Ethos

This is what you shall do:

Value yourself and all others, not just your family and friends, put a high value on all living things, animals and vegetables included. As Walt Whitman says in section 48 line 3 of his poem Song of Myself, “Nothing, not God, is greater to one than one’s self is” (link to full poem: http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1900.html ).  You are a wondrous creation, live as if you believe this.

Have compassion, know that many people in the world suffer every day, if you can help someone, do it, it’s good for them, and good for your emotional health too.

Value knowledge, academic knowledge is important, but experiencing life and its many streets will bring you knowledge you cannot learn in any school.

Value the truth, it not only sets you free from remembering all the lies you’ve told, it will also allow people to know the real you, and the real you is enough. In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Speech he delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity College in 1838 he says, “Speak the truth, and all nature and all spirits help you with unexpected furtherance.” Emerson is saying to grow as a person you must be truthful in everything you do. You should also value truth from others; it is unhealthy to surround yourself with people who are not truthful to you. 

Value your health, our body is a vessel and it is the only one we will receive, take care of it.

Be careful of money and material things. Money will not bring you happiness, free yourself from as many money obligations you can, yes you can live with less, and you will find in return you will have so much more. John Leland says in Hip: The History, “pauper today could be a prince tomorrow” (p. 42), the opposite may someday be true for you. My father once gave me some advice, “live below your means, that way when the economy gets tough you won’t feel it as much as the next guy.” If you have extra, show compassion to someone, you may be able to help another in need.

Don’t be in such a hurry, slow down, your haste could cause damage to someone else’s property or may even cause injury or death to another. Respect and protect others as you would for yourself.

Don’t be rude; don’t be mean it makes you ugly.

Question your spirituality, Buddha says you have the freedom to question his words don’t except anything on faith alone. Faith is important, you should have faith in something, but it’s important to know that you have the right and the ability to not except faith at face value. Spirituality does not have to be in a church, it can be anything that relates to the force within you. No one religion is better; having a sense of spirituality may lead you to a more meaningful life.

Walt Whitman in his Preface of Leaves of Grass says, “Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.” Only you can decide what path is right for you, disregard everything that does not sit well with you, you are the only one capable of doing so.
                       

Question everything, especially if you are a writer, wonder is our greatest tool. Specifically question everything I’ve said here today. I don’t have the answers, but I do offer half of a life of experiences, and the worst thing you can do is to live in your past or your future, relish the present, every moment of it.

YouTube video of more “Timeless Quotes from The Buddha:”