Why is humility so hard to come by? Most religions teach the wisdom of humility, but who listens? We all know that life is finite, that human civilization, for what it’s worth is self-limiting. And yet the most educated of men will strut about their little world like actors on stage;they assume the mantle of immortals, deluding themselves into thinking they are indispensable, until eventually they join all those other indispensables who have reached perfection in the form of dust or ashes.
Why so much pride when a little humility can get us far more by way of love and peace and happiness? Better to efface yourself like the cricket who is heard but seldom seen than to flap your wings and crow like a cockbird before ending up as someone’s tandoori dinner.
Happiness is an elusive state of mind, not to be gained by clumsy pursuit. It is given to those who do not sue for it: to be unconcerned about a desired good is probably the only way to possess it.
‘I enjoy life,’ said Seneca, ‘ because I am ready to leave it.’
If we can disencumber ourselves of nine-tenths of our worldly goods, it should not be difficult to leave the rest behind. But it’s amazing how most of us hang on to our bric-a-brac, hoping maybe that it will be treasured and valued by those who come after us.
---The Lamp is lit by Ruskin Bond.
Why so much pride when a little humility can get us far more by way of love and peace and happiness? Better to efface yourself like the cricket who is heard but seldom seen than to flap your wings and crow like a cockbird before ending up as someone’s tandoori dinner.
Happiness is an elusive state of mind, not to be gained by clumsy pursuit. It is given to those who do not sue for it: to be unconcerned about a desired good is probably the only way to possess it.
‘I enjoy life,’ said Seneca, ‘ because I am ready to leave it.’
If we can disencumber ourselves of nine-tenths of our worldly goods, it should not be difficult to leave the rest behind. But it’s amazing how most of us hang on to our bric-a-brac, hoping maybe that it will be treasured and valued by those who come after us.
---The Lamp is lit by Ruskin Bond.
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