Remember what feelings you have when someone praises you, you are glorified and applauded. Compare that feeling with the state of mind when you admire the sunrise or sunset, get charged from seeing the wonderful landscape, watch a gripping film or read an interesting book.
Now compare the second feeling with the first one, with the case when you were being praised. Be conscious that the feeling of the first type stems from self-appraisal, self-glorification. It is the secular feeling.
The second one stems from self-realization. It is a spiritual feeling. Another antithesis: remember what you feel when you succeed, achieve your goal, win a game or bet, become the best of the best. And now compare it with the happiness which you feel when you dive into your favorite work, a work in which you invest all your strength and knowledge. And try to see the difference between the secular and spiritual. Another difference.
Visualize, you have power, you are a high-ranked leader. You look at all people from above, the subordinates fulfill your tasks. Imagine that you are popular, live in a glory. And now compare that feeling with meeting the best friend, dear people, you get pleasure from that meeting, the happiness and laughter reign.
Comparing the entire mentioned, try to understand the real motive of secular feelings – self-conceit and ambitions. They are unnatural. These feelings were born in the society and exist to make you work more and keep control on you. As compared with watching the beauty of the nature, meeting with friends and the pleasure from the favorite work, those feelings do not make one really happy, they induce nervous irritation, anxiety and emptiness.
And now follow yourselves in a day or a week and remember – which deeds and which actions of yours are not contaminated by the thirst of irritation, those empty feelings, the wish for attracting attention, becoming famous, success and power.
Anthony de Mello (1931-1987)
Catholic priest
“Free translations from Russian”
