People always say function over form. That is to say that as opposed to how eye-catching a thing may outwardly appear on first glance, most important is really what work the thing is able to perform and do for us. However, today, I would like to present another perspective – essence over function.
Now, in modern society, we seem to be prioritising function over everything else. In doing so, we sadly forget that it is truly essence wherein the foremost wonders are found, miracles are forged.
Alright, so let’s just take the learning of a musical instrument for instance… Maybe especially in Asian society, it boosts the face or self-image of the parents if their child is able to achieve high-grade certifications in a discipline. Of course, this is not saying that parents don’t actually send children for enrichment classes because they truly hope for and believe that their children are really enjoying it and having lots of fun there.
However, the main thing that the student does in the classes is this – the pursuit of function. They pursue an increased ability to replicate and play competently enough the pieces of music on said scores that correspond to the grade they are learning.
Now, here is the where the gist of the issue lies. Is the child truly loving?? what they are doing? Is it the case that in their free time, they will often devote much time to learning pieces they like, even outside the actual studying of the exam pieces? Or is the case that they only mechanically, routinely, clinically go work on the exam pieces at regular intervals… just because they must?!
Now, I would like to introduce a thought I’ve had in recent days. Maybe… maybe the truest enacting of a discipline is where you truly put your heart and soul into it. The discipline thereby becomes like an extension of you, a conduit, a whole medium that verily acts as your mode of expression in the universe.
And so it is that when you see musical maestros play an instrument, they’re just so completely, inextricably attuned to every sound it makes, with each very twitch of their fingertips. Because you see, to them, they’re merged. 100%, an extension of them! Every single forte, every single crescendo is danced out with skill, with heart, with feeling. In a sense, they are the very playing itself.
Now, let’s take this as the representation of essence. And let us contrast it with the representation of function. What is that like?
Well, I suppose that it would not be the case that they would still be 100% immersed in it, heart and soul. Probably, their most pressing concern would just be to press all the buttons or pull on all the strings correctly, making as few mistakes as possible. In that sense one could even say that they’re playing like a robot! This done? Check! Tick this off the list! Oh, so now it’s time to do that! Alright, do! Next, moving on!
I am not really making a commentary of how such schools of enrichment classes teach, but… at the very least, all I am saying is that they should not disregard the most crucial, essential element of the heart. For I believe it’s truly from passion that all greats are birthed. And even, it’s pretty lame to just be in those classes to get nice, shiny certs. I suppose the ideal! might be to foster and nurture in students the true sense of enjoyment. That!! alone gives meaning, is the core of existence, is it not?
Being super materialistic and losing oneself in comparison but being inwardly truly empty is sooooo outdated yo.
Next, I’ll talk about… more about the essence I suppose, in contrast to function.
Now recently, I was quite inspired by a story of a Singaporean boy who could have been a doctor, but quit in his third year and started all his own stuff instead. It was a thorough breakup from the traditional portrait of the Asian who blablabla, is the top student in school and goes on to be a doctor or whatnot. My thoughts were like: woah, mad respect for this lad, yo. See, rather than succumbing to the stereotypes of what society…
says is good and living a dull and uninspiring life for the rest of his existence with nothing but burnout and exhaustion, ever!! defeated…
Of course, I am not saying that the job is bad or anything ofc. There totally are people out there for whom it is meant. However!! The thing about life is that in the highest principle, you must be true to yourself and listen to your heart. Live out your one-of-a-kind uniqueness of you. Then, your highest!! self, your highest enjoyment, your highest fulfilment follows. Otherwise, if it thoroughly diverges, there can only be sheer misery.
Back to the title. In this case, what this guy was doing – what is it if not this really? Here, function would be, rationally, the mind, what traditionally in the eyes, the stereotypes of society might be the preferred path. Yet, it actually might have been akin to him betraying himself, selling his soul instead. I believe we should trust that the universe is for us, and never!! against us, and if we do so want to achieve our fullest potential…
It has a full bag of blessings waiting for us then yo! Of what is rightfully ours, one might even say has our very names!! written on it!
Thus also do not be afraid that a path might seem risky as opposed to a traditionally secure one, for know that you are never alone. The universe IS! with you, and if you want to live for yourself, your desire! to co-create will thusly be reciprocated by the universe. There may be some highs and lows, sure, but truly… when you’re guided by your passion!!, you’ll lift your head up high and continue marching on bravely, surpass all obstacles, and one day, you will get there.
Yep, that was a little mushy but anyways. 🙂 Yay that the guy stayed true to his essence and core. Well wishes to him!
So, moving on…
Yep, there is one thing that I feel I must talk about here, and that is AI.
See, a trap that people run a real risk of running into nowadays is this. They prioritise function! over essence!, and thus AI over humans…
Of course, I am not saying that it is no good to use AI at all.
Personally, I use AI mainly in the form of ChatGPT as an advanced version 2.0 search engine. In the sense that technically, contemporary search engines are limited!! They can do short phrases, mainly through keywords.
However, ChatGPT is so much more comprehensive or mourateki. You can enter entire sentences inside, specifying, explaining, and it can fully!! understand all of it, do its super database functions and gratifyingly give some good answers…
Well, at the very least, as I see it that’s the best function of AI atm as is applicable to me.
The other, I suppose, would be the future of jobs.
See, the ideal is when all the totally mechanical jobs that no one wants remotely to do at all but are forced to do are nicely!! replaced by AI…
With all the boring, soulless stuff outsourced, ah!!! That leaves the soulful, passionate endeavours to be fully taken over by us human beings. Stuff where we derive meaning, that our hearts pursue, as we want to do.
I mean, back in my high school days, I was even contemplating the ideal society and stuff like that. I mean, it’s not that I’m gonna go point to some alternative societal systems or anything, but at the very least!!! I’ll still mention that the ideal is one where we don’t need to fight so hard just! merely for survival alone. Rather, survival is the premise, guaranteed! and upon that premise, we seek to truly live.
Now, back to AI.
A piece of worrying news I read lately is one where agencies signed an AI actress, and they want to make her the next big thing.
This truly, totally sucks.
As I might have mentioned before, I believe that the greatest use of AI is to perform functions through its immense data processing capabilities. It also is the case that all of it is simulated and doesn’t truly have soul. And! completely not about excavating one’s true potential and actualising it, thereby letting them totally live to the best of their capacities too!
As I see it, these companies are only prioritising function, aka making money. In the process, they are truly forgetting the very purpose of society.
The purpose of society is to serve! humankind. It’s to draw out our truest essence and let it truly radiate, glow. Soaring up to the best of our abilities, potential. Yet if we disregard humans… instead, it ennervates. No!! We are meant to be celebrated as individuals, embodying our truest potential. As money becomes the foremost! resource representing the receiving from that energetic transaction. Not a cold lifeless idol worshipped on pedestals.
Okay, I’m going too far oops. Anyway! The main thing I want to say is this.
Essence over function. Humans have this irreplacable essence that is meant to be actualised and celebrated. It has value only because it is created by us, forged by our heart and soul. So if something is just mechanically mass produced by a clump of data… it’s lacking yo.
Of course, I guess AI can serve well as aids for people who are really in need of it. For instance, like how some blind people might use guide dogs. However! Don’t ever mistake it for a replacement really, please. For at the end of the day, it’s truly essence, and the inherent creation power of us as humans that is valuable.
Dystopia… are we unintentionally heading towards it from a state of sheer ignorance? Hmm… Welp, I hope the world is not going totally unguided and blind into it yo. I mean like, I would think that’s what philosophers are for huh. For the true essence of being the wayfinders! Not mere function of writing papers that are evaluated well and give them 5 stars! Scoff.
Okay, anyway. Time to wrap up this paper… I mean article oops.
So, basically, just food for thought. I envision one of the very highest, most intrinsically valuable things we can do in life is truly uncovering our truest essence and therein embodying our truest selves. I mean, you know… in authenticity, that is where the truest harvests of all self-discovery lies. …Google these three words yeah: Authenticity highest frequency.
And with that I end the article! Wow, this article took more out of me than I thought! Was fun. Should I go Monster Curry later lol… hmm. Okthxbye!
Ps. I always say this, but go embody your divine blueprint friends.