Stepping Stones
On the Road to Paradise
Hello family! It’s been quite some time since I last put out a Substack post. Allison and I are five months into being the parents of our angelic little boy, Bodhi. While having a kid is no excuse for pausing the creative process, that’s exactly what happened! Oh well, time flies! On to today’s topic.
I was listening to an old Alan Watts speech the other day in which he suggested that every college entrance exam should be a paper on what the prospective student’s vision for paradise is. So in that spirit, I wrote a few pages on my vision of paradise. I share it here in hopes that it inspires you to write your own.
In paradise as I see it, people everywhere are living healthy and happy lives. They honor and respect the natural world because they realize that it is not separate from them. The majority of the population understands the purpose of life is to grow and explore, to learn and to teach. Children are honored as the greatest teachers and the future of the world’s continuous prosperity. Elders are respected because they demonstrate mastery of the body and mind. Service to others is held in the highest regard. High value is placed on work that produces the greatest health and happiness for the community, things such as growing food, building shelter, tending to the sick, keeping stories and traditions alive, and listening to omens. Great care is taken to protect nature, the source of life. Animals and plants are cared for with zeal because people know their own lives depend on the health of all beings. Technology is integrated seamlessly with Nature and supports the life process, making more space for people to create art and pursue their curiosity.
In paradise, all people work according to their greatest gifts. All are fit and train their bodies and minds to accomplish the great work of their lives. People play like children at every age. Death and birth are honored as the two greatest transitions a person can go through. Life and death are viewed by the majority of the population as two sides of the same leaf. Money is considered to be a tool for regeneration, freedom, and goodwill. The pursuit of money is only in service of the higher goal of helping others, and not at the expense of a person’s own values. Food is medicine, medicine is food. People worship the source of creation by acting in accordance with their ideals.
When struggle occurs, as it always does during the growth process, it is met with love, curiosity, and space to express itself. The mystery of life is accepted and people are open to surprises. Laws and governments hold very little importance because individuals are trusted to lead lives that benefit all. Many small communities, each with their own sovereignty, come together in council at specific astronomical times to learn and teach the ways of wisdom and love. A rich tapestry of human expression and sharing is the result of these meetings.
Finally, simple living in time with the seasons is considered to be the most normal lifestyle. All who seek, find. All who find, are found.
I encourage you to write your own version of paradise, even if it’s only a few lines. Then comes the most important part of the process. Act in a way that brings some part of your paradise to life, and watch your life magically change around you.
May you create paradise one small step at a time. Get in touch with me if you need anything at all.
Love, Jason