Opinion
 

Achieving fulfillment in life can be perplexing

By Donald LeGrand

We live in the age of an ever-awakening population. People are being exposed to new technology and new concepts with a push to be more mentally astute. The advent of this electronic age of television, cell phones and computers forces us to adapt to our changing civilization. However, much remains to be addressed. Physical needs are usually easily met, yet emotional, mental and spiritual problems are a bit more difficult to solve. 

Religion has grown along with the sophistication used to recruit its members. Most people are not aware of the subliminal and subconscious elements at work. People have a thirst to experience something greater. The promises of marriage, career and countless material possessions cannot do the job anymore. In the search for an answer, we look everywhere for a solution to remedy our lack of fulfillment. Hobbies, social groups, music, sex, religion, our career or a personal crusade to quench the most intimate and deepest of desires become the balm we apply to the wound of longing to be free.

The meaning behind the growth of the religious and metaphysical movements have made many people wary of committing to any belief system different than the one they acquired in their early years. Many techniques are being used to recruit people to various belief systems. The techniques include fear tactics, the claiming of the will of God, a new experience, secret knowledge or some sort of improvement in one's life, and move one to experiment with the unusual.

Too many of us live the story of the poor, blind beggar reliant upon so many for the substance of our existence. We walk around not exactly knowing where we are headed, but feeling deep down that our many efforts in life were for some greater purpose than we recognize. Many of us know the experience of the inability to sleep because we are unable to quiet life's many concerns.

We must experience so that we may come to understand. A personal effort is always involved for any growth in our life. However, in order to obtain understanding, a refined ability to discriminate is necessary. Too many people have their own agendas at heart. Sometimes these people believe their agenda is aligned with the will of God, despite their lack of knowledge and closed-mindedness.

One has to be careful and willing to honestly examine one's actions and belief system in order to avoid the many traps and bypaths that exist. Of course each is free to believe whatever he or she chooses. No one has the right to impose his or her will on anyone. Each must reap the results of one's actions. With that in mind, enjoy the experience that is life. A connection exists amongst all things, despite the subtlety of that connection and our corresponding inability at times to perceive it.

LeGrand, an editorial writer for The Daily Cougar,
can be reached at picador@ev1.net.