"Look here junior, don’t you be so happy"

[Anonymous]

I was listening to Marquee Moon by Television the other night. Most rock lyrics are pretty inane, but this particular verse jumped out at me –

Quote:

I spoke to a man

down at the tracks.

I asked him

how he don’t go mad.

He said ‘Look here junior, don’t you be so happy.

And for Heaven’s sake, don’t you be so sad.’

Without wishing to get too pretentious, this is a bit like the middle way of Buddhism. I think sometimes if we have big highs, we can have big lows. Some of my big spiritual disappointments have been with getting too enthusiastic. With a burst of enthusiasm, you risk fatigue and failure, not to mention a big disappointment in life, so my view is that one has to try and be content, rather than ecstatic. My engagement with the church this time has been one of quiet persistence, not short intensity, in the main and has been more successful for that. Bright flames can burn out quicker…

So I realize I am not perfect, that the other members are not perfect, the church isn’t perfect and my friends aren’t perfect. I try not to be too happy with all of these and I try not to feel too sad about them. I just try to be content with them, and enjoy them, without getting too intense. Easier said than done.

And if you really want to listen to it, you can hear it here. Television was one of Cobain’s favorite bands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlbunmCbTBA

Or does this all make me a miserable sinner?

[Anonymous]

Yes, good point. And you’re right …it is easier said than done.

[Anonymous]

Avoiding the mountains so you don’t have to deal with valleys is one approach…it might seem safer. On the other hand, you miss out on the views of the mountain tops.

I don’t disagree with you Sam, and I enjoy Buddhism and middle-way temperance as a wise lifestyle.

On the other hand, I still like to play basketball, even if I might sprain my ankle every once in a while. Sometimes risks are worth it, and avoiding all risks may be too extreme as well.

And so sometimes another approach is to go ahead and let yourself be “so Happy”, knowing you will probably also be “so sad”, and learn from both experiences, as there must needs be opposition in all things. Other times, tempering risks with conservative behavior can spare you from extreme negative consequences.

It is all a Risk-Reward analysis…and different people and different situations have different tolerances for that risk.

Good thoughts to ponder, thanks for posting, Sam!

[Anonymous]

I have found that with age my temperaments are more even simply out of

a) familiarity with most excitng things in life,and

b) fatigue from worrying about all the bad things that can and do happen.

I tend to be much more even than I was when I was younger, except when deeply traumatic experiences happen to me — in the last couple years, it’s led to two bouts of depression lasting about 3 weeks each, most recent about a year ago.

I look at them as anomalies in my life experience though. Most of the time, I’m even. Or if something bad happens, or is looming, I can now compartmentalize it or “put it away until tomorrow” or when I have to deal with the problem, rather than worry about it. I had some pretty big health issues a couple months ago leading to cancer testing and such, and I didn’t worry about it all…..(what an achievement for me)…tests were negative, by the way.

However, I still have moments of great self-actualization that bring me joy. I remember studying research of great leaders like Ghandi, and the researcher concluded that these great leaders of history had what he called “peak experiences” where they feel some kind of spiritual high or deep contentment.

So, as far as the middle way goes — I hope I never get to the point where I’m not having the periodic incomprehensible joy. And I hope that joy comes from new experiences and not only Church-related experiences….

Re-inventing oneself around a new set of values and skills, is a very enriching experience, that I believe brings joy…..]

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