Changes

The wise are short on advice, and altogether non-judgmental. They know within themselves that valuable, often painful experiences have taught them to be humble, and to wait for God to show them the right direction. They have learned to listen attentively and talk sparingly. These are people who draw others to them, often by some innate quality that may be hard to define. They will always find inner peace – that tranquility of the soul – and never be anxious to gain fame or fortune, knowing that God has not placed them on this earth to tell others their opinions. Remember, it is appropriate to give advice only when it is asked for, and to always let the other person steer his or her own craft upon these turbulent earthly seas. - [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2003-05-17-Acquisition_of_Wisdom#Lesson Machiventa]

The wise are short on advice, and altogether non-judgmental. They know within themselves that valuable, often painful experiences have taught them to be humble, and to wait for God to show them the right direction. They have learned to listen attentively and talk sparingly. These are people who draw others to them, often by some innate quality that may be hard to define. They will always find inner peace – that tranquility of the soul – and never be anxious to gain fame or fortune, knowing that God has not placed them on this earth to tell others their opinions. Remember, it is appropriate to give advice only when it is asked for, and to always let the other person steer his or her own craft upon these turbulent earthly seas. - [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2003-05-17-Acquisition_of_Wisdom#Lesson Machiventa]

==Courage==

==Courage==

Real courage comes with loyalty to the highest truth, to living spiritual reality, and, when you walk this path, there may be times when people will say you are crazy, that your vision is futile, and that the best you can do is to swim along. It takes great courage to make sacrifices for a higher ideal, to swim against the tide in pursuit of that ideal. When you are completely alone in maintaining the rightness of your vision, when your loyalty is such that you will sacrifice comfort for the sake of greater truth, that is when you are tested and found not wanting. It is easy to jump in when others are jumping in, it is easy to advance on a field of battle when you are surrounded by your comrades advancing, but it takes courage to advance alone.

Real courage comes with loyalty to the highest truth, to living spiritual reality, and, when you walk this path, there may be times when people will say you are crazy, that your vision is futile, and that the best you can do is to swim along. It takes great courage to make sacrifices for a higher ideal, to swim against the tide in pursuit of that ideal. When you are completely alone in your vision, when your loyalty is such that you will sacrifice comfort for the sake of greater truth, that is when you are tested and found not wanting. It is easy to jump in when others are jumping in, it is easy to advance on a field of battle when you are surrounded by your comrades advancing, but it takes courage to advance alone.

The Master never valued public acclaim. He understood that the test did not lie there. The test of his loyalty to God was when he was alone and helpless. Loyalty to living spiritual truth, loyalty to love must transcend everything else. This loyalty must shape all the loyalties below it rather than the other way around. Human beings sometimes confuse loyalty to church, friends, and community with loyalty to God. Loyalty to God may someday require leaving behind friends, family, and community. This is where your courage will be tested.  - [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2003-05-23-Courage Ham]

The Master never valued public acclaim. He understood that the test did not lie there. The test of his loyalty to God was when he was alone and helpless. Loyalty to living spiritual truth, loyalty to love must transcend everything else. This loyalty must shape all the loyalties below it rather than the other way around. Human beings sometimes confuse loyalty to church, friends, and community with loyalty to God. Loyalty to God may someday require leaving behind friends, family, and community. This is where your courage will be tested.  - [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2003-05-23-Courage Ham]

[[Category: Sutras]]

[[Category: Sutras]]