My Dear Friends,
During the period 1903-08, the poet Ranier Maria Rilke wrote a series of ten "Letters to a Young Poet". Some of these exude a spiritual essence almost Biblical in nature. Rilke's advice is characterized by an aura of compassion, understanding, and lovingkindness (yes, that's the Dalai Lama's favorite word!) that we Christians (and others) would do well to emulate. The following is from Letter IV, written on 16 July 1903, in which Rilke gives advice to a young student who is approaching a hitherto unrealized state of transitional growth (spiritual enlightenment?):
"...love your solitude and bear the pain which it has caused you with fair-sounding lament. For those that are near you are far, you say, and this shews that distance begins to grow round you. And when your nearness is far, then your distance is already among the stars and very great; be glad of your growing, into which you can take no one else with you, and be good to those that remain behind, and be self-possessed and quiet with them and do not torment them with your doubts and do not frighten them with your confidence or joy, which they could not comprehend.
"Seek some unpretending and honest communication with them, which you are under no necessity to alter when you yourself become more and more different; love life in a strange guise in them, and make allowances for those ageing people who fear the solitude in which you trust..."
Do yourself a huge favor by reading the Rilke Letter IV in its entirety. That way, you can reap the full benefit of context that I might not have been able to convey. Then, if you are so inclined, you might want to partake of Rilke's complete "Letters to a Young Poet". Doing so may well enhance the quality of your life. My goodness, how that man could write!
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
Best Wishes - K
During the period 1903-08, the poet Ranier Maria Rilke wrote a series of ten "Letters to a Young Poet". Some of these exude a spiritual essence almost Biblical in nature. Rilke's advice is characterized by an aura of compassion, understanding, and lovingkindness (yes, that's the Dalai Lama's favorite word!) that we Christians (and others) would do well to emulate. The following is from Letter IV, written on 16 July 1903, in which Rilke gives advice to a young student who is approaching a hitherto unrealized state of transitional growth (spiritual enlightenment?):
"...love your solitude and bear the pain which it has caused you with fair-sounding lament. For those that are near you are far, you say, and this shews that distance begins to grow round you. And when your nearness is far, then your distance is already among the stars and very great; be glad of your growing, into which you can take no one else with you, and be good to those that remain behind, and be self-possessed and quiet with them and do not torment them with your doubts and do not frighten them with your confidence or joy, which they could not comprehend.
"Seek some unpretending and honest communication with them, which you are under no necessity to alter when you yourself become more and more different; love life in a strange guise in them, and make allowances for those ageing people who fear the solitude in which you trust..."
Do yourself a huge favor by reading the Rilke Letter IV in its entirety. That way, you can reap the full benefit of context that I might not have been able to convey. Then, if you are so inclined, you might want to partake of Rilke's complete "Letters to a Young Poet". Doing so may well enhance the quality of your life. My goodness, how that man could write!
Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.
Best Wishes - K
