Pilgrim searches for purpose.
 

Pilgrim stumbled once more into the shadow of the great rock which Pilgrim named as the "rock of enquiry" and decided to rest awhile. The shadow moved according to the position of the sun above. Over the course of many previous visits Pilgrim had come to see the sun as being knowledge, casting light into otherwise hidden places.
This happened in Pilgrims imagination of course, the hidden places were actually unanswered--perhaps unanswerable--questions which came into Pilgrims mind during the course of pilgrimage. Sitting in the shadow of the great rock provided an opportunity to gather and ponder upon such questions--hence Pilgrims choice of name. Such answers as came to Pilgrims mind Pilgrim considered to be carried on the sunbeams of knowledge rather than being products of Pilgrims personal intellect.

This visit was a little different. For one of the questions which Pilgrim carried to the rock concerned the functioning of the rock itself. True, the naming of the rock and the reason for doing so was Pilgrims personal choice--as far as Pilgrim was aware unknown to anybody else, but nevertheless Pilgrim wondered why this possibly simply imagined functioning took shape in Pilgrims mind.

Was why? connected with Purpose? --and this was the question which Pilgrim day pondering at this visit.

The sun continued to move and the shadows likewise.

Pilgrim realised that in this relationship between the movement of the sun and the shifting of the shadows there need be no sense of purpose-- simply cause and consequence.

Certainly it would be possible to suggest, believe even, that the sun was set in motion for the express purpose of sequentially illuminating hidden places otherwise in shadow.

But that suggestion seemed contrary to answers now available regarding the reason for the sun. These reasons themselves derived from growing understanding/knowledge of particular causes, particular consequences.

Pilgrim could see that without that understanding/knowledge of cause and consequence any answers to the question would most likely be dependant upon reasoning that some purpose was being fulfilled as a result of the sun moving.

Pilgrim is still wandering and pondering. Each visit to the great rock, each question, seems to suggest that if belief is sidestepped if only temporarily, the notion of existence being purposeful is itself a consequence of wanting to know but not knowing.

The notion of existence being the product of countless interactions of cause and consequence does not easily lend itself to being thought of as being directed by purpose

Pilgrim has come to see dimly however that causes and consequences, --specifically the creation of causes, the ability to consciously create causes, is perhaps a defining characteristic of conscious existence. Consciously creating causes can be without regard to the consequences, or can be carefully considered in respect of the consequences.

Choice and knowledge both play their part, and in this acting out purpose does play a part. But it will be a chosen purpose if we succeed.

Perhaps the overall purpose is that we are provided with the opportunity. Pilgrim likes to think that is the case. In the meantime the functioning of cause and consequence in its trillions of manifestations is a source of enormous wonder to the point of certainly being worthy of worship.

Pilgrim lifts weary bones and stumbles on--in wonder.

Xx

Pilgrim ponders paradox.
 

Pilgrim looked and saw the All which is whole thought of as being good.

So good that Each wanted a part

So the whole became torn to pieces

And the value of the goodness lost

But Each slowly realised

And began to return the pieces to the whole

Peace by peace.

Cheers.X.