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Facets of a Diamond - Blog

“Dying as Mahler – or Lao Tzu”

Photograph of bottom of red boat reflected in illuminated water with ripples, taken for healing by a medical doctor

Photograph by John Diamond, M.D.

I once visited the large estate of Mrs. Carlson, the widow of the inventor of Xerox. Many monks would visit there for its utter tranquility, which she herself radiated.

I asked her the secret of her deep Peace. She smiled: “Don’t read the newspapers.” And I did stop them – and the magazines and, of course, the TV.

But still every day I hear from one source and another of hatred, hatred, hatred. And I despair for us.

I read somewhere quite a time ago that the real cause of Mahler’s death was his Weltschmerz, his taking on the suffering of the world. And while I love his music, I don’t want to die like that. I hope I’m constantly reminded of Lao Tzu: our world is, as it is, As-the-Tao.

Categories:

Determinism,
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