At first, I thought “man, I would kill to live a full year in that temperate four-seasons weather”. But then I realised the point of the comic. Everyone encounters the same general grievances in life, no matter where they live. I’m gonna feel dead inside, whether I find myself in the Maldives or Finland…
One of the reasons I rarely took myself off to other places in the world for a holiday* is because the thing I need a break from is being me and I don’t even know if that’s possible.
Initial past tense because I can’t afford to go anywhere now. The couple of times I could afford to go away and did so, I didn’t really enjoy myself. Took a lot of photos that I never look at.
Literally the best part of my last holiday was the short runway take-off of the aeroplane on the way there. First time I’d ever flown. Massive acceleration and into the air. Total rush.
Spent a lot of my time looking forward to the flight home as a result, but the runway turned out to be longer and it was a disappointment.
Life is suffering
The cause of suffering is craving
The end of suffering comes with an end to craving
There is a path which leads one away from craving and suffering
You could call it, or limit it to death of ego if you want to remain alive, but remaining alive for a Buddhist reduces to a craving, nonetheless. For nirvana.
There are also biological cravings that cannot be ignored no matter how enlightened you become because of the fundamental nature of the creatures we are.
Food must be consumed. Breath taken. Waste excreted. Sleep slept. One might even argue that the search for any meaning is but the evolved desire to survive, only interpreted differently.
The only reason I remain on this deity-forsaken rock is that I believe that ending my own suffering would only amplify the suffering of those who - for their own reasons - care about me.
If I take attachments in the meantime, it’s merely for my own amusement as I await the opportunity for true nirvana. Shedding them would make the wait less bearable.
Bear in mind that this is my path. Yours may differ.
You haven’t ended suffering if you still crave something, in this case nirvana. I don’t crave nirvana, I am and enjoy what is there and endure what I don’t like. What else is there to do?
I’m not really sure if nirvana is possible and I don’t really care, but I feel and understand the logic behind it. It helped me much in the past.
But seriously, that’s not practical for a number of reasons, one being I don’t have money. Another kind of major one is the kind of mental health problems that could make me push the stick forward at 1000 ft and hold it until things went dark. Like this comment.
At first, I thought “man, I would kill to live a full year in that temperate four-seasons weather”. But then I realised the point of the comic. Everyone encounters the same general grievances in life, no matter where they live. I’m gonna feel dead inside, whether I find myself in the Maldives or Finland…
One of the reasons I rarely took myself off to other places in the world for a holiday* is because the thing I need a break from is being me and I don’t even know if that’s possible.
Initial past tense because I can’t afford to go anywhere now. The couple of times I could afford to go away and did so, I didn’t really enjoy myself. Took a lot of photos that I never look at.
Literally the best part of my last holiday was the short runway take-off of the aeroplane on the way there. First time I’d ever flown. Massive acceleration and into the air. Total rush.
Spent a lot of my time looking forward to the flight home as a result, but the runway turned out to be longer and it was a disappointment.
There’s a meaning in that somewhere. Maybe.
* British for “vacation”.
Life is pain. I have felt the same in the past. Maybe Buddhism could help to understand. It did for me.
from https://www.worldhistory.org/Four_Noble_Truths/:
The true nirvana is death.
You could call it, or limit it to death of ego if you want to remain alive, but remaining alive for a Buddhist reduces to a craving, nonetheless. For nirvana.
There are also biological cravings that cannot be ignored no matter how enlightened you become because of the fundamental nature of the creatures we are.
Food must be consumed. Breath taken. Waste excreted. Sleep slept. One might even argue that the search for any meaning is but the evolved desire to survive, only interpreted differently.
The only reason I remain on this deity-forsaken rock is that I believe that ending my own suffering would only amplify the suffering of those who - for their own reasons - care about me.
If I take attachments in the meantime, it’s merely for my own amusement as I await the opportunity for true nirvana. Shedding them would make the wait less bearable.
Bear in mind that this is my path. Yours may differ.
You haven’t ended suffering if you still crave something, in this case nirvana. I don’t crave nirvana, I am and enjoy what is there and endure what I don’t like. What else is there to do?
I’m not really sure if nirvana is possible and I don’t really care, but I feel and understand the logic behind it. It helped me much in the past.
Everyone has its own path. I wish you well
Well, this thread certainly wasn’t the uplifting start to my day I hoped it would be.
yeah you should get a pilot’s license
He’d want it back.
But seriously, that’s not practical for a number of reasons, one being I don’t have money. Another kind of major one is the kind of mental health problems that could make me push the stick forward at 1000 ft and hold it until things went dark. Like this comment.
yeah no it’s not a serious suggestion obviously, the cost is insane. you should get a pilot acquaintance then :)
What kinda weather are you stuck with? I’ve got about 80% winter and it’s miserable. I’ve been in -40 D:
OP do you live in Antarctica
Noooo but close. I was shocked to find out that it’s the same in F as it is in C
It’s not -40C right now but Ontario, Canada gets pretty damn close sometimes
I spoze I’m factoring in windchill when I say -40, but yup! It’s been below that…