Little epiphanies come in all shapes and sizes. As the song lyric says, “once in a while, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” Last week I was lucky to be part of a virtual discussion group that regularly discusses matters of philosophy, religion, ethics, and politics. It’s a lively, respectful bunch of thoughtful, open-minded folk, this particular group. Last Monday, we reviewed various YouTube videos, and in one, in particular, clinical psychologist, philosopher, author, and firebrand of freedom Jordan Peterson was the focus. The topic was broader, but in it, he said one thing that caused the proverbial light to go off inside my head; To Worship is to imitate.
In the context of organized religion, and for my purposes here, we shall refer to Christianity; to worship Jesus is to imitate him. And that’s the point. Other modern popular philosophers like Bill Maher and Sam Harris have no use for organized religion, but I believe we would be far worse off and far fewer in number without it. Ancient religions were roadmaps for survival and blueprints to thrive. Their prophets provided the masses with both inspiration and practical advice to maximize happiness and joy in the face of debilitating environments.
Are then, there are modern prophets or movements that we can worship through imitation. But like all faith’s the adherents are sensitive to hypocrisy. Be careful not to ask your followers to do something that you are not willing to do yourself. As Marie Antoinette is reported to have said: "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche” - Let them eat cake. Those that imply this are false prophets, I believe.
There is very little work in this world that is not a derivative of someone else’s. Indeed, this is how we advance, avoiding a constant reinvention of the wheel. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But there is more to this quote by Oscar Wilde; “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” He seems to be taking the cynical view that the masses can only expect mediocrity. And in fact, there is ample scientific evidence to support this. Jordan Peterson also often sites The Pareto Principle or the 80/20 rule. It is demonstrable that 80% of the people own only 20% of the wealth, no matter the economic system. This holds in other areas such as talent, intellect, and physical prowess. So while we cannot expect to be the absolute best at any chosen endeavor because not everybody can, we can expect to live a life on constant upward movement in any and all areas of our lives.
Peterson also has said, “do not compare yourself to who someone else is today; compare yourself only to who you were yesterday.” In this, you can worship all joyous and fulfilled people who have come before you without the need to consider your purported mediocrity. With consistent growth, we can find salvation. In living in the present and isolating the ego, we divorce ourselves from our past regrets. I think the path to enlightenment is lit by these lights: presence in the now, love, forgiveness, and understanding. These lights can be found over and over again in history, ancient and modern. Trusted prophets espouse them. Imitate them, and you can find enlightenment. At least that’s what I understand the Buddha, Jesus, The Dali Lama, Ekhart Tolle, et al. to have preached. But this is what I have found, and it is proper to me. But this is about you. So I ask you, what are you imitating? What are you worshiping?
Be well, Dear Reader.
