Enlightenment and tradition can work in harmony (#831)

A never ending fire to know more can be melded with a consistency of behavior. We have, as a species, lived long enough to know where our limitations and boundaries exist. Certainly there is a little room one way or the other but for the most part we can feel secure in the facts of our limitations. This understanding of boundaries helps us to structure efficient patterns for our behaviors and actions. It does not however limit our thoughts and how we can increase and expand our knowledge. The great and realistic challenge of society is to keep us from harming ourselves and others while giving us things to be busy and productive about. When civilization first banded together it was out of concerns for family and survival. We have since come to refine our societies to include common goals beyond just family and survival. Our comfort in society has expanded to greater realizations of our potential. It is in a society, that advances it's knowledge base into application, where our better potentials can be realized. Enlightenment is a by-product of a nurturing mindset dedicated to allowing all of it's citizens to be participants in it's evolution. The constant mindfulness of some is that the boundaries of our behaviors will somehow lose their identity through advancing progress. As our possibilities increase so therefore should our potential. These are constants about existence. Change is inevitable however change must follow an orderly path. This is where tradition has it's greatest value. I see tradition as a vessel for change not an obstacle. A pathway if you will allow me to describe it as such. Remaining grounded in a sense of duty to family and survival, we allow ourselves the calmness needed to face change. Tradition is not a stop sign for progress but a guidepost to help us stand firm while staring out into the possible.