Deep Thoughts: To what purpose?

Sunday, August 04, 2013

To what purpose?

I read this type of stories and ask myself, "To what purpose?"

I do not understand why living on top of pillar isolated in the mountains brings you any closer to God than the widow down the street who says her prayers each day. Fanatical devotion is… fanatical.

Monk takes devotion to new heights

Maxime the monk lives on a pillar. When he wants to step down out of the clouds, the 59-year-old scales a 131-foot ladder, which takes him about 20 minutes.

After living on Katskhi pillar for 20 years, Maxime’s climbs have slowed, but having worked as a crane operator in a past life, he’s never feared heights.

The story is a photo essay by Photographer Amos Chapple, who is gifted. Enjoy.

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Paul Douglas · 610 weeks ago

I think some of us are born natural ascetics. If one has had a chaotic, unfulfilled life, secluding yourself and finding some serenity and control of your environment would be quite salubrious.

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shayman 58p · 610 weeks ago

Fascinating story and great photos, you are right.
But some thoughts:

(1) "I do not understand why ...."
This objection is made all the time by people of different temperaments, skills and experiences. I do not understand why
-- people would stand in a cold stream all day only to catch fish and then let them go (said about flyfishing)
-- someone would risk their life to walk across the grand canyon
-- would have more than 4 children
-- someone who spend so much time fighting a religion they don't believe in

There are all sorts of folks out there -- we can't all be like you. I would hope there are thousands of lifestyles you would not understand. It is only natural.

(2)"... any closer to God"
Actually, this is very similar to #1 with a particular application to the various ways people use the word "God". Each person uses "God" rather uniquely to talk about an inner state of mind (I am an atheist and don't believe in a guy floating in space). And it is not surprising that what a person values as an inner experience (just as #1 outer experiences) should vary from person to person and that you, of course, won't resonate with other folks.

Now the rhetoric put on any experience or preference is where problems begin. But that you should be surprised is odd.

I am actually sure you meant this merely as a rhetorical tool (I hope), but even at that, it misses some very important insights, I think.

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