Thoughted

Recently I have been pondering whether or not the endeavours I am hungry to journey upon and the achievements I am ambitious to attain, are really what I am meant to do or what will make me happy.

I am of Persian decent and our culture and religion is heavily embedded in introspection and self exploration. Meditation is one vehicle to investigate the self, as practiced by many a wise man before me. Some meditation styles suggest that humans store negative energy in our bodies and need to release that energy through meditation. Only then can we achieve true happiness.

Western discourse prescribes a different course of action to arrive at the outcome of happiness. Traditionally speaking, a modernity paradigm is transfixed on consumerism and ease of function. Contemporary western culture also relies on a ‘medicalised’ and ‘expert theory’, often relying on specialists, clinicians and other people to tell you what’s wrong with you. The latest in medical research on personal happiness focuses on neuro-plasticity or neuro pathways which are like beaten tracks in your brain due to over thinking in the same way. For example, the positive person stays positive because their brain is programmed to think in such a way – while their environment interplays in these thought processes, the brain will instinctively return to a ‘rosie coloured’ thought.

I am interested in the disparity between ancient and modern philosophies on the topic as well as the eastern and western remedies for unhappiness. While I can see that modern practices are going through the process of change incorporating eastern practices such as yoga and meditation, in contemporary daily western culture and life. My local fitness first offers a range of these classes and they are all facilitated by a fit young Australian as opposed to a decaying Indian with a history of mountainous cave self exploration. It is unrealistic to expect to be able to live a life free of material yearning while living in a metropolitan city. Personally, I feel it is also as unrealistic to expect to be able to live in such a metropolitan without some level of self knowledge and emotional intelligence. Maybe the solution is an amalgamation of both the old and new or east and west? The next question is how do we balance the two on with consideration to work/ leisure life…

I would like to write about something that I feel absolutely submersed in at present. Australian politics. The media is saturated with polls, interviews, statements and pictures, all it fails to accurately present is actual policy! How are citizens expected to make respectable decisions using this level of information?

More over, the leaders of our major two political parties are becoming increasingly uninspiring and, in my opinion, flailing in the wind that is our society. Gone are the days where we can really relate to the people and personalities who lead our parties. Our politicians are rehearsed and robotic as a result of criticism and control from political power brokers. It is a numbers game, and votes are all that counts. Literally. One party releases borderline racist policy, and in response, the opposing major party moves further extreme in a seemingly pointless counter attack. What about what is morally right and ethical? If one party takes a position on any portfolio, the other party may take an opposing stance simply to differentiate and draw out a disparity that no longer really exists. What about what is good for the future of the country?

On the topic of our voting population, how informed are the people on what the parties are actually proposing? Im reminded on some song lyrics while I think along this rhetoric, from a pop musician ‘Kanye West’ who talks about Americans from The US, who have time for new cars, shopping and consumerism, but no time to decide who the leaders of their country will be. While I see his perspective, I’m beginning to think it is more to do with a population who do not trust or believe in politicians to do their job that is the actual problem. Maybe the people are tired of feeling lied to?

My increased scepticism in what is being released by these political parties has caused a retreat from traditional voting. I don’t really have faith in either of the two major parties, nor faith that the other smaller parties have enough power or pull within caucus to influence major policy. I would like to vote below the line in this election but there are 84 candidates to choose from! That is not realistic, especially when I have other things to do during my Saturday afternoons.

A recent news article brought to my attention a deficiency in the justice system. I have long sat on the preverbial fence of the capital punishment debate. While knowing it is not correct and almost a backward way to set an example for the community and public, I also have a feeling that if someone were to wrong a loved one the way pedofiles, rapists, murders and other monsters of society do, I may not be able to control my own actions… I recognise this is a contradiction in my thought but am still left wanting when it comes to judgement time.

However, when a man recieves jail time for molesting youth for OVER 50 YEARS, and will obviously die in prison after serving a short time of his sentence, has justice really been served?

The hundreds of people whose lives he ruined will be in an abstract prison for the rest of their life, unable to retract the crimes done against them, while in my opinion, the criminal has got off lightly only really encurring a possible natural death.

What do you think about capital punishment? What is worse - dying in prison or being put to death?

Or are they one in the same? After countless hours contemplating peoples actions and the trends I witness growing up in a capitalist environment, I cannot find a definitive answer or universal truth. Rationally speaking, it should be accurate to say people are aiming for happiness by gaining status and money, however while looking at the evidence I come to a different conclusion.

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If a person is virtually a vegetable and can have no impact to society or any ones life, should they continue living? That is to say should their family continue allowing them to live and use the resources of the world. Is hanging onto their existence simply being afraid of death? Of losing a loved one? Read the rest of this entry »

The endless debate continues and as most know, will most likely see no end… at least not in our lifetime. Some feel religion is simply a man made creation in order to gain obedience or order to society. Others feel it is indeed much much more than that. As society moves quicker into the technology era, people seem to be moving away from religion. This article will explore a few of the reasons for anti-religious beliefs and also some of the proofs against them. Read the rest of this entry »