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Mark Bray of USA, Master of Arts in Social Science
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How do we start this journey of knowing ourselves? This can only come through settings that allow personal reflection and the ability to not feel frenetic. This doubly difficult challenge thrust upon us perchance makes those skeptical of this to want to not embark on this journey.
However, it is well worth it. The vitality and inward feelings that come with this are not only indescribable in English language (we have less modifers than Latin to express human emotion) but they are best experienced in person. Isabel Allende in her book on food as an aphrodisiac, writes that there is no better culinary experience than sitting down and pleasuring through gourmet food prepared to heighten the senses. Similarly, this is the case emotionally and spiritually with journeying inward.
Take time out, reflect, write and exist in quiet spaces for parts of each day. Find out what truly makes one happy in the sense that it brings long term fullfillment. It is not similar to that wish list that we had as children where we had to have these five or six things to be happy. Once we obtained the goods, we were momentarily happy, but that happiness faded as the lustre of the new toys wore off. With in a couple of weeks, we could not even tell ourselves where those desperately needed toys were.
For adults this can be equivalent to who did I sleep with last month or who did I dishonor in my actions in the preceding days? Seeking fullfillment through extrinsic means only leaves one unfullfilled and feeling a great sense of emptiness. Avoid this by knowing thyself and helping others.
My students have told me, apart from any religion or specific philosophy, that this self-respect approach truly transforms their day to day existence.
We all have our up and down times. President Nixon said that life is like a series of valleys and mountains. Often we can feel that the valley will last forever with no sunshine in sight. Experience tells us that this is not the case. Mountains, like sin waves peaks, do come and they are all the more wonderful because we have journeyed out of many valleys.
This next step of choosing not to become jaded is key. It is conscious. It is not accidental. And it is not Pollyanna. It is simply that I do not want to be a human being consumed by anger, revenge, hate or any of the other emotions often described as the Seven Sins.
Many do not know that the "Grapes of Wrath" comes from the "Old Testament" and it is the product of living the life of the seven sins. There are seven virtues as well, and patience underlies each of the virtures. Give me patience to leave the valleys of my life to reach the mountains.
Additionally, with all of these remarks, I do not pretend that there are any perfect people. I have often stated that I do not know of any person whose bathroom does not smell. It is not that we journey inward and honor ourselves and others so that we are perfect. It is that we are less imperfect in our actions and our behaviors. We are more elegant and uplifting in our pursuit of seeking what is right, not simply what is expedient.
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April 23rd EPHS Visit of Marilyn Carlson Nelson
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International Superstar Sarah Brightman December 6th, 2008
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Senator-elect Al Franken June 25, 2009
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