Reflections on a Life Well-lived I was reading some Joseph Campbell last night – “Reflections on the Art of Living – A Joseph Campbell Companion” by Diane Osbon. And I remember how much he, this book, and so Diane Osbon in editing and choosing the passages, has influenced me and my journey. If you don’t have it – go and get it, you will not be disappointed – it’s one of those books you will keep going back to. I should also credit my good friend, James D. Lee, who sent me this book just after I retired, when I spent a month at his favorite place – the Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, New Mexico, back in February of 2003. She reflects on some of Joseph’s most important observations, especially those that present the gentle heart. I would add that the purpose of our lives is to find this gentle heart, what I like to call the songbird in your heart. And when you find the courage to begin the journey, despite the many obstacles, you will find this glad, gentle heart, and that will change your life forever. Well, there is this passage from the book (page 83) I’d like to share, shortened and paraphrased – “There is this Japanese saying, I recall having heard, of the stages in a person’s growth: At ten, an animal; at twenty, a lunatic: At thirty, a failure: at forty, a fraud: At fifty, a criminal; at sixty, advising one’s friends: At seventy, (having been misunderstood) one keeps quiet, and is taken as a sage; At eighty, said Confucius, “I knew my ground and stood firm.” Well I can’t swear by each and every step, but I will say this, as you grow older, if you are really lucky, you will have the benefit of your years, you will feel as young as you have ever felt, because you will know who you are, who you have always been. It is all about a search for meaning, and then a realization that there is no meaning, other than that which you have attached, and then you will begin a search for the truth only to find that the truth is unfathomable, unknowable, and that you are back to where you started, listening, hearing, seeing the love that surrounds you. And then you will know, for sure, that this, this love is more than enough. In the Name of All that is True. amazon/Reflections-Art-Living-Campbell-Companion/dp/0060926171/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361483852&sr=1-1&keywords=diane+Osbon Thinking of Life’s magnificence Beauty, grace Life’s secret radiance The miracle The magic The presence Love is here Love is there Love can be found Most everywhere You and me Thou and thee We just need to Look and see, for Love is The taste we seek.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 17:56:23 +0000
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