If we felt this about all men, we should not have “indignation with
the multitude.” For what are all their wrongdoings? Is it not that they
are “mistaken about the things that are good and evil? Shall we then
be indignant with them, or shall we only pity them?... Show them the
error and we shall see how they will cease from it when they really see
it. But, if they do not see the error, they have naught better than the
deceptive appearance of the thing as it looks to them.” For, argues
Epictetus, “this man who errs and is deceived concerning things of the
greatest moment is blinded, not in the vision that distinguished black
and white, but in the judgment which distinguished Good and Evil.... If
it is the greatest misfortune to be deprived of the greatest things,
and the greatest thing in every man is a _Will_ such as he ought to
have, and if one be deprived of this, why are we still indignant with
him?... We need not be moved contrary to Nature by the evil deeds of
other men. Pity them rather, be not inclined to offense and hatred....
When someone may do us an injury or speak ill of us, remember that he
does it or speaks it, believing that it is meet and best for him to do
so. It is not possible, then, that he can do the thing that appears
best to you, but the thing that appears best to him. Wherefore, if good
appears evil to him, it is he that is injured, being deceived. For, if
anyone takes a true consequence to be false, it is not the consequence
that is injured, but he is injured who is deceived. Setting out, then,
with these opinions, you will bear a gentle mind toward any man who
may injure you. For, say on each occasion, ‘so it appeared to him.’”
Forgive: and if you must blame somebody, blame yourself—you can forgive
yourself so easily.
So we shall find sleep more restful if we leave behind us all the
shortcomings of ourselves and of our fellows, and approach that season
of seeming forgetfulness with love towards all. Calm as an infant’s
sleep will be the slumber of the all-loving man, and for him the new
day will dawn with increased brightness; his strength shall be renewed,
and his joy be more abundant.
If we always lie down to sleep with this attitude, regarding the
darkness not merely as the time when the physical man should rest,
but also as a growing time for the spiritual man, it will not be long
before we adjust our daily life to more harmonious relations with the
universe. The more lovingly we live, the sweeter and sounder will be
our slumber, for so it is that “He giveth his beloved sleep.”
CHAPTER VI
SLEEP IS NATURAL
Sleep is the joy of life.
WU TING FANG.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account