It Is Good That We Do Not Know Everything
Summary: The article reflects on the world’s cruelty and the randomness of life, arguing that we survive partly by living in a protective “bubble” that limits what we know. A wounded deer on the road illustrates everyday suffering and indifference. The author suggests that complete awareness would overwhelm us, and that selective ignorance and illusion can help compassionate people endure.
The world can be a cruel place. You may not realize how fortunate you are simply to be alive and able to carry on with your life. There is a great deal of randomness in life, and we often ignore it to avoid the commotion and disturbance it can cause in our minds. Living in this world is not easy. Many things can happen that break your heart and shake your faith in humanity. For that reason, it is wise to be risk-averse and stay away from trouble. It is better to be a little fearful, thoughtful, and hesitant than careless or reckless.
It is sad but true that the world regularly witnesses violence and suffering. As someone once said, each of us lives inside a bubble that represents our protected world; it keeps us safe from what lies outside. Living inside that bubble, we do not pay much attention to what happens beyond it.
In a way, it is good for us to be sheltered from the full reality of our existence. It helps that Nature has placed limits on what we can know, because we cannot absorb everything about the world without unsettling our minds. We simply cannot bear witness to the sheer extent of injustice, chaos, and inhumanity that exists.
The other day, while I was driving, I saw a deer lying in a pool of blood in the opposite lane. It was writhing in pain, its whole body shaking violently. It had clearly been struck by a vehicle while trying to cross the road in broad daylight. The driver who hit the poor animal, though it was a busy road, did not seem to have stopped and did nothing about the situation. Perhaps the person drove away to avoid trouble or a traffic jam. There was no one there to end the deer’s agony.
There must be many humans and animals in this world who die every day like that deer because of others’ carelessness, cruelty, and violence. We live in a cruel world; there is no doubt about it. Perhaps it is good that we do not have the power to know everything that happens. No one can take in all that information and still feel good about this world—or live in peace.
Especially if you are compassionate, you will struggle with the suffering, agony, and pain you see in the world. Compassion is a great virtue, but it can also be a weakness because it makes you vulnerable. It may be good for us to remain ignorant of many things so we can choose our perceptions selectively and build the illusions that help us endure.