JUST BE VS ATTACH MEANING

JUST BE VS. ATTACH MEANING

A short letter to my friend, with whom (over the course of various comments and dialogues) I have been discussing this and related issues

______________________


I go back and forth with the whole seeking and attaching meaning vs. "just being" thing... I seem to naturally be very intellectual, in the mind, and a "meaning attacher." I do see that too much of this is folly and ego.  And it is important not to say or think "I have the answer!" and be guilty of pride in intellectualism.

But intellectual pursuit, thought, seeking meaning, and having (to a certain degree) a life of the mind, it is a part of the human experience. Bringing meaning (which is the hallmark of existentialism as I understand it) is not necessarily a bad or ego-filled thing.  It is what we humans do and it is programmed into our bodies/minds to see meaning.  I do not think attaching of meaning and noticing and focusing on thoughts is ALWAYS ego. It is just a part of who we are as a species.  A commenter pointed this out, and I think I agree.

I do want so much to be calm, at peace, let go, etc.  I think, as my last LONG response to you indicates, that I tend to believe there is a place for both.   Perhaps it is about balance, having time in our day for intellectual pursuit, creativity (which involves seeing and conveying meaning), plus much time for rest, listening, calmness, quiet and just being... hopefully, we have a general demeanor of calm,non-attachment, which promotes "just being."  

I do not think that thought, dialogue, seeing meaning, etc., is, in and of itself, necessarily ego, wheel spinning, non-spiritual, etc.  Though many monks and men/women of spirit might spend hours/days (or even most of their time) in silence, contemplation, resting in God, etc.(and this may be a sign of great enlightenment and do the world immeasurable good), it is not necessarily ego and not a repudiation of "just being" to attach meaning, speak, write, entertain thoughts etc.  

Thomas Merton, the Dalai Llama, etc., many great men of silence and "just being" spend a great deal of time in writing, speaking, and a seeing, capturing, conveying "meaning."  And this is not ego, or lack of being present... to the contrary it is an expression of being, being present, etc.

I do not mean to imply that you are necessarily disagreeing with me here... just expressing my thoughts for you.

K, 'nuff for now!

I need to go "just be" for a bit...  Lol... Wink.

-M