Our lives need guiding forces to set us on a path and make sure on a periodic basis that we are on it. There cannot be too many forces lest we spend more time being led astray on many paths at different times. The paths themselves cannot terminate somewhere close by else we would reach in quick time and need to find new forces and paths next. By corollary, the forces cannot be materialistic in spirit nor can they be transitory or a fad of the times.
Life's beacons are both tactical and strategic simultaneously. Their strategic property arises from the fact that they would be the necessary and sufficient answers by themselves when we ask ourselves at the end of our time the quintessential question "Have I led a meaningful life?" They are simultaneously tactical since we can and should take day-to-day decisions with a view to staying on the path lit by these beacons.
My life's beacons are family security and spiritual growth.
Family security includes the physical, mental and financial aspects of security where physical security encompasses the basic needs of shelter, food and clothing, mental security encompasses education, a safe, secure home for children and adults alike, living with and serving the elders in the family, and financial security is limited to the money required to lead the life as guided by these beacons and nothing more.
Spiritual growth comprises of both physical conditioning and mental conditioning. Daily leisure time and yoga are I feel enough to ensure physical conditioning. In particular, adventure and competitive sports are neither required nor recommended due to their effects on mental conditioning, though leisure could very well be achieved with a game of tennis or a hike in the park.
I consider mental conditioning towards spiritual growth as the most challenging feature of my life's beacons. It demands daily leisure time, an openness to appreciating new experiences, striving for knowledge at all times, and a calm, ego-limited, balanced mind.
Examined using these guiding lights, I can see immediately that experiences of the arts - be it music, movies, theatre, paintings, photography - are all necessary though not sufficient exercises in expanding my vista. The same is true for travel to new places and hiking in areas of natural beauty. At the same time, I can also see that activities like tennis and chess, intellectual discussions with friends, and photography are, beyond a certain level of involvement and obedient following, not required for my life to be meaningful.
Life's beacons are both tactical and strategic simultaneously. Their strategic property arises from the fact that they would be the necessary and sufficient answers by themselves when we ask ourselves at the end of our time the quintessential question "Have I led a meaningful life?" They are simultaneously tactical since we can and should take day-to-day decisions with a view to staying on the path lit by these beacons.
My life's beacons are family security and spiritual growth.
Family security includes the physical, mental and financial aspects of security where physical security encompasses the basic needs of shelter, food and clothing, mental security encompasses education, a safe, secure home for children and adults alike, living with and serving the elders in the family, and financial security is limited to the money required to lead the life as guided by these beacons and nothing more.
Spiritual growth comprises of both physical conditioning and mental conditioning. Daily leisure time and yoga are I feel enough to ensure physical conditioning. In particular, adventure and competitive sports are neither required nor recommended due to their effects on mental conditioning, though leisure could very well be achieved with a game of tennis or a hike in the park.
I consider mental conditioning towards spiritual growth as the most challenging feature of my life's beacons. It demands daily leisure time, an openness to appreciating new experiences, striving for knowledge at all times, and a calm, ego-limited, balanced mind.
Examined using these guiding lights, I can see immediately that experiences of the arts - be it music, movies, theatre, paintings, photography - are all necessary though not sufficient exercises in expanding my vista. The same is true for travel to new places and hiking in areas of natural beauty. At the same time, I can also see that activities like tennis and chess, intellectual discussions with friends, and photography are, beyond a certain level of involvement and obedient following, not required for my life to be meaningful.
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