Thursday, November 17, 2011

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16:6

Attempt to understand the true nature of worldly feelings, namely, the feelings of self-promotion, self-glorification. They are not natural; they were invented by your society and your culture to make you productive and to make you controllable.

These feelings do not produce the nourishment and happiness that is produced when one contemplates nature or enjoys the company of one’s friends or one’s work.

There were meant to produce thrills, excitement – and emptiness.

Then observe yourself in the course of a day or a week and think how many actions of yours are performed, how many activities engaged in that are uncontaminated by the desire for these thrills, these excitements that only produce emptiness, the desire for attention, approval, fame, popularity, success or power.

And take a look at the people around you. Is there a single one of them who has not become addicted to these worldly feelings? A single one who is not controlled by them, hungers for them, spends every minute of his/her waking life consciously or unconsciously seeking them?

When you see this you will understand how people attempt to gain the world and, in the process, lose their soul.

For they live empty, soulless lives.

Anthony De Mello S.J.
From: The Last Meditations