Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Andsoontheprincecametotheconclusionthathisgrandidea,likehisfather’s,wasinfactafuckingterribleideaandheshouldprobablygodosomethingelseinstead.

           Totallyconfused,theprincecleanedhimselfupandwentandfoundabigtreenearariver.Hedecidedthathewouldsitunderthattreeandnotgetupuntilhecameupwithanothergrandidea.

           Asthelegendgoes,theconfusedprincesatunderthattreeforforty-ninedays.Wewon’tdelveintothebiologicalviabilityofsittinginthesamespotforforty-ninedays,butlet’sjustsaythatinthattimetheprincecametoanumberofprofoundrealizations.

           Oneofthoserealizationswasthis:thatlifeitselfisaformofsuffering.Therichsufferbecauseoftheirriches.Thepoorsufferbecauseoftheirpoverty.Peoplewithoutafamilysufferbecausetheyhavenofamily.Peoplewithafamilysufferbecauseoftheirfamily.Peoplewhopursueworldlypleasuressufferbecauseoftheirworldlypleasures.Peoplewhoabstainfromworldlypleasuressufferbecauseoftheirabstention.

           Thisisn’ttosaythatallsufferingisequal.Somesufferingiscertainlymorepainfulthanothersuffering.Butweallmustsuffernonetheless.

           Yearslater,theprincewouldbuildhisownphilosophyandshareitwiththeworld,andthiswouldbeitsfirstandcentraltenet:thatpainandlossareinevitableandweshouldletgooftryingtoresistthem.TheprincewouldlaterbecomeknownastheBuddha.Andincaseyouhaven’theardofhim,hewaskindofabigdeal.