... the more I look into world issues, global affairs, and the like, the more I'm convinced religions and religious philosophies have more to do with placebo than anything resembling true wisdom. When you have a predominant philosophy and your government is still committing human rights abuses, maybe your religion isn't so important or meaningful.
Watching to see if wisdom changes all society is optional. In fact, screw that. As an anarchist, I've considered the charge: "you'll wait forever for 'the revolution' to happen". The solution was to live anarchically now, as much as I can, and wait on nothing.
The values most needed for human happiness are the ones people are most apt to reject: Simple living (knowing when enough is enough, which is much less than what most American consumers have); expanding the circle of moral regard beyond us and what seems useful to us; knowing the immense insignificance of one's self and one's kind compared to grander holisms; giving up on trying to control everything ... And so much else that doesn't jibe with acquisitive, competitive societal institutions.
The masses of compliant doofs will pick up their society's ugly ideals and not much question them. But wisdom seekers are quiet revolutionaries. You'll find your little coterie of likeminded revolutionaries, or live a lone but exciting quest. But society won't be following, and that doesn't need to be your burden.
I admire the quietism that is a trait in Taoism. Here's a story that conveys it, along with the ideal of simplicity:
"Zhuang Zi was a brilliant philosopher and strategist who lived in ancient China. His abilities were many and several rulers sought his services. One of them, King Wei, sent his courtiers out to Zhuang Zi’s pastoral home to invite him to come to Wei’s court and be the leader’s chief counselor. They found him there fishing by the river bank.
"Seeing his poor situation, they thought Zhuang Zi would jump at the chance for status and reward. Yet when they made their proposal to him, he said, "Once upon a time there was a sacred turtle, which was happy living his life in the mud. Yet, because he was sacred, the king’s men found him, took him to the royal palace, killed him and used his shell to foresee the future. Now tell me, would that turtle prefer to have given up his life to be honored at the palace, or would he rather be alive and enjoying himself in the mud?"
"The courtiers responded that, of course, the turtle would be happier in the mud.
"To which Zhuang Zi replied, "And so you have my answer. Go home and let me be a happy turtle here in the mud"."
(From the quote of the tale posted here: https://www.fastcompany.com/1809457/3-timeless-parables-regaining-perspective)
It doesn't seem, on the surface of it, like he's out to change the world. But then Zhuang Zi
did write a book...
I won't neglect seeking some wisdom to live by on the grounds that most everyone else has. That makes no sense at all.
