Very good article Frederick, a nice mix of the personal, the political and the large common ground where we meet each other, stumbling along trying to make sense of what's in front of us. You seem to have found a great balance for a good life – communion with Nature, creative writing work and photography, combined with physical/mental/spiritual training. In doing all this and also publishing texts around it, you offer examples to inspire others.---
Anything that helps undermine the prevailing idea that old age must be "downsizing" of one's life or that "rest and rust" is the natural thing to go for. To be able and willing to take baby steps upon new paths is a fabulous thing to achieve when one is approaching the 80s. ---
You mentioned "Siddharta", one of my old favourites in the world of books. It is a book about the knowing of Self. Many fear to take that step, at least if it involves meeting one's flaw and darker aspects. The holistic approach, where you accept and integrate even opposites, helps you to meet even the darkness within yourself, with or without flinching. You will never be free unless you brave the darkness within yourself. Moreover, if you DON'T you will fear it in others or try to project your own onto others. ---
I believe that we can't have WHOLENESS until we are able to integrate every aspect of Self. Only fear keeps them separate. So many great fantasy books and stories are about the "Hero's Journey", which we all are in fact writing (often without even realizing it). They center around this integration. You have embarked on the dao, the way. My personal belief is that basically we ARE the dao, we are the way. So the risk that we miss it, fall off it or fail it is zero. With love, Maria
Thank you so much for your uplifting and encouraging comments. I agree with everything you've written in response to my post. Your own posts about aging and its challenges have also motivated me, Maria. Again, many thanks and with love to you too.🙏
So cool, mi amigo! I was just reading about "The Tao does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone." I had also found a similar quote in one of Martha Beck's books. Since you're the third person to bring this up recently, I'm definitely buying a copy of the translation. Gracias!
Very good article Frederick, a nice mix of the personal, the political and the large common ground where we meet each other, stumbling along trying to make sense of what's in front of us. You seem to have found a great balance for a good life – communion with Nature, creative writing work and photography, combined with physical/mental/spiritual training. In doing all this and also publishing texts around it, you offer examples to inspire others.---
Anything that helps undermine the prevailing idea that old age must be "downsizing" of one's life or that "rest and rust" is the natural thing to go for. To be able and willing to take baby steps upon new paths is a fabulous thing to achieve when one is approaching the 80s. ---
You mentioned "Siddharta", one of my old favourites in the world of books. It is a book about the knowing of Self. Many fear to take that step, at least if it involves meeting one's flaw and darker aspects. The holistic approach, where you accept and integrate even opposites, helps you to meet even the darkness within yourself, with or without flinching. You will never be free unless you brave the darkness within yourself. Moreover, if you DON'T you will fear it in others or try to project your own onto others. ---
I believe that we can't have WHOLENESS until we are able to integrate every aspect of Self. Only fear keeps them separate. So many great fantasy books and stories are about the "Hero's Journey", which we all are in fact writing (often without even realizing it). They center around this integration. You have embarked on the dao, the way. My personal belief is that basically we ARE the dao, we are the way. So the risk that we miss it, fall off it or fail it is zero. With love, Maria
Thank you so much for your uplifting and encouraging comments. I agree with everything you've written in response to my post. Your own posts about aging and its challenges have also motivated me, Maria. Again, many thanks and with love to you too.🙏
Every cloud has a silver lining…
So cool, mi amigo! I was just reading about "The Tao does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone." I had also found a similar quote in one of Martha Beck's books. Since you're the third person to bring this up recently, I'm definitely buying a copy of the translation. Gracias!
Gracias, mia Amiga! 🙏