The Center Garden- Foundation

Last post, I talked about how we're all mortal beings with wants and needs. Which, in reality, is a fairly banal sentiment. I point it out, however, to contrast many of the existing world philosophies.

Many have you strive toward a "divine ideal", be it a moral code or enlightenment or what not. This is not an inherently bad thing. Bettering yourself is good. The catch is many of these beliefs ask/require you to leave behind some/most/all mortal desires. The very things that we are. This I do not agree with.

The foundation of the center garden is also the foundation to the path itself. Of the 8 angels to follow Elua, Shemhazai taught the motto "All knowledge is worth having." The path is three fold; learn and understand, love, and accept; mentally, physically, and emotionally.

As people, we either love or hate something. Like or dislike. There are very few things in which we are indifferent. This includes ourselves. We may joke the only thing constant is death and taxes or change, but the truth is the only thing that will always be in your life is you.  You will always be with you. Which seems like a fairly simple thing. How could you leave yourself?

Actually, it's fairly easy to do. They're called distractions. I really think they're more like addictions. It's easier to level your Druid in WoW than to think about yourself beyond the "Did I have dinner?". TV, books, games, food, other people... and yes, gambling, sex, drugs; there are tons of ways in which we distract ourselves from our Self. But sit here and think about yourself. About what you're doing. About what your work, your home, your relationship, your philosophies, your actions... all of it. Somewhere, you'll know. You will either love (or like) where you are going or hate (dislike) it, or even fear it. Machiavelli has probably one of the most famous quotes in regards to love and fear.

"Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with."

And while this may apply to leading people, in truth, it can apply to more than just that. The problem is that loving something takes work. Anybody that's tried to host a large party can tell you how hard it is to please everybody. Individual wants and needs. Experiences that may be fine to one person but trigger another. There are, I think, as many different needs for love as there are people.
 
Fear or dislike, on the other hand, is much easier. Humans are fairly basic beings. Our fears are well documented and can be used in science as a collective much easier than love. Which is something Machiavelli gets at- it is easier to be feared than loved. Even if can get you killed in the end.

This applies to ourselves as well. Look at the beauty industry, fashion, the media... So much of it is about how you can look better, feel better, do better, be better. Most of this plays on our fears, our dislike, of ourselves. Take the steps to learn about yourself. Take the steps to understand yourself. From there, you can grow and (hopefully) learn to like or love yourself. Don't confuse it with complacency though. Letting yourself become morbidly obese because you've discovered you love sweet things is not loving yourself. It's a good way to slowly or stealthily kill yourself.

There's still a bit more to the center garden, but we'll get to that in a later post. Right now, start to get to know yourself and face those fears about yourself. They're not as scary as you think. I promise.