Digestivism: Curating an Ideology to Belong

As soon as we grow up and gain consciousness, we start to search for meaning and purpose of life. In this search we learn about ideologies and hastily take sides because our primary instinct is to find a tribe, a place where we belong. Some do find a place where they belong, whereas (a suggestion to show contrast)some wander even/still (another alternative for “even”.) in their 50’s. In this information enriched world, finding an ideology that fits is even harder because the critics outnumber the advocates.

Besides, all these big philosophies with their rigid rules and beliefs sometimes become suffocating. Sometimes, the ideology will hit home but the out-dated customs won’t. Somedays we might almost find an ideology that can define us for the rest of our lives but then another point seems to ruin it. Somedays we catch ourselves asking “wait, but isn’t that idea kinda rightist”. Some days liberalism will make more sense than conservatism.The confusion becomes real and why wouldn't that happen when Stoicism was the first reel and Hedonism was the next. So, is it still obligatory on us to fit into these existing ideologies? Or can we curate our own?

This really insightful moment in the movie ‘The River’ directed by Jean Renoir. made my brain buzz with the question “why can't we also create our own philosophies…with less rigid customs and rules?” like Mr. McKenzie, who was way too lazy for the big philosophies. 

Let's take Digestivism, the ideology created by Mr McKenzie in the movie. Derived from the word commonly used in biology, ‘digestion’. In the movie Mr. McKenzie defined Digestivism as observing and absorbing. He labelled his liking of simply observing and letting go as Digestivism instead of calling it meditation. Why? Well he thought of himself as too lazy for such ancient customs.

However, here's my insight on this ideology and why I found it amusing enough to discuss. We digest, and we absorb. Regardless of whether we liked the taste of the food on the table or not, we never stopped consuming nor decide that the food we will eat from now on will all be just as distasteful. The same rhythm applies to life as well. Just like that, the meaning of life sometimes can be found in the simple rhythm of life.

We also see famous figures like Sri Ramkrishna inventing his compound beliefs. His Vedanta mixes the major schools of thought along with modern humanism. Vedanta was his way to reject sectarianism. 

Just like that, we have the freedom to create as well.

For the critics that might conclude this as mere ‘confusion’, you might have noticed how organisms with low adaptability rate simply die. That's because rigidity was never welcome in nature. You must change and flow. Life is like a river itself so rigidity gets cancelled by the laws of life and nature itself. 

So create your own space when belonging becomes hard. Like the noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore wrote in his song “jodi tor dak sune keo na ase tobe ekla cholo re”. If nobody comes to your call then walk alone.

To practice this in the real world –

•Observe

•Contemplate 

•Curate(if necessary)

•Practice

•Evaluate

•Decide

So here is my proposal: when you feel like you don't have a place to belong then create your own. Give it specific rules and regulations, a name and then call it your own. You don’t always have to morph yourself into a box. Sometimes, flexibility is all you need in your life.