Absurd Heroism
18- Enero -2016Heroismo Absurdo.
--por Margaret Wheatley
Piensa en Sísifo. Como describen las Mitologías Griega y Romana, Sísifo fue condenado por los dioses a una eternidad de trabajo inútil y sin esperanza. Tenía que hacer rodar una roca hasta lo alto de la montaña, para ver cómo caía abajo otra vez debido a su propio peso y a la fuerza natural de la gravedad. Entonces tenía que volver a rodarla hasta la cima otra vez. Para siempre. El filósofo existencialista francés Albert Camus escribió un ensayo sobre el heroísmo absurdo y la desesperanza que causa, se titula “El Mito de Sísifo”.
Sísifo no tenía elección – había sido condenado por los dioses. Pero nosotros sí tenemos elección. Podemos darnos cuenta del precio que estamos pagando por nuestro absurdo heroísmo, por creer que está en nuestras manos. Oigo a tanta gente que quiere hacerse responsable, al menos parcialmente de este desastre. En cierto modo piadosamente, como llamándonos a la responsabilidad, dicen “Necesitamos asumir la responsabilidad de haber creado esto” o “Nosotros lo creamos, así que nosotros podemos cambiarlo.” No, no lo hicimos. Y no, no podemos. Nosotros participamos con otros innumerables jugadores y causas y esto es lo que ha surgido. No podemos atribuirnos el mérito, no podemos culparnos a nosotros mismos y no podemos cargar el peso del cambio sobre nosotros. No somos Sísifo, condenados al destino de un heroísmo absurdo.
Si Sísifo hubiese sido un agente libre, se habría dado cuenta de que la gravedad era el problema. Tenemos que darnos cuenta de que el surgimiento es el problema, una fuerza tan incuestionable como la gravedad.
Enfrentémonos de lleno al Nuevo Mundo que ha surgido y bajemos nuestra roca – la creencia destructora de energía que dice que podemos cambiar el mundo. Alejémonos de esa montaña de desesperanza que nos provoca fracasos y centrémonos, en vez de en eso, en la gente que está delante nuestro, nuestros colegas, comunidades y familias. Trabajemos juntos para ser un ejemplo de los valores que amamos, y no nos preocupemos por crear modelos exitosos que transformarán a otra gente. Enfoquémonos en transformarnos a nosotros mismos para ser islitas de gente buena y comprensiva, haciendo el trabajo correcto, ayudando donde podamos, manteniendo la paz y la cordura, gente que ha aprendido a ser amable, decente y valiente… incluso cuando el oscuro océano que ha emergido continúe con la tormenta a nuestro alrededor.
Margaret Wheatley es escritora, visionaria y pensadora. El extracto de arriba viene de su libro más reciente, Tan Lejos de Casa.
Margaret Wheatley is an author, visionary and thinker. The excerpt above comes from her most recent book, So Far From Home.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to absurd heroism coming from 'the energy destroying belief that we can change the world?' Can you share a personal story of a time you recognized emergence and put down your boulder? What practice helps you shift your focus away from absurd heroism and toward the values you treasure?
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23 Past Reflections
On Jan 26, 2016 Eric Hutchins wrote :
I found this well-reasoned piece of common sense consistent with ancient scripture. Unfortunately, I commented at length and went on to defend Margaret's piece on the Kosmos Forum. This text area did no allow it to be cut and pasted from there to here. So, anyone wishing to read both comments, please go to:
http://www.kosmosjournal.org/news/absurd-heroism/
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On Jan 21, 2016 Jane E. wrote :
I appreciate Margaret Wheatley's emphasis on working where we are with what we have. This has been a hard lesson for me in my life. It's one that I am learning. These thoughts help and I am grateful.
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On Jan 19, 2016 tracy wrote :
'"Let us walk away from that mountain of despair-inducing failures and focus instead on people in front of us, our colleagues, communities and families. Let us work together to embody the values that we treasure, and not worry about creating successful models that will transform other people. Let us focus on transforming ourselves to be little islands of good caring people, doing right work, assisting where we can, maintaining peace and sanity" ... And this is not changing the world?
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On Jan 19, 2016 paashi wrote :
On first reading, I resonated with "we participated with numerable other players and causes and this is what emerged --------absurd heroism."
But I find myself tied in the paradox of parts nestled in the whole that is constantly expanding. Can the parts have an existence removed from the whole. Human imagination keeps emerging to deal with the minuscule and vastness and absurd heroism at core may be individual and collective responsibility inherent in our imaginations. Our evolutionary development has both an inner and outer awareness and so we find ourselves grappling with both micro and macro aspects of our world.
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On Jan 19, 2016 Sanjeev wrote :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciSF0vX6pMw&feature=youtu.be
everyone needs to contribute for the betterment of society..Delhi has shown it at experiential level..
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On Jan 19, 2016 Dawn Kimble wrote :
Thank you, Margaret Wheatley, for these wise words. You remind me to stop running away from my fears or running toward my solutions and to place my attention here in my heart. If we can really be present to one another, maybe what emerges will be what we need.
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On Jan 19, 2016 Cynthia wrote :
I find parts of this passage difficult to understand, including the concept of "emergence." But it feels significant and my curiosity is sparked so I will try to learn more about the concept in general as well as the author's ideas. In the present moment, I especially admire and am grateful for the accompanying Dharma Comic :) Simple and true. Playful. Makes me smile. Thank you, Leah.
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On Jan 19, 2016 James wrote :
Just realised recently, as a parent and partner, my absurd self-sacrificing heroics is what has got my sense of self into trouble, trying to fix it for everyone in a transactional dynamic that leads to fantasy of return on investment rather than being kind to myself and by extension others, Put down the boulder. Stop trying to please and simply be, it is not all my responsibility nor is it all my fault. So yes its n ot about doing the right thing it is about doing the kind thing.
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On Jan 19, 2016 Tom wrote :
I agree with Meg Wheatley that we can't lose sight of our own need for spiritual development and for taking care of the small things around us but look at Gandhi, King or Lincoln and understand that it was their "absurd heroics" that ended the suffering of millions. As Rabbi Abraham Herschel put it, "Some are guilty but all are responsible." We can, as Martin Luther King put it, bring "together head and heart— intelligence and goodness--" to make a better world, or we at least we have a moral duty to try. To try is both invigorating, connects us to others, and gives meaning to our lives. It is the opposite of energy destroying! Gotta have a little faith and hope. :)
1 reply: Roy | Post Your Reply
On Jan 19, 2016 Susan Wiemer wrote :
I am thankful for the few gifted people, like the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, who believe that they not only can, but WILL change the world. Not all of us have that capacity, so we must do what we can, where we can. There is more than one path. Let's not discourage the next pivotal human being.
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On Jan 19, 2016 Ruth wrote :
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On Jan 17, 2016 david doane wrote :
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On Jan 17, 2016 Abhishek wrote :
What if what seems like 'absurd heroism' is actually a spiritual practice? That it is not about the boulder or the gravity, nor about the objective of putting the boulder up the mountain, but just deepening oneself as one does that?
I feel unequipped to judge Sisyphus.....and if we are not vigilant, can't 'everything emerges' become another kind of absurd heroism? The one where we relinquish action trading off one belief for another?
In my journey I found myself pushing the boulder, putting it down but then picking it up again - this time, not because I wanted to put it up, but perhaps because I wanted to play with gravity, to see what pushing it makes me (as a person).....it was from feeling that whether its a boulder or a stone or a pebble, whether it is a pushing or a pulling....it is anyways Life acting on Life as Life
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply