Perfect marriage

Praxeology is a term coined around the turn of the 20th century for the study of human conduct. The fact that every issue can be seen from varying perspectives proves the legitimacy of this ‘ology’ in our lexicon. A story about a woman falling in love with a prisoner incarcerated for murder who helps him escape, consequently severing ties with her husband and family, was recently run in a national newspaper. It was evaluated by readers, one with an opinion of it as "horror," as "prurient" and "vicious" about people doing stupid things which don’t need to be known "especially in the details." On the other hand, revelations of personal passions were seen as "insightful without pity," "factual without being cold," a "tragedy of living out of duty" ..."but burying the desires of one’s heart" that does nothing but "kill the soul."

My God, the story of a woman who claims love after 30 years in a conventional career and family and throws it ‘all over’ should encourage people? Should we should be encouraged, as one reader suggested, "to consider asking ourselves not what the world needs (duty and obligation), but what makes us truly come alive (desire)? " Who says sex still does not sell? Yes, the heart has reasons but only the synthesis of duty, obligation and desire makes us truly human. An edifice to this wholeness proves my point.

The Glorious Golden Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma, called the Shwedagon (golden hills) built 2500 years ago, shines as a symbol and embodiment of the marriage of duty and obligation with a passionate desire of the heart. The bejeweled edifice memorializes respect to the Buddha. Supposedly, a relic of 8 hairs of the "Enlightened one" inspired its creation. What still matters today are the worshipers and appreciators who visit this spectacular shrine.

The pathetic (my word) woman in the story about her discovery of true love (for a self-professed young, wild criminal) that unveiled and confirmed her past, unhappy, moral life of duty and decorum - will never know a perfect marriage. Even if she took a trip to Burma after her release from prison, the message of the Shwedagon would elude her. Praxeology informs us that rare is the ability of a person to see both sides of an issue combining the two into a rational, moral union.