The Imperative

"Man, know thyself - and thou shall know the gods." -Proverb

"Ours is a world of chaos; unfriendly, indifferent, and tedious. Our passions erupt in conflict, and our whims anchor us to stagnation. Life is short, competitive, and tiresome. Is it any wonder then, that so many look to those reassuring fables we tell ourselves whenever the night should fall? Even if we know them to be false?

 

Are we so desperate for comfort, for validation in ourselves, that we hold those stories to be true? It is far more humble, and far more the sacrifice, to live without that scripture. It is far more glorious to look up into the night sky and know that those pinpoints of light are our ancestors and birthright, than to take solace in some tale and its subjective, conditional promises.

 

For no matter how much and how long we have looked for a purpose, we have found none waiting for us. Each individual's purpose is to be made individually. We make ourselves. We should each look into ourselves for the truth, and no matter how much we may fear what we may find, or not find, if we remain calm but for a moment and listen we can discover the truth we seek.

 

I have waited, and I have listened. I have thought, experienced, and beheld. I have asked myself, looked within, and without. And I have found my answer.

 

I am to claim a place amongst the cosmos. And in doing so to become a part of it, I will become it.

 

I am to become a god. And I will not rest until I bring every other person with me."

 

 

"Would you call me maddened, or so filled with hubris and avarice as to be despicable? Am I a monster for my realizations; a fiend for being able to speak an answer with conviction? Would you call me stoic because my pursuits continue without petty judgments? Or deem me heroic because I do not let my own personal safety infringe upon that progress? Am I selfless because in the end, what I wish is to become a pioneer?

 

Can there be conquest in the name of solidarity? Is there a manner in which achieving the ultimate does not lead to subjugation, but in the advancement of all?

 

I've been told that two others in your history sought the very same. Hitler and the Buddha."

-Lerion

Author's Note

I usually proofread my works, however as always I'm sure there are typos and syntax errors. I appreciate any and all notices of that, and will work to correct those. If I haven't do know that I did acknowledge your notice and try implementing it, but found that it detracted from the effect I wanted and so omitted it.

Reviews

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You've written an incredibly thought-provoking piece. I have no recommendations with regard to typos and syntax errors. I didn't notice any; the power of what you've expressed transcended the format for me. I started thinking and these are my thoughts:

Indoctrination - religious or political - is not sustainable. I've derived that from the fact that people in the Middle East are demanding greater freedom. NYT journalist Thomas L. Friedman said about US policy that it did not bring about transformation because whatever has to start has to start with the people themselves - from their experience of subjugation. Perhaps facilitators and aspiring facilitators can talk about their experiences to generate awareness, as you have done.

Even the Chinese Government is having to spend more and more money on "domestic peace", which The Economist says is a euphemism for silencing independent voices. There is definitely a need for greater awareness about the true value of "fair inclusion of diverse voices". Many key philosophers have said that justice is the highest human virtue. If we learn to look at our unjust actions as not mistakes but opportunities to self actualize, we'd be working towards a more just society that truly celebrates diversity by being inclusive in the truest sense.