Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Recommit to Virtue: Part 10 of 10 - Virtuous Living Leads to Peaceful Living

Few of us possess this Gandhi-like commitment to change the world for the better, but all of us can personally polish off a rough edge or two.  Our greatest gift to the world is through the nurturing of the rising generation to the importance of virtue in their lives.  To avoid these eight societal mistakes, we must embrace a life of virtuous living.  We are so busy and carrying so many pressures in our daily lives that it is easy to lose sight of the importance of such a quest. 



We are here to learn, to grow, to experience, and to give back to society.  Our purpose is serious, and our place in the world is significant even though we may not completely comprehend it at the present.  As a child learns and grows, new situations lead to greater development that are often unidentifiable without stopping and reflecting upon them.   Take a moment and look back on your life.  What have you learned since you were two?  How about over the last ten years, or even the last ten months?  How about last week?  Is there anything that stands out as new, fresh, or memorable?  We continue to learn, to change, and to grow.  Is it conscious and deliberate, or reluctant and evolutionary?  Pursuing virtuous living as a life objective is a goal worthy of our time and effort.  It is not a radical, abrupt change, but a gradual, continual, manageable refinement that leads to increased enlightenment and joy. 

Self-control is the key to virtuous living.  This implies calmness and clearness of thoughts.  It requires constant vigilance to combat the continuous draw of temptations and habits that surround us.  Hunger is one of the most primal urges, and thus it is very difficult to control.  When seeking to gain self-discipline, we must start with the most basic appetites and work up from there.  A clear mind and a healthy body are prerequisites to the pursuit of the virtuous life

“Wisdom is knowing what to do next.  Virtue is doing it.”David Starr Jordan (1851-1931)

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