but uh, i havent posted in more than 3 months, and i tried to delete this account because i thought writing on here was making me more narcissistic. it turns out that if you leave your account inactive for 30 days, it does NOT deactivate or delete. bummer
im not gonna post anything about me, cept what i already wrote above, but ive been reading some books about buddhism and life and all that jazz, and i just really liked these little snippets. it doesnt hurt to share the love, yah?
these first ones are from this book "Man's Search for Meaning" by Vickor E. Frankl. its not any specific religion. hes a psychiatrist or logotherapist or something and talking about his experiences in the jewish concentration camps. its pretty objective despite the topic.
"'Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are even the things of which I am most proud, though these are things which cannot inspire envy.'"
"Suffering had become a task on which we did not want to turn our backs. We had realized its hidden opportunities for achievement, the opportunities which caused the poet Rilke to write, "Wie viel ist aufzuleiden!" (How much suffering there is to get through!). Rilke spoke of "getting through suffering" as others would talk of "getting through work." There was plenty of suffering for us to get through. Therefore, it was necessary to face up to the full amount of suffering, trying to keep moments of weakness and furtive tears to a minimum. But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer. Only few realized that. "
(a quote he took from Nietzsche) "'Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich starker.' (That which does not kill me, makes me stronger.)" - i know thats a cheesy one that everyones heard, but if you really think about it, it has more depth than the trite expression that most people use. iono, but things are never as bad as they seem at the moment. because, things can always get worse! :P hahaha. ok, bad way to put it, i just kiiidd
(He's quoting again from another poet he didnt name) "What you have experienced, no power on earth can take from you. Not only our experiences, but all we have done, whatever great thoughts we may have had, and all we have suffered, all this is not lost, though it is past; we have brought it into being. Having been is also a kind of being, and perhaps the surest kind."
"One should not search for an abstract meaning of life. Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fullfillment...Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life"
"In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice."
k. enough from that book. The next two are from "Buddhism Day by Day" by Daisaku Ikeda
"One tragedy of our times is the willingness of realists, in spite of impending crises, to criticize and obstruct people who expend their energy toward finding solutions. Their judgments, however are superficial and conventional, and their attitude distances them from the essential quality of reality - change. Often the wisest realists cannot escape this trap. The challenge, then, is to create a new kind of reality that offers hope for changing the world." - i know its a little "i wish for world peace", but i think i used to be one of those realists that didnt believe in change. im havent witnessed it yet, but im more open to it now.
"Strength is happiness. Strength is itself victory. In weakness and cowardice there is no happiness. When you wage a struggle, you might win or you might lose. But regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing to struggle is proof of your victory as a human being. A strong spirit, strong faith and strong prayer - developing these is victory and the world of Buddhahood."
the ones from viktor might not have as much an impact if you havent read the book. but it was worth a try
i realized a lot of the quotes i liked were about suffering or struggle. iono, i guess im trying to be more active and face the things i feel are hindering me.
ok, im allowed one narcissistic comment. ive been listening to frank sinatra nonstop. i love him. michael buble does not do him justice. it makes me want to fall in love in new york and live in the golden hollywood era.
