I saw some of Presidents Ford's funeral a few days ago. First, I wondered what makes his death special over that of a penniless bum who dies anonymously and ends up in a pauper's grave? Biologically speaking nothing - emotionally everything. Our hierarchal social instinct moves us to revere one and ignore the other. But, this is no problem. Of course, we also grieve for anyone who is 'one of us', and ignore those who are not. We care for our own - those to whom we feel attached in some way. This is no problem either, naturally.

Yet, we often regard favoritism and attachment as being problematic don't we? Non attachment (i.e.,forever free of desire [and] lays no claim) and showing no favoritism is among humanity's loftiest spiritual virtues which countless people revere to some degree.

Yet, is always ridding ourselves of desire (attachment) the answer? Ironically, when we think it is, we easily become attached to non-attachment. Moreover, trying to abandon our hierarchical nature has got to be a by-paths. We are who we are,... so what to do, what to do?

When all else fails, I find self honesty helps. In this case that means simply recognizing these bad and ugly forces within us - attachment and favoritism. Just see it, know it, accept it. Accept it! Accept it? Hmm, that's the difficult part. I suspect the reason we have so much difficulty accepting some obvious things is biological. Once we rationally know a 'problem' exists, emotion drives us to 'fix it'. This gives us a deep subconscious incentive not to see what we can't 'fix' - ourselves. On the other hand, we can easily think up ways how other people can (and should!) 'fix' their problem. This 'passing the buck' also lets us off the hook in a way. At least we are doing something. My motto is, 'If you want to know who's fault anything is, just go look in the mirror'.

All in all, it is difficult to see ourselves honestly because, in the end, we hate the unanswered, the problem, the unknown, the mysterious. Thus, we hold on to our name, possession, authority, and belief in our attempt to fill the void within. Sure, we like a smidgen of mystery here and a touch there, but no more. Yet, this is all there really is - an eternal problem, question, mystery. Ironically, the way to 'avoid' these is to embrace them. We 'avoid' the mystery by embracing mystery. Likewise, we 'avoid' death by embracing death. Real spiritual 'progress' then hinges on turning back to the mystery.

Alas, our survival instinct will resist us every step of the way. That's why we prefer by-paths. No wonder no one can put this knowledge into practice.