How Our Machine-Based Way of Life is Not Only Destroying Nature, It Is Also Destroying Us

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/visions/how-our-machine-based-way-life-not-only-destroying-nature-it-also-destroying-us



The following is an excerpt from Eros Over Logos: A Revolt of the Instinctual Mind Amidst the Madness of Modern Life.

We're so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget that the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it's all about. —Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

As human beings living in the modern world, we must ask ourselves, “How does our being coexist with all our going?” It‘s an important question because every day we are constantly and simultaneously moving in multiple directions so rapidly that we rarely have the opportunity to connect with the being of our human nature. Being is not the same as doing, and we live in a culture of non-stop acceleration, of continual, frenzied, anxiety and competition-driven, on the go action.

Even our foremost pastimes, the movies, television shows, and sporting events we view—things we do to recover from all our work and busyness—exemplify this glorification of non-stop, nerve-riveting action, of violence, crime, sexual exploits, and destruction.

In this world, there is very little time for rest and relaxation, and when there is time we virtually recoil from it in horror, somehow believing that the moment we cease to act, we also cease to exist. Thus, our most revered and apparent sense of self is identified with anxiety and accomplishment. Many of us tend to resolve this predicament, albeit temporarily, by sedating ourselves with drugs and/or alcohol. When the work day is done the only way many people can change gears or get relaxed is to crack open the bottle or load up the pipe. Our use of mind-altering substances also displays our need to return to the being of our human nature; so why does our normal modern mode of living have to operate in antithesis to it?

[dogknob]

1. Why? Because somebody always gotta be king. Sucks. :(

I believe that when people derive their joy/purpose from exerting power over others, they have a disease just like alcoholism; the disease and the sufferer both resist diagnosis.

We've had it so long that, as many of my "I don't do politics" friends like to remind me, "it's just the way things are."

[bedazzled]

2. terrific article - thank you

i am just learning how to meditate, and it is magnificent.

[marmar]

3. k/r

[FirstLight]

4. ...and our children are plugged in too

my daughter got a Kindle for C-mas...She *IS* quite a reader and it was a convenient and cheaper way to get the books she reads. (she goes thru a book in a day, much like me at that age)

...anyway, she has gotten into the music and internet aspect of it and in stead is playing games and plugged in almost every waking hour. I have had to take it away to foster interaction in our home...I hate it! Then she says to me as I scroll the headlines here or facebook, "I'm not the only one on electronics"...and she IS right to an extent, how much time do I waste?

[Ikonoklast]

5. Salvatore Folisi must not be a fisherman.

Not everyone runs around like their hair is on fire on their down-time.

Article is somewhat of a very, very broad brush.

[Mojorabbit]

6. Wonderful article. Thanks! nt