It is a weakening and discoloring idea that rustic people knew God personally once upon a time but that it is too late for us. There never was a more holy age than ours, and never a less. There is no whit less enlightenment under the tree on your street than there was under the Buddha’s bo tree.
–Annie Dillard
A Mindful Life / Kathryn Harper
express : discover : renew : create
Love these little quotes you pop up with all the time: they really make me think! But this one, well, it made me think, alright. But I don’t know if I agree or disagree with the sentiments.
Off hand I would be inclined to disagree – under Buddha’s bo tree was the silence and serenity of a natural environment: under the tree on my street is a state highway, with constant noise and confusion – the bustle of modern life. Could one learn to shut out the daily muddle of the modern world? Probably. But it’s a lot easier for us rustics: I have the option of walking to the back pasture and escaping the hub bub – denizens of the city have no such options.
Further, the much wrought human alienation of modern life is, in my humble opinion, a huge wedge betwixt humanity and the divine. We live, for the most part, away from our families, and even when we do live geographically close, we are not nearly as involved with their daily lives as our ancestors were. Human beings are social creatures, naturally grouping into families, clans and tribes. We deny this truth at our peril. Again, I think this is an effect of technology, and while it can be overcome with assiduous efforts. But the efforts that we must make to achieve that connection to the natural powers are great indeed when compared to the simplicity and networks our rustic predecessors enjoyed.
So, in the end I guess I do agree with the quote. The connections are still there, but they’re hidden under several layers of “progress”, and they take considerably more work to link up with than they did in times past.
Be well,
Dave H.