I Have Learned A Few Things
Caitlin Johnstone
I have learned a few things in my time on this earth. Not many, but a few.
I have learned that western regime change interventionism is reliably disastrous, and that men like John Bolton are always on the wrong side of history when it comes to such matters.
I have learned that organizing human civilization around the pursuit of short term, personal profit ahead of collective well-being has had devastating consequences for our ecosystem, our
health, our hearts, and our happiness.
I have learned that there is an entirely unacceptable amount of human suffering in developing nations, and that it is largely caused by the western power structures we live under and the way our civilization behaves.
I have learned that rich and powerful people pour tremendous quantities of resources into psychologically manipulating the public using all forms of media, and that their efforts to indoctrinate the masses have proven very successful.
I have learned that because our civilization is so saturated in propaganda and our consciousness so indoctrinated, I stand a much better chance of forming an accurate understanding of the world by trusting in my own learning and insight than by accepting what I am told.
I have learned that it is possible to awaken from the egocentric delusions that are responsible for most of our suffering, and begin moving harmoniously on this planet with an open heart and eyes full of wonder.
I have learned that the self is an illus-ion and the way most people perceive things like thought, time and separateness is not truth-based, driven instead by often wildly inaccurate assumptions about the most fundamental aspects of human experience.
I have learned that nature is stunningly beautiful, and that failure to perceive beauty anywhere is a failure of perception by the beholder.
I have learned that our lives are much more intimately intertwined than we would ever dare to imagine, not just with respect to each other but with respect to every non-human life on this planet.
I have learned that a life dedicated to learning what’s true and to expressing truth is the only kind of life that can ever satisfy.
I have learned that I am still learning, and always will be for as long as this body draws breath.
I have learned that the more I learn, the more mysterious life becomes.
I have learned that the more mysterious I allow this life to be, the more enjoyable it is.
The learning continues, even as the conclusions crumble in the radiant light of the mysterious, and I stare bewildered at a universe steeped in seemingly unfathomable mysteries.
Source: Caitlin’s Newsletter, 7 Dec 2024 https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/i-have-learned-a-few-things
Comments from Richard Corin:
Experience has demonstrated that one cannot trust one’s own learning and insight except where it has been thoroughly tested. The issue is tricky because I wish to oppose the view that everything is opinion, and would like to suggest that there has been a long-term collective quest for reliable knowledge – and that quest has produced fruits which are largely available in the public domain. Wherever scientific knowledge is available and reliably reported, it should be given greater authority than personal intuition.
That is not so simple, because there are many important questions about “under- standing the world” which science cannot answer and, unfortunately, pseudo sciences (including mainstream economics) have undermined the credibility of all experts, including those dedicated to reliable knowledge. It is also true that both “young sciences” and the “cutting edge” of established sciences, mostly consist of inadequately tested speculations, so it can be difficult for untutored individuals to sort the proven from the potentially plausible.
I feel that this lesson is one which our civilisation is currently relearning the hard way. The religious sectarian identity politics of previous eras have re-emerged as socio-political ideologies. Humans really do not like hearing, “we don’t know – so let’s adopt the precautionary principle and try to do no harm”.
