I've been watching a lot of TV since the social isolation thing started, and while 95% of it is awful, the Star Trek episodes have been fascinating, Captain. The main characters who are essential to the show are of course Spock and James T. Kirk.
Spock is not run by emotion, but by cold logic. He trusts his data to guide him to the optimal path. Understanding that he is second in command, he has no aspirations to be anyone other than who he is.
Kirk is always in command. He can be emotional, and excels at quickly assessing a situation and giving orders to others. He always knows the consequences of his actions, and does not hesitate to make decisions in crisis situations. Yet he also relies heavily on his crew, especially Spock, and is loyal to them and his ship.
The interplay of the two characters mimics how we live our lives. One part of us wants to have new experiences, travel, be in command. We're unhappy with what we have, and are always looking to improve things by going somewhere else, or by doing things in a different manner. We want a better job, a better partner (or please dear god, let me just be rid of the one I have now), a better place to live in a better city. This is more the Kirk part of us. Yes, we understand the risks, but we're committed to this way of thinking. We need action to achieve our goals, and we want it now. We're in charge.
The other part, the Spock part, says, now hold on there. Think this out. Do you want to give up what we have for an unknown? Shouldn't we look at the data and remove the probable erroneous human equation in order to get to the facts? I'm in favor of researching this situation, and understanding the repercussions of a change in our direction into an unknown area of the universe.
This is all very Zen. No one gets into Zen unless we want to have a better, happier life. We're drawn to it because life has been throwing us curve balls. We seem to lack direction, and have become caught in habitual thinking and habits. Or, some tragedy has hit us or a loved one and we can't deal w/ it. Forget the helping others idea. If someone wants to do that, they can work in a hospital, volunteer in a soup kitchen or animal rescue place. People who are humanitarians become social workers or in the healing professions.
In addition to my daily (usually) meditation sits, which are absolutely essential to a Zen practice, I've started looking at life from the perspective of Spock and Kirk. Whenever I get the idea, and it happens all the time, that I could be happier somewhere else (which may or may not be true), I go into Spock mode and look at all the data, do my research, and work from facts. I need to "see things as they are" before I can get them to where I want them to be. Weighing the risks and potential losses of a big decision brings me back to earth. It's impossible to see things as they are until I let go of my desires and wants and look at what is actually happening, which is of course where the meditation comes in. Once I get out of my head and in present time, it usually looks like everything is OK just as it is.
Submitted June 17, 2020 at 09:20PM by bunny001c https://ift.tt/3hCudlP
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