I will not be tied to the
destiny of my ancestors.
Nor do I expect
my ancestors to follow.
That road has outlived
its usefulness to me.
It goes precisely where
it is intended to go.
My road meanders unpredictably.
It is not logical.
Especially not to one
who travels the ancestral road.
My course does not offer correction.
I am precisely where I am meant to be,
without question.
Understanding is unnecessary.
Trail Wood,
10/18
The Road Less Predictable
The notion of ancestral paths possesses a gravity of its own, pulling us toward the well-trodden courses charted by those who came before. Yet, the allure of unfamiliar terrain beckons. Our road is not one of linearity or predictable bends; it is a labyrinth of spontaneity, leading us exactly where we are meant to be.
The Paradox of Intentionality
While ancestral roads offer the comfort of legacy and tradition, their teleological arcs can feel limiting. There is often an expected sequence, a logical progression that aligns with societal or familial aspirations. Our path is one that renounces the confines of linearity. We find ourselves exactly where we are supposed to be, not by following a plotted course, but by meandering through the mosaic of moments that present themselves.
The Futility of Understanding
Logic and understanding are tempting lanterns on the journey of existence. They promise clarity and wisdom but are often merely illusions. In our wanderings, understanding becomes irrelevant. Being is the ultimate state, a self-contained essence that needs no rationalization.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We discuss the dichotomy between the ancestral path, grounded in predictability and tradition, and our own unpredictable road, which defies logic and does not aim for understanding. The paths diverge not just in direction but in the very philosophy that underlies them. On our road, understanding is not only irrelevant but unnecessary, affirming the concept that being itself is the ultimate state.
Glossarium
- Gravity of Ancestral Paths: The allure and pull of the ways and wisdom of those who have come before.
- Labyrinth of Spontaneity: The unpredictable, winding path that we traverse, each twist a new revelation.
- Mosaic of Moments: The collection of instantaneous experiences that guide us along our path, requiring no logic or reason.
“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”
- Matsuo Basho
Poem: The Roads We Choose
Ancestral paths, well-trodden, worn,
Yet our road is freshly born.
One seeks logic, the other, grace,
Each finds home in its own space.
Teleological arcs confine,
But spontaneity is divine.
We meander, lost yet found,
On a road that’s not earthbound.
Understanding, a lantern dim,
On a road that needs no hymn.
We are precisely where we stand,
No need to seek, to understand.
Feel free to share your thoughts.
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