Returning from a prayer festival
for the goddess, Socrates is advised
by a young slave to go and meet his master.
Gathering a group of his disciples,
they then proceed to find
his master's dwelling place in the middle of the night.
Deciding to take residence for the night
with his disciples and the master,
Socrates looks forward to spending his time
in the company of enlightened men.
Bearing the marks of old age
and wearing the pride of being a distinguished
member of society, the master starts off
the conversation by stating his realization
of how the emanations of the mind
or the pure interests of the intellect
increases as the need for sense gratification decreases.
Socrates, in response, congratulates this old man
for being a master of the intellect.
If only there were more like you,
for everyone who is in the prime of their youth
can humbly learn from the road which is yet
unforeseen by so many.
You truly do know the ins and outs
of the paths that are smooth and the paths that are rough.
Wanting to know more about the trials of growing old,
please do tell me what it is like
to be close to the point of transitioning from one life to the next.
The old minded generally prefer to stick around
others who are in a similar condition
of being stuck in between two worlds.
Most of my friends of old
were attached to despising what has come of them
and continually lamented over not being able to
enjoy the world as young men so often do.
Thinking that life is solely confined
to the entertainment of the youth,
what has become of their minds is next to pitiful.
Abandoned by their families
for no longer being a busy bee in socialite circles,
the old place their blame in the wrong hands.
It is not in old age itself
that misery arises,
for the more philosophically inclined
have experienced much delight in coming of age.
Sophocles, a poet that I once knew,
was asked whether he was still capable
of being flirtatious with women.
Responding in an unusual way,
he said that he was all too glad to be free
from the passions of the material body and senses.
Released from the insanity of incessant desires,
I am finally able to breathe fresh life into the spiritual counterpart of the mind.
If the mind is at ease with itself,
then youth and old age are no longer a problem
but are a source of contemplative rejuvenation.
However, if the mind is never at rest,
the character of youth is spoiled by the excesses of society.
Wanting to hear more from this master,
Socrates asks him whether it is wealth
which is the comfort factor in old age.
Though many do not believe,
I am certain that if a poor man is
happy within himself, he will not be distressed
by the infirmities of old age.
However, if a rich man is undeveloped morally speaking,
then no amount of wealth will bring him one more day of happiness.
After meeting many who were obsessed with money,
all that they were capable of discussing
was matters pertaining to business
and the need to be more greedy than one naturally can or should be.
Foolish indeed are they,
for once death begins to rear its ugly head,
a new type of torment keeps the soul awake at night.
Alarmed by the prospect of having to meet
the guardians of the afterlife
and leaving the world behind for good,
new questions begin to arise that often
causes anxiety to reach full sway.
Will I have to face all of the effects of my wrongdoings?
Will I be treated in the same way that I treated others?
Will I suffer because of myself?
But for the man who has lived with righteousness
in his heart, such questions do not even begin to manifest,
for the hope of a better age is upon him.
Leaving each other for the commencement of a sacrifice,
Socrates thanks this master for his words of advice
on old age and the possible advantages of being mature in mind.
Copyright - The Blue Cross And Shining Sunset Academy
for the goddess, Socrates is advised
by a young slave to go and meet his master.
Gathering a group of his disciples,
they then proceed to find
his master's dwelling place in the middle of the night.
Deciding to take residence for the night
with his disciples and the master,
Socrates looks forward to spending his time
in the company of enlightened men.
Bearing the marks of old age
and wearing the pride of being a distinguished
member of society, the master starts off
the conversation by stating his realization
of how the emanations of the mind
or the pure interests of the intellect
increases as the need for sense gratification decreases.
Socrates, in response, congratulates this old man
for being a master of the intellect.
If only there were more like you,
for everyone who is in the prime of their youth
can humbly learn from the road which is yet
unforeseen by so many.
You truly do know the ins and outs
of the paths that are smooth and the paths that are rough.
Wanting to know more about the trials of growing old,
please do tell me what it is like
to be close to the point of transitioning from one life to the next.
The old minded generally prefer to stick around
others who are in a similar condition
of being stuck in between two worlds.
Most of my friends of old
were attached to despising what has come of them
and continually lamented over not being able to
enjoy the world as young men so often do.
Thinking that life is solely confined
to the entertainment of the youth,
what has become of their minds is next to pitiful.
Abandoned by their families
for no longer being a busy bee in socialite circles,
the old place their blame in the wrong hands.
It is not in old age itself
that misery arises,
for the more philosophically inclined
have experienced much delight in coming of age.
Sophocles, a poet that I once knew,
was asked whether he was still capable
of being flirtatious with women.
Responding in an unusual way,
he said that he was all too glad to be free
from the passions of the material body and senses.
Released from the insanity of incessant desires,
I am finally able to breathe fresh life into the spiritual counterpart of the mind.
If the mind is at ease with itself,
then youth and old age are no longer a problem
but are a source of contemplative rejuvenation.
However, if the mind is never at rest,
the character of youth is spoiled by the excesses of society.
Wanting to hear more from this master,
Socrates asks him whether it is wealth
which is the comfort factor in old age.
Though many do not believe,
I am certain that if a poor man is
happy within himself, he will not be distressed
by the infirmities of old age.
However, if a rich man is undeveloped morally speaking,
then no amount of wealth will bring him one more day of happiness.
After meeting many who were obsessed with money,
all that they were capable of discussing
was matters pertaining to business
and the need to be more greedy than one naturally can or should be.
Foolish indeed are they,
for once death begins to rear its ugly head,
a new type of torment keeps the soul awake at night.
Alarmed by the prospect of having to meet
the guardians of the afterlife
and leaving the world behind for good,
new questions begin to arise that often
causes anxiety to reach full sway.
Will I have to face all of the effects of my wrongdoings?
Will I be treated in the same way that I treated others?
Will I suffer because of myself?
But for the man who has lived with righteousness
in his heart, such questions do not even begin to manifest,
for the hope of a better age is upon him.
Leaving each other for the commencement of a sacrifice,
Socrates thanks this master for his words of advice
on old age and the possible advantages of being mature in mind.
Copyright - The Blue Cross And Shining Sunset Academy
A man can have a million experiences of that which he creates & not one experience of that which created him.