The Art Of Staying Sane

First, we have to recognise that our mind is insane, holding on polarised views that lead us to extreme thoughts and fantasies. Depending on others’ perspectives, we’re either called ‘extreme right’ or ‘extreme left’.

“It’s only because of their stupidity 
that they’re able to be so sure of themselves.”
– Franz Kafka, The Trial

‘Catch 22’ is a situation where one is trapped by two contradictory conditions. The ‘catch’ involves a regulation which asserts that a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but the very act of making the necessary formal request to be relieved of such missions proves that he is sane, and therefore able to continue flying dangerous combat missions … which is insane.

This is the same as being a seeker of absolute truth; we recognise the illusion under which we’re living, but in deciding to do something about this, others regard us as weird/insane. We therefore realise that we have to take part in a social life, while remaining aware that it is an illusion.

That is the art of sanity – seeing the contradictions under which we live. Just seeing is the clarity of consciousness which is common to all, but not many people use common sense, as most walk of us around in oblivion.

If we do not know there’s a problem,
we’ll never realise that there’s an answer.

Is it our fault that we’re insane?
Few people know that they have a choice.