Absurd Heroism
Consider Sisyphus. As described in both Greek and Roman mythology, Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to an eternity of futile and hopeless labor. He had to roll a rock to the top of the mountain, only to watch it tumble back down from its own weight and the natural force of gravity. Then he would roll it to the top again. Forever. The French existential philosopher Albert Camus wrote an essay about absurd heroism and the despair it caused entitled "The Myth of Sisyphus."
Sisyphus had no choice -- he had been condemned by the gods. But we do have a choice. We can notice the price we're paying for our absurd heroism, for believing that it's up to us. I hear so many people who want to take at least partial responsibility for this mess. Somewhat piously, as if summoning us to accountability, they say, "We need to accept responsibility that we created this" or "We created it, so we can change it." No we didn't. And no we can't. We participated with innumerable other players and causes and this is what emerged. We can't take credit for it, we can't blame ourselves and we can't put the burden of change on us. We're not Sisyphus, condemned to a fate of absurd heroism.
If Sisyphus had been a free agent, he would have noticed that gravity was the problem. We have to notice that emergence is the problem, as unchallengeable a force as gravity.
Let's fully face the brave new world that has emerged and put down our boulder -- the energy destroying belief that we can change the world. 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, people who have learned how to be gentle, decent and brave ... even as the dark ocean that has emerged continues to storm around us.
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. :)
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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