Two of the Best Attributes I Know

I am fast approaching my 81st Birthday and I have been reflecting on what has made the most difference in my life. Here are the two attributes that I believe counted for the most.

Develop the Mind = Becoming Wise

Developing the mind is the first of the two, because it probably is the easier of the two to acquire. ?In my meaning of developing the mind, I mean not just seeking knowledge, but rather seeking life wisdom we can use daily to make a contribution to the lives of others, to our community, and to the world.

Becoming a wise person is far better than being the smartest guy in the room. ?I have encountered many intelligent men and women over the course of my life, but only a few people I considered wise.? There have been many wise people in history though, and the ones that stand out in my mind are Jesus Christ, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Confucius, Pascal, Saint Augustine, and Saint Thomas Aquinas, all of whom were great teachers and whose writings deserve repeated reading and reflection.

Here are the three ways to develop wisdom in my opinion. ?First, developing the mind requires that we read every day and become a life-long learner. ?The books we select to read are important life choices. All of us have only so much reading time in our lives. Don't waste it on rubbish or the myriad of nonsensical books that populate the shelves of most bookstores. The second requirement is daily thinking and reflection about the essentials of life and the things that matter. ?In the past, I have recommended each of us create a Wisdom Journal for ourselves, in which we include selected passages and readings for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly readings. ?Also, keep a journal to write in every day; such a journal becomes a remarkable tool to help us on our wisdom journey. Third, become a deep listener. I believe that deep listening is the hardest life skill of all to develop, but it is absolutely essential.? As a simple rule, give everyone the gift of attention.

Develop the Heart = Becoming Compassionate

Developing the heart is the second of the two. ?Developing the heart leads us to become a compassionate human being. ?I agree with the Dalai Lama that we should be compassionate to our family and our friends, but also to everyone we encounter in life.

Becoming compassionate is not an easy task because the obstacles are many, first and foremost are the vagaries of human nature and, second, our desire for ego satisfactions that are ever with us.

Here are the three ways to become more compassionate in life.? First, develop a sense of social and situational awareness.? Be sensitive and aware of what is happening around you.? Does someone need help or assistance?? Take courteous action whenever necessary or called for.? Second, develop a high degree of civility and courtesy in your public actions.? See everyone as companions on the journey of life. Third, do as much good as humanly possible every day.? This last point can be summarized as performing "a random act of kindness" every day, even if it is only saying thank you or good morning or how are you?

A Quote to Ponder: “A compassionate nature is inherent in all sentient beings.? All good deeds spring from compassion.? One who does not have compassion is no better than an empty shell of a body.”--Hong Yingming in his book, "Roots of Wisdom"

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I hope you have enjoyed this short post.? If it resonates with your inner knower, please forward it to family and friends in your extended network.

Cordially,

Andrew J Guinosso

Reno, Nevada