The Illusion of Becoming and the Western Mind
The Western world, having embraced the belief that reality is fluid and that being is contingent, has plunged into an age of radical individualism and self-determination. This shift, deeply rooted in nihilism, assumes that identity, meaning, and even human nature itself are malleable constructs rather than necessary realities. The doctrine of becoming—the belief that one can transform into anything at will—has permeated every aspect of modern life, leading to an unprecedented fracturing of the self and the dissolution of a unified understanding of what it means to be human.
The Rise of Radical Individualism
At the heart of this shift lies the notion that the individual is sovereign, detached from any necessary structure of being. The idea that one’s identity is a choice rather than an inherent reality fuels the relentless pursuit of self-definition. This belief manifests in various ways: the rejection of traditional cultural and familial bonds, the assertion that all values and truths are subjective, and the insistence that reality must conform to personal desire rather than being recognized as it is. The human being is seen not as an eternal presence but as a project to be shaped, dismantled, and reconstructed at will.
Technology and the Manipulation of Nature
As the belief in becoming takes hold, technology is wielded as the ultimate tool to reshape reality itself. From genetic modification to artificial intelligence, from cosmetic alteration to transhumanist dreams of merging with machines, the Western mind is driven by the illusion that existence is infinitely adaptable. In its most extreme form, this impulse seeks to transcend even the limits of biological humanity, imagining a future where consciousness is no longer tied to the body, further severing the connection between human identity and being.
The Disintegration of the Human Self
With the rejection of an essential nature comes an inevitable consequence: fragmentation. Identity, once seen as something rooted in the eternal, is now viewed as a collection of fluid attributes, constantly shifting according to cultural trends, technological advancements, and personal whims. This results in a profound alienation, as individuals, unmoored from any stable ground, find themselves lost in an endless sea of self-reinvention. What was once an effort to attain greater freedom becomes a descent into disorientation and existential exhaustion.
The Social Consequences of a Fractured Humanity
As personal identity dissolves into arbitrary constructs, the social fabric unravels. Communities, once built upon shared understandings of reality and human nature, now fragment into increasingly isolated groups, each asserting its own definition of existence. The inability to agree on fundamental truths fosters division, conflict, and a pervasive sense of meaninglessness. The collective despair deepens as the pursuit of absolute self-determination reveals itself to be empty, a mere assertion of willpower against the unavoidable necessity of being.
The Inevitable Recognition of the Eternal
However, as in all manifestations of nihilism, the descent into illusion contains within itself the seed of its own resolution. The more the Western mind pursues the path of becoming, the clearer it becomes that something vital has been overlooked: the eternity of all that is. The belief that one can become anything is ultimately unsustainable, for it is confronted by the inescapable reality that all things are necessarily what they are.
The Collapse of the Illusion of Becoming
When the pursuit of infinite self-transformation fails to bring fulfillment, the truth begins to emerge: reality is not something to be constructed but something to be recognized. The eternal nature of each being becomes evident as the shifting illusions of self-definition reveal their inability to provide stability or meaning. The Western individual, having exhausted the possibilities of becoming, is faced with the undeniable recognition that they have always been.
The Reunification of Human Identity
With this realization comes the dissolution of alienation. The self is no longer a fragmented, fluctuating entity but an eternal presence within the appearing of truth. The despair of disconnection is replaced by the joy of recognition, as each individual understands that their being was never in question, only obscured by the illusion of change. The pursuit of an artificial, malleable identity gives way to the peace of acknowledging what one truly is.
The Restoration of Community and Meaning
As individuals awaken to the eternity of their being, the social fabric, once frayed by division and relativism, begins to heal. Communities no longer revolve around arbitrary identities and ideologies but around the shared recognition of the necessary structure of reality. Meaning is no longer sought in the endless assertion of will but in the joyous unveiling of what is. Human bonds, no longer subject to transient whims, regain their depth and significance.
The Unveiling of Eternal Humanity
The trajectory of the Western world, rather than being a chaotic descent into meaninglessness, is an unfolding process leading toward the inevitable recognition of truth. The illusions of nihilism, individualism, and becoming have played their necessary role, allowing the full consequences of denying eternity to be experienced. But as these illusions collapse under their own contradictions, what appears is the realization that human beings have never been lost—only momentarily veiled in the mistaken belief that they were unfinished.
The eternity of each human being, once obscured by the pursuit of becoming, now emerges in its full clarity. The Western mind, having wandered through the extremes of self-determination and fragmentation, returns to the understanding that it has always belonged to the necessary structure of being. In this final unveiling, humanity does not dissolve into nothingness but stands revealed as it truly is: eternal, unshaken, and whole.
It Is What It Is 
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