Treasureism – Valuing human existence as the ultimate opportunity to experience…
I’m trying to find a brief and concise view of reality which suits myself. My life began for twenty years basically as a hedonist. I was born into an upwardly mobile middle class family in the United States. In 1950 we were the emerging global power and residing here our lives were imminently better materially than most anywhere else. Therefore, material enjoyment was not only available, but the reason for existence.
At age twenty and the Vietnam War raging, I was forced to confront much more serious aspects of life. I delved into philosophy and began traveling extensively to discover for myself the purpose of human existence. However, frustrated with my ability to effect the changes I saw necessary for a more humanistic world I became a theologian.
Within theology I found certainty and a destination, albeit a destiny that I would have to die for, but paradise guaranteed.
Fifty years later while personally experiencing the ins and outs of the theological path my doubts had become too strong and returned to practical philosophy. Living what I was learning from my years of personal experience and from studying the great thinking actors past. My life returned to inquiry opposed to certainty.
The resulting word I was able to come up with, for the moment is: Treasureism. For me, the opportunity of human life (homo sapien – Latin: “wise man” or “wise human”) seems to be such an extraordinary good fortune that it is akin to the greatest treasure. As humans we have abilities that other living beings do not share. We can walk, talk, and have experiences which are unprecedented compared to other organic life. No doubt suffering is a significant part of living, but in spite of the shortcomings there are abundant joys, pleasures, and experiences.
I was pronounced DOA from a traffic accident and recovered. I had hepatitis-C and recovered. I’ve had numerous near death situations and somehow still able to keep experiencing life. For me, there is nothing more precious than human life, and precisely why I call it the greatest treasure. We can view the glass half full or half empty, our choice. For me, seeing it full more than empty has been the difference.