EGO-A-GO-GO

ah there it goes again
like a tinitus screaming in the ears
like a cancer eating away at the viscera
like a spot of tomato soup spattered on a brand new silk tie
this attention-seeking child pesters to be heard
me
me
me
me
ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh it's all about me
and sod the rest of ya!
never mind the emaciated famine victim of the sudan
the iraqi refugee languishing without income in a syrian camp
the homeless flood victim of el salvador
the trafficked sex slave of a glitzy european capital
the cancer-ridden asylum seeker deported to the gambia
the legless beggar crawling through the streets of calcutta
the pregnant sow trapped in her stall
never mind their problems
for the universe revolves around the planet earth
the centre of the planet is britain
the centre of britain is birmingham
(actually that's not far wrong)
the centre of birmingham is selly oak
at the centre of selly oak is my house
and at the centre of my house is me
and i'm not having a good day
cos it's pissing down with rain outside
and it got dark before it got light
cos my daughter spilt a cup of coffee over the carpet
and i can't get the stain out
cos i've run out of soya milk
cos nobosy's done the washing-up
and there are no clean frying pans
cos the sunday columnists are full of crap
and fill people's heads with nonsense
cos somebody put the radio on
when i wanted to read in peace and quiet
cos nobody agrees with my plans for an afternoon out
cos i just found a grey hair in the mirror
and i've put on a couple of pounds since i last weighed myself
cos so-and-so hasn't replied to my email
i'm still waiting for that phone call
and nobody commented on yesterday's blog
cos i missed my favourite programme
cos i undercooked the carrots
and overcooked the nut roast
oh woe is me
poor little fireseed
his little world just collapsed
and he feels so depressed...

a paradox
happiness is an inner state
influenced by external conditions
but not dependent on them
eastern thought teaches us to look inwards to find happiness
to build up inner resources of strength
so that we are not buffeted this way and that by the vagaries of fortune
eastern traditions teach us to exercise self-control
to harness our negative emotions
so that they do not torture us or others
in western culture
calm mindful contemplation is an anathema
we are exhorted to find contentment elsewhere
to seek out pleasures, excitements and thrills
to covet the things we do not have
to boost our status in the eyes of others
to 'express ourselves'
to give vent to our urges and frustrations
that we might risk bottling them up till they explode
but therein lies the paradox
for western culture also says
look out for number one
encourages us to be self-absorbed and self-centred
narcissuses
concerned only with ourselves
and to a lesser extent our immediate family and friends
in stark contrast
eastern thought teaches us that altruism is the key
that unlimited compassion for all sentient beings
is the source of true contentment