"I'm lost. I was also lost in the journey of life— I didn't know where the road under my feet led, and I didn't know why I was going to that place. ”
The Café at the End of the World (U.S.) by John Strylerki
When I opened the book "The Café at the End of the World," the text on it lay in front of my eyes. It is also the most central topic in the book's preface. "Preface" originally means "original intention, beginning", and it is obvious that this book is also a process of continuous search and exploration in the lost and lost. Of course, whether we are currently lost or not, I recommend reading this book. If it is lost, it is the pilot; if it is already on the road, it is spurring and introspection.
There are three questions that are the central idea of the book, and they are:
Q1: Why are you here?
Q2: Are you afraid of death?
Q3: Are you satisfied?
The book is the longest in the book around Q1. I think it's long for two reasons:
1. This is the root of all problems. "Why" is a process of root-to-earth questioning, and it is the driving force to trace the roots.
2) Regarding "death" and "satisfaction", that is the review of ourselves at the end of life, when we do not reach the end of life, "fear of death" and "feeling satisfied" are false propositions.
When I talked about this, I suddenly thought of "Journey to the West", when I was young, I only felt that it was the travelogue of tang monks when they took their disciples to the west to get the scriptures, and later I understood that Tang monks went all the way to the west to experience eighty-one difficulties, and the opening statement that was always repeated when every time they went to a difficulty (also a place) also had a different meaning. "Poor monk Tang Xuanzang" – who I am, "from the Eastern Tang Dynasty" – where I came from, "to the Western Heavens to worship the Buddha and ask for sutras" – where am I going. Tang monks repeat it over and over again, deepening their desire for destination over and over again, which is called "positive reinforcement" in psychology. It was precisely because of this repetition of his goal over and over again that the Tang monks survived one difficulty after another, and finally obtained the True Sutra and became a Buddha.
(Image from the Internet)
Of course, looking back at the book, "Why are you here?" ”
The protagonist of the book, John, has a series of frustrations before reading this question. John wanted to take a trip to relieve the stress of work and life, but when he was driving on the highway, he encountered a serious traffic jam. After a long and boring wait on the highway, which was completely impossible to move forward, John finally made his decision:
I told them I couldn't wait any longer and decided to try a different route. ... ... I walked through the barrier and headed in a new direction.
Since then, the process from John changing routes and starting again to arriving at the café, the author has described it in great detail:
"No map is needed," I thought, "just follow this simple and clear map." ”... ... But now the indicator chart is useless. So I took out my phone and prepared to open the map. "System unusable", only one line of words appears on the screen. Even if I find the highway exit, it is useless, and I don't know how to get to my destination anyway. I was talking to myself loudly, and my mental state became worse and worse. After driving 28 miles, I finally saw an exit.
"There are no gas stations or fast food restaurants at this highway intersection, and the world may be such an intersection with nothing, and I just happened to meet it." I looked to the left, and there was an emptiness, and then to the right, it was still empty. "Well," I said, "it seems the same no matter which way you go." ”
I would like to state that the listing suggestion for this "Cafe at the End of the World" is: Philosophy of Life/Psychological Self-Help. So it is substituted into the description of the book, which is not only John looking for the exit of the highway, but also a true portrayal of his inner state:
First, John abandoned the congested highway (the cause of the highway congestion was that a tanker truck suspected of carrying toxic substances overturned about five kilometers ahead, and the entire road was closed. Chose to make a U-turn to another way. Switching to real life, John gives up a choice that is chosen by the majority of the people and has been affected by the environment of this circle, or that is difficult to move forward.
Secondly, after John thought that he could not use a paper map, so he was not prepared, and then found that the electronic map in his mobile phone could not be used, he had a feeling of self-abandonment: "Anyway, I don't know how to get to my destination." "I don't know how to get to my destination" because John's destination wasn't clear. His departure was meant to ease his previous anxiety and hurry on the road. He thinks he can not need outside help, but instead, he has let himself fall into an emotional trough.
Finally, "there are neither gas stations nor fast food restaurants at this intersection... I happened to meet him. "It's a mapping of social support. Gas stations and fast food restaurants are the necessary supplies for people who drive out on the way and are the most basic needs. Now even this most basic need is not met, and the surrounding area is empty. John's conclusion was that "it seems the same no matter which way you go." Here you can see john's inner helplessness. Externally, there is no sign in sight, and internally, no device can show him the way. It is like a person who is deep in the valley, dark, unable to grasp any available tools, only dazed and helpless, and the inner desire to survive: "Must find the exit." It just so happened that John didn't give up and did the same.
(Image from the Internet)
I turned right as I drove, making a note that it was now west, reminding myself to turn right at the next intersection. That way I always get back on my way north. ... ... An hour later I was completely lost. ... ... There is also a road with an "ancient" name on it,... ... It was desolate all around.
Then another intersection appeared,... ... I turned right and thought that although I didn't know where I was, at least the direction was right. But the name on the next road also bears the word "ancient".
This is yet another depiction of John's search for direction. He thought he should turn right and get back on the way north. But unfortunately, his two right turns saw a road with the word "gu" in his name, indicating that both of his choices brought him back to the old road. This caused his emotions to recur:
"I knew I should have stayed on the highway and waited." I said angrily, "I used to leave so as not to delay an hour, but now I have not only wasted two hours, but also lost my way." ”
At this time, John was denying his original choice, because he had a different path and had no guidance at all, so he was at a loss. At this point, as John continued to look for a way out, the car's fuel tank became more and more empty. But John had no choice:
I certainly can't drive back now, and the remaining oil will never hold up the place where the traffic jam is; even if I can, I may not be able to find the way to come. Even if I managed to return, there would still be no gas stations on that road.
My only option was to drive forward, hoping for a gas station and a place to eat in front of me.
Reading this, I have a point of view: when abandoning an old idea and choosing another direction, no matter how difficult it is, please do not turn back. Because the old stuff has left us scratching our heads, it is already the culprit in our misfortune. Although it can give us a sense of "known" security, the imprisonment it also brings us will not disappear because we choose it again.
So we can only go forward with a hard scalp, although we don't know what is in front of us, but there is always a glimmer of life.
John in the book is also struggling:
"I've got to get some sleep." I thought, "If the car runs out of gas, I have to have enough strength to go out and find someone to help." ”
This is the final struggle, and it is also the courage to make a desperate bet. In the end, John won:
When the oil gauge hands were about to slide under the red line marked with the E, I saw the light. Considering my current miserable condition, I drove back a few miles and turned left at one of the previous intersections. ... ... At least the road didn't start with the word "old", I just made a decision because of it.
"When a man reaches a dead end, he will be born again." I said out loud.
John finally arrived at the café and, immediately without oil (without any external tool assistance), re-chose the new direction (turn left, at least not starting with the word "old"). This time we were able to find this stop, which was the result of John's re-choice of "going to the left." Although John didn't know what this would bring him, it was a new direction in itself.
And john finally shouted out, "When a man reaches the end of the world, he will be born again!" In the old saying of Chinese, it is called "the road of heaven and man.".
In the book, the café is referred to by guests as the "Why Cafe." John also had a series of conversations here. This series of conversations changed John's future life. This is the rest of the story, let's move on to the following story at another time.
- End of this section.
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