Hay-Ku of the Day (Being Human)

Isn't that the truth! It is so very hard to give up the ghost when you know you're right, but sometimes it is a huge weight off to just let someone else have their glory. Another great Hay-ku! They make you think.

thanks for sharing

So true!

Thanks for posting to Just Poetry!

beautiful

So, if we are wrong, we aren't human? Or did I misunderstand the Haiku?

Just noticed (and I'm probably the only one) that I "double-clutched" on the "Is" and, although it sounds better as: "Equating Being Right with Being Real is Being Human," sounds better, it is short one syllable and so, true to "my" obsessive compulsive tendencies, a 17 syllable version would be:

Equating Being
Right with Being Real Is
Just Being Human.

[Rich Note: This response is a "bit overdone" (a real tendency when I get in the flow) and those who might prefer to cut to the chase are more than welcome to do so by going straight to the last sentence.]

I am not sure that the "opposite" is necessarily implied in this case, Anne, as Being Real (or Real Being) is accepting "things" (which are really just "units" of conceptual thoughts "in here" rather than "out there" as I imagine) as they are and responding objectively (and, hopefully, appropriately) with respect to any particular circumstance, apparent or otherwise.

"Being human," on the other hand, normally involves choosing between "this" and "that" with respect to who and what one believes oneself to Be; and, much more often than not, feeling compelled to "be right" with respect to the view of reality (and oneself) one is heir to as a function of a life-long series of such choices and the belief system so derived.

Seen in this light, "I as I think I am" needs to be "right all the time" or the imperfect and impotent nature of "me, myself and I" is subject to being exposed and revealed for the falsehood it really is. As a consequence, the very existence of "I" as "I conceive myself to be" can be threatened in the face of even the most inconsequential question concerning "my rightness"; which can, in turn, evoke extreme "physical, mental and emotional over-reactions" to perceived challenges to what I see as my very being.

Ergo, the "ego's" need for all the "psychological self-defense mechanisms" (mechanisms that enable "me" to be "right" in the face of a Reality that clearly indicates otherwise) that most Psychology 101 courses normally list. Not to mention the "societal" need for such things as "anger management and stress reduction" training courses.

Much more simply, and in the specific context of this haiku, when validated by "being right" the ego (or I as I think) feels more "real," and when it is "wrong" it feels less "real" and is threatened accordingly.

From the inside, we're all right. It's a powerful need, and yet if we truly had to be right, we'd be in trouble a lot of the time. Oh, wait. We are in trouble. Hmmmm.

I'm featuring this today in writealready.gather.com

Benny's Related Aphorism:

"Being right has nothing to do with Being Real. Right and wrong are concepts that the human mind places value on, but Being is far beyond such concepts.

Love and gratitude, Benny"

yes so true so true

yes, i agree... good hay ku...