June 24
Understanding or mindfulness of death teaches one to choose the things which are complete or could be completed; and those things are the most important.
You could die very quickly; but yet you have time to rid yourself of your passions. Be humble to everyone.
—MARCUS AURELIUS
A wise person thinks more about life than about death.
—BENEDICTUS SPINOZA
There is no death for the spirit; therefore, a person who lives a spiritual life is freed from death.
Do you worry about the moment when you die? Our life is only a moment in eternity. Think and you will see that you have eternity behind you and before you, and between these two huge abysses, what difference does it make whether you live three days or three centuries?
—MARCUS AURELIUS
Whenever you ask whether you should behave in this way or the other, ask yourself, what would you do if you knew that you could die this evening, and nobody would find out about your action? Death spurs people to finish their affairs; among all actions, there is only one type which is complete, and that is love which seeks no reward.
June 25
It is very useful to notice the impression which our life and deeds make upon other people.
You should live so that other people think well of you and you think well of yourself.
—LUCY MALORY
The very shortcomings which make others difficult and unbearable mean less in yourself. You do not see them, and when you speak of other people having these drawbacks, you do not notice that you are describing yourself.
—JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE
The simplest, quickest, and surest means to becoming known as a virtuous person is to work on yourself, to actually be virtuous. Examine each virtue, and you will see that they all were achieved with work and exercise.
—SOCRATES
One man keeps silence, and people discuss him. Another speaks a lot, and people discuss him. A third speaks a little, and people discuss him. There is no such thing as a person who is not being discussed or scolded.
—DHAMMAPADA, a book of BUDDHIST WISDOM
Do you call a person happy if he finds his strength in his children or in his friends, or in other things which are impermanent? In one second, his prosperity can be ruined. Seek no other support than your inner self and God.
—DEMOSTHENES
Never try to justify your deeds.
June 26
Love provides a person with the purpose of his life. Intellect shows him the means to achieve that purpose.
In the scheme of the world, a person is no more than a pine cone, or a weak herb, or a bit of swamp grass, but he is a grass which possesses some intellect.
—BLAISE PASCAL
Man differs from other animals only in his intellect; some people try to develop it and others neglect it, just as they try to reject those other qualities which differentiate them from the animals.
—EASTERN WISDOM
I praise Christianity because it develops, strengthens, and elevates my intellectual nature.
—WILLIAM ELLLERY CHANNING
If a person lacks intellect, he can not distinguish bad from good, and so he can neither truly seek nor truly have real goodness.
June 27
A good life is given only to those who make efforts to achieve it.
In order to have a good life, you should not be afraid of any good deeds. You should have no less power or strength for small acts than for the biggest and greatest good deed.
In order not to pour out a vessel full of water, you should hold it evenly. In order to have a razor sharp, you should sharpen it. The same should happen with your soul if you are looking for real goodness.
—LAO-TZU
If there is something great in you, it will not appear on your first call. It will not appear and come to you easily, without any work and effort.
—RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
—MATTHEW 7:7-8
Try to live a good life in accord with the virtues that are set before you. Perhaps this is a difficult thing, but with time it becomes more and more joyful.
If you need goodness, follow God’s law. And to follow the law of God is possible only by making an effort. Not only is this effort rewarded with a happy life, but even the effort itself gives the biggest blessing of life.
June 28
The family relationship is only good and firm and giving of virtue to people when it goes beyond family and is also religious, and all the members of the family believe in one God and His law. Otherwise, the family is the source not of pleasure but of suffering.
One of the most common explanations for bad deeds is the family name. People steal, make bribes, do many other nasty things in life, all of which can be explained by their love for their family.
Family love is a selfish feeling, and therefore it can justify bad, unworthy actions.
And it was told him by certain, which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
—LUKE 8:20-21
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
—MATTHEW 10:37
In family love, in the moral high meaning, there is nothing good or bad, just as in self-love. Both are natural. Love of your family, as well as of yourself, when it surpasses its limits, can be a vice, but it can never be a virtue, because it’s a natural feeling.
June 29
Depression is a state of the soul in which you can see no sense either in your own life or in the life of the world. This state is not only painful for the people around you, but it can influence them, and a truly good person deals with this unpleasantness when he is alone. When you have bad spirits or are in a low mood, or you are irritated, you should be so in solitude.
When everything you see appears in dark, gloomy shades, and seems baleful, and you want to tell others only bad and unpleasant things, do not trust your perceptions. Treat yourself as though you were drunk. Take no steps and actions until this state has disappeared.
You should never feel depressed.
A man should always feel happy; if he is unhappy, it means he is guilty.
O Lord, help me to be always happy and to rejoice following and fulfilling your will.
Both our physical sufferings and periods of depression are part of our life in this world, and we should patiently wait until they are over, or our life is over.
June 30
As soon as a person asks himself the question, “How do I live my life in the best way?” then all other questions are answered.
Real living takes place not in the domain of outward change, but in the inner domain, where changes can hardly be observed, in our spiritual life.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needfuclass="underline" and Mary hath chosen that good pan, which shall not be taken away from her.
—LUKE 10:41-42
Instead of saving humanity, every person should save himself.