dark&light
dark, darker, darkest.
darkness can be so beautiful and enthralling… it’s why we retreat into depression so willingly. we see a glamor in the darkness that we want to hold.
the music alone speaks directly to a part inside of us that most people aren’t likely to admit to having - a fundamental part of what it means to be human - and cleans our “soul” like a bottle brush.
just as some people strive to be pure and flock to the light, others are trapped in darkness, and many are, well, not happy, but satisfied to be there. if they aren’t truly depressed, they live a life that feels good; earthly pleasures are their goals. they understand this life is for doing and enjoying rather than for having and acquiring. many that tread on the side of the light are too busy resisting the darkness to do and enjoy and place far too much emphasis on having and acquiring. all of these ways of life, though, are part of the humanity inside ourselves.
several religions address the temptation of the darkness, and most view it negatively, which of course only gives it a stronger pull for some of us. buddhism calls desire the source of all suffering. the question is: why do we want? why are we taught to resist things that feel good? (we are also taught to resist things that feel bad, such as bodily harm, or scary real-life situations: death, loss, torture, war) would things be so alluring if we weren’t supposed to want them?
and yet i choose to tread in a place where i resist a lot of desire, a lot of pretty things and tasty food. I don’t believe my life is any less full because i don’t do drugs or eat meat of buy makeup, and i have to wonder if all of these things we’re supposed to resist are really all that bad. i desire many of these things from time to time, but my life is no better when i give in. no improvement is made from many of these indulgences, aside from a momentary one.
i think where i must look to for answers are the consequences of these actions, and not the merit or supposed “sin” of the actions themselves. i only wish that didn’t require so much thinking on my part.
