People who look for what makes life worthwhile, worth their effort, worth their time, are not concerned about their original nature and innate virtues. "What's in it for me?" is their only interest. "When is it going to be my turn?" "How can I get what I want?" "All I want is MY WAY NOW!" Is all life is about for them. Their motives and operating principle are not conducive to life. Life is about making the best of each situation as it arises in the service of the true good of all. How good is the good we call good? Good for whom? The best good does what needs to be done in light of what can be done in the service of the good of the whole situation in each situation as it arises. What the situation calls for varies from situation to situation. Sometimes this, sometimes that. To be determined in the here/now of the moment of action. And we are to do it when, where and how it needs to be done, moment by moment, situation by situation. We have to be attuned to the here/now, aware of what's what and what needs to be done in response, moment by moment, situation by situation. Using the gifts of our original nature and the innate virtues we are born with in service to the good of the situation as a whole. This means saying the things that need to be said. Asking the questions that beg to be asked. And doing what needs to be done. In every situation as it arises. All our life long. We live in response to the good of the moment, every moment. No matter what. The Buddhist monks who immolated themselves during the Vietnam war were doing what they felt the moment called for. They were calling attention to the absurdity of the war by ending their life in an absurd and awful way. Their deaths were their statement about the here/now of their living. Their disciples said they were following the examples of their masters by immolating themselves for the good of every moment, adding that they were only burning to death more slowly. Like them, we all die to the good of each moment, in each moment, "burning to death very slowly."
–0–
Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy 