Meditation I

Chapter 16

Things outside of you are disturbing, but your heart remains free; everything is done according to the inner cause and effect, so that you remain just.In other words, it is beneficial to society to behave according to this principle, because it is determined by your nature.

Rational animals share the same rational soul

Improper conduct is impious.Because the nature of the universe hopes that these rational animals can depend on each other and help each other for mutual benefit and not hurt each other when creating these rational animals. Those who do this will definitely violate the original will of the Creator, which is impious.Liars are equally guilty of impiety against the gods.Because the nature of the universe is the common nature of all things; all things are inextricably linked.Moreover, this cosmic nature exists in the name of truth, and is the cause of all real things.Therefore, the intentional liar will of course bear the crime of disrespect because of his lying behavior, that is, the injustice of a deceitful nature; while the unintentional liar, because what he said is not consistent with the nature of the universe, disrupts the order of the world. Order should also bear the crime of disrespect, after all, he still violates the nature of the world and puts himself in a situation opposed to truth.Because he had already obtained this power from the nature of the universe, but he later ignored this ability to distinguish right from wrong.In addition, those who only seek pleasure and do not experience pain are also guilty of disrespect.

Because such people must always be dissatisfied with the nature requirements of the universe, and think that the nature of the universe does not properly distribute according to the respective needs of good and evil people. Many evil people often enjoy happiness and have things that can bring happiness; But in the throes of pain, and can't get rid of the things that cause pain.In addition, people who fear pain are sometimes also afraid of something that will eventually happen, and this fear is itself a kind of irreverence.It is also manifest disrespect that the man who seeks pleasure does not abstain from injustice.Now look at those things which are equally favored by the nature of the universe. —for, unless they were two things equally favored, they would not have been created. —As regards these things, those who will follow the nature of nature will treat them equally.Then, since suffering, happiness, life and death, and honor and disgrace are all treated equally by the nature of the universe, it is obviously disrespectful if anyone thinks that he has not received equal favor.What I said was that the nature of the universe made equal arrangements for them, but I did not say that these arrangements are exactly the same for those created by the Creator and human beings, nor do they happen in a particularly regular way.This movement starts from a certain beginning of things, endows them with a certain order, and at the same time gives birth to certain specific guiding principles, and these principles will determine the reproductive capacity and successive changes of beings.

To die without lying, cheating, extravagance and arrogance is the most blessed destiny a person can have.But there is a famous saying that goes like this: Ending one's own life is next to the best voyage when one has done so.Are you really determined to surrender to evil?Have you not had any experience of how to lead yourself out of suffering?Because the loss of rational intelligence is no different from the arrival of a plague, and it is more serious than the pollution and deterioration of the air around us.Because, even if it is a certain kind of plague, it is only a plague of animals at most; while the "plague" of loss of rationality occurs in humans and affects life.

Deal with death not with contempt, but with joy, because it is a matter of natural will.From being young to getting old, from growing up to being close to maturity, there are teeth, beards, early hair, pregnancy, childbearing and raising children, etc., and other natural changes brought about by the changing seasons of life Etc. are also things in line with the will of nature, and death is no exception.Then, a person who has the character of self-reflection should establish such a point of view, that is, the question of death should not be taken lightly, nor should it be hasty or dismissive, but should wait patiently and regard it as a natural death. normal occurrences of nature.Just as you waited for the baby to emerge from your wife's womb, so you have to wait patiently for the moment when your soul emerges from this sack.

But if you need a comfort that reaches the depths of your soul, look more at objects from which you are about to separate, at the moral character of those who are no longer intertwined with your soul, and you will Facing death calmly.Because getting angry because someone has offended you is not the answer; it is your job to care for them and come to accept them; People with the same principle leave.The only thing that would make me change my mind and hold on to life is to be able to live with people who have the same principles of life as I do.And what you see now is that the people you live with are not compatible with you, and you are troubled by it, and finally you have to say: Death, come on!Otherwise I'm going to lose myself.

He who does evil does evil to himself.He who does injustice also does injustice to himself, for he has made himself evil.

Not only is it often unrighteous to do something, but it is also sometimes unrighteous not to do it.

Let your present opinions be based on understanding, let your present conduct be directed toward the common good of society, let your present disposition be content with what has happened—and that will suffice.

Get rid of fantasy.Restrain your desires.Quit lust.Keep reason within its own power.

In irrational animals there is the same life; in rational animals there is the same rational soul.We all share the same earth for all things that share the nature of the earth element.What we see is the same beam of sunlight, what we breathe is the same kind of air, what we see is the same kind of scenery, and what we have is the same kind of life.

All things that share a common nature tend to be with their like.Therefore, earthy things all flow toward the earth, liquid things flow together, and so do gaseous things, so gaseous things even ask for some kind of force to separate them and keep them at a distance.The flame goes up because of the nature of its fiery element, and it is ready to burn with all fires.Therefore, everything that is dry burns at once, because there is nothing in these things that can prevent it from burning.Correspondingly, all things which share common reason tend in like manner to like things, and this tendency is stronger.Because, compared with other things, its sense of superiority is expressed in its willingness to blend with similar things.

Therefore, we can see bees and cattle and herds, the nurturing grace of adult birds to their young, and mutual love in the animal world in animals that have no reason; because even animals are not without souls. , the force that brings them together seems to have a certain degree of superiority, which is not seen in things such as plants, stones, and woods.And among rational animals there are also political groups and friendships, families and assemblies, wars, negotiations and truces, etc.But for higher existences, even though they are disintegrated in form, they have realized a certain kind of unity in essence, such as the stars in the sky.Therefore, after reaching this unfathomable state, things can resonate with each other in a state of separation.Well, look at what's happening today.Only rational animals seem to have forgotten this mutual expectation and tendency at present, and only in these rational animals can we see any behavior of common advance and retreat.But even though many people try to avoid this fusion, they are still attracted and bound by this union nature, because this social nature is so strong; if you look carefully, you will know that what I said is true. .Then, we will soon find that the combination of earthy and non-earth things is faster than the rupture between people.

Regardless of mortals, gods or the universe, they all produce fruit; but they all have their own most suitable seasons.But it would be wrong to apply this conditional phrase to the usual vine, or anything like it.Reason produces fruits, not only for everything, but for itself, and out of them things of the same nature as reason itself.

stay free
If you can, admonish those who do wrong; but if you cannot, remember that it is better to let nature take its course.The gods also take a natural attitude towards this; in some cases, the gods even help these people gain wealth, health and fame; they are so kind.It's within your power; in other words, who's going to stop you from doing it?
Do not be compelled to labor; nor labor because others pity or praise you.There is only one thing to do directly, which is to examine oneself according to the requirements of social reason.

I finally got out of all my troubles today, or I can say I put all my troubles behind me, because the troubles are not outside, but inside my mind.

Everything is the same, commonplace, ephemeral in time, and worthless in material.Everything in the present is exactly the same as in the past ages in which our ancestors lived.

There are hordes of things outside us that know themselves neither, nor judge themselves.So what is it that makes a value judgment on them?is rational.

For rational social animals, good and evil are not in passive statics but in active dynamics, and in this respect exactly as their virtues and vices are not passive statics but positive dynamics .

To a stone thrown upwards, falling is no evil, nor being carried is no good.

Dig deep into people's guiding principles, and you'll see what judgment you're afraid of, and how valuable that judgment is in itself.

Everything is changing; you are changing, in some ways even perishing, and so is the universe.

It is your duty to deal with other people's mistakes by themselves.

The end of activities, the cessation of movement and thought, is death in a certain sense, which is not evil.Now turn your thoughts to your life process, your childhood, youth, middle age, old age, etc. These changes in the life process can be called a kind of death.Is this something to be afraid of?Think instead of your life at your grandfather's knee, then your life at your mother's knee, then your life at your father's knee.If you also find many different differences, changes and stops, ask yourself, what is there to be afraid of?So, too, endings, cessations, and changes throughout your life are nothing to be afraid of.

Quickly gain insight into your own dominance, the dominance of the universe, and the dominance of those around you.As for your own dominance, you can justify it; as for the dominance of the universe, you can remember that you are a part of it; as for the dominance of those around you, you can examine whether he is Whether he acts intentionally or unintentionally, whether his dominance is similar to yours.

(End of this chapter)