Oh, I don't think it's an either/or situation. Example: the
recognition of the transient nature of (this) existence [some
use 'this', some think, 'this is it' - whatever) leads us, I
believe to this: We're on the same boat here. Child poverty in
NZ caused by humans for example. One could say, "get over it -
life is transient" but I think that would miss the point. To me,
that's Nihilism of a sort. But if one says, "Life is transient
and THEREFORE precious due to its transience", that changes
things. You see suffering and want it to end. You want peace
because existence is short and suffering that is preventable
ought to be prevented. Why ought it be prevented? Empathy. That
poor child could have been you. Could have been me. You didn't
pick your birthplace or parents and neither did I. Neither did
the child who is impoverished. You could send food. Send money
for food. You could work to change governmental policies or
programs to reduce not only that child's poverty but all
children's poverty. Of course one could say, "Life is transient
- tough karma/luck on them" but I think that would be someone
who misses the mark.
