The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to salvation is hard.
-Katha Upanishad
We’re a curious bunch, our thirst for knowledge is unlimited. This is especially true when talking about enlightenment which is sure to bring many to the discussion. But if we’ve learned anything we must keep in mind that those who seek will not find it, for it comes as a thief in the night, completely unexpected… that is the paradox. But still, we’re curious. What is it that drives one on this quest seeking illumination and transcendence.
In Greek mythology, The Song of the Sirens provoked many a sailor to fall into 
the sea to their death, so alluring was their song. It wasn’t until Jason and the Argonauts played a counter melody that the Sirens were destroyed. We also have a tendency to lose ourselves in our quest for answers in the deep oceans of life. We need our own counter melody to balance ourselves in the event we fall for the false sounds our own egocentric self.
In his short story, The Silence… of the Sirens, Franz Kafka wrote that a more fatal weapon than the song of the Sirens might be their silence. Indeed, where would we be without our wonder, our inquisitive nature, our song we hear in the deep recesses of our soul.
But all is not lost for the seeker on the spiritual road, for it’s said that one who travels this path and seeks an answer to life as we know it, is as a “dreamer of a beautiful dream where the dream is worth it, even if it doesn’t come true.”
Humanity has a need for metaphysical belief. Is this enough to imply its 
existence? Some say that because it’s contemplated to such a degree throughout the ages that this questioning is proof enough. But we can’t help but ask the questions. It’s in our nature. Thus there are more questions than answers or so it seems. Just look at the multitude of beliefs. And what of the questions… the existence and silence of God? Why are we here? What is the purpose?
What would life be if from the beginning we knew all the answers? Void of wonder, the end of seeking, of life itself. For it’s the experience of being alive and the enchantment of the ordinary that fills our days and our dreams at night.
©jc2017-9
*Photo’s courtesy of Pixabay
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An Unexpected Muse… 
What would life be if from the beginning we knew all the answers? That is thought provoking. Maybe it’s part of the condundrum: If their is no sadness, would we be able to appreciate happiness?
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Yes, if there’s nothing to compare it to, how would we know? We have more questions than answers it seems… jc
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I was going to use the same paragraph as Pablo.:)
We do indeed go through life and experience normal, mundane days, days of high – like flying among stars, days of deep sorrow from which we never think we can come back. All these events deepen and heighten our understanding and joy of just being. The treasure is greater than we can comprehend.
miriam
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Thanks, Miriam… your correct theses events do strengthen our composition. In one creation myth, God is one entity, there’s nothing else until he decides to divide himself and keeps on dividing to make all things on Earth. Even God needed the richness of opposites in this world.
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I enjoyed reading this piece, JC,
“Why are we here? What is the purpose?”
I think these questions remain difficult to answer for modern people in the industrialised world, but it seems some of the ancient civilisation had it figured out and they even developed tools and lifestyles to live it out:
I would posit that the answers are: We are here to fulfill our purpose. Our purpose is predefined. We have to live out our purpose by: Identifying it first, and then developing our natural skills and talents related to it, and use it for the benefit of our communities, societies and the world.
For example the Mayans developed a very accurate tool with a lot of depth to identify one’s natural born archetype, which would have it’s (own) purpose imbedded within.
By exploring the Mayan Cross in Mayan cosmology / astrology we can learn about all our different components – and our purpose – here is a tool that can reveal some of that:
http://www.mymayansign.com
(Click on: Learn your Mayan sign -after typing in your date of birth).
Unlike Western Astrology, Mayan cosmic astrology also measures the earth energies related to us – I have found this to be very accurate – the way to use this is to read and carefully and to reflect if this is really you (who you really are, authentically speaking), if it is, then more exploration may be worthwhile. [This tool is free, so there’s nothing to lose, just to get an initial idea that is deeper than just a snapshot].
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To fulfill a purpose… that is interesting. I also did the horoscope and it is amazingly closer to who I am than any western type horoscope. I read a bit about the Mayans during the 2012 prophecies but I may need to look deeper. Thanks…
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The humbleness lies in admitting you don’t have all the answers. I believe people who approach faith in this way to be the most pious.
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Yes, I like that… I’ve always questioned those who think they have all the angles figured out…
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JC, as always your posts send me researching further…I thought I’d read all of Kafka’s books but never heard of this one…also I must read up on Jason and the Argonauts! There are never all the answers, however much we might wish it to be different…that is the thrill of life…its frustrations!! A thought-provoking post – I would expect no less!!😀
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Thank you, Annika. Within the last year, I discovered Kafka’s lost story, by accident while searching on Google. I love the premise of the story… what is worse than being noticed, not being noticed even if it threatens your life. And Jason’s wisdom in playing the lyre aginst the sounds of the sirens.
Maybe we know as much as we’re allowed and that’s a good thing.
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