A thought experiment

Sometimes I view it as a character flaw that my greatest obsession is trying to make sense of the world. I’ve been like this since my teens, which sadly led to bouts of depression followed by efforts of self-medication, and then thankfully a more clear-eyed never-ending journey of exploration. When I realized that wanting to understand people and events and the machinations of the world was actually not a bad thing, I allowed myself to unabashedly ponder existential questions through science, religion, literature, art…you name it. It’s why I’ve made the choices I’ve made in my life and why I love deep conversation and have little tolerance for bullshit. What I’ve come back to time and time again, however, is that I can’t possibly understand it and will maybe never understand it. I lean most significantly on my Buddhist teachings and practices about the illusory nature of existence and the fact that nothing is in our control. However, having these two Buddhist concepts in my back pocket doesn’t stop me from still trying to make sense of things. They do give me a spot to land when I fear I am spiraling out of control in my questioning though.

A few months back, my youngest brother, Angel and I were chatting about what the hell was happening in this world, sharing our opinions and philosophies and thoughts on what actions we should take. He and I are very like-minded as rabid anti-fascists, who believe in dismantling the current local and global systems of oppressive power. Yet while he is a pretty serious anarchist, I lean more towards democratic socialism. In any case, we realized that none of what is happening makes sense. Killing innocent children makes no sense. Targeting people for their desire to get a better chance at survival via migration makes no sense. Destroying the planet that supports our existence makes absolutely no sense. Etcetera, etcetera.

I invited him to indulge my processing for a moment and shared that many years ago when I was struggling with yet another rock bottom in my life, a therapist suggested that I practice accepting what was happening because perhaps it was exactly what was supposed to be happening. In Buddhist circles, this is called Radical Acceptance. And to tell the truth, it is/was an incredibly helpful way of looking at things and brought me great freedom. (It still does.)

So, building upon that concept, I asked him: What if what is happening in our world today—even the super shitty stuff—is happening as things are meant to unfold? Not because some “god” or creator is making it happen (that’s not part of my worldview, nor his). And not in some arcane “book of revelations” way; apocalyptic thinking that values certain lives over others. But rather, an unfolding toward a better reality. That, the rise of fascism, the destruction on numerous levels, the absurdity of what the US government has become, the clown-show leadership and their oligarchic coup, all of it. What if all of it was happening as it was meant to…so that things finally, and completely, fall apart? So that the toxic, traumatic, and harmful ways that the world has been functioning for the last few thousand years (plus) will finally come to an end, possibly a horrific end, to be sure, but an end nonetheless. Where empire and violence and greed and suffering will breathe their last gasp. And from those ashes, humanity (whoever is left) can create a world not founded upon the aforementioned “values” but instead built upon connection, reciprocity, love, and the other values that Imperialism and White Supremacy and Patriarchy (and Christianity) killed and subjugated. What about that?

I recall reading David Korten’s concept of the Great Turning many years ago and hoping that with each passing year, it would come to pass. I also remember reading the Popol Vuh trying to connect the timing of the Great Turning with the timing predicted by what the Mayan people believed. Again, you can see how I was searching for answers. But now, I think the answer is showing itself. It all must come crashing down and I think we are witnessing what is meant to happen. And those of us committed to something better will hopefully be given the chance to build something new.

P.S. Just an FYI: While I am accepting reality to the best of my ability, I’m not sitting back and doing nothing. We have to bring a new world into being and that requires work. And imagination. And grit. And there are so many ways to take action for transformation!