The Reckoning

Guest Post by Jesse

“A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death – the huge solace of thinking that for our betrayals, greed, cowardice, and even murders that we are not going to be held to account.”

Czesław Miłosz

Every man and woman on this earth will die.

Now, this is of course a statement of the obvious. And yet very few really think about it, until something happens to bring that cold statement of reality into an unavoidable focus that they must confront. We are all dying, in our own way and time, from the moment that we are born; but we do our utmost not to think about it.

And this is understandable. Going around constantly thinking about your own mortality would be morbid, a misuse of the time and talent that we have been given on this earth to do things, to create, and love, and to be alive.

But we tend to put any thought of our true place in the world, put it off and out of mind so much, that we also start thinking that we are uniquely different, that we are above the common state of humanity. We are so much superior to all the others that we will likely go on forever, immune to the consequences that afflict the greater mass of humanity.

And if only this were true; but it is not. Not true for any one of us. Of this we can be certain.

One thing of which we can be sure of, is that we will draw a last breath, and that the darkness will come over our eyes and hold us in a final embrace. We may fantasize about avoiding death, about living almost forever, of extending our life here on earth indefinitely, and perhaps of leaving a great monument to ourselves that will last forever in this world that will provide us a kind of immortality. But this will not happen.

We know, deep down in our very heart of hearts, that at that moment, the moment immediately after our death, the moment in which we will finally discover for ourselves whether it is to be consciousness or nothingness, the regret that one might feel at having been wrong, of having misjudged the real rules of the game, of having purposely misunderstood and deluded ourselves about the true nature and meaning of our own life? Of having squandered everything on items that have no lasting consequence?

If so, it would be more overwhelming than anything we might dare to imagine. That is what Leon Bloy means when he says that ‘in the end, the only real sadness is not to have been a saint.’

It is what is called Pascal’s wager. But it serves us not to think about it. And so we distract ourselves with lesser things.


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kokoda
kokoda

After reading this post, I decided to give you all something to laugh about: The difference between Grandfathers and Grandmothers

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Grandmothers and Grandfathers?
Well, here it is:

There was this loving grandfather who always made a special effort to spend time with his son’s family on weekends.

Every Saturday morning he would, take his 5-year-old granddaughter out for a drive in the car for some quality time — pancakes, ice cream, candy ? just him and his granddaughter.

One particular Saturday, however, he had a terrible cold and could not get out of bed. He knew his granddaughter always looked forward to their drives and would be very disappointed. Luckily, his wife came to the rescue and said that she would take their granddaughter for her weekly drive and breakfast.

When they returned, the little girl anxiously ran upstairs to see her grandfather who was still in bed.
“Well, did you enjoy your ride with grandma?” he asked.”

” Not really, Papa, it was boring. We didn’t see a single asshole, queer, piece of shit, horse’s ass, socialist left wing Obama lover, blind bastard, dip shit, Muslim camel-humper, or son of a bitch anywhere we went! We just drove around and Grandma smiled at everyone she saw. I really didn’t have any fun.”

3rd Generation
3rd Generation

Where in California did Grandma and Grandpa live ?
Sounds like San Francisco to me.

susanna

Wow, what a quote! Thank you Jesse!
I never thought of that “true opium” before,
but it makes sense. I love it.
Yes, when I think of all the sins of pride and power/
manipulation I have committed…oh boy, what a list.
I have been able to reflect over the last four years living
on my slice of earthly heaven out in rural-ville.
One has to sort through those acts from the past, and
first recognize the petty acts (no murder from me) and
speak to God honestly. That does include feeling shame
and remorse. And asking for forgiveness. And after that,
don’t commit crimes, or selfish acts, just do your best to
adhere to our Golden Rule. It can’t hurt and it will make
one happier and better suited to enjoy every day for the
gift of life. Was that too preachy? It is working for me.

Francis Marion

“Was that too preachy?”

No – it was just about right.

I enjoy the manner in which you write. A little prose on TBP each day is refreshing.

diogenes
diogenes

At 56, I am starting to see more people around me getting sick and dying ( A lot of cancer). It fills me with the desire to enjoy as many moments of pleasure as possible. however, this attitude has also made me more aware of the Buddhist teachings on impermanence.

ditchner

“One thing of which we can be sure of, is that we will draw a last breath, and that the darkness will come over our eyes and hold us in a final embrace.”

One thing we can be sure of is that we will all be resurrected. Some to the judgement and 2nd death (most) and some to eternal life in a much better kingdom. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

It’s your choice which path you’ll follow but know that we will all be judged. The first death is not a “final embrace”, merely a rest before the judgement.

Westcoaster
Westcoaster

You can believe whatever you want, but as a result of my NDE back in 1978 I believe “being Human” is just one of the stopping off points. If you can learn to love and treat others as you’d like to be treated, then you’ve learned much of what your purpose here is all about.
Drawing your last breath on Earth isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of a journey back to whence we came. Relax.

Southern Sage
Southern Sage

Great. Quite a few people are going to get a big surprise, one way or another.

Vic
Vic

I wish I could see the look on athiests’ faces when they meet their maker. Talk about astonishment.

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