My parables

Parables are stories that contain within them a philosophy of life, a worldview. Here are some that resonate with me:

The Buddhist parable of the mustard seed — Life, for everyone, is impermanent and death is universal. Nobody gets their life “together” permanently. See also the poem Ozymandias and the philosophy of Emerson on impermanence.

The parable of the Chinese farmer — With a longer time horizon, the things that are painful today can lead to fruits tomorrow, and vice versa. An example from my life: when my bosses in internal medicine residency said I wasn’t a good fit for the field, it was painful, but it led to me finding a better career fit eventually. And this painful experience helped me be able to better empathize with people in similar positions (and help by way of sharing my story and undoing some shame).

Walden pond — Solitude helps us discover what we really think. My Waldens have been: a hobbit house I rented off Airbnb, six weeks on the island of Kauai, traveling, writing, long runs and swims.

Sartre’s student — The dilemma of Sartre’s student is the dilemma we all face in life: what to do? which values to choose? External “right answers” to many of life’s dilemmas don’t exist (not in utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics, or religion, though these can provide ideas). We must choose for ourselves.

Camus’ plague — Life is absurd, the universe giveth and taketh away, we have to choose how we live despite this. Do we despair and think of ourselves as a victim? Or do we live with decency and generosity?

The overview effect — When astronauts go to space, some are struck by wonder and awe at the oneness of planet earth and feel a sense of rage at things like war and environmental destruction. From the vantage point of space, we can see the insanity of identification with small differences (as satirized by Dr. Seuss in The Butter Battle Book). Yes, it’s true that the human psych tends to form in-groups. Yet rather than identify as a certain narrow part of our identity, we can CHOOSE to identify as living beings on a planet. Our tribe, then, is all of life. When I think in this way, I feel an expansive feeling in my chest.

The parable of the empty teacup — keeping beginner’s mind is keeping your teacup empty. When listening, practice not thinking what you’ll say, but taking in what’s being said.