7 Notes on the Art of Living - Competition, Revenge, Karma, Zen, Change, Commitment, Politics & Art
Dwell on the beauty of life.
1. On Competition and Rooting for Others
Competition doesn't matter. It diverts you from cultivating your uniqueness and makes it easy to miss good opportunities because instead of focusing on the world as a whole and the evolving trends that could affect you, more of your attention pours into destroying the enemy. You’re blindsided to entropy.
Drawing inspiration from competition is a more refined form of being as the impulse to compete is inevitable. To create better art, technology, entertainment and relationships, it's wise to have someone or an age evoking the feeling of wanting to do and be better than them. This is how you get to learn the reproducible qualities making them who they are while adding your flare of essence, not to surpass, but to chart your greatness.
In rooting for others, rather than concerning yourself with what doesn't expand your margin of impact or profit, you feed off their energy as if a win were your own and pour it into what you control: paying deeper attention to how you play your moves, investing more on unique strengths and bettering or ignoring weaknesses, integrating what works and learning from your competitor’s mistakes.
Perhaps you might even get to collaborate.
2. On Whether You Should Seek Revenge
Revenge backfires. Sometimes it might not have the effect you'd like. Your enemies could use the careless mistakes birthed in the moment of weakness to further incapacitate you. And worst of all, bent on making another feel your pain, you become someone you're not. You stain your good character with obscene actions. Riddled with guilt, you lose your chance at securing joy and contentment.
Not to say evil people don't need a force to teach them a lesson. But you're at a better position to plot the education or destruction of the enemy from a position of composure than rage. The person also has to be worth the time, effort and resources you'll expend. Petty concerns are beneath you. The passage of time filters the retribution worth pursuing.
3. On the Non-existence of Karma
The idea that Karma doesn't exist is plausible. There's no guarantee from whoever you pray to that when someone does you wrong they'll pay.
It's therefore wise to entertain the idea that they could as well prosper despite the atrocities they committed. You could even end up worse off than them.
Your peace and joy is too valuable to hinge on a wishful hunch that may never happen and it'll do your soul good to let go of the resentment.
4. On Change and Becoming Better
Change is a practice. You don’t become better or cultivate good habits once and that’s it. Entropy is the default predilection given your environment, upbringing, genetics and many other factors.
Even the whole of life bends towards entropy and destruction and the best you can do is choose to make it a bit better for yourself and the people your skills and work are supposed to take care of.
Living well is a daily conscious recommitment to the noble lifestyle.
5. On Art, Archery and Zen
What I learned after reading Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel is that the more you avoid discomfort, the more pronounced its feeling. For example, it's natural to want to duck the cold droplets of a shower, but this only worsens the cold effect on you because you’ve absconded control of your faculties. A better move would be to approach the cold with boldness and get comfortable in it; only that is within your control.
What abates suffering is the pouring of your attention to the unavoidable at hand, even if you'd prefer a different sensation.
Another thing I learned from this masterpiece is that to be good in archery or the craft you're practicing, you can't focus too much on the end goal because a little wind might blow your arrow off the target. Instead, pull your bow to the best of your ability and aim as accurately as you can. And wherever it lands, win or loss, pick the next arrow and do the same again. The act is the art of living.
6. On Whether You Should Commit to Anything
It's good to focus on what you like and is working. But also to anticipate it might be impeded and therefore be ready to flow into another direction that works and make something out of the misfortune. Be keen on the latter.
You don't want to depend on one pursuit too much or act out your fear of commitment. The ultimate goal of practicing this wisdom is to be happy. Not to be aloof without enjoying a deep connection to something or someone.
How does this happen?
By exploring the joyous depth and opportunities of a desirable object and, if hindered, opening up your eyes to where else that’s interesting your effort and skills would be useful.
So, commit to a larger goal instead: practicing wisdom, service, love. The means to do that are cosmically multifarious.
7. On Why You Should Study Politics
People don't care about you, your art, or business. You can't force concern. Learning politics solves that problem.
The usefulness of this wisdom isn't limited to those who'd like to work in the government, but also artists, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
This is because statesmanship involves selling your skills, ideas and policies, which, for people to buy, you have to influence and subtly direct them to your vision through the skillful utility of impactful, inspirational, and sometimes diabolical words — written or spoken, and maneuvers to catch the attention of and compel human nature.
It's the art of making people internalize, preach, and practice your ideas without them hating you for it.
Isn't that true power?
The Aesthetic Experience
"...aesthetic pleasure in the beautiful consists, to a large extent, in the fact that, when we enter the state of pure contemplation, we are raised for the moment above all willing, above all desires and cares; we are, so to speak, rid of ourselves." — Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Representation)
The Stoics were big fans of appreciating the beauty in the world. This comeliness is reflected in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. The artful expression of Stoic ideas is why the book still resonates 2,000 years later.
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them…for such thoughts wash away the dust of earthly life.”
And in the spirit of washing away the dust of earthly life, these are the three art pieces I found interesting this week. Enjoy :).
Exhibit #1
Exhibit #2
Exhibit #3
`Til next time
Antonius Veritas.
What I’m listening to.
As an aesthetic philosopher (at least according to the piece of fancy paper on the wall) I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some art inspiration here! We need more beauty in the world.
Creating Wealth With Creative Thinking https://open.substack.com/pub/michael880/p/creating-wealth-with-creative-thinking?r=3b6pw1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web