March 1, 2009 - Evolution and Maturation

Evolution and maturation. Interesting concepts and I’ve had a startling epiphany…I do love those! First, though, let me say it is quite grand to realize that – as Rumi said – “That the knowing depended on the time spend looking.” So true. I’m still quite a young lad (49 biologically and psychologically; only the chronologically component is out of whack) and as I mature I learn new things in the perfect order of life. Okay, that said, I began reading a new translation of Friedrich Nietzsche’s "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" and I’m marveling at its encapsulation of concepts that I’ve long grasped yet only danced around the edges of its meaning. I equate it to the self-actualization pyramid of Abraham Maslow…up a notch at a time to a higher level of functionality. Remarkable, actually. There are a lot of Buddhist allusions and actually clarifications of Buddhist thought there. A startling view that I’ve found marvelous. It is far less the Ubermensch of popular thought (arrogant, power-mad) and far more a fully realized and mature human being. Curious how cultural overlays tend to (quite erroneously) diminish the reputation of a literary or philosophical work because the views may be controversial. Regardless, it is a marvelous feeling to continue to evolve.