Interesting times

There is an ancient Chinese saying wishing the person addressed a life in "interesting times." My understanding is that the intention of this was tongue in cheek in a sense. Perhaps it would be better to live your life in meditation, in study, in a tranquil, country atmosphere People who read this BLOG know that I am somewhat obsessed with the problems of my so-called civilization, and that I was raised to think of the confrontation with these problems as part and parcel of my obligation as a person, as a citizen.

Thus the times become a part of one's cross to bear, the stone which is constantly rolled up the hill in sisyphean style, or how about Don Quixote tilting at the ever lovin' windmills (?). And why bother when one can focus on one's breath, "chop wood, carry water." I've personally looked at both sides of these divides, been on both of them, but will probably spend my days trying for the "middle way" and failing to absent myself from the "interesting."

The Middle Way seems like an unachievable ideal, one which might have been found and lived in in another time. Growing up in the depression and war, going to war and living through successive wars and turmoil it doesn't seem to be in the cards. To move off to a version of "the ivory tower" (something that even seemed like a possibility at an earlier age), or a monastery (which never has been possible) is as if personal movies could be lived, even with cynicism. There is too much consciousness to be in isolation of any kind, and it would seem that consciousness would be the avenue out of the dilemmas involved.