Rosicrucian Beacon Magazine - 2012-09 - AMORC
Rosicrucian Beacon Magazine - 2012-09 - AMORC Rosicrucian Beacon Magazine - 2012-09 - AMORC
When listening to music or reading a book, anxiousness or aggravateddisturbance of the emotions are dispelled or are, at least, more easilysuppressed.There are people who will tell you that all throughtheir lives they have found happiness in the reading of aparticular book or in reciting the words of a poem withoutexperiencing any diminishing gratification. But actually,if we think about it, that book or poem wasn’t being reador recited constantly. There may have been hours or evendays between the reading, so the stimulus wasn’t constantenough to cause monotony to set in.Monotony follows where there’s no change, and if ourconsciousness isn’t varied enough, a state of lethargy andirritation occurs. Those of us who are exposed toconstant intense excitement, as great mental andphysical activity, or those who are engaged instrenuous work, will often need to wind down,expressing a desire for quiet and relative inactivity.When they achieve this, a sense of contentment arises.Having said that, this doesn’t mean that a state of lessstimulation is necessary for contentment. Rather, it showsthat the conditions of the previous environment, takencollectively, were becoming all too monotonous. Moreover,the quiet and peace that follows is a different kind ofexperience, a consciousness of different stimuli which, bycontrast, is a gratifying change.Personal SatisfactionThe elements of contentment lie principally withinourselves. We won’t all experience ‘well-being’ in thesame environment. Our temperament, personality andconditioning must be taken into consideration. Forexample, a dynamic person, one of considerable nervousenergy, can find pleasure only in exceptional activity. Theirenergy must be dissipated or it causes a restlessness that isdiscomforting. Another type of person may be an introvert.Their contentment is had perhaps in contemplation,periods of abstraction and creative thought.Continuous restlessness is evidence that we have desiresand urges that aren’t being satisfied. We may frequentlychange our interests, but to no avail. Consequently, ourinability to achieve contentment isn’t always due to anymonotony in our mental or physical activity. It must berealised that, although variations or changes are necessaryfactors of contentment, they alone aren’t sufficient. Thechange must be consistent. It must be a change within thegroup of things in which we find satisfaction.Individual PursuitsHowever, a continuous change of general interests bysomeone is an indication of emotional (not mental)instability. It demonstrates that they are not aware ofthat desire or desires which will bring them the personalsatisfaction they crave. Their frequent changes from onekind of activity to another imply a blind search for a sourceof inner peace. Such plunging into life may of courseeventually unearth or reveal to them the course they shouldpursue for satisfaction, but it is a trial and error methodwhich most often brings failure and discouragement or evenmental and physical suffering. Having said that, we do needto have some exposure to life, to its multiplicity of appealsand demands, if we’re to learn what’s in harmony with ourlatent abilities and desires.If our consciousness isn’t varied enough, a state oflethargy and irritation occurs.When we are young our minds are continuallyactive and we need to find a channel for expression; ifnot, our inhibited energy may lead to emotional distress.Youthful mental energy sometimes makes it difficult toattach ourselves to, or engage with anything worthwhilefor a length of time. For young people, education shouldallow exposure to different fields of human endeavour,an essential component so they may find a relationshipto their inclinations. They should, as in all progressive,modern schools, have an opportunity to do manual workas well as academic subjects. In this way, a connection mayresult allowing them to concentrate on a particular sphereof activity where they’ll find contentment.As far as the individual pursuit of contentment isconcerned, an essential first step is to begin by askingyourself what you want in life? This shouldn’t be construedin terms of particular things. As we’ve said, no one thingalone, if constantly indulged in, provides a long-lastingfeeling of satisfaction. The question should be related toyour feelings, your urges. In general, what activity, whatkind of life, physical or intellectual, appeals to you?16The Rosicrucian Beacon -- September 2012
The Right ChoiceA little thought will soon make clearto you that such answers as ‘wealth’or ‘fame’, for example, are inadequateas ends in themselves. Wealth perse is an award that’s achieved as theconsequence of the accomplishment ofsomething else. You cannot set out tobe wealthy. Rather, we become wealthybecause we’ve been a success in somebusiness venture or other. We cannot besuccessful in an enterprise unless we cangive ourselves fully to its demands. Todo this without any mental reservation,we must really enjoy it. What we domust make us content.The same reasoning applies tofame, which is recognition for someachievement. We must first, by hard,personal work, win that fame. Again,to win acclaim we must have some outstanding ability.This ability must be liked. It must provide personalcontentment.There are many people who find satisfaction increating, for example. They firstly need to discover, bypersonal analysis and endeavour or just through a naturalbent, what kind of creative talent they have. They should trywriting, painting, music and perhaps other pursuits such aswoodwork or mechanics, always being aware however thatit’s the act of creating that provides the greatest satisfactionfor them. Others may find that, whenthey’re outdoors or close to nature,working on a farm or in the forests,they experience an ecstasy or senseof unusual well-being. Such pursuitswill often lead to a career that is verysatisfying.In contrast, how unfortunate arethose people who discover, only afterthey have incurred many obligationsand commitments which prevent themfrom making changes in life, that they’rein the wrong job? Life can be miserablein this kind of situation unless theyresort to an effective substitute, such asa hobby or pastime. Once a particularlysatisfying interest has been found,engaging in it will be a contributingfactor to their contentment.Sometimes it may be that the needsof daily life and family obligations don’tAs far as the individual pursuit of contentmentis concerned, an essential first step is to begin byasking yourself what you want in life?Once a particularly satisfying interest has beenfound, engaging in it will be a contributing factorto contentment.permit the time for us to indulge in ourtalents and desires. Consequently, wewill suppress our interests, hoping thateventually when we retire we will beable to find the time to pursue them.In the meantime we will be deprived ofcontentment which sometimes leads tounrest, casting an emotional gloom overour lives and creating what we mightsee as a drab existence. The only optionfor someone in these circumstancesis to try and find at least an hour ortwo a week to do what satisfies theirinterests. This will at least provide afeeling of contentment that will bridgethe interval until circumstances changeand they can spend more time engagingwith their pastime.Remote IdealsThere is also a negative aspect to this subject and it concernsthat state of mind by which we permanently obstruct theacquisition of contentment. The lives of others, great menand women, have always been the incentive for many toachieve success and happiness. However, not everyonecan be a Beethoven, a Francis Bacon or a Thomas Edison.Consequently, don’t make your ideal in life the activities ofa famous film star, singer or sportsperson unless you havewithin yourself similar ingredients.Live for today! By that statement it is not impliedthat you shouldn’t plan or prepare forthe future. Rather, don’t just make everyday a building block for some futurecastle of dreams. Try and live a life sothat some part of each day will satisfya healthy and natural desire. Ideally,contentment should be cumulativedaily, not a sudden prize at the endof life.We must also realise thatcontentment isn’t a great exaltation,reaching to a peak of emotional pleasureand satisfaction. Such a state can bedangerous because it cannot be sustainedand the let-down, the reaction, can beadverse. The realisation of contentmentis an adjustment to the affairs of lifein order to have normal pleasures andsatisfaction. It is a smooth highwayrather than an acceleration to peaks anda plunging down the other side.The Rosicrucian Beacon -- September 201217
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The Right ChoiceA little thought will soon make clearto you that such answers as ‘wealth’or ‘fame’, for example, are inadequateas ends in themselves. Wealth perse is an award that’s achieved as theconsequence of the accomplishment ofsomething else. You cannot set out tobe wealthy. Rather, we become wealthybecause we’ve been a success in somebusiness venture or other. We cannot besuccessful in an enterprise unless we cangive ourselves fully to its demands. Todo this without any mental reservation,we must really enjoy it. What we domust make us content.The same reasoning applies tofame, which is recognition for someachievement. We must first, by hard,personal work, win that fame. Again,to win acclaim we must have some outstanding ability.This ability must be liked. It must provide personalcontentment.There are many people who find satisfaction increating, for example. They firstly need to discover, bypersonal analysis and endeavour or just through a naturalbent, what kind of creative talent they have. They should trywriting, painting, music and perhaps other pursuits such aswoodwork or mechanics, always being aware however thatit’s the act of creating that provides the greatest satisfactionfor them. Others may find that, whenthey’re outdoors or close to nature,working on a farm or in the forests,they experience an ecstasy or senseof unusual well-being. Such pursuitswill often lead to a career that is verysatisfying.In contrast, how unfortunate arethose people who discover, only afterthey have incurred many obligationsand commitments which prevent themfrom making changes in life, that they’rein the wrong job? Life can be miserablein this kind of situation unless theyresort to an effective substitute, such asa hobby or pastime. Once a particularlysatisfying interest has been found,engaging in it will be a contributingfactor to their contentment.Sometimes it may be that the needsof daily life and family obligations don’tAs far as the individual pursuit of contentmentis concerned, an essential first step is to begin byasking yourself what you want in life?Once a particularly satisfying interest has beenfound, engaging in it will be a contributing factorto contentment.permit the time for us to indulge in ourtalents and desires. Consequently, wewill suppress our interests, hoping thateventually when we retire we will beable to find the time to pursue them.In the meantime we will be deprived ofcontentment which sometimes leads tounrest, casting an emotional gloom overour lives and creating what we mightsee as a drab existence. The only optionfor someone in these circumstancesis to try and find at least an hour ortwo a week to do what satisfies theirinterests. This will at least provide afeeling of contentment that will bridgethe interval until circumstances changeand they can spend more time engagingwith their pastime.Remote IdealsThere is also a negative aspect to this subject and it concernsthat state of mind by which we permanently obstruct theacquisition of contentment. The lives of others, great menand women, have always been the incentive for many toachieve success and happiness. However, not everyonecan be a Beethoven, a Francis Bacon or a Thomas Edison.Consequently, don’t make your ideal in life the activities ofa famous film star, singer or sportsperson unless you havewithin yourself similar ingredients.Live for today! By that statement it is not impliedthat you shouldn’t plan or prepare forthe future. Rather, don’t just make everyday a building block for some futurecastle of dreams. Try and live a life sothat some part of each day will satisfya healthy and natural desire. Ideally,contentment should be cumulativedaily, not a sudden prize at the endof life.We must also realise thatcontentment isn’t a great exaltation,reaching to a peak of emotional pleasureand satisfaction. Such a state can bedangerous because it cannot be sustainedand the let-down, the reaction, can beadverse. The realisation of contentmentis an adjustment to the affairs of lifein order to have normal pleasures andsatisfaction. It is a smooth highwayrather than an acceleration to peaks anda plunging down the other side.The <strong>Rosicrucian</strong> <strong>Beacon</strong> -- September <strong>2012</strong>17
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