The last day - Discussion
The last day
The last day | Jasmine Marie Engler | 3/20/13 1:46 AM |
RE: The last day | Rotten Tomato | 8/9/12 11:19 AM |
RE: The last day | Jasmine Marie Engler | 8/9/12 12:26 PM |
Jasmine Marie Engler, modified 11 Years ago at 3/20/13 1:46 AM
Created 12 Years ago at 8/8/12 3:33 PM
The last day
Posts: 69 Join Date: 5/1/12 Recent Posts
To All;
The following was actually posted by an old friend of mine, Christopher, on Facebook. I read it, and, as it fits this context, asked if I could share. It presents a very simple way of approaching mindfulness; one which I believe that we all have thought at one point or another, but it bears remembering from time to time.
Love and Happiness,
Jazzi
****
i hope everyone reads this one
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping? First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?
Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw now after maybe? Can tomorrow's sand flow through the glass before today's? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing in today's path?
Can I place tomorrow's gold in today's purse? Can tomorrow's child be born today? Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy? Should I concern myself over events which I may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be? Is there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel?
I will live this day as if it is my last.
I have not but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time. When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold? What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless!
I will live this day as if it is my last.
I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence. Where there are idle mouths I will listen not; where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not. Henceforth I know that to court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. I am not a thief. I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and my greatness.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
The duties of today I shall fulfill today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will I. Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomorrow she will be gone, and so shall I. Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I shall give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full. I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will make every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.
I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.
****
I hope you all found as much enjoyment and insight upon reading it as I did.
Jazzi
**Edited to take out the full name of the friend- to preserve his identity.
The following was actually posted by an old friend of mine, Christopher, on Facebook. I read it, and, as it fits this context, asked if I could share. It presents a very simple way of approaching mindfulness; one which I believe that we all have thought at one point or another, but it bears remembering from time to time.
Love and Happiness,
Jazzi
****
i hope everyone reads this one
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping? First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?
Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw now after maybe? Can tomorrow's sand flow through the glass before today's? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing in today's path?
Can I place tomorrow's gold in today's purse? Can tomorrow's child be born today? Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy? Should I concern myself over events which I may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be? Is there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel?
I will live this day as if it is my last.
I have not but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time. When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold? What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless!
I will live this day as if it is my last.
I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence. Where there are idle mouths I will listen not; where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not. Henceforth I know that to court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. I am not a thief. I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and my greatness.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
The duties of today I shall fulfill today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will I. Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomorrow she will be gone, and so shall I. Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I shall give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive.
I will live this day as if it is my last.
And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full. I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will make every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.
I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.
****
I hope you all found as much enjoyment and insight upon reading it as I did.
Jazzi
**Edited to take out the full name of the friend- to preserve his identity.
Rotten Tomato, modified 12 Years ago at 8/9/12 11:19 AM
Created 12 Years ago at 8/9/12 11:19 AM
RE: The last day
Posts: 22 Join Date: 7/24/12 Recent PostsJasmine Marie Engler:
To All;
<snip> I will make every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.
<snip> I will make every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.
I understand the sentiment but is what it says the best thing to do ? ie, making more calls, pushing the body till they cry out and more fruitful. Are these good goals to have? Or is there an alternate kind of lifestyle that one is trying to achieve? You get my drift, I hope.
Jasmine Marie Engler, modified 12 Years ago at 8/9/12 12:26 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 8/9/12 12:26 PM
RE: The last day
Posts: 69 Join Date: 5/1/12 Recent PostsRotten Tomato:
Jasmine Marie Engler:
To All;
I understand the sentiment but is what it says the best thing to do ? ie, making more calls, pushing the body till they cry out and more fruitful. Are these good goals to have? Or is there an alternate kind of lifestyle that one is trying to achieve? You get my drift, I hope.
Rotten Tomato;
I believe I do. I was mostly gathering the full image of the speech, rather than the parts of it. He was saying, with all that stuff, that he would give HIS all to HIS life. "Making more calls" meant calling his family more often, and, as far as the "pushing the body til they cry out" you must realise that I work in the physical therapy field. I believe that one should condition their body with the same intensity that one conditions their mind, or, just as with the mind, it will begin to break down. But, in this context, for HIM, for the lifestyle that he must maintain for his job, the ability to be physically strong is a necessity. Or people die. Or he himself gets injured. In other words, his aspiration is to put himself, one-hundred-ten percent, in every moment of his life, to give more of himself to others, and to try harder at life, for no reason other than that each moment is precious. But, when it is picked apart piece by piece, we are analyzing "Christopher" and "Christopher's life", rather than the truth that he is trying to portray. Thankyou for your response, though.
On the other hand, if you are speaking of the "nonchalance" that it seems many, especially some AFers, feel accompanies enlightenment, then I believe we are at a faux pas, as I disagree with this interpretation. I believe that we will become MORE of everything compassionate, giving, and motivated; we will simply stop seeing it as a personal level, as an "us" item. I think the difference will be that it won't be "Oh, good job, Jazzi- you helped the little girl cross the street"; if someone were enlightened, I think that they would consider this to be as ridiculous as applauding your own two feet for having crossed the street, as you claim no more ownership of them than of the little girl. As Jan Frazier suggests, doing what is best will feel intrinsic.
The one thing that disturbs me about the concept of enlightenment that I hear of around here so often, is that it seems to be a great deal more about the mind than the body for many. If we are focused on changing the mind, and have already acknowledged it as a duality created by ourselves for whatever reason, then what is it that is real? What is it that matters? I know that, as my body functions under the control of my mind (really, the brain, but I'm trying to make a point, so I don't know if technicality matters), so, too, does the mind focus under the control of the body. For instance, as there is a receptor in my brain saying, "Move that arm," and I willfully move that arm, then there are receptors on the fingertips that say, "Ouch! Hot stove- move that hand!" back to the brain. In other words, the five physical "sense doors", if you will, are controlled first by the body. And the body is very fragile. If one allows oneself to be lazy, or a couch potato, or, worse, never works on their proprioceptive-neuro-fascilitation, then the muscles' receptors become lazy, as well. They stop listening to the brain. If you have an injury and don't rehab it properly, these muscles shut off. Well, from the scientific world, your body considers a lack of physical stamina to be a form of injury. Muscles start the process of atrophy within three hours of lack of use. It comes back almost as soon as one moves again, but still. Imagine 48 hours of sitting, with low nutritional intake. My body is not made to function in such a way. My job will not allow me to function in such a way, anyway, and my job is more important than my selfishness at this point. I need to be able to fit certain standards, and I do. I can drag three hundred pounds of man over one hundred yards without stopping. This is necessary for me. Is it necessary for everyone? No. But every person asks things of their body every day, and why shouldn't we maintain it? If we become enlightened, will I stop brushing my teeth, or taking showers, simply because "I" don't claim ownership of this body? I should hope not. Exercise is another way to maintain the overall health of the structure that needs maintainance. Would we cross the road? Would we help the child? Well, simply because we see MORE, should not be cause to ignore that which we saw before. I hope this helps clarify both Christopher's writing, through my poor interpretation, based on what I know of him, as well as any personal beliefs of mine you may have been asking about. If you disagree, I heartily welcome the chance to hear new ideas, and hope only to learn new things from you. :-)
Love and Happiness,
Jazzi