timelessness

The times came as a result of a particular human culture.
The timeless came as a result of any human culture at all.
-Walter M Miller, JR, in The Darfstellar

I came across the sentence above in a science fiction story. It took me a few minutes to understand what was being said. But once I did understand it, I spent several minutes marveling at how accurately it captures the history of humankind.

Look at any of the movements we have seen: Hippie, Hare Krishna to name two diverse ones. Like a meme jumping from one brain to another, such movements quickly gather followers, but in a few years just join the ranks of other cults. That is true with fashions too: minis, and balds, and hair colors, and piercings, and what not. Different fashions belong to different cultures and are a sign of those times (and regions). Partly these are driven by peer pressure.

On the other hand are the features of humanity that transcend all cultures and regions. These can be said to include love, hatred, and basic needs for survival. But also the love of knowledge, curiosity and such.

When we look at happenings around us, we are generally able to analyze them based on the criterion above: their timelessness. If an issue does not seem to be timeless (i.e. has its relevance only over a few years or decades) it is likely to be of limited importance. I would put most feuds in this section. Especially those perpetuated by peoples who enclose themselves in artificial geographic boundaries, or hide behind Gods of small causes.

Be purposeful.
Let at least part of that purposefulness be timeless.