A metaphorical question

[JosephKnecht]

How can the mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest find joy in climbing the local hill? 

[xxxx]

@JosephKnecht

By getting rid of all his presuppositions in his map of meaning. 

[PurpleTree]

by enjoying the moment and not the goal

[JosephKnecht]

19 minutes ago, xxxx said:

@JosephKnecht

By getting rid of all his presuppositions in his map of meaning. 

What is your assumption about his presuppositions? 

If his motivation was derived from climbing the highest mountain, how can he change his motivation? 

Does he have to deny the height, beauty, and perfection of Mount Everest so that he can see the same on the local hill? 

[JosephKnecht]

19 minutes ago, PurpleTree said:

by enjoying the moment and not the goal

Sounds like the moment becomes the goal.  

[nistake]

By applying the beginner's mind.

[xxxx]

29 minutes ago, JosephKnecht said:

What is your assumption about his presuppositions? 

How can the mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest find joy in climbing the local hill? 

Not so much an assumption, but an inference, considering there is something to be found - as if it is something to be possessed.

 

29 minutes ago, JosephKnecht said:

If his motivation was derived from climbing the highest mountain, how can he change his motivation?

The reason for his action will determine his reward.

What is the motivation here?

Is it a sort of material justification through which the highest mountain has gained an 'elevated' position? Seems like his justifying reasons are motivating him - hence, the presuppositions. 

29 minutes ago, JosephKnecht said:

Does he have to deny the height, beauty, and perfection of Mount Everest so that he can see the same on the local hill? 

Does 'perfect' fall into any particular category? Are we rationalizing it? 

Edited December 18, 2020 by xxxx

[Moon]

By not reminiscing about the past and expressing gratitude for the unique beauty and experience of climbing the hill in the present moment 

[Guest SirVladimir]

@JosephKnecht Awesome analogy! While everyone's spitting answers like fire, I'll prepare us two some warm tea once we settle to admire the view. 

[xxxx]

4 hours ago, SirVladimir said:

I'll prepare us two some warm tea

I thought we were all climbing the hill with you, Vladimir.

We are cold, too. 

Edited December 19, 2020 by xxxx

[Forestluv]

18 hours ago, JosephKnecht said:

How can the mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest find joy in climbing the local hill? 

First by grieving the loss of the past. At the human level, there is a loss from the mountain to hill. There is a wonderful space the mountain brought forth that the hill cannot. It’s not the same and comparing them hinder joy. Then develop a new relationship with the hill. Become grateful for the hill and new experiences and insights. For example, on Mt Everest there may have been constant adrenaline and focus on survival. That’s great for Everest. Yet the hill may be chill. We can now take our time. We can look at the details of the landscape. We can appreciate the beauty of how the sun hits the pine needles. We can stop and admire flowers.

[electroBeam]

18 hours ago, JosephKnecht said:

How can the mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest find joy in climbing the local hill? 

I love Forestluv's answer. There needs to be an acknowledgement and humility that even though your so tough that you climbed Mount Everest, you're still human and you're still vulnerable to mourning losses of attachments that you may have. Let it sink in that you're not as athletic, as advanced, as you thought you were, especially now that you've arrived at this little hill. Just go with the flow. Don't resist that realization. Once you're ok and back from the mourning, notice that the funnest part about climbing mount Everest, was the climbing itself, not the mount Everest part, and notice that your new hill has the same thing.

[ajai]

Passion knows no boundaries, and obsession goes even beyond.

Edited December 19, 2020 by ajai

[Guest SirVladimir]

2 hours ago, xxxx said:

I thought we were all climbing the hill with you, Vladimir.

We are cold, too. 

Shit. My bad. Here, have some emergency blanket at least! 

[nitramadas]

21 hours ago, JosephKnecht said:

How can the mountain climber who has climbed Mount Everest find joy in climbing the local hill? 

Semantics.  Word it properly and the answer becomes obvious.  If someone asked me that, I'd just say "what do you mean?" and they'd tell me what they meant, and I'd easily answer it.

I'd say "what made climbing Everest fun?"

They might then say "I rather enjoyed the spectacle at rainbow valley, such vibrance!"

In which case I might say "Well.. I know a place".

 

Now, if you meant that purely metaphorically, trying to say "What's next after the best thing?":

Humans are not so algorithmic.  There is no goal/purpose; there is no one thing to achieve.  Your question assumes that the climber is just a climber.  That's a red herring.  Umm.. how far has he come to mastering the piano?  Mastering music theory?  Plumbing?  His identity as a climber may die, having achieved its goal, but that's irrelevant as he's not a climber, he's human.  Life is the birth and death of your many sides.  He could also just continue climbing, either for the same reasons or not.  Maybe he liked the process itself, in which case it doesn't matter if he's already climbed Everest, he never cared about the height in the first place.  If he did climb it for the height, there are easier ways to get high..  or he could just pivot to a new approach for his mountain obsession and.. become a geologist or something?  It all depends on the climbers motivations, as I mentioned at the start.