April 30, 2026
Principle 4. The Principle of Proportion. Fifth Week
Things Are Good When They Move Together Not In Isolation.
Last time: Where Am I Going?
This time: Do Happiness and Liberty Grow Within You And Those Around You?
We rarely stop and reflect on whether over the last while I’ve become more resiliant, more harmonious, and happier or if, on the contrary I’ve become more rigid, less balanced, and more anxious. Usually, such reflections take place after some event or accident that reminds us of our mortality, or where our expectations haven’t been realized. That is, where I lost someone close to me, or didn’t get the job I wanted, or broke up, or otherwise failed.
This week we will try to reflect on this subject every day by asking ourselves about our internal growth in the face of life’s challenges this last little while.
To encourage remembering Silo recommendation that once a month we take some time and carry out this kind of reflection whenever we have a month with a fifth week for our meeting we take the opportunity to plant a seed that might develop into this habit.
It might happen though that I find myself wondering about what is meant by “internal growth” or at least what it means to me. In what ways would I hope to grow? You might begin to answer this by writing down the characteristics you most admired in others, or how you imagine your internal guide, or how you would describe your ideal self.
If I don’t want one aspect or part of myself to grow at the expense of the others, how might I ensure harmonious development?
I thought about how I would have answered these questions when I was much younger. I realized how my aspirations in this regard had changed and yet there were qualities I hoped for then and still hope for now — though perhaps I understand them differently. Of course, as a kid I liked the idea of being strong. I would still like to grow stronger than I am, but I don’t think for a moment that I see strength the way I did as a child, or even as a teenager. Perhaps when I was young, I liked the idea of being wise. I still aspire to grow in wisdom, but I doubt I understand wisdom in the same way today. On the other hand, personally when I was young, I’m not sure I aspired to kindness. That also has changed.
When reflecting on questions like the one we are posing about our personal process there are certain problems that are hard to avoid. For example, at the end of the day I try to review what occurred, and to my chagrin I discover, I can’t remember much at all. That is, I find it hard to say with any precision, if I am happier (or more energetic, or more attentive) today than yesterday. Of course, there are exceptions, today I met you (so obviously I’m filled with joy), or I suddenly fell ill (or a loved one did). But in general, it shocks me to realize how little I understand about myself, or my unfolding life (not to mention you or yours!).
That strikes me as a very important realization, and it raises many difficult questions.
So as not to make this simple proposed reflection seem to onerous let’s say that this is a sufficient summary of the kinds of difficulties we encounter. However, if you want, I bet I can come up with more (perhaps you can as well).
We have previously discussed Silo’s advice in trying to comprehend my changing situation. To avoid the above-mentioned kind of difficulties he suggests that we compare similar situations at different times. So, this month I got some bad news, and it made me very irritable. Last month I was in the same situation and almost punched someone in the nose. Looks like I’m advancing!
Of course, advancing, evolving, and similar concepts reveal I have a goal or a scale of values. That’s also an important thing to dig into.
There are many ways to frame this kind of question.
This is how Silo begins the first chapter of The Internal Landscape.
And it will be the focus of my meditations this week:
I. The Question
1. Here is my question: As life goes by, is it happiness or suffering that grows within you? Do not ask that I define these words. Answer according to how you feel…
2. Though you may be wise and powerful, if happiness and liberty do not grow in you and in those around you, I will reject your example.
3. Accept, instead, my proposal: follow the model of that which is being born, not that which takes the road toward death. Leap over your suffering and then it will not be the abyss but the life within you that grows.
4. There is no passion, no idea, no human act that is free of the abyss. Therefore, let us turn to the only thing worth addressing: the abyss and that which overcomes it.
At our next meeting we will have a chance to discuss this week’s reflections.
Worth Repeating:
Learn to resist the violence that is within you and outside of you.
Silo, The Path
Remember:
Digging deeply into your own experience, consistently seeking to transform the principles into the coherent expressions of a particular mental direction — those are exactly the kinds of things that can convert platitudes into principles—even transform principles into a way of life, an unending and dynamic meditation.
No shit!
Coming up:
Next week: Principle 5, Acceptance.
“If day and night, summer and winter are well with you, you have surpassed the contradictions.”
Note:
I am hosting our next meeting. We hope you can join us Illustration by Rafa Edwards
These notes have been posted on Facebook and sent to our email list, and, on my website www.dzuckerbrot.com
