THE MINDFULNESS OF NOBILITY My last love, Amanda used to thank the universe as a

THE MINDFULNESS OF NOBILITY

My last love, Amanda used to thank the universe as a sort of personal prayer every day. She is a beautiful creature really. Terribly oversensitive. But special because she is one of those unreal creatures created by the ancient gods to remind us what fairies and elves were like, and where the idea came from.

Buddhism’s a little over the top for me. I guess, prayer does the same thing as meditation for most of us. Although, I wish we more modern verse, and particularly our pagan verse, so that focusing the mind was an act of recitation and rhyme rather than quietude. Our ancient english ancestors had to memorize the lore and recite it, which is of course, an exceptional intelligence test. But which method of ‘mindfulness’ is better for whom is an empirical question that is quite hard to test. and asians who rely on buddhism are much weaker in language than we are so perhaps quietude suits them. And the jews who are the best at language that that memorization and prayer to extremes and it works for them.

For me, I listen to a great mind read a great book, and that is all that works. The order in those minds creates order in mine.

I do not see life as suffering or disappointment, and I cannot even grasp the mind that sees it as such. I see life as being let loose in infinite orchard that I may taste as much of as I desire before I pass, and my measure of that life is determined only by the variety of that world I taste, and mark I leave on this world prior to departure. I have but one life, and it is my special present to enjoy. I see life as the the craft of making the thing that is me, and leaving the greatest mark that I can. Whether that be children, affected lives, or a great achievement.

This is an aristocratic philosophy that is more than 4000 years old. As far as I know, it is the best philosophy man has made. It says that I cannot lose in this life, except to choose to take on obligations I did not voluntarily enter, or accept restraints that I did not voluntarily bear. And to see learning – the building of excellence in ‘me’ as an unending quest for self perfection. TO try to rival the gods, so that they would desire us to be in their company, and we would be worthy to be in theirs.

A man is great because he fought well, worked well, and tried to become the best he could be.

And mindfulness is the perpetual recitation of that set of ideas, in word, deed, and impulse.

No man or woman, no matter what class or craft, weakness or strength, could be said not to have had a good life mindful of this goal.

There is but one life we get to life. The gods are but supernatural memories of our ancient heroes. And one chooses whether life is a hero’s journey, or a victim’s suffering. And one’s achievement is the change he creates in his state, regardless of his starting position.

In this way, all men can be noblemen. It is not a matter of wealth or strength. It is not a matter of power. It is a matter of mind.

Nobility is a choice. A mindfulness. To create excellence in yourself, and excellence in those around you, with the resources at your disposal.

Nobility is the cult of non-submission.

It is the cult of sovereignty.

Sovereignty is a choice.

My advice is to choose.