The Senseless Challenge

Religion and spirituality, two categories that may sometimes coincide, are linked to each other by a hypothesis that probably does not make sense and that is the basis of their mission. The hypothesis is that there is a soul or a real self, a nucleus within the human being that we can consider our real identity and that most likely does not exist.

The fact that it does not exist is not my bold thought, but it is part of the most accredited scientific theories as well as what the most advanced technological tools observe. It is obvious that these theories and observations could one day be overturned, however, finding this existential "core" is as likely as being able to prove the existence of the Tooth fairy. In my humble opinion, and for what it's worth, I can add that it's also the conclusion I come to through my own psychedelic experimentation.

Confronted with all this, you could rightly ask questions about how much sense there is today in following the rules of any religion, sacrificing your existence for it, when its possibility of reality does not deviate from the possibilities of the existence of a pot full of gold at the end of the rainbow. Let me give you a few examples. A Hindu bases his existence on the idea of reincarnation. If there is no such nucleus who or what is reincarnated? If there is no soul who or what goes to heaven or hell? If it is impossible for our mind not to be conditioned and the true self is nothing more than a legend what happens to the Buddhist yogic spirituality?

The purpose of this post is not to make you lose every possible direction but to try to explain that it is likely that the bearings you have used so far, do not work and won't take you anywhere but towards ignorance island. To doubt is not an invitation to stillness but a challenge to a new journey where the destination is still unknown. The very likely possibility that there is no final prize (paradise, exit from the cycle of reincarnations, nirvana, etc.) is not an invitation to care about ethics but rather to find the basis of ethics in rooting at the present time or: if I act for the good I am better.

The challenge and the prize are perhaps not at two different moments in the time plan, that is if time really exists, but two cohesive entities of your present. Simply ask yourself how much sense it makes to base your actions today for a future prize that is not guaranteed.

m.m.