BEING ORDINARY

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“When an ordinary man attains knowledge, he is a sage; when a sage attains understanding, he is an ordinary man. ~Zen Saying

Though most try to avoid being ordinary there’s something really special about it. Not to be put on display, not to need to prove anything, not to be thought of as being ‘somebody’ special. Just to be natural, without pretense or defense; offers a profound relief.

Who can control, dominate, manipulate or influence a person who does not care either way? One who lives simply by and from his instantaneous responses based upon gut instincts and nothing else transcends social roles . Those who care not what others say or think of them or their actions, or what will or will not be done to them, for they bring forth such authenticity.

Imposition is an absolute impossibility for those who do not engage their time or energy in any endeavor that does not feel natural and convenient. They know that life is a series of unexpected non-related events that are sequentially patterned and habitually joined together to make an intravenous spectrum of varied experiences. Ambition makes no abode with them, nor can the scent of power arouse any trickle of emotion. Money can’t penetrate their consciousness for they realize without recall that they possess in fullness everything there is to be obtained.

It requires being daring enough to accept the pleasures of ones own state of existence,which is self-indulgent ‘ordinary’ pleasure. Not seeking validation or approval, they do only those things that matter to them for no other reason except they want to. And cease to worry about being reasonable, logical and most of all, acceptable.

They speak whatever words come to them without filtering,eliminating pretense and enjoy the sensational experience of being human; after all it’s what we’re here on Earth to do.

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else,means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight,and never stop fighting” ~e.e. cummings

Related Pages:
Simple Life
Natural Wandering
Doing Nothing

4 Responses

  1. Hi Rahmana,

    It is a shame we spend so much of our youth on issues of little importance as we mellow in the aging process….it is also regretable the young often do not understand the wisdom of their elders.

    Sid

  2. Papa:
    I love your response to Sophia. Everyone is ‘messed up’ in one way or another. I never felt like I quite fit in anywhere. At this stage in my life (one of the good things about aging!) I accept being a little eccentric and quirky. It’s a lot more fun than worrying about what people think of you.
    Rahma

  3. Hi Sophia,

    In many ways I also feel my life has been a mess but console myself by labeling myself as eccentric..it suggest that I am nonconformist and leading a creative lifestyle which gives me a feeling of having a positive identity.

    Sid

  4. I dunno, I wouldn’t mind being ordinary if only because I am tired of always being ashamed of myself wherever I go somewhere new in which people do not yet know how messed up I am.

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