"All of man's troubles stem from..."

[TailsAlone]

"...his inability to sit quietly in a room alone."

Blaise Pascal wrote this, and while I don't agree with it entirely, I think it's a powerful statement. Everywhere I look I see people causing trouble for themselves and others. Arguing in public, shooting each other, bombing marathons. Even attempting to live the so-called American dream--money, house, family--brings conflict and uncomfortable changes to one's life. I wish more people did just keep to themselves.

What does Pascal mean by this? Is he saying we should sit quietly in our rooms and not hurt each other? Or is he saying that we couldn't do it if we tried? I've been sitting quietly in my room for much of my life. It's peaceful, but it costs me the emotional connections other people enjoy. I don't hurt anyone and I avoid the lows of human existence, but I also miss out on the highs.

 

[SilentBird]

I wouldn't say all of my problems are because of this, but many. Being alone without stimulus is challenging, one is faced with looking at oneself and ones life.

Reminds me of, "the devil makes work for idle hands."

 

[gustavofring]

I think it means that many people can't just accept where they are in life in the present moment, the only moment there is. A lot of the time their minds are in the past and in the fictious future, thinking about their unhappiness and their life situation, blaming others/wanting/needing/craving/not accepting that which is/resisting. Clinging on to a mind story, such as "I am depressed" or "they are wrong ad I am right". This is the root of unhappiness, as the Buddha already knew more then 2000 years ago. There's never satisfaction and there is a lack of honoring the present moment and what arises in it.

Think how many people are impatient and get angry when they have to wait for example. You probably have experienced this yourself, I know I do. Or when you're stuck in a situation you want to get out of.

I think what he's saying is that we should be more accepting of that which is, because resisting it is madness and causes suffering. Things already are as they are, so why resist it and create suffering? An extreme example would be people bombing others. They can't just let others be, they have to kill them. Only in a state of surrender to what is can one really undertake positive action, without the negative energy involved. Letting go of the wanting, so that a more playful and effortless presence arises that will make positive action far easier.

 

[MikeyC]

I wouldn't say all of my problems are because of this, but many. Being alone without stimulus is challenging, one is faced with looking at oneself and ones life.

Reminds me of, "the devil makes work for idle hands."

Pretty much this. Constant distractions are a smokescreen for our own problems, which we like to ignore and pretend we're all okay.

I wouldn't say it's the cause of all problems, though. It's just a by-product of Westernised life circa 2013.

 

[pnr]

I am probably taking this literally but does this problem only exist to males?

 

[Xervello]

All of man's troubles stem from... man! Get rid of 'em, I say! Let women have the earth for awhile. You all can eat chocolate, get fat and live rape-free for fifty years or so. Then let the animals have it back. Earth needs a break from us all.

 

[planemo]

Interesting quote. It could have a lot to do with feeling content. As humans we're never really content to just let things be. If you're sitting all alone in a room it means both internally and externally you're not provoked to want to change things or bring about change. You're not stimulated to follow your desires and maybe even your needs. I think most of the trouble in the world is due to people all wanting to carry out their very conflicting agendas, in order to fulfill their desires. If we had no real desire to fulfill our conflicting agendas, perhaps the world would be a better place... who knows?

As for me though, i'm pretty much sitting alone in my room a lot of the time. Perhaps the rest of the world could use a bit of what i'm getting, but i think i've had my fill to be honest. it's not that great and i would really want to break free. but i think having a bit of solitude in an empty room could make society better on some level. but with everything it will only work with just the right amount. for me i'm just having too much.

 

[xDreamseller]

I love just sitting alone, I enjoy my own company much more than the company of others and believe that that's one of the strongest qualities I have.

Then again, I don't have any real desires/dreams/agendas.

 

[pavnaxtion]

I agree that it's about being content and how no one is truly content, which is the source of our problems as human beings. If we have no problems, we will create them. If we can solve those problems, we create mental barriers that block us from solving them because we are naturally inclined towards having problems. We don't realize we have the power just to say " I don't care about this" and move on with our lives to things we actually enjoy.