Reality

No - this is not a post about maya - the veil of illusion.

In our life, we circumscribe ourselves to situations that are socially acceptable. Read as "normal". Normal might be sick or stupid in terms of "intelligent behavior" but we have no qualms taking them in our stride. My window into life's harsher realms is the movies. All these thoughts were triggered when I was reading the review of RGV's latest movie. Context doesn't matter though.

Life is all encompassing. It contains situations we cannot conceive going through to the gentlest and subtlest of them all. For most of us, even witnessing an animal's life being taken at the sacrificial altar can be out of bounds. Yet this happens (in a far more insensitive manner) to food on our plate. This question was on my mind when the video for how meat production happens fell on my lap. My question to myself was - do I need to watch this? If I refuse to, am I insulating myself from reality that is so existent. Was this ostrich behavior? It is a valid question. Equally valid is another aspect - this is not the reality I want to create and experience. Why do I want to subject myself to it?

I think there is no right answer. My take is:

1) In intent (and consciousness) with which we subject ourselves to all material we perceive is vital. For example, there is a pole of difference between someone watching violent content with sadistic intent and empathizing intent. While the external event itself can be unaltered, the perceiver is altered, even to opposite effects based on the intent.

2) Life doesn't care about society. Anytime, life can throw a situation which is totally out of bounds from day to day experiences? Is it good to face them unprepared? Were people prepared with the tsunami hit them or is it better to face the possibility before hand?

The solution: Hitch your inside to the highest star you want to attain and do not let it go irrespective of what you go through outside. Whatever happens on the outside will only contextualize itself to facilitate that. Yes, its a simple fix - but not an easy one!