Ignorance is Bliss, Knowledge is Suffering
Ignorance is bliss because with certain types of knowledge comes a burden; a weight; a suffrage. Without that knowledge there is not the burden and the suffering that accompanies it.
Ignorance is bliss because we don't know about the problems. We are unaware of the real state of reality. We are living in a dream, an illusion, and think everything is fine as it appears to be. We don't see the true substance of reality; of the level of falsity that pervades the world and our lives.
Attaining some knowledge can show us the real way thing are. The dream, illusion and unreality is shattered by reality. Our false worldview crumbles under our feet, taking away the solid ground we stood upon. Instead of being happy, content and blissful only thinking about continuing to live as we did, now we see the world as it is and the problems that exist.
We see the problem, but don't know the solution. Whereas once we thought we knew what was going on and where we were going, now we are lost because we know we are lost. We were lost before in ignorance, but we didn't know we were lost. At least with knowledge and awareness, you realize how lost you actually are rather than live int he fantasy of self-deception from ignorance.
Seeing the problems but not having a solution brings about feelings of being disempowered as well. We are now suffering, in a lost state where we lack the power of understanding the situation enough to apply a solution. Not having the understanding to apply a solution eaves us disempowered from resolving the problem that makes us suffer. We don't know how to make things better, so we feel like we have no power and no control.
That can change. We can learn more. Gain more knowledge. Rather than remain in a state of being lost and disempowered, we can continue to walk on the path of learning more. It might create more burden and suffering on us, but that's the way to developing an understanding that can finally remove the burden and suffering by empowering us to act. It's the path and way to no longer be lost through finding more knowledge and understanding; by finding ourselves and the solution to problems.
The choice for remaining in ignorance and accepting the illusory appearances in order to avoid upsetting our apples carts, is the blue pill. We stay asleep, in the dream, believe whatever we want, and enjoy the comfort of illusory false "order"; of not being burdened with the vision of seeing the world as it really is.
The choice for knowledge and removing the veil of illusion that blinds us to reality, is the red pill. You can go down a dark rabbit hole, temporarily lost, wandering in chaos in order to find true order that can be actualized if we work to make it happen.
Taking the time, effort, energy, determination, dedication and persistence to learn how to apply the best solution, is a burden and can bring suffering compared to the ignorance of fantasy belief.
With knowledge of the problem also comes the responsibility to do something about it. This is a heavy burden to bear. The suffering we endure in a state of knowledge is required to reach a state of understanding and truly fix the problems we have. Avoiding some temporary pain in suffering the burden of knowledge will only ensure a continuation of ignorance and a failure to correct problems that exist.
Knowledge can also be false. We need to want to know the truth. We need to be able to discern the difference between truth and falsity. Accepting false knowledge as truth also creates a state of suffering because it puts you on the wrong path and leads to wrong-actions, more problems, not solutions.
Thank you for your time and attention. Peace.
And thanks to @valorforfreedom for his recent comment that inspired a longer explanation of this topic.
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Just as the Matrix pointed out, those who are still living under the sway of the illusion will become your enemies quite often if you outwardly begin expressing the truth. Many are desperate to remain under the sway of the dark magicians, and will consider you a threat to their sanity if you throw it off by your words and deeds.
To me, this is summed up most poignantly in the Bhagavad Gita, when Arjuna is in tears as he views all the people he loves arrayed against him on the battlefield. I always found the explanation given him by Krishna to be lacking as it is not possible (for myself anyway) to not hurt at the chasm that cannot be undone. It is a tightrope one must often walk once you have stepped out of the veil in keeping those you love feeling safe when they are near you. I have grown more tolerant as I have aged, treasuring my bonds with people I love more than creating a dissension between us.
Very correct on the first paragraph ;)
I have put truth first, so I have different results ;)
I've been struggling with this issue - not as far as I'm concerned, but the for the things I tell my children about the world. Granted they could come to the same understanding without me, but I've already ruined their image of the world. They've been deprived of their ignorance and there's very little by way of hope that I can give them.
I applaud your choosing to do right by them as opposed to what many do and feed them lies that will turn into despair as they see for themselves. They will always know that out of the masses, you have been truthful with them which is where true bonding takes place.
As parents, it is our job to best prepare our children to be able to navigate the world. Many do not, instead filling their children with false information that will not aid them in empowering themselves as they become adults.
Truth is the foundation for all real relationships :)
Being honest and sharing the truth is the greatest gift we can give each other :)
The faster you figure out the truly true truth, the faster you can figure out the amazing, wonderful things you can do with it. It's much different when you've had your entire life to prepare, instead of believing beautiful lies, until the day you need the truth and don't have it.
I came from a school run by monks and studied Philosophy and Psychology. Prior to my readings in the different Philosophical discourses. my mind was satisfied with the religious dogma that I was raised since I had a religious mother.
Reading on the great works from Socrates, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzche and Psychological readings from Freud, Festinger, William James and others that opened my mind to a different kind of thinking.
A paradigm shift is to describe it mildly as I was branded as a maverick who struggled to get away from the status quo.
There is another path that can be taken. Life as I know it took a different turn.
I agree that there is a danger of false knowledge leading as astray. We must learn to be able to discern and see the truth and not the shadows of the truth from the mouth of the cave.
I bet you're REALLY REALLY glad to have started to learn and expand your understanding of things :) It's a life changer, the best kind :)
Funny you mention the Matrix... I watched it again the other day for the first time in over 10 years. Once you take the red pill you can never go back- the rest of your life is in the solution.
Yup, keep digging deeper as you progress in time. That's the only way out: is through it.
I've been in it so long- I wouldn't know what to do if I was "out" (wherever that is)
this phrase of Smith " ignorance is bliss"?
I think maybe he's right. The more you know about reality, the more you realize what is happening around you, the injustices, the misfortunes of other people, in other countries or close to you, the more you realize that you live surrounded by lies and liars, that everything is planned and that you can not do much to fix everything that you would like most unhappy you live. It is not that ignorance of happiness but there are things that you would live better without knowing them.
Aristotle says that happiness is found in the improvement of reason and knowledge, of knowing more every day and not being ignorant, since ignorance leads to unhappiness.
Knowledge will give you strength, but the character gives you honor, @krnel 😀😀
getting lost in the light is better than getting lost in the dark. interesting post @krnel
Great post loved it you just remind me matrix movie its one of my fav thanks for share
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