There is a miracle in every new beginning
Interpretation
Every new beginning holds the potential for positive transformation and opportunities.
Hermann Hesse's quote highlights the beauty and potential of new beginnings. It suggests that every time we start something new, whether it's a project, a relationship, or a phase in life, there is an inherent miracle or magic present. This perspective encourages us to embrace change, cultivate hope, and recognize the possibilities that lie ahead.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students to embrace their new journey.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged β to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter - but beautiful - struggle for a new world.
As we come to know the seriousness of the situation, the war, the racism, the poverty in our world, we come to realize that things will not be changed simply by words or demonstrations. Rather, it's a question of living one's life in a drastically different way.
Once you do away with the idea of people as fixed, static entities, then you see that people can change, and there is hope.
You don't have to be one of those people that accepts things as they are. Every day, take responsibility for changing them right where you are.
My theory is this: Rather than having commentaries from the cheap seats, get involved and see what you can do. What can you do around your own community, within your own family, to try to improve race relations in our country? I think this is a responsibility that we all have as citizens.
Here's where redesign begins in earnest, where we stop trying to be less bad and we start figuring out how to be good.
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