"For the human soul, it is a great wrong to... direct its acts and endeavours to no particular object, and waste its energies purposelessly and without due thought; for even the least of our activities ought to have some end in view..." (Marcus Aurelius, 121 - 180 BCE)
Aurelius goes on to say that the end in view for humans is "conformity with the reason and law of the primordial City and Commonwealth" which serves a purpose of instilling obedience to the state... which of course quells critical thinking and revolution, both of which I believe are progressive. I want to find a more enlightening end in view to give purpose to my acts and endeavours.
Why did this capture my attention?
I sometimes direct my energy in unfulfilling ways and without thought.
I feel that my attention and time are the two most valuable assets I have, and that physical assets are secondary. Whatever I give my attention and time to grows, it's like life fertiliser. So what is one value that I can practice directing my attention and time towards cultivating?
Something I have realised over the last few weeks is that I have always wanted to experience divinity a.k.a bliss, peace and joy. Ecstatic pleasure is a close runner up, but drug use and sex are poor approximations of transcendental joy. The sustainable joy comes with effort. Sustainable joy is peaceful and clear, not ebullient.
Meditation will strengthen that sweet peaceful internal joy, but how can I practice joyfulness with people? I want to lighten people, I want to give alleviation from psychological pain, I want to refresh jaded minds. I want to only do things that will somehow result in joy for people, because joylessness is not uncommon and desaturates life. But I'm afraid that I'm too contemplative and sincere to evoke joy.
Perhaps joyfulness is singing more frequently about everything, laughing more at oneself, galloping daily down the hallway, playfully teasing your lovers and friends with hair tugs, asphyxiating hugs, bird peck kisses and running spanks. Perhaps joyfulness is meeting people with the intention of loving them.
Aurelius goes on to say that the end in view for humans is "conformity with the reason and law of the primordial City and Commonwealth" which serves a purpose of instilling obedience to the state... which of course quells critical thinking and revolution, both of which I believe are progressive. I want to find a more enlightening end in view to give purpose to my acts and endeavours.
Why did this capture my attention?
I sometimes direct my energy in unfulfilling ways and without thought.
I feel that my attention and time are the two most valuable assets I have, and that physical assets are secondary. Whatever I give my attention and time to grows, it's like life fertiliser. So what is one value that I can practice directing my attention and time towards cultivating?
Something I have realised over the last few weeks is that I have always wanted to experience divinity a.k.a bliss, peace and joy. Ecstatic pleasure is a close runner up, but drug use and sex are poor approximations of transcendental joy. The sustainable joy comes with effort. Sustainable joy is peaceful and clear, not ebullient.
Meditation will strengthen that sweet peaceful internal joy, but how can I practice joyfulness with people? I want to lighten people, I want to give alleviation from psychological pain, I want to refresh jaded minds. I want to only do things that will somehow result in joy for people, because joylessness is not uncommon and desaturates life. But I'm afraid that I'm too contemplative and sincere to evoke joy.
Perhaps joyfulness is singing more frequently about everything, laughing more at oneself, galloping daily down the hallway, playfully teasing your lovers and friends with hair tugs, asphyxiating hugs, bird peck kisses and running spanks. Perhaps joyfulness is meeting people with the intention of loving them.
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