The Pursuit Of Ignorance:

question (≈ 297 words)

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Two pathways diverge in a parched desert hamlet...

One individual takes the harsh, unmarked road least traversed.

The other choses a path with no heart; from which they arrogantly proceed to lie, cheat, steal, defame, attempt to annihilate and coerce an unconscionably malicious intent into being—and all in blind support of greed, envy, egoic pride and irrational fear.

Question: Which is the truer course?

Answer: Both are viable.

The first is an intentional burden, albeit one that includes an ending within purview. It is like the parable of enduring ceaseless, unfounded, personal attacks, public ridicule and wounding—sans retaliation, seeking vengeance, harboring grudges or rendering judgement—culminating in an unwarranted communal lapidation. Eventually embracing the mercy of death, followed by a chrysalis and rebirth into something unfathomably beautiful.

The second reflects the Sisyphus mythos—which enacts an inconversant, dispiriting affliction with no clear ending in sight. Day in and day out, over and over, abiding a senseless torture...until eventually realizing that it is a self-directed endeavor. Until finally choosing to accept unmitigated responsibility for every Intent, Thought, Word and Action, and resolving to do whatever it takes to learn the lesson such that the cycle never requires repeating.

Both can achieve the same goal.

The first is unquestionably arduous, but relatively short in duration. This is what the religions like to call Purgatory.

The second is also exhaustingly difficult, and appears interminable. This is what the religions like to call Hell.

Both can settle accrued Karmic debt.

Both can enable awareness and growth.

Both can be unnecessary; there are always other, more logical, perhaps more peaceful ways. However, we only seem to learn the hard lessons...

So, then, the question, as always, remains: How much suffering are we willing to endure in the pursuit of ignorance?

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