It’s not rocket science

I’ve concluded that solving the world’s problems is not rocket science. And that’s the problem. If it were rocket science, we’d be able to achieve it. 

I watched a TV documentary where in order to remove the clots deep in Shelly’s lungs; they had to cool her to 20 degrees, stop her heart and drain all the blood out of her body. There’s only 4 people in the UK that can do this operation and it costs an astronomical amount. It’s rocket science, so we can do it. 

I also read various reports that show if we eat a handful of nuts every day we’d reduce the likelihood of our dying by 20% (all-cause mortality). But we can’t get those nuts to the people, we can’t even get that information to the people, because it’s not rocket science. It’s boring. 

I’ve been the same, not interested in boring solutions that actually work. 

How many hours have I spent fantasising about how to live the perfect dharma life? I’d be in the mountains somewhere and would rise at dawn and do my yoga etc, etc. I can tell you it’s a lot more hours than I’ve spent paying attention to my actual experience!

It’s like what great guru Padmasambhava says about the nature of mind, it’s too close, too easy, too ordinary, therefore it goes unnoticed. The solutions to a lot of our problems are like that, right under our nose, and yet we miss them. 

I’ve got nothing against rocket science. Rocket science brought us the vaccine. It’s just that I’m now a fan of the smaller solutions to life’s big problems. 

I had my vaccine this week, if I was in the US I could take up Dunkin Donuts offer of a free glazed doughnut every day for the rest of the year, just by showing my vaccination card! I love a little irony, but this is scary.

I’d like to think at Red Ladder Studio you’ll find some small solutions to life’s problems, little ways of loving life more.

April’s Dharma Bundle is on the ‘The Paradox of Being Human’. In it, I touch on our connection with nature through food (while sharing my tips for making kimchi!)

Yoksel Zok