A Meaningful Joy: A Tale of Meaning and Joy.

I want only to enjoy myself, yet in a MEANINGFUL way. As it turns out, this is more expensive than the meaningless life.

All ways distrust those who tell you that you do not DESERVE your happiness, but that you have to think of others. This is arrogant to treat as Universal; it only applies to certain situations. A great yogi once was asked: How shall we treat others? His reply was: there are no Others. He did not mean this solipsistically, but rather to remind his students of the mutual relationship between the Other and the Self.

How funny that the same men who deny this Mutuality are all so those who would end up betraying us.

There is no refuge they can find in vengeful leveling, insisting that YOU hurt them FIRST. For what then of all of those Spirits who encouraged you to live life to its fullest? Did you ever hurt THEM? No, for you meant well, and THEY were without ego. Simple. Think not on the vengeful hypocrites, therefore, who undermine your happiness with moral preaching but then sabotage your plans by seeking THEIR self-interest, insisting one moment that you are wrong for feeling happy and the next that all they wanted had been happiness. Even in that last strain they rob you of your peace, for they insist that YOUR sorrow was justified, all ways, by THEIR pursuit of joy. Why else would they have thought to segregate the two?

The man who alienates Other, PRIDING himself in his SERVICE to it, is secretly trying all ways to supplant it. When he speaks of joy, either in condemnation of it or its celebration, he speaks of the evil joy that comes at SOME ONE ELSE’S expense. Yet YOURS is not so, however he may insist it is.

[Camera illuminates Doctor from Nestor’s perspective, Phoenix standing behind with crossed arms.]

YOUR joy is pure, because you lead by an example that the world can follow if it pleases. If it does not please, you can’t be blamed for being a trail-blazer.

Yet the scoundrel who would blame you for their envy breeds an other kind of joy.

It is the kind that is competitive; if he succeeds, you cannot follow. Thus the interpenetration of all beings is damaged by his own folly. Take no blame off of his shoulders for this.

Simply take back what is yours: Your will and courage. Guilt and shame shall be for him, but not for you. You are the victim, and he is the villain. Now become the Hero.

Dm.A.A.