from Verse Thirty-OneSadness and happiness are deviations from virtue, likes and dislikes are a burden to the mind, joy and anger are excesses on the way.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
Therefore their birth is the action of heaven, their death is the transformation of things.
Another lovely passage that points to the cyclical nature of all things. Each birth springs something into action; each death nourishes the whole which provides the foundation for new manifestations to be born.
Rather than look at this concept from the perspective of life forms, let's take a brief look at the world of ideas. When a new idea is conceived, it bursts forth with a flurry of creativity. It feels new, young and supple. People rush to fawn all over it like it's a newborn baby.
After awhile, it becomes the status quo. If it's a great idea, it may serve humankind and the planet well beyond measure. Still, no matter how wondrous the idea was at its beginning, it soon becomes old hat. New ideas begin to supersede it. In time, the idea dies and ceases to captivate people.
But it's not simply the case in which the idea merely dies and is replaced. New ideas always are built on the framework of old ideas. So, in a manner of speaking, we can say that the death throes of the old idea provide the necessary fertilizer for all the new ideas that spring forth from it.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Rather than look at this concept from the perspective of life forms, let's take a brief look at the world of ideas. When a new idea is conceived, it bursts forth with a flurry of creativity. It feels new, young and supple. People rush to fawn all over it like it's a newborn baby.
After awhile, it becomes the status quo. If it's a great idea, it may serve humankind and the planet well beyond measure. Still, no matter how wondrous the idea was at its beginning, it soon becomes old hat. New ideas begin to supersede it. In time, the idea dies and ceases to captivate people.
But it's not simply the case in which the idea merely dies and is replaced. New ideas always are built on the framework of old ideas. So, in a manner of speaking, we can say that the death throes of the old idea provide the necessary fertilizer for all the new ideas that spring forth from it.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Very Hegelian.
ReplyDeletei like this post. :) gives me a lot to think about.
ReplyDeleteit generally seems that new ideas become corrupted as they age, thus giving need for new ideas to take their place.
for example, the teachings of jesus were a revolutionary and beneficial thing in the society which they were conceived. anti-hypocracy, love and gentleness, giving and helping others, etc... but they have since become distorted and used by society to simply further people's agenda.