Contradiction #8
January 17, 2013 § 15 Comments
Other people are not a source of peace or happiness;
but something deeper -
an experience of ourselves.
And yet,
without other people,
we may not experience peace or happiness.
~ Kelly Hartland
kellyhartland
Aphorist / Visual Artist
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you Vironika!
People are a pack animal so what you say makes sense.
Yes! Which is why I’m a little confused about the concept of seclusion leading to enlightenment and peace. I just don’t see how it could lead to anything of real depth – although I can see how it would be a tempting concept. Especially as people, just by being around them, reveal me to myself – and it’s, at times, uncomfortable.
With the internet, many people are very secluded but they think that they are not because it appears to be contact with others, however, as a pack animal: we are tactile; and no amount of cyber life will replace real life people in our lives.
Very nice poem, Kelly, thank you for sharing. Many blessings and much love to you.
The light shines
from inside your heart,
but sometimes other people
could make it dimmer
or brighter.
Subhan Zein
What you say is true, thank you for sharing your thoughtful heart.
Blessings and love to you too Subhan
Thank you, Kelly, many blessings and much love to you.
This is sooo true. Which is why I long to actually meet other bloggers on the blogosphere. I wonder how these electronic relationships to others are changing us and if our experience of peace and happiness is somehow “fraudulent” if our relationships are only electronic.
I responded to your thought, but wrote it within comments instead of as a reply; so I’m writing this so that you will be notified.
Yeah, I wonder…
Well, I suppose people can, and still do, rub us up the wrong way via these electronic relationships; so that can bring an opportunity to reflect within – ‘why does this bother me?’
But it’s very difficult to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ how we effect each other. We receive a polished version of one another on here.
… hmm, Genie (commented previously on this post) touched on the idea that this medium is still isolation – even though it doesn’t feel like it, saying that we are pack animals and tactile creatures.
I agree.
But, the thought that our experience of peace and happiness being ‘fraudulent’ via this type of relationship – it’s a very good question mobius. We shall have to study ourselves to determine the answer to this question I think.
Time will tell. I always enjoy your writing.
Thank you!
Fraudulent implies the intention to deceive,
I am not certain that it applies to many who are attempting to look within themselves by communicating with ‘like minded’ people !
Isn’t it great to just start off the debate, even if only with yourself ?
Always! I spend a little too much time debating with myself – but I love it!
Fraudulent does imply intention to deceive; it can also imply that the result can be an imitation/fake.
But I think I hear what you’re saying; in regards to ‘the’ intention.
Keep debating I say!