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dead or alive
genkaku
Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
A million people were said to have gathered in Rome today to celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II who died April 2, 2005. Beatification, in the Roman Catholic Church, is one step on the road to sainthood. And if there is one thing you have to say about the dead, whether Catholic or otherwise, it's that they can't talk back.
To my mind, everyone picks a saint or two as they go along -- somebody to elevate and perhaps emulate. And a lot of those (for lack of a better word) saints are dead. Not all, but a lot. When they were alive, they were clothed in various appreciations ... saintly, perhaps, or funny or austere or hard-working or lazy or cranky or helpful or simply multi-faceted human beings. But now they are dead and can't talk back and the fact that they can't talk back means that those who are living can dress them up in splendid clothing. "Never speak ill of the dead" is another way of saying that those doing the speaking would prefer not to be as confused and uncertain and surprised as they were when the object of their words was alive. Heroes, to hear the heroes tell it, are fabricated in other people's minds.
I think picking out a saint or two, an object of veneration or two, a hero or two, is a human activity -- an activity that betokens a yearning or wish to revise or improve or maybe just to adore. But where the rubber hits the road, where anyone gets serious enough to act in ways inspired by saints or heroes, isn't there a need to set aside the rhetoric? To be grateful for pointers, perhaps, but to turn down the volume on the praise that was once so lavishly offered? Isn't it more useful to slow down and do the work than to expend unending accolades for that which inspired the work?
Just noodling here. What does anyone else think -- how does anyone else cope with -- their own very personal tendency to praise what cannot talk back? Beyond the usefulness of inspiration, is it a help or a hindrance?
To my mind, everyone picks a saint or two as they go along -- somebody to elevate and perhaps emulate. And a lot of those (for lack of a better word) saints are dead. Not all, but a lot. When they were alive, they were clothed in various appreciations ... saintly, perhaps, or funny or austere or hard-working or lazy or cranky or helpful or simply multi-faceted human beings. But now they are dead and can't talk back and the fact that they can't talk back means that those who are living can dress them up in splendid clothing. "Never speak ill of the dead" is another way of saying that those doing the speaking would prefer not to be as confused and uncertain and surprised as they were when the object of their words was alive. Heroes, to hear the heroes tell it, are fabricated in other people's minds.
I think picking out a saint or two, an object of veneration or two, a hero or two, is a human activity -- an activity that betokens a yearning or wish to revise or improve or maybe just to adore. But where the rubber hits the road, where anyone gets serious enough to act in ways inspired by saints or heroes, isn't there a need to set aside the rhetoric? To be grateful for pointers, perhaps, but to turn down the volume on the praise that was once so lavishly offered? Isn't it more useful to slow down and do the work than to expend unending accolades for that which inspired the work?
Just noodling here. What does anyone else think -- how does anyone else cope with -- their own very personal tendency to praise what cannot talk back? Beyond the usefulness of inspiration, is it a help or a hindrance?
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Comments
I did have an obsession with kurt cobaine, I kind of still do. I do not want to be him, but I am just fascinated with his life and his train wreck of a life. I just have this affinity with it all for some reason, maybe the dark side of it attracts me...
In the end of the day let’s hope Buddha was right by saying: Make your own mind.
As to the previous posts,
John Paul II : many great ideas and at the same time dangerous. So what? Pick what you want and be compassionate to the one you disagree.
Jesus /as far we know/
‘’how are we meant to truly learn from his lessons and actions if we believe that he is somehow greater than we can ever achieve’’
Sure we can. This is coming from the person who disapproves Christianity.
At least for me, Buddha in his philosophy gave us this power , goal and the ''reason ''justification - to seek our own and ultimate 'Eureka'.
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"Should" and "don't" are frequently quite different.
Yes, and yes!!!!!
however after, :banghead: and then :screwy: :facepalm:
Take responsibility.
I would start of by saying "Beyond the usefulness of inspiration" seems to me you are suggesting inspiration is a unimportant aspect of life. I think finding people and things that inspire you are huge assets and of huge value to life.I would even call that essential to live a happy fulfilling life.
I find inspiration in many things in life. I just started reading Napoleon's biography and his early life is definitely an inspiration to work hard and be studious. I am sure as I move through his life he will have elements that inspire and others that serve as dire warnings.
I agree though that when put on the spot many people dont follow through with their conviction as embodied by someone they emulate. But thats the struggle of man, we try to stay on the right road but if we are not mindful we end up straying over and over again.
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Ric -- I didn't mean to disparage inspiration, but rather wanted to suggest that inspiration without action is little more than ego stroking...and ego stroking tends to produce smugness and confusion and sorrow over the long haul. So, yes, first there is intention that may be inspired by others. But after that ... well, it's up to us.
Gautama Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammad may be wonderful inspirations, for example. But looking at the historical record, we can see that the fine print of inspiration is not always so inspiring. The road to heaven and the road to hell are both paved with good intentions. Which is which is our responsibility.
Solely based on my experience I dont think its necessarily ego stroking, which im sure some of them are, but rather a lack of mindfulness. I think people on Monday worship and adore the dead pope and then on Tuesday they start to forget and by Friday the pope isnt even remotely on their minds.
So I think that the intent is there but because we are unaware of how unaware we are these things slip and fade.
Recently I put up some pictures that were to inspire me to work hard and always move closer to who I want to be. The first week was great, those pictures really did help...but after one month I completely forgot about the pictures even though they were always around me. I would pass them and not even see them, it was the same as having a blank wall. So unless we train to see what is there we are bound to keep forgetting....including our inspirations, goals and purpose in life.