By SHIRIN MAZDEYASNA, 2/20/2016. From the beginning of human existence on earth, the surrounding seemed isolating, fearsome, and sometimes unforgivable. To attain some power over the outside conditions, we began projecting our hopes and furies to the presumed outside powers. Anything that looked bigger than ourselves, more powerful, and incomprehensible were assigned as mystical and divine. The relation humans created among themselves and the presumed deities was for them to feel connected to at least something in this vast, boundless universe.
And this connection is indeed true and necessary today. For me, one form of connection rises from limitations. If you can survive restrictions imposed on your mentality or your body, you do feel you have a space and purpose in this vast infinity. Most religions do also impose limitations in different forms of speech, behaviour, eating habits, prayer, and so on.
What is it about these limitations that make one strive and worthy of living?
Asceticism is notable in most religions, from Buddhism’s Middle Way – from extreme asceticism to luxury indulgence, Christianity’s strict sexual and fasting abstinence – the bloodless martyrdom as the substitute of the persecutions, to Islam’s transitory view of the world and hence the needlessness to the materialistics. The pleasures of this world seem to conflict with the possible achievements after death, which contradicts the everyday expressions of “better an egg today than a hen tomorrow” or “bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
Shoja Azari, the Iranian artist has depicted this promised-land in his video “The King of Black,” in his exhibition FAKE: Idyllic Life.
What interests me is the promise of each religion for “the pleasure of no pleasure.” Buddhism in particular seems to stand on its own, as God is not necessarily known as an outer power but the unity power within us all.