A heartfelt philosophical discussion between a wise teacher (we shall call Terpsichore) and a young seeker of noesis, wonders, marvels, knowledge, sapience, and life. An exercise in character development through dialogue.
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SEEKER OF NOESIS:
Sir…. Where does light and shade play?
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TERPSICHORE:
I would imagine that light and shade play upon stochastic variables nestled without bias. That place where curiosity and wonder poeticize, and sublimity is conveyed in dance and choral song.
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SEEKER OF WONDERS:
When do expressions grok the theatre of dreams?
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TERPSICHORE:
Expressions intuitively understand the theatre of dreams in the sensory faculty,
that place where the vale of poetic rhythm marches soundlessly to the prosody of pitch contour.
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SEEKER OF MARVELS:
When does the woolgathering moment tread upon sacred ground?
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TERPSICHORE:
These questions are well beyond what I expected. So instead of the typical student asking teacher questions, getting answers, and taking notes, please, feel free to exercise your creative intellect and speak your mind. No boundaries. Let’s see where it takes us. Now, consider this…. on all the vast beaches on this planet, at what point does a grain of sand infringe upon another grain of sand? And does the ambiguity of such closeness defy the axiomatic truth of isolation? And if not, why then do so many humans live so tightly wrapped up in themselves and detached from one another?
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SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE:
Sir, I am not qualified to answer your metaphors about the plight of human beings. All I can say is that even though there is much knowledge flowing into me at this stage of life, and though I’m absorbing it more than ever, I still feel like I know so little. Honestly… sometimes I wonder if learning and growing will just end up revealing the futility in everything human. Especially, sans Creator. From what I’ve experienced, there always seems to be negative forces that come against anything good and honorable. Perhaps that’s what you are alluding to in your questions; those dark forces that pit people against one another, or alienate them, even though we all live so close together, and basically need, and are affected, by the same things. I think that when you realize that ‘the more you learn and grow, the less you really know,’ your whole view of your life changes. At least that’s what I’m finding to be true.
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TERPSICHORE:
“Know this…. that no matter what speed you go in life, or how you struggle, you must never stop moving forward and learning. And when you said: ‘the more you learn and grow, the less you really know,’ you spoke wisely. When you truly grasp that real knowledge is knowing the extent of your ignorance, then you’ve been blessed with a life-changing revelation. No one can become an authentic human being without change, rigid self-examination, trials, struggles, deprivation, opposing forces, and loss. It’s all part of the process.”
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SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE:
Sir…. if one is honestly dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, it humbles you. It certainly has me. I’m beginning to understand that many search an entire lifetime to find themselves, to find who they are, and to find where they fit in, but they never really do. Their lives more resemble flat stones, skipping on the water, which eventually run out of momentum and sink. Everyday they’re pulled into meaningless mind excursions, as if they’re picking up shells and colorful pebbles on a beach walk, looking at them a moment, seeing it as a kind of enlightenment, and then throwing them back out into the ocean and forgetting what they look like. Teacher, am I just afraid of becoming hardened as I age, and losing the creative child in me?
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TERPSICHORE:
That is something only you can answer. And I’m certain you will, in time. Creativity has a purpose for existing. It is more crucial than knowledge. If a mind gets too habitual, too comfortable, too lackadaisical, too fearful, or dulled by surfeit, it will be less inclined to seek newness and depth in what it creates. A man’s (or woman’s) imagination will always expose what dwells or lurks inside him, and it will always reveal the souls deepest struggles. When a man looks in a mirror, he sees a reflection of his exterior, or how the world sees him. If he wears a mask (or masks) to fit in, then he sees what he’s pretending to be, and so does the world. A sincere and authentic man never pretends, and always when he ponders himself, he will see vulnerability seeking meaning, stability, strength and the desire to be loved and respected. Each of our lives are a precious gift, and we are all here for a reason. An originally creative adult is a child who survived. Authentic creativity never becomes habitual, it always allows a mind to progress, and keeps a person from the creeping slow death of patterns.
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SEEKER OF SAPIENCE:
Yes…. those damnable patterns…. the curse of age-related sameness. Wearisome constancy, routineness, lack of variety, brain barnacles, synaptic jellyfish; there are many ways to describe this affliction. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting it to turn out differently is a fool’s errand. I’ve seen this kind of creative decline in many writers, poets, painters and musicians. It’s so true…. the people who get comfortable doing things one way end up stuck in ruts. It’s a kind of slow death that they’re not even aware of. Sir, why is comprehending the mysteries of others so difficult?
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TERPSICHORE:
My dear Seeker.… All men see through the lens of their own mortal frailties. With inalterable finitude, mankind contemplates himself in light of himself. But instead of seeking what could be, and being satisfied with the wondrous journey, too many seek to elevate and enshrine themselves at the expense of all those other grains of sand around him.
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SEEKER OF LIFE:
Teacher…. will it ever change?
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TERPSICHORE:
Humans are messy. They’re complicated, chaotic, troublesome, noisy, clumsy, violent, prideful, and so easily deceived…. Truth be told, being authentic, upfront, honest, honorable, being an active listener, having integrity, being respectful and open-minded, having sympathy, empathy, humility, being reliable and disciplined, showing gratitude for what others do for you, being willing to help others without expecting anything in return, are the kinds of qualities that very few possess anymore. Will it ever change? Probably not. But what I can offer is this: Continue to write, dance, sculpt, paint, and sing songs…. Whatever you do, live your life honorably and honestly, and do so always with thankfulness and praise to the Most High Creator. Make it a habit each day to celebrate the miraculous life-force in you, and also in others, and purpose to always love and respect your fellow man, sharing Light and Wisdom, and doing so honorably, as we embrace and support those in our realm of influence. Being wisely aware, always, of what evil is, and shunning it, let us purpose to end petty gossip, demeaning talk, slander and hatred, chronic opinionism, and share only words that are truthful, that bring light and life, that encourage creativity, and also a deeper and more profound understanding of compassion for our fellow man.
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© richard lloyd cederberg
12/2023
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"Humans are messy. They’re complicated, chaotic, troublesome, noisy, clumsy, violent, prideful, and so easily deceived…. Truth be told, being authentic, upfront, honest, honorable, being an active listener, having integrity, being respectful and open-minded, having sympathy, empathy, humility, being reliable and disciplined, showing gratitude for what others do for you, being willing to help others without expecting anything in return, are the kinds of qualities that very few possess anymore."
This bears so much spiritual fruit...You are a creative instrument for the purpose in helping other's enlightenment, compassion and teaching Richard ... Thank you for your words of wisdom that help bring so much enlightenment and unique insight into life ~ Shalom & joy to you and Michelle ~ D
I have read, however, that routine and being non confrontational, not challenging what one knows seeking a higher plane, is a precursor to a long and happy life. I have seen that in my long-lived relatives. But the longer we live, the more of life we face. And life is a great teacher in itself.
I learned from your dialogue today.
Ron