Monday, June 25, 2012

Intellectual maturity; reality versus illusion (#1242)

What do we envision as maturity? Is it what we see others acting and doing that gives us the ideal of a mature person? Living a mature life is not the same as acting a mature life. If all we are doing is living to an image of what maturity is, then we are not being mature. Our own life and the maturity it expresses has no predetermined pathway. Maturity is a function of the unique circumstances we encounter and react, or not, toward. Maturity is not some ideal that is superficially applied, it is not living as a character in some play. Maturity is the result of many trials and errors that eventually give rise to perspective. The boundaries of maturity are limitless and maturity cannot be acquired without having an objective viewpoint on all that we can possibly know. Age does not equal wisdom, nor does it equal an intellectual maturity. Neither does stature of wealth or power. Maturity is not a prize that can be won in a contest, nor is it an item that can be bought in a market. Maturity happens when someone cares enough about everything; and is patient within their lifetime to humbly realize that they know very little at all. If there is one personality characteristic or behavioral trait that Intellectual humility can blossom from it is in a curious humility. The fat rich cat smoking a cigar and drinking his brandy does not represent maturity, he represents a certain type of aggressive prosperity, which is the ideal of the illusion of maturity. The reality version of intellectual maturity is expressed by anyone who lives beyond the confines of consumerism, beyond the confines of power and beyond the confines of glory. The intellectually mature person sees the essence of life as existence and does not qualify it with a conclusion, rather this person accepts the existence and lives in awe of it.

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