imitation

Mates, Bloggers and Visitors, I'm back from my two weeks vacation from Southern Italy...that's why you haven't seen me those days-though it doesn't really matter if am here or not...I did have a great break...from studies, busy city life, noisy streets, etc... there i sunk (i prefered to use this word to what i've done there) myself in the nature where nobody disturbed me from the rising of the sun until 9:00 in the evening...aaahhhh what a peace of heart and mind. I had a chance also to meet new friends and migle with them like someone who was with them already for a long time... my days were divided into three main activities: beach, mountain treaking and hagning out with friends... i love countryside life... fresh air, friendly and welcoming people, living with the Mother Nature... in just a moment you could think of the things that when you're in the city, you don't think they eally exist and they importance in life...
I'm quite lucky, to be honest to have a friend with a family who treated me like a member of their own family though that was the first time i met his whole family...
In the morning, when i woke up, table was set for breakfast, and few minutes before we leave for a day out, packed food was already in our bags.....in the evening as we arrived, everything is ready from food to bed....ha..ha...ha... what a life....mind this my friend, am not an italian, am from an underdeveloped country but inspite of that, i never saw, neither felt nor noticed that they looked me down... these people are really exceptional....what a blessing...
What a great vacation...but what i really like in this vacation is the fact that though am far from my family with them i felt am home....if this is just a coincidence, i doubt it...this is what love is all about and it is manifested in its highest expression and that is "FRIENDSHIP"
Thanks to All of You

The Third Chapter

HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that
fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us and
we discern very little.

What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our
ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of
things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with those which
are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.

We have eyes and do not see.

What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom the
Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word are all
things and of Him all things speak?the Beginning Who also speaks to us.
Without this Word no man understands or judges aright. He to whom it becomes
everything, who traces all things to it and who sees all things in it, may
ease his heart and remain at peace with God.

O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am
often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I
long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You;
You alone speak to me.

The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes, the
easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge
from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many
labors, for he does them all for the honor of God. And since he enjoys
interior peace he seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives more
trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?

A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not
according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the dictates of
right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master
himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become
stronger each day, to advance in virtue.

Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no
learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a
surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is
to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained
by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be
preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try
to become learned rather than to live well.

If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they
do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in
the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of
judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have
done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.

Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in
life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their
places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During
life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How
quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept
pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worth
while.

How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too
little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because
they chose to be great rather than humble.

He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in
his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who
looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does
God?s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.

The Second Chapter

EVERY man naturally desires knowledge [2] ; but what good is knowledge
without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a
proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars.
[3] He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy
when praised by men.

If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit
me before God Who will judge me by my deeds?

Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and
delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet
there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the
soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead
to salvation is very unwise.

Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a
clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you
be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud,
therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the
talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well
enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence,
do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to
anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be
unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the
best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to
think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom.
Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not
consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in
good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail
than yourself.

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[2] Aristotle, Metaphysics, i. 1.

[3] Augustine, Confessions V. 4.
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As i've said, this blog is for the good purpose, and so it is. To bring more accesssible to to many some good books worthy to be think of and meditated and put into practice.
I'll be starting with "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis.

This version is:

Title: The Imitation of Christ
Creator(s): Thomas, Ã Kempis, 1380-1471
Print Basis: Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Company, 1949, c1940.
Rights: Public Domain
CCEL Subjects: All; Classic; Mysticism; Proofed
LC Call no: BV4821 .A1
LC Subjects:

Practical theology; Practical religion; The Christian life;
Works of meditation and devotion

Which is Taken from the on-line source:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation/mp3/kempis-imitation2-01.mp3

I omit the whole foreword of this version in order to proceed imediately to the body

Happy Reading!!!

BOOK ONE
THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

The First Chapter

Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth

HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness,� says the Lord. John 8:12. By
these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we
wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our
chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints,
and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are
many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not
the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of
Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ.

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking
humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a
man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would
rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit
us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the
philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of
vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

This is the greatest wisdom—to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt
of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that
perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It
is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which
severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to
care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the
present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to
love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.

Often recall the proverb: “The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear
filled with hearing.� [1] Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of
things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow
their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.

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[1] Eccles. 1:8.

This space is for a better purpose. Am not expecting many comments, as long as they read it, that's enough for me.
Next time,