whats wrong with being ordinary

[R3g3CiDe]

 “When an ordinary man attains knowledge, he is a sage; when a sage attains understanding, he is an ordinary man. ~Zen Saying

Though most try to avoid being ordinary there’s something really special about it. Not to be put on display, not to need to prove anything, not to be thought of as being ‘somebody’ special. Just to be natural, without pretense or defense; offers a profound relief.

Who can control, dominate, manipulate or influence a person who does not care either way? One who lives simply by and from his instantaneous responses based upon gut instincts and nothing else transcends social roles . Those who care not what others say or think of them or their actions, or what will or will not be done to them, for they bring forth such authenticity.

Imposition is an absolute impossibility for those who do not engage their time or energy in any endeavor that does not feel natural and convenient. They know that life is a series of unexpected non-related events that are sequentially patterned and habitually joined together to make an intravenous spectrum of varied experiences. Ambition makes no abode with them, nor can the scent of power arouse any trickle of emotion. Money can’t penetrate their consciousness for they realize without recall that they possess in fullness everything there is to be obtained.

It requires being daring enough to accept the pleasures of ones own state of existence,which is self-indulgent ‘ordinary’ pleasure. Not seeking validation or approval, they do only those things that matter to them for no other reason except they want to. And cease to worry about being reasonable, logical and most of all, acceptable.

They speak whatever words come to them without filtering,eliminating pretense and enjoy the sensational experience of being human; after all it’s what we’re here on Earth to do.

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else,means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight,and never stop fighting” ~e.e. cummings

source

[voodoo scientist]

Brilliant. This is like a smaller, handier and better Bible.

[slimshady]

there's nothing wrong with being ordinary, unless you dont feel uncomfortable about it. Some are born extraordinary, but for some it is the urge to do something different that makes them so, and others who are none of this are ordinary, satisfied with what they have or do!

[A Strawberry Filed]

I love that first quote.... when we(norm) gain knowledge we become wise, when an already wise man gains knowledge he becomes we(norm) again. The great equalizer.
Great post! : )

[pert -5]

I love that first quote.... when we(norm) gain knowledge we become wise, when an already wise man gains knowledge he becomes we(norm) again. The great equalizer.
Great post! : )

"...with increase of Knowledge should come increase of Wisdom. He who knoweth little, thinketh he knoweth much; but he who knoweth much hath learned his own ignorance. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool, than of him."

Wisdom, like beauty, is within the eye of the beholder.  The true wisdom is that which seeks reconciliation with all other wisdom.

[grasshopper]

Among the objectives of transcendental meditation are reportedly a determination to “cleanse” the mind of thoughts deemed stressful or “counterproductive”, including but not limited to envy, lust, loathing and the yearning to acquire material things with which to impress others.     While these lofty objectives may appear desirable and honorable at first blush, the practical realities of life often call for the very mindset that meditation practitioners strive to suppress.

The student who envies the performance of classmates in school may be inspired to study harder in order to attain better grades that will provide the springboard to professional and career success later in life.   The guitar player who attentively listens to the innovative passages crafted by other musicians may go into seclusion to practice single-mindedly for hours, days, and months on end, as did Eric Clapton in his early years, before finally developing skill levels that lead to the attainment of fame on the world stage, along with the profound respect and admiration of other musical performers.   

The yearning to acquire great material wealth, often cited as being an undesirable emotion by meditation purists, is in fact one of the core personality traits that propelled men like Bill Gates and Richard Branson to marshal the focus, determination, drive and original thought that all combined to elevate those men to the pinnacle of entrepreneurial achievement, which in turn empowered those living legends to significantly improve the world around them with the strategic application of charitable initiatives.  The unprecedented infusion of massive funding to facilitate research into malaria cures, courtesy of Bill Gates, would have remained a pipe dream if a youthful Mr. Gates had not obsessively applied himself to the task of creating the Windows operating system all those years ago when he was college dropout who nursed an overwhelming desire to become extra-ordinary.

While there may be nothing inherently wrong with any person’s choice to remain “ordinary” and mundane in all that they do, human history is replete with examples of men and women who, by virtue of NOT being content to blend into the background, were able to break the mold and thereby chart a new course for themselves, but more significantly, for the human race. 

[hortonpilot]

Interesting .
Intellect is something else. many people are not observant nor curious to explore much in life. often they see no point.
Others want to appreaciate and understand what they can, this is reasonable.
Love of learning and the various worlds inner/outer have a great effect on the lucky few.

others are partially content to watch TV in a chair.

Horton

[Xen]

i'm not sure "normal" exists anymore. most people are trying to be somebody else, and i believe the concept of normal has been lost.
besides, what the OP seems to be describing is more along the lines of nirvana, at least i don't know anyone like that

[robot_monkey]

I think what the quote is advocating is a world of dead people.