This is a good time to share this poem with everyone:
I saw them tearing a building down. A team of men in my hometown. With a heave and a ho and a yes yes yell, they swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
And I said to the foreman, "Are these men skilled?" "Like the ones you'd use if you had to build?"
And he laughed and said, "Oh no, indeed... the most common labor is all I need... for I can destroy in a day or two what takes a builder ten years to do."
So I thought to myself as I went on my way...
Which one of these roles am I willing to play?
Am I one who is tearing down as I carelessly make my way around? Or am I one who builds with care, in order to make the world a little better... because I was there?
anon
No one likes seeing their country destroyed. No one likes seeing their culture destroyed. No one likes seeing that which they've worked for destroyed.
This principle also applies to Voat.
Each of us is either a builder or a destroyer.
Choose your side, because I've chosen mine. Voat will support those who build.
Interpret this post however you'd like, because at it's root it is truth, but I'm posting this for those of us that need a reminder from time to time.
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crazy_eyes ago
A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, still recovering from his injury. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
The moral of this story, is, of course, that no event, in and of itself, can truly be judged as good or bad, lucky or unlucky, fortunate or unfortunate, but that only time will tell the whole story. Additionally, no one really lives long enough to find out the ‘whole story,’ so it could be considered a great waste of time to judge minor inconveniences as misfortunes or to invest tons of energy into things that look outstanding on the surface, but may not pay off in the end.
The wiser thing, then, is to live life in moderation, keeping as even a temperament as possible, taking all things in stride, whether they originally appear to be ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Life is much more comfortable and comforting if we merely accept what we’re given and make the best of our life circumstances. Rather than always having to pass judgement on things and declare them as good or bad, it would be better to just sit back and say, “It will be interesting to see what happens.”
sheriffmark ago
That is a oldie but goodie. Many lessons about what happens to you in life. Thanks for the reminder.
BonnieRic ago
That is excellent advice! Kudos!.
I have been practicing being the observer of my own experience, instead of paying heed to all the judgements in my head. Here are methods that help:
Put all our attention on our 5 senses long enough to exit the stories in our heads (worries, guilt, pride, regrets, preferences, compulsions, judgments, etc). Examples... "How do the dish bubbles feel on my hands? How does the shirt sleeve feel on my arm? How does the air feel going in and out of my nose? How does my breathing feel in my chest?" Then just observe the thoughts as they pass, giving them less credence...being alert, but not trapped by them.
Put all our attention in our heart area, knowing we are much more than the bundle of chemistry and wiring in our brains. Stay present there in the heart while we observe our experience, creating that bit of space between our physical body (brain structure, personality and experience) and our "being".
I thought of an analogy or two that help.
I think of my experience (my body, brain structure, mistakes, victories, strengths, weaknesses, family , friends, events, situations, compulsions, preferences, etc) as a set of garden gloves. If I was under the illusion that my gloves were actually me, I would freak out when they got dirty or torn as I worked to create something in my garden. But, if I remember that my hands are still fine, even when my garden gloves are dirty or damaged, then I can be settled, brave, and in acceptance as I keep working the garden. My hands animate the garden gloves, just like my "being" is living this experience. That is liberating! It isn't detachment in a submersive sort of way. I can stay more conscious and available for action when I am not stuck in the judgments natural to our minds.
crazy_eyes ago
Nice, thanks
Coffee_BR ago
"The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing." ---- Socrates
NJAnon ago
There is a very famous Jewish Parable that this is almost exactly like this .The message in the Jewish one was that everything that happens is for the good, comes from God and we should have faith in God.
BloatedVoatGoat ago
is it?
BlueDrache ago
"May you live in interesting times." ~ Chinese Proverb (also an insult/curse)
selpai ago
If there's one thing that's certain about life, it's that it's serious. -Alan Watts
dassaer ago
"Life's too serious to take seriously". - When on one's death-bed, looking back on the life that was, who shall say; "I wish I worked more."
middle_path ago
I love this one. Always have. I tell a variation of it very often.
crazy_eyes ago
me too.
heretolearn ago
I've read this version with "this too shall pass" as the response .
mleczko ago
bad advice in a time of war.
fireantsinyourpants ago
It seems like I've seen a story like this somewhere before...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fMnQAvz0ek
crazy_eyes ago
It's an old story
ChiCom ago
Philosophy of a spectator
talmoridor-x ago
Laurentius_the_pyro ago
Extreme problems require extreme solutions, the world only got this bad because previous generations were not willing to be extreme.
Civil_Warrior ago
Too true. All things in moderation, including moderation.
NotALawyer ago
I disagree.
World only got this good because previous generations sat back and just did what they could at any given moment.
Average cizizen of first world countries lives considerably better than a medieval King ever did, let that one sink in.
Civil_Warrior ago
Water quality, available game to hunt, fish, soil quality and oxygen levels all in the shitter compared to medeival times and scheduled to never be as good.
NotALawyer ago
And only one in 5 children grew old enough to marry, what a wonderful life that must've been, never travelling further than roughly 15km away from village (average) , and if fields didnt give enough food, everybody starved to death. Almost forgot about labouring on fields from sundise to sunset, with only big breakfast, and light soup for evenings. Meat was roughly twice a year, if even that. No spices, rarely salt, even rarer was pepper. Everything tastes bland, everything is soup consistency. You cannot drink water because animal piss made it toxic, you drink only what would today amount to light root beer. Yes, even children. 97% of population is poorer than people in poorest parts of Africa today, 15 people usually sleep in one bed. You were considered rich if you had extra room for your children to sleep on. If you were lucky, you had a "house" which was basically rock put together with mud and straw, with straw/later ceramic roof. Cooking range was a fire in the middle of that "house". You slept in your childs' feces. Your floor was mud. You showered once a year. You had to work on your masters' fields for no pay one day a week. Only source of water was a well in the middle of village, and if it decided to dry out, you die.
Lots more of that though. By the way, only the Lord was allowed to hunt in Kings' forests, anyone else hunting there was lynched, beaten or put to prison, no matter how hungry, because land belonged to the King.
middle_path ago
And what hard decisions have you made, internet tough guy?
waterniggas ago
lives are varied, he could've made a lot of them
mustang10 ago
I agree with your statement in general. Yes we are currently facing many challenges in this world. Who is responsible is subject to debate. Is it the greedy individuals that think stealing from others is ok? Is it the person who never gets off their rear to actually find out what is going on outside their door? I think what is lost is, this problem has started while most of us baby boomers were still growing up. Being indoctrinated from the 60's through our school systems, and not challenging what was being taught, as it was easier to go along to get along, for those of you who remember that saying? So there is enough blame to go around for everyone. You can blame the system for how the kids are today, but who is really to blame? The parent who believes everything their child tells them, without finding out first the issue. The fact that the government made it so both parents have to work to make ends meet. Kids who spend more time in front of a game, rather than going outside and finding something to do. Yes a big factor on why we are in the situation is the breakdown of the family. So there are a few options, we can get involved, sit on our rears, or oppose the movement, but that is a personal decision everyone has to make, my family has made theirs. In my opinion, we have a group of patriots who have stepped up to plate to make a difference, we can help them, as most on this site do, or not. We are playing a game, unlike other games, this is for our souls and the souls of our children and grandchildren, we all have a choice to make, me included, which i have. So for those who try to destroy this site, there is a higher power, if you think he/she does not exist, think about why there is controversy on this site, what has been exposed. Personally, I firmly believe there are no coincidences, in life. So rather than argue between each other, you know what is in your hart, follow it, if it is good and continue the fight. For those who want to cause havoc on this site, remember there will be a day of reckoning, when we all have to answer for our deeds. God Bless, wwg1wga.
clubberlang ago
The word you were looking for was complacent
NoBS ago
Submissive, like voluntary servitude. Chemical slaves make the easiest to manipulate, but that's just a simplified form of entitlement junkies.
T1tus ago
Dont judge the people still blinded by the veil.
Learn the Questions to ask them that will make them Question themselves....that's all you can do.
It's what was done to us
NoBS ago
Voluntary Servitude is why our children are born enslaved to Globalist. The root cause and why so few have so much power over our lives.
crazy_eyes ago
I dont think the cause was that they were not willing to be extreme
Delacourt ago
I always bring up this point to people who say that. There were plenty of people in the past who were willing to be "extreme", and all they did was push us further into the gutter. What we need to be is smart, and organized.
Intrixina ago
That's an awesome mindset to have.
Thereunto ago
The middle path, in Buddhism.
Civil_Warrior ago
Good for the individual, worthless for nation building.
middle_path ago
Never heard of it.
belphegorsprime ago
Hahahahaha
Jewed ago
How are they faring with the world's Muslims?
waterniggas ago
I don't know a single buddhist country that has trouble with muslims. They take care of them quickly.
Ocelot ago
The Dalai Lama is vocally anti-Muslim.
Jewed ago
He's also a piece of shit, but on this point we agree.
Ocelot ago
Guess I don't know enough about the Dalai Lama.
ThoughtTheDragon ago
WISDOOOOOOMFEEEEEESSSST!
rektumsempra ago
I'm familiar with this story as an explanation of zen, but what makes it relevant in this thread in particular?
HndrxMn ago
Philip Toshio Sudo wrote a great book called Zen Guitar that discussed this. When it appears overwhelming in the small frame, look at the bigger picture and when the bigger picture appears overwhelming, narrow your focus to the small things. Our country and the world at large is experiencing a general upheaval due to certain asshats who have sold their soul to attain power. In times like these where a singular force -relatively- is against the many, building each other up in the small scale is a far greater weapon against evil. I know a lot of folks here on Voat abhor Christianity , but Jesus Christ summed it up best when the pharisees asked what is the greatest commandment; "Love God and love your neighbor" (I'm speaking of true Christianity by the way, not this milquetoast version you see in most churches these days; Law must coincide with the Gospel). The opposing force wants us divided. They want us tearing each other down. They want to foment unrest. A house divided cannot stand.
rektumsempra ago
Christianity can't be ideal since if it had been, everyone would convert to it. There's no perfect religion yet that explains the divine truth, assuming truth is divine and not nihilistic. The king of the jews didn't save the jews. Buddhism isn't enough, either, or kids would be learning it in and out of school. The path to enlightenment is too long and hard no matter which religion you choose. Like it or not, somebody still has yet to figure it out, and it can be figured out because everyone in the world will subscribe to it. Proof of this is that everyone in the world who doesn't worship the divine or altruism (in the case of atheists) at least worships money, which is nihilistic if it's worshipped as an end in itself. People want divinity, but most of them fall for the misconception that money is the answer. When something better comes along, they'll make the switch. Christianity didn't beat money, and I think it's had more than enough time to.
Anarchy99 ago
Jesus also said this John 8:44–48
44 Ye are of your father the devil (Satan) and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his owna: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
48 Then answered the Jews . . .
https://biblia.com/bible/kjv/Jn8.44-48
John 7:1-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Luke 19:27
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
TheTrigger ago
He's basically saying the wordy-nerd version of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygr5AHufBN4
rektumsempra ago
I love how the rustling jimmies meme has absolutely nothing to do with gorilla munch or even gorillas. This is my favorite version
Battlefat ago
Bilzerian gave a version of this recently during an interview with Rogan and I too took away this small insight
bopper ago
That guy died of a heart attack on a plane, he was just 45. Story's author, good story.
TheSeer ago
"Any plan conceived in moderation will fail when the circumstances are set in the extreme" Metternich, (most famous) Austrian diplomat
We are in an extreme setting, at the moment. Not of our own choosing, but perhaps of our (or Boomers') doing.