For what a man is in himself, what accompanies him when he is alone, what no one can give or take away, is obviously more essential to him than everything he has in the way of possessions, or even what he may be in the eyes of the world.
Nevertheless, Tao and Its Creation are One in essence, though They are called by different names. The passage which exists between Them is a doorway to all that which is miraculous.
You have made many efforts and wandered much, but you have nowhere found happiness; not in syllogisms, not in riches, not in fame or pleasure, not in anything. Where, then, is it?
Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search thereof when he is grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul.
It is wise for those who hear, not me, but the universal Reason, to confess that all things are one. Those who hear and do not understand are like the deaf. Of them the proverb says: "Present, they are absent."
Nobody owns anything but everyone is rich - for what greater wealth can there be than cheerfulness, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety?
The tao is perfect like vast space where nothing is lacking and nothing is in excess. Indeed, it is due to our choosing to accept or reject that we do not see the true nature of things.
The basic need that probably unites all human beings, is the need for a satisfactory and peaceful existence. It seems to be our most fundamental stimulus that consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously underlies most of our activities. Online Philosophy provides you valuable resources that might help you to think about happiness or peace of mind, to get ideas what it could be and to identify ways and means to work towards it.
Erich Fromm speaks with wisdom, compassion, learning and insight into the problems of individuals trapped in a social world that is needlessly cruel and hostile. Nothing less than a manifesto for a new social and psychological revolution to save our threatened planet, the discussed book 'To Have or To Be?' is a summary of the penetrating thought of Erich Fromm. His thesis is that two modes of existence struggle for the spirit of humankind: the having mode which concentrates on material possessions, power, and aggression and is the basis of the universal evils of greed, envy, and violence; and the being mode, which is based on love, the pleasure of sharing, and in productive activity. To Have Or to Be? is a brilliant program for socioeconomic change.
Thich Nhat Hanh explains, that our suffering comes from our wrong perceptions, from our misunderstanding. The practice of meditation, the practice of looking deeply has the purpose of removing wrong perceptions from us. If we are able to remove our wrong perceptions we will be able to be free from the afflictions and the sufferings that always arise from wrong perceptions.
In this very beautiful video, C.G. Jung talks about the great influence of the unconsciousness on a human being. Failure to understand the images of the unconscious place or a shrinking of ethical responsibility deprives a human being of his wholeness and imposes a painful fragmentariness on his life. In The World Within, this idea is explored as we are given a glimpse inside Jung's Red Book, the diary in which he described his dreams and fantasies. In addition, he recorded these unconscious images with colorful paintings which appear throughout the film, along with his reflections upon their possible meaning. These are the creations, as Jung comments, which have carried me out of time into seclusion, out of the present into timelessness.
Then I got into Memphis and some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out, what would happen to me, from some of our sick white brothers. Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop, and I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will, and He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land! So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
We ought to live in such a way that we’re above the world - which sounds odd: live in the world but be above it’s influence, but remember it: live in the world, but be above the world, that is, don’t sink, keep the mind above the things that can cause happiness and unhappiness, that can cause suffering, then we can live in the world but be above its power, above its pressures. The body dwells in the world, and the mind dwells with the body, but the mind is above the pressures of the world, there’s no power in the world that can pressure this mind, make it happy or unhappy, make it give rise to greed, anger and delusion, because it has the Dhamma. The world and the Dhamma are connected in this way: dwelling in the world having conquered it’s influence, that’s Dhamma. The matter is at an end.
