Роздуми
Book 3
It’sallthatprotectsyourmindfromfalseperceptions—falsetoyournature,andthatofallrationalbeings.It’swhatmakesthoughtfulnesspossible,andaffectionforotherpeople,andsubmissiontothedivine.
10.Forgeteverythingelse.Keepholdofthisaloneandrememberit:Eachofuslivesonlynow,thisbriefinstant.Theresthasbeenlivedalready,orisimpossibletosee.Thespanweliveissmall—smallasthecorneroftheearthinwhichweliveit.Smallaseventhegreatestrenown,passedfrommouthtomouthbyshort-livedstickfigures,ignorantalikeofthemselvesandthoselongdead.
11.Tothestand-bysabove,addthisone:alwaystodefinewhateveritisweperceive—totraceitsoutline—sowecanseewhatitreallyis:itssubstance.Strippedbare.Asawhole.Unmodified.Andtocallitbyitsname—thethingitselfanditscomponents,towhichitwilleventuallyreturn.Nothingissoconducivetospiritualgrowthasthiscapacityforlogicalandaccurateanalysisofeverythingthathappenstous.Tolookatitinsuchawaythatweunderstandwhatneeditfulfills,andinwhatkindofworld.Anditsvaluetothatworldasawholeandtomaninparticular—asacitizenofthathighercity,ofwhichallothercitiesaremerehouseholds.
