that they can find fulfillment in life by seeking fulfillment from things outside of themselves.
This Writing, May Save Your Life
The mind is magic. Amid beauty, he can present the sufferings of hell, for example through memories of the dark past. Amid grief, he can bring joy, for example, with a brighter hope for the future. Everything, it seems, is formed from thought.
From small things, thoughts can bring out big things that don't exist. Of the great things, the mind can dwarf it. One flaw as if it could end everything because the mind is moving excessively. Life can end because thoughts continue to torment the mind.
Thoughts can also make sounds that don't exist. The sound can be excruciating. He invites us to do hurtful things. He often invites us to commit suicide.
A non-existent image arises, because of uncontrollable thoughts. The things that are not there are just insight. Lost in thought, people lose ground in reality. People drift away in dreams that he creates himself.
Reality collapsed. The boundaries between what is real and what is imaginary are no longer clear. People live in dreams that torment the heart. In such a pinch, suicide seems a compelling path.
**The Essence of Thought**
However, those thoughts, in truth, come and go. He was like an unwelcome guest who came and went as he pleased. It's like smoke that is annoying, but not there. It is like the smell of a fart that comes to torture, then just goes away.
So, thoughts should not be taken as real. Don't be followed. Don't be energized. Just be aware, when he visits, and come back to the present.
The thought was leftover from the past. Thoughts are patterns formed from past experiences. It is not alive. He's not smart.
It is just a storehouse of what we received before. It rusts through the heaps of experience. It rots because it is constantly chewing, without awareness. Thoughts may exist, they should not be followed, let alone be embraced wholeheartedly.
It's the same with imagination. It is a reflection of what could happen in the future. The foothold of the imagination is past experiences, cast as scenarios into the future. So, he is nothing more than annoying rubbish, if not realized.
**Living Consciousness**
Who are you, without your thoughts? Try to answer this question. If your thoughts are thrown away, who are you? There is only one honest answer: living consciousness.
Who are you, if all the languages in this world disappeared? Spacious space. Empty and void as wide as the universe. He is nameless.
This is the real self. It doesn't come and it doesn't go. It is still there, regardless of what happened. This is the place where thoughts are created in all their colors.
Moment to moment, come back here. The real self, before all thoughts were born, is our original home. This is the house of consciousness, where we can rest completely. When death comes, peace will remain, because the living consciousness will never die.
In the living consciousness, thoughts descend. It is like a sword returning to its sheath. It avoids rust which damages its function. In this way, when used, the mind can work very sharply and perfectly.
We then really live. We "wake up" from the dream of suffering that we create ourselves. Thoughts may come. Imaginary voices and images are welcome. However, they all seem remote and insignificant, because we are fully aware, "wake up" and live in the here and now.
These can all save your life. There is no need for suffering born from thoughts that torment the soul. No longer need to be influenced by sounds and imagery that are born from imaginations. You are fully alive.
Wake up"!!!
Egoism
When resentment, anger, and fear appear on the chest, we also need to ask, who is this feeling those emotions? Who experiences these feelings? The answer is easily given: me.
However, who, or what is “me”? Is there such a thing as "me"? If investigated further, we will also conclude that "me" is empty. It comes and goes, depending on the conditions that allow it. When you are engrossed in watching a movie, "me" seems to disappear. You are one of the movies you watch. Likewise, when you hear beautiful music. "me" seemed to go backward, and was no longer visible.
However, when you feel angry, "me" comes to the front again. Usually, you are angry, because your wish was not fulfilled. Your ambition does not match what is happening. At this point, the "me" becomes so strong and aggressive. So, "me" is also empty. It has no core. It depends on the circumstances that produce it. It is also the result of a marriage of potency and condition. In Der Ego-Tunnel, "me" or self, is only a description. This picture comes and goes, and is constantly changing. He doesn't exist.
If "me" is empty, then all the feelings and thoughts it produces are also empty. Everything has no essence. Revenge, anger, and fear also do not have strong roots in reality. Everything was like a cloud that kept moving in the wide blue sky
stretched behind him. People get caught up in resentment, anger, and fear when they don't realize this. People sink into suffering, because of their faulty thinking. The mistake of thinking is to think of something that doesn't exist as existing. When this guilt is removed, anger, resentment, and fear also naturally disappear.
**Wisdom**
Awareness of the emptiness of everything is the ultimate source of true wisdom, says Nagarjuna. From this awareness, we can have real freedom. We can let go of all our bad emotions, and achieve inner peace
the real one. We can then live with clarity, and help others around us. However, mere knowledge doesn't help much either. We need firsthand experience of emptiness itself.
Here lies the importance of meditation, which is the act of observing everything that is happening inside or outside us, without making any judgments or analyzes. If we could observe this kind of pattern all the time, we would find inner clarity
and thoughts. This clarity must also be managed at all times. We have to give direction to our mind so that it does not move erratically. This direction can be given by drawing our minds to the here and now, that is, to what we are doing.
Another way is to ask a fundamental question: what is this
who is doing this action?
In the Korean Seon tradition of Buddhism, this question is also called Hwadu, which is a living word. Hwadu is not to be answered with theory, but to be experienced continuously. Scientifically, it can be explained that Hwadu functions to provide direction to our thoughts so that it remains focused and clear from moment to moment.
When our minds are clear, we can understand things as they are before our eyes. We are no longer obscured by the irregular emotions within us. We can act wisely, according to the existing circumstances. This is the supreme wisdom of life.
**Peace**
Educating revenge means realizing and experiencing firsthand, that grudges are empty. He doesn't exist. Mistakes are what gave birth to them. When this mistake of thinking is corrected, resentment will also disappear automatically. When the grudge disappears, the chain of violence will be broken. Real peace is possible. The differences that exist are resolved using healthy dialogue. Revenge, anger, and fear remain because they are part of the changing reality and human self. However, they were no longer a bother. They come and go, like the morning mist. They are no longer colonizers forcing us to comply with their wishes. In fact, at some level, they are our friends to walk together towards wisdom. Let us educate the grudge that may reside in us.
Revenge
Behind this pattern, there is one thing in common, namely revenge. Revenge is a feeling of disrespect because people feel they are being treated unfairly. Revenge becomes the basis for retaliation, namely violence. Here the same law applies, violence will continue to give birth to violence and suffering until violence is terminated.
We have to find another way. We need to realize that revenge never produces anything good. The Buddhist adage that follows is true, that "one who holds a grudge is like one who carries coals in his hands, and wants to throw it at others." The person who holds a grudge gets hurt first, even before he hurts others. Therefore, we must educate the resentment that is within us. We need to understand the embers that we hold in our own hands. The goal is so that we can break the chain of violence and suffering that has occurred. Only then will peace be possible.
How to educate revenge? We must understand the root of revenge itself. With this understanding, we will realize what grudge means. This understanding also helps us break the chains of violence that are the fruit of resentment.
**Roots of Revenge**
Revenge has two legs, namely anger and fear. Anger arises because our desires are not in line with what happened. Fear arises, because of the uncertainty of life itself. When these two things meet, resentment then appears as a reaction to things that are not desirable.
If observed, anger and fear are empty. Neither of them has an essence in itself. Both were born from thinking mistakes. If the mistake of thinking is corrected, then both will naturally disappear. What kinds of thinking mistakes are there? The first is, that reality must always be by our wishes. This will never be possible.
In German philosophy, this is called the tension between what is (das Sein) and what is supposed to happen (das Sollen) which produces "the pain of the world" (Weltschmerz). This tension produces a lot of bad emotions in humans, one of which is anger. When we let go of our desires, we can then accept reality as it is. We are no longer imposing so that the world runs according to our wishes. We let go of dreams and the second is about the uncertainty of life that makes us feel afraid. If you think about it, life itself is uncertain. Anytime, anything can happen to us.
In the next second, we can die from electric shocks, or get a million-dollar lottery prize. Who knows? When we can accept this uncertainty as a part of our life, then fear will disappear by itself.
**The Emptiness of Revenge**
Revenge is born from anger and fear. However, anger and fear are empty. So, revenge is also empty. It has no essence in itself. In the Eastern tradition, the reality is understood as emptiness. Nagar Juna, the Indian philosopher, even asserted that emptiness (Sunyata) is the basis of everything. From nothing, everything comes and goes. Emptiness is an infinite number of possibilities.
In Zen philosophy, everything happens, because it is the things that make it possible (dependent origination). The water becomes hot because there is a fire that burns it. The fire came into being because there was strong friction between two hard objects. Two hard objects can rub together because there is energy moving them, and so on.
Nothing stands alone. Everything is a part of everything. This interconnectedness between all things is life itself. Nothing has a universal essence and can stand alone in the web of life.
In the book Wissenschaft der Logik, Hegel, the German philosopher, calls this the law of necessity. The inevitability becomes possible, because of the potential to meet with conditions. One is sure to become president when his leadership talents are combined with the support of our empty hopes for life. At this point, we find real peace. of many people. When the potential or condition is not present, it is not there is also an inevitability.
Revenge also has a similar pattern. It is not something absolute. He was born from the things that made it possible. When these things change, and that is sure to change, then the grudge also disappears by itself.
Happy From Within, Without Conditions
Everyone wants to be happy. Not only that, every living thing is naturally motivated to avoid suffering and seek happiness. This is one of the existing laws of nature. Nothing escapes him.
However, many people have the wrong thinking. They seek happiness outside of themselves. Outside of oneself, things keep changing. What previously brought happiness can lead to disappointment later.
For example, we think that money will bring happiness. Money can bring comfort to life, to some extent. However, money, and its value for our lives, will keep changing up and down. It can create tension and greed that bring suffering to both oneself and others.
Relationships with other people are also often a source of happiness for many people. Dear family and friends can indeed bring great happiness. However, both of them are double-edged. They can become a source of trouble and suffering in our lives, especially if our behavior is dashed.
Health can also be a source of happiness. However, people cannot be healthy forever. When a person hopes to always be healthy, he will be disappointed and suffer, when the disease that is sure to visit has indeed arrived. Everyone, without exception, will certainly age, get sick, and die.
In this 21st century, offers of pleasure from all over the world keep coming and tantalizing. Various methods are provided so that people can get instant enjoyment. People also live in the pursuit of pleasure simply to cover up the inner emptiness and loneliness they experience. It takes many forms, from casual sex, non-stop movie shows, instant food to traveling at low cost.
However, everything changes, and so does pleasure. Often, momentary pleasure is paid for dearly. The money, time, and energy spent is so great. Not only that, such momentary pleasures often end in dissatisfaction and suffering.
Suppose eating well. To be able to find delicious and healthy food, we must spend enough money, time, and energy. However, the pleasure provided is only momentary. If you eat too much, stomach upset can also occur.
In Asian thought, this is what is called Dukha. It means dissatisfaction or frustration. Because everything changes, nothing can bring happiness continuously. Humans also tend to feel frustrated, if they continue to seek happiness in the form of momentary pleasures outside of themselves.
A new car will feel bored if you continue to use it. Fancy clothes will be damaged if used. Beauty, good looks, and intelligence will inevitably disappear with time. Abundant wealth will also leave anxiety and greed if not cultivated with the right spirituality.
Life becomes a vicious circle. People pursue pleasures that make them suffer. Feelings of frustration arise. If it is large and lasts a long time, people can lose their sanity, or fall into various forms of addiction, from shopping addiction to sex to drugs.
Throughout history, many people have recognized this phenomenon. They also tried to find a way out of it. The spiritual path is the answer. Spirituality itself transcends religious boundaries.
Spirituality provides a simple answer, that humans can find permanent happiness in themselves. This kind of happiness is not explosive and exciting. It is calm and provides stability. He can be touched anytime and anywhere, as long as people understand how.
The simplest way is to observe the breath gently. Remove all tension. Observe the breath in and out of the nose gently. Gradually, a stable peace will emerge by itself.
Amidst various temptations to find pleasure outside of oneself, this method seems boring. He is old indeed. This approach was invented by Buddhas and Yogis who lived tens of thousands of years ago. However, it has persisted over time, and now provides a lot of inspiration for people who continue to experience frustration in their lives.
One can then sit, breathe, and find happiness, without any conditions. Other forms of happiness and enjoyment are only bonuses. If anything, it is enjoyed. If there isn't, people can sit down, and be happy all by themselves.
Life itself, if you realize it, is enough to provide true happiness. One only needs to direct one's awareness within oneself, either to the breath, to the sensation of the skin, or the sound. This is the essence of meditation. It is free and unlimited for all human beings, without exception.
This understanding solves many problems in human life. People no longer spend time, energy, and money pursuing artificial pleasures that lead to disappointment. Life becomes meaningful, although there may be many challenges ahead. Happy from within, without conditions, this is what all humans must learn.
Greed will disappear. Corruption will be history. The war will end. Heaven doesn't have to wait later, after death, but here and now. What are you waiting for?
Love Poems
I know why you like to write poetry about love because your heart has been wounded and bleeding
While your mind is filled with memories
which cannot be erased with time.
I know why you like to sip a cup of strong coffee because it can settle your sadness and sorrow
Even though you drink repeatedly
never disappeared because of it.
Do you know why I wrote this poem to address you?
Because I am poetry, coffee, as well as bleeding wounds that settle over time
Every time reminiscing about you.
The Key to the Advancement of Scandinavia
Who is not in awe of the Scandinavian countries? They are leaders in the world of all sizes. Countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, have good economic growth rates. The social gap between its citizens is also very low.
On a personal level, citizens have great confidence in their government. On the other hand, the government also respects this trust and tries to do its best. Several measurements also show that the level of happiness of its citizens is very high. The overall level of life satisfaction is also very satisfying.
If we want to look for examples of development, don't look to the United States, let alone Arab countries. Lots of chaos thinking there. Take a look at the Scandinavian region. There is something worth learning.
Ideological Balance
On the one hand, Scandinavian countries use the Welfare State's political-economic system. This means that the state is fully responsible for guaranteeing justice and prosperity for its citizens. All systems are made as cheap and easy as possible so that the interests of the citizens can be met. The quality of their education and overall health is one of the best in the world.
On the other hand, Scandinavian countries adopt open market policies. The free market is its economic philosophy. Competition and innovation are fully encouraged. They become real examples of how socialism and capitalism can find a balance point that brings justice and prosperity to all.
Some heretical views suggest that the Scandinavian countries were advanced because they were ethnically homogeneous societies. Immigrants and immigrants are very few. However, if we look at history, back in 1800, Scandinavia was a very poor area. In fact, at that time, the Scandinavian region was much more homogeneous, than it is today.
Bildung
Then, what drives the progress of the Scandinavian region so that it becomes what it is today? The answer is an educational policy of extraordinary genius. At the end of the 19th century, Scandinavian thinkers concluded that they could only progress if all citizens had a high-quality education. Education does not just stop at school but becomes a lifelong process.
Scandinavian thinkers and policymakers learned from German philosophy. In German, education is defined as Bildung. Bildung is a whole human development process, including elements of moral, emotional, intellectual, and citizenship attitudes of all citizens.
The 21st-century world is a very complex society. Technological developments are changing the face of the whole world. A nation can only develop in this century if its citizens have complex abilities. The old and outdated view must be released if a nation does not want to be trapped in a backward culture.
Usually, education is understood as the process of teaching skills, such as reading, counting, memorizing, and so on. This view is misguided, and it kills education itself. Bildung is the process of building a whole human being, especially one's world view. Bildung was created, so that people can understand their relationship with the wider world, including with a pluralistic society, God and the global community.
Bildung gives birth to responsibility for oneself, family, friends, fellow humans, and the wider nature. In Bildung, responsibility goes hand in hand with freedom. When people take full responsibility for their world, then they have the freedom to be involved and determine the shape of the world that will be created. The main essence of Bildung is an understanding of the self that is broad and is not trapped in the identity of small groups alone.
Self-Awareness and Thoughtful Thought
In the Scandinavian-style Bildung concept, self-awareness is also very important. Self-awareness is the process by which people become aware of everything that is happening inside themselves, including emotions, thoughts, and feelings. People are invited to realize and accept the complexity of the world within themselves. With trained self-awareness, people are no longer enslaved to their thoughts or feelings.
Self-awareness is also the key to holistic thinking or thorough thinking. Humans are part of a wider network, ranging from family, society, country to the universe. Thinking through means realizing the interconnectedness of it all within oneself. This is the basic thinking philosophy of education which is the key to, the advancement of the Scandinavian region.
After several generations, this mindset, openness, and self-awareness became an integral part of Scandinavian culture. The impact was very felt. The level of corruption in the region is among the lowest in the world. Scandinavians are good at dancing between personal freedom and a sense of responsibility in living together.
When people have a sense of responsibility towards each other, life together will be beautiful. Solidarity will grow naturally. Compliance with common laws and regulations does not arise from fear and compulsion, but full awareness. On the whole, the trust in each other will grow.
Learning from Scandinavia, the key to the progress of a nation is education or Bildung. This is not just the development of skills for work. It's also not just an activity of memorizing and obeying reverent teachers. Bildung is about shaping a way of thinking and a way of life. He develops self-awareness as well as responsibility for the wider environment.
About Marriage and Having Children, A Critical Consideration
Another of my best friends is divorced. Harsh words are expressed by two people who used to love each other. The grudges of the past were lifted out, dissolving in blows and tears. The child, completely innocent, must be a witness and hold a wound to the heart.
Every time there is a wedding invitation, I am always amazed. In times like this, people still dare to get married? Let's take a look at the data. In 2020, perhaps also because of the pandemic, the number of divorces is increasing worldwide. In some places, the number of divorces has skyrocketed. Many couples who file for divorce using economic reasons as a basis for separation. There is no longer any family economic security. Husbands can no longer provide money to meet family needs. This happened because the government failed to provide social safety nets for its citizens affected by the pandemic crisis.
Although divorced, the urge to have children is still great. Until September 2020, the world's population has reached 7.8 billion people. The resources used to support their lifestyle are enormous. Not surprisingly, environmental problems are now one of the world's biggest problems.
**Some Considerations**
There are several considerations that I would like to make;
***First***, in the 21st century, don't get married, just because you follow tradition. Don't get married, just because of the coercion of parents, and social pressure from the environment. Getting married must be a decision made with common sense and a clear conscience. Everyone needs to feel love. Everyone has emotional and sexual needs. However, not everyone has to get married. Use common sense to understand the current state of the world, before deciding to get married.
***Second***, the decision to have children must also be common sense. Don't have children, just because you follow tradition. Do not have children, just because of environmental forces. Without common sense considerations, people will have children, but cannot properly care for and educate them. The child will suffer, and cause trouble for the wider community.
Adoption options are also open. Many children are neglected and needy families. It makes much more sense, and conscientious answer, if we adopt a child in need. This is a very good choice in today's times. However, once again it needs to be reminded, not everyone must have children. Don't follow coercive traditions. Don't follow teachings that are no longer out of date. Use common sense and conscience, before deciding to have children.
***Third***, getting married is not a guarantee of happiness. True happiness doesn't come from money, power, or relationships with other people. People must learn to find happiness within themselves, before starting a relationship, let alone getting married. Don't ever hope that the partner will give you happiness. It all ends in suffering and conflict.
***Fourth***, children are not an investment of parents. Don't ever hope, they will take care of us after we get old. They are not things to own. They are deposits of life that will fly to spread their wings. They will have their challenges. They will have their responsibilities. If they want to take care of us, it comes from their freedom, not out of a moral obligation. Remember, they never asked to be born !!
**Use Common Sense**
A Yogi from the Himalayas once said "*human life is very short. It is like a drop of water that immediately disappears when it hits a river."* Why is it complicated by getting married and having children? In a world with a population of 7.8 billion, and growing, this view holds profound truth.
However, everyone has the right to determine the course of his life. This also applies to marriage and having children. Whatever the choice, use common sense and a clear conscience to decide. Don't just do it, let alone blindly follow traditions. The stakes are too big.
About Humans
One thing that cannot be denied is that humans are the dominant creatures on this earth. His work has changed the face of the world. This is all possible because humans can work together based on rational principles. This close cooperation not only made them strong but also expanded beyond their physical boundaries.
Five hundred years ago, people could only live to be 30 or 40 years old. But now, at the age of 65, people can still live healthily. The form of human social life is now increasingly complex, for example with the existence of the internet and social networks that have changed the whole meaning of human relationships. Heartbreaks and political revolutions can now be triggered with just one tap on the internet social network.
Human domination of this earth also has a dark face. Hundreds of species are becoming extinct every day, due to natural imbalances. The world's atmosphere is damaged, due to the pollution created by industrial fumes and the daily activities of more than 6 billion people on this earth. Slowly but surely, the earth became an unsuitable place for the birth and development of life.
Puisi Tanpa Judul
Rutinitas telah mengajarinya
cara membuang-buang waktu
dengan menghitung saldo rekening
yang tidak seberapa.
Makan mi ayam selepas hujan
mi ayam tanpa ayam, cuma sayuran.
Mengisap asap yang meruap
dari sela-sela roda pikap.
Ia takkan lepas,
dari rutinitas,
sebelum rela terhempas,
menjadi ampas,
mengendap bersama rindu & dendam yang belum tuntas.
Philosophy of life
People who still exist have a handle on life, a purpose in life, principles of life, and a philosophy of life. have their differences from one another in addressing and seeing things. Because everyone is not the same, everyone is unique and has a different opinion on every problem, each person is a creature of individualism that distinguishes one from another.
Humans are further divided into humans who have a very strong purpose in life, but their life principles are weak, or vice versa, some people have weak life goals but have strong life principles. This is not a problem, the most important thing is how well humans connect with various problems in the world, in other words, what is the psychological condition or the human soul in living his life. The principle of life is still far from having to do with psychology, but psychology is inevitably related to the principle of life. Because by reviewing the principles of one's life it can be seen the condition of one's soul. The principles of life and the philosophy of life are very broad in scope, not only in terms of psychology but all existing branches of knowledge. The principles of a person's life can be taken from the perspective of psychology, religion, art, literature, metaphysics, philosophy, etc.
For some people, the philosophy of life can be used as a role model for life, so that someone can live well and properly. Some people do not care about the purpose of life and the philosophy of life, they just live with the flow that flows and some people are too strong to hold their life purpose and life philosophy to make them hard and strong. So, in conclusion, 3 human traits can be viewed from his life philosophy, namely people who are weak, neutral people, and tough people.
Weak people are people who have no purpose in life or life principles. He doesn't know what he's living for, he doesn't try to know the truth behind this natural phenomenon, so that sometimes good and bad can live it. A neutral person is a person who has a purpose and life principles but does not hold it too strongly. He tries to find the truth of life and lives in wisdom and truth, he is free and neutral, no less and no transcendence, he is in the middle. A strong person is a person who holds firmly to his goals and principles of life. So that he can do anything to achieve his goals. He is bound by his philosophy, he is strong and rigid above his views, he feels superior to others and above all people.
If viewed from a psychological side. The people above can also be categorized, such as people who have a weak soul, a moderate soul, and a strong soul. However, for a healthy soul, a person is not only seen from a weak, moderate, or strong soul. The application of his behavior in everyday life is what is important.
The goals and principles of a person's life are good and clean. When a person is calm, he makes various goals and principles in his life, but when applied, some obstacles arise from outside himself or the influence of his external environment. One of the biggest influences from outside him is the five senses. The five senses that are not properly awake will make a person slip from the purpose and principles of life. Ears can hear, eyes can see, the mouth can speak. All that must be controlled properly.
As a concrete example, I have a life goal to become someone useful to help all living things until death comes and his philosophy of life is that if someone is good to me, then I will be good to him, and if someone is bad to me, then I will be good too. to her. From this philosophy of life, when viewed from a psychological perspective, the person has a healthy soul, does not hold grudges, and is happy to receive life. However, it is just a philosophy of life. the most important thing is how he applies it in his behavior, whether it can be as perfect as his philosophy of life or just make a philosophy of life but he does not implement it or he makes a philosophy of life, but he finds it difficult to carry it out because he cannot withstand temptations or obstacles from outside himself.
Benefits of Studying Philosophy
in studying philosophy at least what we can learn. that is:
philosophy teaches us to know ourselves more in totality so that we can understand the nature of humans and how human attitudes should be. Philosophy teaches serious, radical thinking, and examines things to their roots. To do philosophy is to try to find the truth about everything by taking it seriously. The ability to think seriously is needed by ordinary people, especially those who hold important positions in building the world, community leaders and become rulers in government. Studying philosophy is an exercise to acquire the ability to think seriously. This ability will be a provision in solving problems, finding the root of a problem, and finding the final cause of a problem.
Moreover, philosophy teaches us about the nature of the universe. Philosophical thinking is trying to compile a rational system of knowledge to understand everything, including the human being himself. Everyone does not need to know the content of philosophy, but people who participate in building the world need to know the teachings of philosophy.
studying philosophy is very important, with this knowledge humans will be provided with a wisdom which contains the values of life needed by humans.
@ludmilla95
