Todd Borandi
Aeschylus was quoted as saying "He who learns must suffer." What a biography may teach you about me will be incomplete and perpetuates a state of denial for the reader of these words. Even now your brain is seeking a label to attach to the previous two sentences. Why? Humanity seems to have done everything they can to avoid learning about themselves by trying to learn about the expectations of others or trusting others to tell them what to believe.
Humanity seeks to interact, manipulate and understand their external environment, while avoiding the internal nagging feeling that there may be something wrong with their truth. What are you hoping to learn by reading this bio? Hoping to discount something you have already read? Humanity is a master of avoidance through distractions. Avoiding the suffering brought on by challenging what has previously been learned, as truth. For example, I am not a doctor and if this is a qualifier for "truth" then it is easy for you to discount that nagging feeling.
These books hold information regarding my journey as it was my own understanding of the questions I needed to ask. This action set me on an unplanned path to recognize questions which brought me suffering. I never anticipated writing these words or sharing them with others. Yet three books later, here we are....
In my experience, the knowledge described by Aeschylus as "suffering" becomes,in his words, "wisdom". This freedom becomes responsibility for self and a sadness while watching the world make each other suffer as a result of their masterful avoidance of self. My books are not designed for the many, but for the brave few who are tired of the internal nagging. The bravery required for becoming free through self knowledge requires suffering.
Your suffering in this moment involves this bio leaving you with more questions then answers. Your purpose of reading my bio? Understanding who I am? Or seeking a label you can assign to the author's intent? Some of these questions refer to methods used to silence the internal nagging and used by many to manipulate their world.
How you chose to live is yours? Living through masterful avoidance or through wisdom both bring suffering. The bio of a self published author will not change this for humanity. The books however, offer insight into how one might open the door and find their own path when transitioning from a life of suffering avoidance of the world, but towards a life of suffering the wisdom of self.
Aeschylus concludes his quote and I my bio as "And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God." ~Aeschylus
