| |
Doubt is essential. Without doubt we would never inquire, investigate, get to the bottom of things, dive in over our heads, or any of those things that stretch us beyond our perceived limitations. The Great Doubt is important in Zen and, really, any other gnostic quest. The dark night of the soul will come.
But then there is another kind of doubt like the doubt people experience when they have a bad thing happen, like people who had their “faith in God” shaken when the Twin Towers Fell. I was fascinated by how often the question was asked about whether people's Faith in God had been shaken at the time. So fragile… so fragile.
Or the ferocity that some people direct against doubters when Fundamentalism (regardless of religious brand) is questioned. The problem here is not with the doubt, it is with the “faith”. Castles made of sand fall in the sea… eventually, as Jimi expressed it. If your “Higher Power” is somewhere outside, then you are doomed to lose when doubt comes along, because what is “outside” could care less about your individual existence, it just isn't that important. And doubt is sure to come.
We and everything we hold dear can be swept aside at any moment, something we in the affluent West frequently choose to forget. Before the 20th century life was a pretty dodgy affair everywhere. There is a pretty freaking big dose of doubt (aka: Reality) coming up over the horizon, so you'd better get comfortable with doubt, insecurity and the basis of your own center as soon as you can… but that is subject for an entirely new pod, so … never mind…
In 100 years we'll all be dead and working on whatever adventure there is then, in 5 generations no one will care about your existence but the genealogists (if there are any genealogists around), so relax, and feel free to doubt.
|
