1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,799 Speaker 1: Self control and happiness. When mental energy is allowed to 2 00:00:05,879 --> 00:00:08,759 flow in the line of least resistance and to fall 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,759 into easy channels, it is called weakness. When it is gathered, focused, 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,760 and forced into upward in different directions, it becomes power. 5 00:00:18,199 --> 00:00:21,559 And this concentration of energy, an acquisition of power, is 6 00:00:21,559 --> 00:00:24,719 brought about by means of self control. In speaking of 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,760 self control, one is easily misunderstood. It should not be 8 00:00:28,839 --> 00:00:33,359 associated with the destructive repression, but with a constructive expression. 9 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:36,359 This process is not one of death, but of life. 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,119 It is a divine and marsterly transmutation in which the 11 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,640 weak is converted into the strong, the course into the fine, 12 00:00:43,799 --> 00:00:46,880 and the base into the noble, in which virtue takes 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,479 the place of vice, and dark passion is lost in 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,159 bright intellectuality. The man who merely smothers up and hides 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,679 away his real nature, without any higher object in view 16 00:00:57,759 --> 00:01:00,600 than to create a good impression upon others concerning his 17 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:04,519 character is practicing hypocrisy and not self control. As the 18 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:08,640 mechanic transmutes call into gas and water into steam, and 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,239 then concentrates and utilizes the finer forces for the comfort 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,920 and convenience of others, so the man who intellectually practices 21 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:20,400 self control, transmutes his lower inclinations into the finer qualities 22 00:01:20,519 --> 00:01:24,280 of intelligence and morality, to the increase of his own 23 00:01:24,359 --> 00:01:28,640 and the world's happiness. A man is happy, wise, and 24 00:01:28,719 --> 00:01:32,840 great in the measure that he controls himself. He is wretched, foolish, 25 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,200 and mean in the measure that he allows his animal 26 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,480 nature to dominate his thoughts and actions. He who controls 27 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,640 himself controls his life, his circumstances, his destiny, and wherever 28 00:01:44,719 --> 00:01:46,959 he goes he carries his happiness with him as an 29 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,120 abiding possession. He who does not control himself is controlled 30 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,799 by passions, by his circumstances, and his fate. And if 31 00:01:54,799 --> 00:01:57,079 he cannot gratify the desire of the moment, he is 32 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:01,760 disappointed and miserable. He depends for his fitful happiness on 33 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,400 external things. There is no force in the universe which 34 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:09,759 can be annihilated or lost. Energy is transformed, but not destroyed. 35 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,280 To shut the door on old and bad habits is 36 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:17,280 to open it to new and better ones. Renunciation precedes regeneration. 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,560 Every self indulgence, every forbidden pleasure, every hateful thought. Renounced 38 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:27,080 is transformed into something more purely and permanently beautiful. Where 39 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,759 debilitating excitements are cut off, their spring up rejuvenating joys. 40 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,919 The sea dies, that the flower may appear, The grub perishes, 41 00:02:36,039 --> 00:02:41,000 but the dragonfly comes forth. Truly, the transformation is not instantaneous, 42 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,159 nor is the transition a pleasant and painless process. Nature 43 00:02:45,159 --> 00:02:48,039 demands effort and patience as the price of growth. In 44 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,080 the march of progress. Every victory is contested with struggle 45 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,400 and pain. But the victory is achieved and it abides. 46 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,280 The struggle passes. The pain is temporary only to demolish 47 00:02:59,319 --> 00:03:02,680 a firmly figure habit, to break up a mental tendency 48 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,039 that has become automatic with long use, and to force 49 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,919 into birth and growth, a fine characteristic of lofty virtue. 50 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,560 To accomplish this necessitates a painful metamorphosis, a transitional period 51 00:03:14,599 --> 00:03:17,879 of darkness to pass through which patience and endurance are required. 52 00:03:18,599 --> 00:03:21,400 This is where men fail. This is where they slip 53 00:03:21,479 --> 00:03:24,639 back into their old, easy animal ruts and abandon self 54 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,560 control as too strenous and severe. They thus fall short 55 00:03:28,599 --> 00:03:31,560 of permanent happiness, and the life of triumph over evil 56 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,280 is hidden from their eyes. The permanent happiness which men 57 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:40,199 seek in dissipation excitement and abandonment to unworthy pleasure is 58 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,439 found only in the life which reverses all this, the 59 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,759 life of self control. So far as a man deviates 60 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,639 from perfect self command, just so far dos he falls 61 00:03:49,639 --> 00:03:53,680 short of perfect happiness, he sinks into misery and weakness, 62 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,280 the lowest limit of which is madness, entire lack of 63 00:03:57,319 --> 00:04:01,639 mental control, the condition of irresponsibility. In so far as 64 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,319 a man approximates to perfect self command, just so near 65 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,280 does he approach to perfect happiness and rise into joy 66 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,080 and strength. So glorious are the possibilities of such divine 67 00:04:12,159 --> 00:04:15,360 manhood that no limit can be said to its grandeur 68 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,399 and bliss. If a man will understand how intimately yea, 69 00:04:19,759 --> 00:04:23,519 how inseparably self control and happiness are associated, he has 70 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,560 but to look into his own heart and upon the 71 00:04:25,639 --> 00:04:29,519 world around, to find that there are joy destroying effects 72 00:04:29,519 --> 00:04:33,759 of uncontrolled tendencies. Looking upon the lives of men and women, 73 00:04:33,879 --> 00:04:36,560 he will perceive how the hasty word, the bittery taught, 74 00:04:36,879 --> 00:04:40,639 the act of deception, the blind prejudice, and foolish resentment 75 00:04:41,079 --> 00:04:44,920 bring wretchedness and even ruin in their train. Looking into 76 00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:48,600 his own life, what days of consuming remorse of restless 77 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,519 anxiety and of crushing sorrow arise up before his mind 78 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,120 periods of intense suffering through which he has passed through 79 00:04:55,199 --> 00:04:58,160 lack of self control. But in the right life, though 80 00:04:58,199 --> 00:05:01,560 while governed life, the victorious life life, all these things 81 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,720 pass away, New conditions obtain, and purer more is Spiritual 82 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,439 instruments are employed for the achievements of happy ends. There 83 00:05:09,519 --> 00:05:12,480 is no more remorse because there is no more wrongdoing. 84 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,959 There is no more anxiety, because there is no more selfishness. 85 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,600 There is no more sorrow because truth is the source 86 00:05:18,639 --> 00:05:22,399 of action. The much desired thing which self pursues with 87 00:05:22,519 --> 00:05:27,000 breathless and uncontrolled eagerness, yet fails to overtake, comes unbidden 88 00:05:27,079 --> 00:05:29,439 and begs to be admitted to him who works and 89 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:35,360 waits in perfect self command. Hatred, impatience, greed, self indulgence, 90 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:40,279 vain ambitions, and blind desires, the instruments by which self 91 00:05:40,439 --> 00:05:44,759 shapes its ill finished existence. What clumsy tools they are, 92 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:51,439 and how ignorant and unskillful are they who employ them. Love, patience, kindness, 93 00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:56,839 self discipline, transmuted ambitions, and chastened desires, instruments of truth 94 00:05:57,319 --> 00:06:01,199 by which is shaped the well finished existence. What perfect 95 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:04,519 tools they are, and how wise and skillful are they 96 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,600 who use them. Whatsoever is gained by feverish haste and 97 00:06:08,639 --> 00:06:12,839 selfish desire is attained in fuller measure by quietness and renunciation. 98 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,120 Nature will not be hastened. She brings all perfection in 99 00:06:17,199 --> 00:06:21,000 due season. Truth will not be commanded. He has his 100 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,720 conditions and must be obeyed. Nothing is more superfluous than 101 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:27,319 haste and anger. A man has to learn that he 102 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,399 cannot command things, but that he can command himself, That 103 00:06:30,439 --> 00:06:32,680 he cannot coerce the wilds of others, but that he 104 00:06:32,759 --> 00:06:35,879 can mold and master his own will. And things serve him. 105 00:06:35,959 --> 00:06:38,879 Who serve truth, people seek guidance of him who is 106 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,959 master of himself. It is a little understood, yet simple 107 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,680 and profound truth that the man who cannot command himself 108 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,040 under the severest external stress is unfit to guide others 109 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,639 or to control affairs. It is the fundamental principles in 110 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,439 the moral and political teachings of Confucius that before attempting 111 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,319 to govern affairs, a man should learn to govern himself. 112 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:04,399 Men who habitually give way under pressure to hysterious suspicions, 113 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,000 outbursts of resentments, and explosions of anger are unfit for 114 00:07:08,079 --> 00:07:11,959 way to responsibility and lofty duties, and usually fail sooner 115 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:15,079 or later, even in the ordinary duties of life, such 116 00:07:15,079 --> 00:07:18,319 as the management of their own family or business. Lack 117 00:07:18,399 --> 00:07:21,720 of self control is foolishness, and folly cannot take precedence 118 00:07:21,759 --> 00:07:24,600 of a wisdom. He who is learning how to subdue 119 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,120 and control his turbulent wandering thoughts is becoming wiser every day. 120 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,480 Though for a time the Temple of Joy will not 121 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,879 be completed, he will gather strength in laying its foundations, 122 00:07:33,879 --> 00:07:36,639 in building its walls, and the day will come when, 123 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,920 like a wise master builder, he will rest at peace 124 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,399 in the beautiful habitation which he has built. Wisdom in years, 125 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:47,279 in self control, and in wisdom is pleasantness and peace. 126 00:07:48,519 --> 00:07:51,680 The life of self control is no barren deprivation, no 127 00:07:51,879 --> 00:07:55,560 wilderness of monotony. Renunciation there is, but it is a 128 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,399 renunciation of their ephemeral and false in order that the 129 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,720 abiding and true may be ready. Enjoyment is not cut off, 130 00:08:02,839 --> 00:08:07,120 It is intensified. Enjoyment is life. It is the slavish 131 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:10,279 desire for it that kills. Is there anyway a more 132 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:12,720 miserable man than he who's all his longing for some 133 00:08:12,839 --> 00:08:16,079 new sensation. Is there anyway a more blessed being than 134 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:20,319 he who, by self control is satisfied, calm, and enlightened, 135 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,759 who has most of physical life enjoy the glutton, the drunkard, 136 00:08:24,839 --> 00:08:27,399 and the sensualist who lives for pleasure only, or the 137 00:08:27,439 --> 00:08:30,839 temperate man who holds his body in subjection, considering its 138 00:08:30,839 --> 00:08:34,320 needs and obeying its uses. I was once eating a ripe, 139 00:08:34,519 --> 00:08:36,960 juicy apple as it came from the tree, and a 140 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,639 man near me said, quote, I would give anything if 141 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,720 I could enjoy an apple like that unquote. I asked, 142 00:08:45,039 --> 00:08:49,200 why can't you? His answer was, quote, I have drunk 143 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,039 whiskey and smoked tobacco until I have lost all enjoyment 144 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:57,000 in such things unquote. In pursuit of elusive enjoyments, men 145 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,559 lose the abiding joys of life. And as he who 146 00:08:59,639 --> 00:09:03,360 control he senses as most of physical life joy and strength, 147 00:09:03,879 --> 00:09:06,840 so he who controls his thoughts has most of spiritual life. 148 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,639 Bliss and power. For not only happiness, but knowledge and 149 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,120 wisdom also are revealed by self control. As the avenues 150 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:17,240 of ignorance and selfishness are closed, the open gates of 151 00:09:17,279 --> 00:09:21,919 knowledge and enlightenment appear. Virtue attained is knowledge gained. The 152 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,399 pure mind is an enlightened mind. He has well being 153 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:30,840 who controls himself well. I hear men speak of quote, 154 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,120 the monotony of goodness unquote. If looking for things in 155 00:09:35,159 --> 00:09:37,399 the spirit which one has given up in the letter 156 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,919 were goodness, then indeed would it be monotonous. The man 157 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,960 of self control does not merely give up his base pleasures. 158 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,600 He abandons all longing for them. He presses forward and 159 00:09:48,639 --> 00:09:52,600 does not look back, and fresh beauties, new glories, sublime 160 00:09:52,639 --> 00:09:56,960 of vistas await him at every step. I am astonished 161 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,159 at the revelations which lie hidden in self control. I 162 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,360 am captivated by the infinite variety of truth. I am 163 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:05,879 filled with joy at the grandeur of the prospect. I 164 00:10:05,919 --> 00:10:09,519 am gladdened by its splendor and its peace. Along the 165 00:10:09,519 --> 00:10:11,879 way of self control there is the joy of victory, 166 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,679 the consciousness of expanding an increasing power, the acquisition of 167 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,240 the imperishable riches of divine knowledge, and the abiding bliss 168 00:10:19,279 --> 00:10:22,480 of service to humankind. Even he who travels only a 169 00:10:22,519 --> 00:10:25,440 portion of the way will develop a strength, achieve a success, 170 00:10:25,799 --> 00:10:28,480 and experience a joy which the idol and the thoughtless 171 00:10:28,519 --> 00:10:31,399 cannot know, and he who goes all the way will 172 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,679 become a spiritual conqueror. He will triumph of all evil 173 00:10:34,799 --> 00:10:37,039 and will blot it out. He will gaze with in 174 00:10:37,159 --> 00:10:39,799 rapid vision upon the majesty of the cosmic order, and 175 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,159 will enjoy the immortality of truth.