Saturday, October 31, 2009

A Common Need For The Uncommon

Hunger is my native place < Markings > 01/22 07:34:28


Hunger is my native place in the land of passions. Hunger for fellowship, hunger for righteousness--for a fellowship founded on righteousness, and a righteousness attained in fellowship.

Only life can satisfy the demands of life. And this hunger of mine can be satisfied for the simple reason that the nature of life is such that I can realize my individuality by becoming a bridge for others, a stone in the temple of righteousness.

Don't be afraid of yourself, live your individuality to the full--but for the good of others. Don't copy others in order to buy fellowship, or make convention your law instead of living the righteousness.

To become free and responsible. For this alone was man created, and he who fails to take the Way which could have been his shall be lost eternally.

Dag Hammarskjold

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Who Is Worthy of Honor?
There is a direct connection between the ego's insistent but unquenchable craving for honor and that critical mind state in which we stand ourselves in fierce judgment over others, even to the extent of the extent of shaming them. We judge and criticize other people in a mistaken expression of the desire we have for love and honor for ourselves. The wisdom of tradition tells us that when we act like this, we've got the whole thing backward. Ben Zoma ask: "Who is worthy of honor?" And he answers: "The one who treats others with honor." And elsewhere the rabbis caution: "those who endeavor to gain honor at the price of another person being degraded have no portion in the World-to-Come.

From Everyday Holiness: By Alan Morinis.

1 comment:

C. JoyBell C. said...

The first part of what you wrote- I agree. I agree continually with many things that you post on here! Your posts confirm the things which I believe, and so I am happy that I am not alone in my beliefs, in this world! :)

The second part of your post (about honor)... This is true... but then, many a time, envy tries to dishonor us. And so, we must dishonor it, and dishonor it better! Else, it will pull us down with it!

We are not to be too bad. But then, we are also not to be too good. Yin and yang! :)