Thought

Brains are the most complex object in the universe, as far as we know. They are dense networks of organic material constantly firing of electrical signals to create reality as we know it. Not even computers or large language models come close to the levels of "computation" that our brains achieve. It's incredibly to ponder this subject; humans have learned so much about the world around us, about biology, mathematics, physics, yet we know so little about the brain. We don't even fully understand why we need to sleep.

Despite that, humans continue to pioneer thousands of different subjects, progressing our collective knowledge ever further. We continue to utilize the tool that we understand the least, the tool that has brought us this far: thinking. Those who are the most likely to succeed have learned how to utilize their brains; they have navigated the depths of their own mind to gain control of its inner machinations and produce something useful. The human condition, in my opinion, is this constant fight with the self.

Every story has this central concept of someone perpetuating pain because they failed to understand their self. I think the key to understanding suffering is not to look outward, but inward. This is idea is purported by Buddhism; suffering is what defines life. The goal of life, then, is to reduce suffering as much as possible. If suffering comes from within, then the path towards reducing it must be within.

The brain is so incredibly complex, so adept at interpreting and analyzing the world around it, that it creates its own suffering. It has evolved to survive in a hostile world that it has become handicapped. Our bodies need to exploit the world around is in order to survive because nature demanded that from us. The brain is not made to cultivate the self; it is meant to find signs in the world around us that we are in danger. The world humans have built has become more peaceful, in a way meant to reduce suffering, so the brain must create danger, thus it makes its own suffering.

Our thoughts attack our self. Humans have for so long sought to rid themselves of these thoughts; they manifest themselves in stories of demons, magic, spirits through the written word or oral histories. They manifest in the origins of religion through angels that demand the good out of mortals who are far more prone to consulting the devil for their desires. This suffering is manufactured by our brain seeking danger where there is none.

Thoughts proceed like an endless string. As long as the organism lives, it will continue to have thoughts, emotions driven by signals firing across the brain. Without a way to contain these thoughts, suffering would no doubt end all of us. The written word is one of those containers; language being the broader container. These words are a way for me to contain my thoughts and place them in your own. My suffering becomes your suffering.

Together, we share our suffering, but by doing so we momentarily suppress it. By knowing that our suffering is not in vain, there are others who share in it, we know that we are not alone. Our thoughts do not endless progress through the void of our own mind, but into the void of others as well.