Bugs versus Humans
In my early twenties, I went through a semi-serious “I’m-a-hippy” phase. In those days, or at least in my circle, you couldn’t claim to be a good hippy if you weren’t reading the Carlos Castaneda series, The Teachings of Don Juan; A Yacqui Way of Knowledge.
I laboured my way through the majority of them, claiming that I found them to be oh-so-profound. In reality, I was not sure what to make of the ‘teachings’, or at least Carlos’ interpretations. They weren’t even good stories.
There is however, one episode I remember reading that has reappeared in my thoughts many times since; Carlos was in the desert, probably stoned on peyote. He is perched on top of a mesa staring out into the western desert. As with all his peyote induced trips he is supposed to have a vision of some sort, or at least come to a grand epiphany.
He looks down and sees a bug crawling on the rock beside him. He begins to compare himself and his entire existence to the bug. He concludes that his existence is no more important to the desert, to the earth, or to the universe than the existence of a bug in the desert.
Here is where the hippy in me took flight, to be replaced by my carping youth. “Of course Carlos is more important than the bug. He has to be more important than a bug! He is human! People would notice if he disappeared. No one would miss that bug.”
When I think of this now, I have an entirely different perspective…
I think Carlos was right. He is no more important than the bug and the bug is no more important than him. But the bug has no choice in the matter. It can only be a bug. As humans we get to choose what meaning we give to being human and choose to live accordingly.
NB, I have changed the settings on this blog to facilitate leaving comments after a reader brought the difficulties to my attention. Please join in.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Your comments, questions, ideas and suggestions are always welcome. You can comment here, or choose between Facebook, Twitter, or the contact button.
Great story. Too bad so many humans aspire to little more in life than becoming a bug or a slug!
I remember the books you mention plus Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. We were devoted readers of such literature!!!
Thank you. I hope you got more out of them than I did, but I suppose I got something out of those books if that scene stuck with me for so long. I bet you read Be Here Now, too!
Very interesting….if you want to feel insignificant try reading The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (I picked this up this morning) which basically says the same thing. For example I’ll quote a few lines….
“And if the Wine you drink, the Lip you press,
End in the Nothing all Things end in-Yes-
Then fancy while Thou art, Thou art but what
Thou shalt be- Nothing-Thou shalt not be less.”
He really stresses the idea that you might as well have a good time while you are here….:-)
Thank you — yes those lines do seem to stress we are nothing — but I do like the idea of having a good time while you are here. You can make your time mean something and still enjoy it.
At least he says if you’re nothing, you can’t become less than nothing.
Good to know?
I think so….