April 11, 2012 – A Very Difficult Art

Sir Philip Sidney said of the criminal led out to be hanged,
“There, but for the grace of God,
goes Sir Philip Sidney.” Wiser, had he said,
“There, by the grace of God,
goes Sir Philip Sidney.”

Sri Aurobindo

(Thoughts and Aphorisms 27)

A Very Difficult Art

If, when you were quite small, your parents or those who look after you, took the trouble to teach you how to do what you do, do it properly as it should be done, in the right way, then that would help you to avoid all- all these mistakes you make through the years. And not only do you make mistakes, but nobody tells you they are mistakes! And so you are surprised that you fall ill, are tired, don’t know how to do what you want to, and that you have never been taught. Some children are not taught anything, and so they need years and years and years to learn the simplest things, even the most elementary thing: to be clean…

To live in the right way is a very difficult art, and unless one begins to learn it when quite young and to make an effort, one never knows it very well. Simply the art of keeping one’s body in good health, one’s mind quiet and goodwill in one’s heart- things which are indispensable in order to live decently- I don’t say in comfort, I don’t say remarkably, I only say decently.

The Mother

The Great Adventure pg 7