The right thing - Thoreau
Thoreau resources
Intro to Walden
1. Fear is the main obstacle to happiness
“Why are they in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises”
a. Fear of not having enough (how simple to build a house and plant a garden)
b. fear of not being enough
c. Appreciation is fears most powerful antidote. A mind can’t be in a state of appreciation and a state of fear at the same time: appreciate the view, the taste of chocolate, a friend’s sense of humor
The pursuit of pleasure, as an antidote to fear, doesn’t work
We glimpse in the best literature where we really are, which helps us see who we really are. Sometimes the speaker tells, directly and without dissembling, the most important secrets. Unfortunately, the secrets remain unrevealed because only those who can hear them can hear them, no matter how plainly they are said. After reading the conclusion of Walden with students, I tell students that Thoreau’s language is not figurative but literal. In fact, if they set about doing the right thing for the right reason, the universe around them will change if need be.
The difficulty lies in knowing what is the right thing and what is the right reason. All of us have shipwrecked on our vain realities.
Permalink • Printer-Friendly • E-mail this page
Faith •