In all things, it is best not to allow oneself to become entrapped. Just thinking of how many docile people up until now have been enslaved by moral law and tradition, living wretchedly pathetic lives of self-renouncing insignificance, causes me unspeakable anger.
The square and proper man is essentially nothing but a coward. This type is stubborn, bigoted, conservative, and truly difficult to deal with. Such people have exerted a spiritually stunting influence on society throughout history, and are without question tremendously vile.
At all times, people give thought only to their own personal benefit. They think of all things in the universe in terms of their own personal gain, and so they are constantly in mortal fear of others trespassing on their rights. Therefore, these types are apt to strongly misinterpret the slightest words and actions of others as affecting them in a bad way. The result of this is that they soon lose all but a few friends; treating everyone with hostility, and always guarded in their dealings with others.
On reflection, while there are no truly evil people in this world, essentially whether one is good or evil is determined by whether one is selfish or not. All people treat themselves very well, and also any others who share their interests, but if someone should be in even the slightest way opposed to those interests, the majority of people suddenly turn into men of evil character. This is precisely the behavior of a creature of hell—the true man of virtue never resents even those who act in direct violation of his welfare. Such a man simply admonishes these wrongdoers—even the most incorrigible types—using any means possible to gently enlighten them concerning their misdeeds.
God’s light shines on all without discrimination, but depending on the degree of our openness, the amount of illumination we receive differs.
There is nothing worse than to set aside one’s unfulfilled aims deep in one’s heart. Since leaving things undone is a sin, I prefer the man who says and does as he thinks over the hypocritical moralist.
As long as a person carries a lump of hatred around inside him, everyone who comes into contact with him will be affected by this evil, and their feelings unconsciously degraded.
The sort of man I respect most is he who never harbors the least bit of ill feeling, always innocent and open-hearted as a child. I have no love for the pretentious moralist.
Although we may not always be correct, each of us should bear our own individual opinions concerning all things.
A surprising number of people, even when they are directly confronted with a situation, will never have the slightest idea what to do, and will wander around in a haze of doubt to the very end.
Nothing is more vital in a man than determination.
As humans we fret a great deal, worrying only of the future, and are unable to cultivate ourselves and make any progress in our present states. Because we are imperfect beings to the very last one of us, we must strive to transcend this state at all costs.
We must become people of broad thinking, comparing ourselves extensively with others, and then putting forth our own unique viewpoints. Of course, such opinions must be expected to change with the passage of time.
If a person insists at all costs upon being bound by his livelihood and obligations, there is little that can be done. However, for the most part, there is nothing of greater evil in this world than to repress one’s true spirit, doing things one finds hateful because of one’s enslavement to social pressure and ambition.
The number of people who have ruined their bodies and spirits for the sake of their petty self-attachment and greed is vast.
We must not think ourselves to be great, or especially talented. At the same time we must not become obsessed with the thought that we are worthless, foolish, or incompetent, either.
To go either way is to fall prey to a dangerous misconception.
Veritably, to become a great fool who has risen above everything, a true simpleton—this is most essential of all.
A lord today, unless you can happily become a beggar tomorrow you cannot hope to accomplish your true work.
That all things are mutually complementary is a fundamental truth of our universe—the man who is wise at times and a fool at others is the truly great man. To be swift as the wind and still as the forest, this the ideal human state. Like the Mani jewel of Buddhism, such a man can effortlessly adapt to the situation at hand, creating either fire or water as the occasion demands. We must be both shrewd, and yet simple and innocent as a child. We must have come to know all things, and also have forgotten all things. We must not allow ourselves to be harmed by either our ignorance or our knowledge.
Becoming the sea and the mountains, making the morning and evening, sending the wind and summoning the clouds, revealing the sun and the moon—the many changes of our limitless universe, all are the Divine works of one creator. Because man is a microcosm of the universe, his actions must likewise be versatile, and encompass an immense variety and capacity for change. Our words and actions must have a lasting significance, and our approach to life must be both meaningful and resilient.
Don’t be enslaved by things. Don’t be attached to things. Don’t be biased towards things. Don’t take things as absolute. From one to infinity, all things without exception are neither false nor unnecessary.
All things in this world have their own truth. In no case can this be gainsaid.
We must strive to be broadminded, and avoid judging others on the basis of our own limited selves. Nor should we reach conclusions about the eternal based only on our experience in the present moment.
Each and every person has been granted limitless uncultivated land. Whether this develops into limitless cultivated land or not solely depends upon our own efforts.
Modern man is being used by his machines. He is bound by his money. He is shackled by his schedules. And he is a slave to his trends.
In all things, man—who thinks he must be master—is, on the contrary, a slave to his objects. It is truly deplorable.
