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From I Ching 60 Have guidelines and live by them

"Life without guidelines is confusing and troubling. We must give some definition to our path."


I feel this deeply in my heart of hearts. I am sixty-five years old and for over twenty years have tried to live, no so much without guidelines, as with various conflicting guidelines. Conflicts such as wanting peace of mind yet sharing creative works and opinions bound to result in negative responses which destroy my peace of mind. Conflicts like wanting inner peace but wanting recognition, even fame. Wanting a simple life yet having four or five parallel goals or interests.

So choose! Choose which philosophy and stick with it, dropping the others no matter how compelling, if they don't fit with my choice.

Choose which paid work. Choose which hobby or hobbies. Choose health and fitness and do it!

My strongest sense of what are the right guidelines are as follows:

1. Do no harm

2. Enjoy being alive

3. Aim and work for stable inner peace

4. Don't seek the attention of others

5. Appreciate and be grateful for the everyday local simple things: air, water, nature, walks, etc

6. Create for mental soothing but don't promote or sell.

7. Abandon distracting human entertainments and arts.

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