The river has taught me to listen; you will learn from it, too. The river knows everything; one can learn everything from it. You have already learned from the river that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek the depths.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from nature and the deeper lessons of life.
Hermann Hesse's quote reflects the idea that nature, represented by the river, has profound wisdom to share, encouraging us to listen and learn from its teachings. The river symbolizes the depths of experience and knowledge, suggesting that by embracing life's challenges and seeking understanding within ourselves, we can gain insights that lead us to personal growth and enlightenment.
In practice
During a nature retreat, this quote could inspire participants to connect with their surroundings.
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 — 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.
Trying to please everybody is impossible - if you did that, you'd end up in the middle with nobody liking you. You've just got to make the decision about what you think is your best, and do it.
Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delights in their own merits.
To be authentic is literally to be your own author... to discover your own native energies and desires, and then to find your own way of acting on them.
Those who conquer their minds are beings of renunciation and detachment. They are beings of renunciation and detachment they are lovingly focused on the True One, they realize and understand themselves.
A man must thank his defects, and stand in some terror of his talents.
We are all important, but we are not indispensable.
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