The Red Pill or the Blue One?

I friend of mine recently posted a question on Facebook in reference to the move Matrix. She said, “Do you remember the movie the matrix? It is a tremendous metaphor for life! Morpheus holds out his hands to Neo and offers up either a [red] pill of knowledge or a [blue] pill of blissful ignorance. Which do YOU choose to guide your existence???”

This is an interesting concept and reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull where Cate Blanchett's character is seeking the "all-knowing" in order to conquer the world. SPOILER ALERT. She finally captures the skull and presents it as the missing link it in the chamber with the thirteen alien skeletons. The alien skeletons awaken and telepathically offer to give her knowledge, but seem to be saying "do you really think you're ready for this?" Of course she says, “I want to know. I'm ready.” They begin downloading information at a rapid rate. It becomes so overwhelming that her eyes burst into light and she literally disintegrates. It was too much knowledge at once.

Knowledge can definitely be overwhelming at times. This is why we learn in bits and pieces. And, not everyone learns at the same rate or in the same way. This is the problem with the public school system…it forces everyone at a certain age to learn the same thing in the same way. What this really does is stifle our innate creativity and keep us wrapped up in a nice little box of ignorance.

But let’s get back to the Matrix. The red pill of knowledge or the blue bill of blissful ignorance? Notice he uses the word “blissful” with ignorance instead of knowledge. Why do you think that is? Well, with knowledge comes great responsibility. For example, if you see someone walking outside and you know there’s a grizzly bear in the neighborhood, if you’re a good person, you’ll warn them. It’s your community responsibility to do so. Likewise, if you knew the water in your neighborhood was poisoned and you sold your home, wouldn’t it be your responsibility to share that information? There are laws around this now because, sadly not everyone feels they have the moral obligation to share such information. But, if you didn’t know the problem existed, you might be in a state of blissful ignorance. Of course you may later find out your lack of awareness hurt others. But, for the time being, there is no emotional anguish. Had you known about the poisonous water, you may have anxiety over having to tell the new owners. What will they say? What will the do?

As I've progressed in my life, I've become more and more open to knowledge. I’ve encountered some huge eye-openers that really shook me to my core. And I’ve taken it upon myself to try and educate others so that they don’t have to go through the pain and suffering I did. But, even still, I find myself sometimes craving the darkness…the serenity and peacefulness of the unknowing...even though this is just an illusion.

To me, knowledge is light sunlight. It feels so good and warm at first…tickling your skin. But get too much and you’ll get burned. I remember getting so sunburned one time that I got blisters and sun poisoning. I was really sick for days. You see, the sun is meant to be consumed in small amounts and, when you’re in it for longer than your body can handle, your body needs protection. Your mind is very much the same way. Have you ever worked on something so long that your head hurts? That’s when you know you need to take a break and let your brain recuperate.

So, the red pill or the blue one? Well, if I could be assured I wouldn’t disintegrate from the immensity of it all, I would certainly take the red one. In reality, I kind of have already. But it's more like one of those huge jawbreakers that you suck on for a while then spit it out and place it on your dresser for when you're ready for more.