The world is only an illusion to itself

1296 Words6 Pages
The World Today is Only an Illusion to Itself Since we have been little, we have been taught the idea of bettering ourselves. The purpose of life is to better yourself or that is what we think. When you get older you want to have a big house, nice car, a beautiful spouse, and good kids. This is what we ultimately look forward to. If we have all these things then we will be happy. What if we took time to realize there is more than that? Would we appreciate things more, or would we just continue with this life we have been raised to strive for? Robert Thurman, a Buddhist scholar, states that, “Your solid self is only an illusion” (Thurman 746). The way we see the world and the way you present yourself is supposed to be a representation of yourself. If we didn’t represent ourselves then we would all end up being the same. This would create a more peaceful society but at the same time it would be very boring and we wouldn’t have a way to show others who we are. The clothes you wear or the way you look is pushed on you by society. Society needs to take the time and teach itself the idea of weightlessness and selflessness to counter act the imposed idea of selfishness. Through the decades, the world has become obsessed with the idea of, “I, me, and mine” (Thurman 742). When we think about this, we all think this way on a subconscious level. We don’t think about anyone except ourselves. If we implemented the ideas of selflessness and weightlessness life might be very difficult but if we just tried we would be at more peace with ourselves and others. We would be happier and more productive in everything from work and school to playing sports. If we just took a little time to appreciate others and accept what the world truly has to offer, we could create a peaceful place for all. In the essays “The Ecology of Magic” and “Wisdom” by David Abram and Robert

More about The world is only an illusion to itself

Open Document