food for thought

Tuesday, May 13

"Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do.
But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. This question is one that only a very old man asks. My benefactor told me about it once when I was young, and my blood was too vigorous for me to understand it. Now I do understand it. I will tell you what it is:
Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long, long paths, but I am not anywhere. My benefactor's question has meaning now. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are on with it. THe other will make you curse your life One makes you strong; the other weakens you."
The Teachings of Don Juan

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4 comments:

  1. this is wonderful food for thought.

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  2. That's true. We should ponder about things we do and not follow them aimlessly.

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  3. geez this got me thinking...and I had never thought about paths having a heart...but you're right.. one must have a heart...
    I've taken a million different paths...I still feel I'm nowhere near where I should be.. every day I choose new paths, every day I go back and every day I change my mind... what's that about?...where is that path with heart?
    Did I miss the exit?
    All I know is that I am doing now what I never ever thought I'd end up doing; I'm living in a place I never thought I'd set foot in... but it feels good some days..and others I'm just lost...sometimes I wanna go back, sometimes I wanna move forward..sometimes I'd rather stay in one spot until the next day comes...hiding in fear and confusion... it's all so weird.. reality, what is that?... paths, who sets them?... hearts...who puts those hearts in what paths?
    I hope I find that path with heart... and I hope you do too.
    Take care doll... xoxo

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  4. so.so.good. thank you for sharing. wholeHEARTedly agree with these words. x

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Thank you for your words; they light a fire in my heart. You are lovely.