That it makes you stay?
I recently wrote an essay about contemplation that argued it was possible to lead a meditative life while also being a functioning member of modern society. Two separate people, from entirely different schools of thought, countered this argument with the idea of attachment. So here’s part 2.
Is it possible to lead a “detached” life while also being a functioning member of modern society?
This time I’m going to skip all the set-up logic and simply ask “What’s the point of attachment?” Because unless we can find a valid defense of attachment, there’s no reason to keep it and thus no reason you couldn’t live a normal life without it.
I’m guessing it would have to have something to do with relationships or occupation because they seem to be the first to go for the detached individual. My first thought was that without attachment it’s easy to leave. Attachment is the inertia that makes change hard, whether it be good or bad. But does that mean you are bound to leave if you are not attached?
I’ve heard stoic parents say they accept that every day may be their kid’s last, and that’s ok — but is that detachment?
Some people think that if you are detached you can’t work hard, but I’ve long since dismissed that argument — detachment is not being attached to outcomes. But does that mean you’re always leaving?
Basically every single week I have a conversation with a close coworker about wanting to quit. Only after weeks of discussion, and an hour into today’s conversation did I realize that her argument to stay was all about inertia. Yes, people here may be disrespectful but there’s no guarantee that wherever you go it will be better. I could tell this was holding her firmly in place and she mentioned that the parents on our team are even more bound to stay. They have more to lose — more holding them in place. It’s interesting because my desire to leave had no real consideration of where I would be going and was solely based on a desire to depart from the status quo. This is either profound or utterly stupid. But I just don’t feel that same attachment to stay. But this doesn’t mean I have to leave? Or does it?
