Changes

[[Image:lightestill.jpg]]

[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Livingart.jpg|right|frame]]

Human life consists in three great drives—urges, desires, and lures. Strong character, commanding personality, is only acquired by converting the natural urge of life into the social '''art of living''', by transforming present desires into those higher longings which are capable of lasting attainment, while the commonplace lure of existence must be transferred from one's conventional and established ideas to the higher realms of unexplored ideas and undiscovered ideals.

The more complex [[civilization]] becomes, the more difficult will become the '''art of living'''. The more rapid the changes in social usage, the more complicated will become the task of character development. Every ten generations mankind must learn anew the art of living if progress is to continue. And if man becomes so ingenious that he more rapidly adds to the complexities of society, the art of living will need to be remastered in less time, perhaps every single generation. If the [[evolution]] of the art of living fails to keep pace with the technique of existence, [[humanity]] will quickly revert to the simple urge of living—the attainment of the satisfaction of present desires. Thus will humanity remain immature; society will fail in growing up to full maturity.

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of the '''''Art of Living''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Art_of_Living this link].</center>

Social maturity is equivalent to the degree to which man is willing to surrender the gratification of mere transient and present desires for the entertainment of those superior longings the striving for whose attainment affords the more abundant satisfactions of progressive advancement toward permanent goals. But the true badge of social maturity is the willingness of a people to surrender the right to live peaceably and contentedly under the ease-promoting standards of the lure of established beliefs and conventional ideas for the disquieting and energy-requiring lure of the pursuit of the unexplored possibilities of the attainment of undiscovered goals of idealistic [[spiritual]] realities.

Animals respond nobly to the urge of life, but only man can attain the '''art of living''', albeit the majority of mankind only experience the animal urge to live. Animals know only this blind and instinctive urge; man is capable of transcending this urge to natural function. Man may elect to live upon the high plane of intelligent [[art]], even that of celestial joy and [[spiritual]] ecstasy. Animals make no inquiry into the purposes of life; therefore they never worry, neither do they commit suicide. Suicide among men testifies that such beings have emerged from the purely animal stage of existence, and to the further fact that the exploratory efforts of such [[human]] beings have failed to attain the artistic levels of mortal [[experience]]. Animals know not the [[meaning]] of life; man not only possesses capacity for the recognition of [[value]]s and the comprehension of [[meaning]]s, but he also is conscious of the meaning of meanings—he is self-conscious of insight.

 

 

Animals respond nobly to the urge of life, but only man can attain the art of living, albeit the majority of mankind only experience the animal urge to live. Animals know only this blind and instinctive urge; man is capable of transcending this urge to natural function. Man may elect to live upon the high plane of intelligent [[art]], even that of celestial joy and [[spiritual]] ecstasy. Animals make no inquiry into the purposes of life; therefore they never worry, neither do they commit suicide. Suicide among men testifies that such beings have emerged from the purely animal stage of existence, and to the further fact that the exploratory efforts of such [[human]] beings have failed to attain the artistic levels of mortal [[experience]]. Animals know not the [[meaning]] of life; man not only possesses capacity for the recognition of [[value]]s and the comprehension of [[meaning]]s, but he also is conscious of the meaning of meanings—he is self-conscious of insight.

When men dare to forsake a life of natural craving for one of adventurous art and uncertain [[logic]], they must expect to suffer the consequent hazards of emotional casualties—conflicts, unhappiness, and uncertainties—at least until the time of their attainment of some degree of [[intellectual]] and emotional maturity. Discouragement, worry, and indolence are positive evidence of moral immaturity. Human society is confronted with two problems: attainment of the maturity of the individual and attainment of the maturity of the race. The mature human being soon begins to look upon all other mortals with feelings of tenderness and with emotions of tolerance. Mature men view immature folks with the love and consideration that parents bear their children.

When men dare to forsake a life of natural craving for one of adventurous art and uncertain [[logic]], they must expect to suffer the consequent hazards of emotional casualties—conflicts, unhappiness, and uncertainties—at least until the time of their attainment of some degree of [[intellectual]] and emotional maturity. Discouragement, worry, and indolence are positive evidence of moral immaturity. Human society is confronted with two problems: attainment of the maturity of the individual and attainment of the maturity of the race. The mature human being soon begins to look upon all other mortals with feelings of tenderness and with emotions of tolerance. Mature men view immature folks with the love and consideration that parents bear their children.

Even though you are effectively armed to meet the difficult situations of life, you can hardly expect success unless you are equipped with that wisdom of mind and charm of [[personality]] which enable you to win the hearty support and co-operation of your fellows. You cannot hope for a large measure of success in either secular or religious work unless you can learn how to persuade your fellows, to prevail with men. You simply must have tact and tolerance.

Even though you are effectively armed to meet the difficult situations of life, you can hardly expect success unless you are equipped with that wisdom of mind and charm of [[personality]] which enable you to win the hearty support and co-operation of your fellows. You cannot hope for a large measure of success in either secular or religious work unless you can learn how to persuade your fellows, to prevail with men. You simply must have tact and tolerance.

But the greatest of all methods of problem solving I have learned from [[Jesus]], your Master. I refer to that which he so consistently practices, and which he has so faithfully taught you, the isolation of worshipful [[meditation]]. In this habit of Jesus' going off so frequently by himself to commune with the Father in heaven is to be found the technique, not only of gathering strength and [[wisdom]] for the ordinary conflicts of living, but also of appropriating the energy for the solution of the higher problems of a moral and spiritual nature. But even correct methods of solving problems will not compensate for inherent defects of personality or atone for the absence of the hunger and thirst for true righteousness. [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_160_-_Rodan_of_Alexandria#PAPER_160:_RODAN_OF_ALEXANDRIA]

But the greatest of all methods of problem solving I have learned from [[Jesus]], your Master. I refer to that which he so consistently practices, and which he has so faithfully taught you, the isolation of worshipful [[meditation]]. In this habit of Jesus' going off so frequently by himself to commune with the Father in heaven is to be found the technique, not only of gathering strength and [[wisdom]] for the ordinary conflicts of living, but also of appropriating the energy for the solution of the higher problems of a moral and spiritual nature. But even correct methods of solving problems will not compensate for inherent defects of personality or atone for the absence of the hunger and thirst for true righteousness. [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_160_-_Rodan_of_Alexandria#PAPER_160:_RODAN_OF_ALEXANDRIA]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]