Ignorance

Found this in "The Book of Tea" by Kakuzo Okakura and thought it very interesting. The book was published in 1906 but the message here still resonates today.

"People are not taught to be really virtuous, but to behave properly. We are wicked because we are frightfully self-conscious. We nurse a conscience because we are afraid to tell the truth to others; we take refuge in pride because we are afraid to tell the truth to ourselves. How can one be serious with the world when the world itself is so ridiculous!"

Most of the morals we are supposed to abide by came into existence thousands of years ago. Society has changed infinitely since the morals of most religions have been handed down. Yet the world does not stop to question if these rules are the right ones for society today. Some of them can be translated to fit today's world but some are just nonsense when applied to the current society. If the rules and morals of long ago are not adjusted or stricken or altered or updated, we are encouraging a world of ignorance. We need to come to terms with who we are as a society and not be afraid to redefine and re-assert our virtues.