"Our happiness must come, metaphysically speaking, from outside of ourselves. That does not mean that perfect happiness consists in a psychological exteriorization of ourselves in created things. Far from it! But even when our happiness comes from a being other than our own spirit, beatitude cannot objectively be considered as the perfection which we receive from that Blessing, even though He be God. To be happy, we must be taken out of ourselves and raised above ourselves, not only to a higher level of creation but to the uncreated essence of God. God, and God alone, is our beatitude."
Thomas Merton The Ascent to Truth, p. 134-135
| | Posted by AZRON at 11:49 PM - | |
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Thanks for leaving that nice Monday morning greeting.
I hope you have a nice day
ron
You threw me off there for a minute.. I failed to read the metaphysically part...
I have always thought we had to be happy inside ourselves first, where God dwells, at least, for me that's where He is, before we can be happy outside ourselves.
You always give me a different way to look at it.. Guess we're saying the same thing~
Have a great day, my friend.
I suppose that is a dilemma most people face; Is it the good I do for myself or others that brings me happiness? I tend to believe that happiness is a result of a good dead done, a selfish act that brings no other reward but comfort to all.
For me, the beatitudes are like the commandment, a set of life rules to allow you to be a better person. The exception being, the commandments show you how to live your life, while the beatitudes show you how to live a full life with everyone else. Did I make a wrong turn in the Bible?
glad you liked the jazz!
I think you are right - we need to see that happiness is rooted in something greater than ourselves - at the same time to realize that happiness in an internal response.
ron
Yes, there seems to be a correlation between a belief in God and in volunteering/giving to charity and people's report of happiness and feelings of well-being.
Thank you for the observation
ron
Thank you for interacting with the quote -
I find this kind of writing by Merton clarifies my own thinking - I hope it does the same for you.
have a wonderful day
ron
Glad you get your inspiration every day from Chambers
ron
I think you are onto something here. I wouldn't say you made a wrong turn in the Bible - in fact, I think if you take the Beatitudes seriously you will have fulfilled the Commandments. Over a year ago, I did a series of blogs on the Beatitudes - take a look at them in the archives and let me know what you think of my observations.
Thanks for leaving this thoughtful response.
ron
I think the greatest happiness is to bring joy to others through helping - and I am sure you do this regularly.
ron
True happiness comes from our own personal lives.
I am sorry, God has nothing to do with it!
I believe that as each person goes, so goes his,
or her, life goes. They may chose to go angry,
or they may chose to go peaceful. It is up to
each man to make their own choice.
I am a man of earth, I live by the water, and I
breathe the air. There is no man to dictate what
I take as mine. I love people. I love those souls
who disagree. This is the only life I have. It isn't
controlled by a man in the heavens.
I will walk the earth, with my own God. I believe in him.
He is not in a book written by others. He is my very soul!
Jeus was my Father; he is the only man. He is the son of
me, the man. I belive in certain aspects of the Bible,
but let's face it, it is a fairy tale.
I love you,
Joe.
thank you for visiting.
Each one is responsible to find his happiness.
Happiness is an internal experience.
Is the source of happiness only an internal source?
Merton's point is that the source of happiness is
not from within but from without. Interestingly Merton was a doctor
of psychology before he was a doctor of the theology.
those are my thoughts
ron