“The first step to the knowledge of the wonder and mystery of life is the recognition of the monstrous nature of the earthly human realm”
— Joseph Campbell
Simplified Meaning:
To understand and appreciate the amazing and mysterious aspects of life, we first have to recognize that the world we live in can be very difficult and harsh. It's like when you go on a hiking trip to see a beautiful mountain. Before you get to see the stunning view at the top, you have to climb through some tough, rocky paths and maybe even face bad weather. In real life, this means acknowledging that people can experience hardships, cruelty, and mistakes. For example, think about how, in history, people had to learn about diseases by seeing how deadly they could be. These tough experiences led to the development of medicines and better health care, which improved everyone's lives. By seeing and understanding the 'monstrous' parts of life, such as challenges and suffering, we can better appreciate the beauty and wonder when we encounter it. This attitude helps us grow and learn, making us stronger and wiser. In your life, if you face troubles or see unfairness, use those moments as opportunities to learn and grow, helping you to see and value the good moments even more.