relinquishing the hot, angry urge to be right.

When one is argumentative, one is hoping to win the argument. I have observed that any person arguing for his or her own righteousness should reach an agreement that only one opinion or statement is the only complete truth, and this seems to me to be the underlying reason why fights continue. When one sustains a fight, ones' words and action may be used to hurt others. One is often unrelenting, one does not like to back down, one wishes to sharpen ones blade against the blade of his or her opponent.

I have found many people who want to fight with me. Sometimes I have a strong urge to fight against myself or another person. Part of me becomes hot and angered that somebody else thinks that I am wrong. It is painful for the ego to seen as the wrong one.

However, I believe I have discovered a supreme joy in allowing myself to smile at my opponent, while smiling inwardly, and understanding that it doesn't matter to me who must "be right,". I ask myself to release the desire to end up the victor in situations. If whatever my opinion may be is so damned important, then i shall never feel the need to be understood as "right," by others, as long as i may prove it to myself. There is a cool, calm growth that follows relinquishing the need to be seen as the most right.

Mastre Raimundo Ireneu, A Frebre Do Amor

A Febre Do Amor

A febre do amor

É preciso compreenderIt's

Trazer sempre na memória

Este divino poder

Minha Mãe, Minha Mãezinha

Vós me dá todo valor

Não sei se eu mereço

Para sempre eu ter amor

Completei o Meu Cruzeiro

Com cento e trinta e duas flores

Se tiver alguma a mais

Vós acrescente o meu amor

translation:

feel flowers ourselves.

to yonder tool shed:
comparing this hospital.
feel flowers ourselves.

elation/depression

"Most people have little objection to getting elated, but none of us are very eager to see depression setting in. We don't mind being told not to get depressed, but "don't let yourself get elated" may have a puritanical ring to it. Steering a middle course between elation and depression is not resigning ourselves to a flat and monotonous life-far from it. There is a third state which is neither elation nor depression, and if we can go beyond these two extremes, we will find the abiding joy which is our real nature."

-Ecknath Easwaran, The Mantram Handbook