A thought on, but not full consideration of, the value of studying

[first posted 12/10/13]

Some consider knowledge and contemplation of the truth to be inherently valuable- that it is self-fulfillingly valuable. While I think that is a worthwhile consideration and aims at a higher role of knowledge and understanding (and thus study), the following is more of a consideration about the mediate role of studying, which would well include higher purposes of study, but is focused more on resolving, to an extent, mundane concerns, which would point one to the possible pursuit of further and higher considerations. The following is an idea I wrote out a little while back:

4/26/13     Part of my interest in studying is because of my sense that a lot of our time is wasted on dealing with solvable problems, which keeps us from putting our attention on life's bigger purposes- both personal and universal; it doesn't have to, we could have ourselves not be distracted by the various temporal issues in our life, though they remain, and in that regard I don't think extensive studying is a necessary interest for everyone to have, assuming a general sufficient ability for one to take care of their self without wasted attention- by desiring to focus on other things, and by hopefully having less temporal things to cause difficulty for them by the shared and trusted insight of one who studies and practices to master them to a degree. However, to the extent that a person chooses not to be distracted by such issues nor to put an effort to work toward understanding and mastering them, they may more likely be hindered to a degree in their natural efforts in, and attention to, bigger things. The problem, however, concerning wasted time on solvable problems, I believe is sometimes catalyzed by a moral dimension- that people use daily temporal issues to arrest their attention from bigger purposes, and do not desire to overcome, to a reasonable extent, these temporal issues so that they could then put attention on life's bigger purposes. This isn't to say that sometimes this issue isn't owing to ignorance or lack of means, or injustice, etc. "Temporal issues" generally I mean to refer to things we often consider a means to our ends- such as health (and thus diet, exercise, rest, mental, etc., the more temporal aspects of health, as opposed to social, spiritual, etc.), finances, politics, industry, etc.; and by "bigger purposes" generally I mean to refer to things that would be the ends of the temporal things of life (the things that are the ultimate reason for the other things we do), such as love, worship, one's calling/service (which may have its own bigger purpose but is the purpose of the things used for it), community/family, justice, etc. I'm not so much talking about specialized study which might pertain to a career/calling, but rather am generally talking about the effort to understand and improve one's temporal issues so that they don't actually end up taking away more effort and time by neglecting or being distracted by them. But unless a peculiar similar issue arise- becoming obsessed with temporal improvement, so that it ends up consuming more and providing less in the realm of bigger purposes than it would have otherwise, its important to engage in and pursue what matters (assuming it's true, good, and beautiful), and to occasionally ask "what am I living for?"