Book 7

           1.Evil:thesameoldthing.

           Nomatterwhathappens,keepthisinmind:It’sthesameoldthing,fromoneendoftheworldtotheother.Itfillsthehistorybooks,ancientandmodern,andthecities,andthehousestoo.Nothingnewatall.

           Familiar,transient.

           2.Youcannotquenchunderstandingunlessyouputouttheinsightsthatcomposeit.Butyoucanrekindlethoseatwill,likeglowingcoals.Icancontrolmythoughtsasnecessary;thenhowcanIbetroubled?Whatisoutsidemymindmeansnothingtoit.Absorbthatlessonandyourfeetstandfirm.

           Youcanreturntolife.Lookatthingsasyoudidbefore.Andlifereturns.

           3.Pointlessbustlingofprocessions,operaarias,herdsofsheepandcattle,militaryexercises.Aboneflungtopetpoodles,alittlefoodinthefishtank.Themiserableservitudeofants,scamperingoffrightenedmice,puppetsjerkedonstrings.

           Surroundedaswearebyallofthis,weneedtopracticeacceptance.Withoutdisdain.Butrememberingthatourownworthismeasuredbywhatwedevoteourenergyto.

           4.Focusonwhatissaidwhenyouspeakandonwhatresultsfromeachaction.Knowwhattheoneaimsat,andwhattheothermeans.

           5.Ismyintellectuptothis?Ifso,thenI’llputittowork,likeatoolprovidedbynature.Andifitisn’t,thenI’llturnthejobovertosomeonewhocandobetter—unlessIhavenochoice.