Talk about an unexpected source! Recently came across Henry Miller’s essay on psychoanalyst (and mystic) E. Graham Howe, “The Wisdom of the Heart,” in which the controversial writer reflects on the nature of life and love, among other things. While he certainly came to some different conclusions, Miller’s observations are undeniably sound, and the language stunning:
Life, as we all know, is conflict, and man, being part of life, is himself an expression of conflict. If he recognizes the fact and accepts it, he is apt, despite the conflict, to know peace and to enjoy it. But to arrive at this end, which is only a beginning (for we haven’t begun to live yet!), a man has got to learn the doctrine of acceptance, that is, of unconditional surrender, which is love…
The desire for a lasting external security is uppermost, revealing itself in the endless pursuit of health, happiness, possessions an so on, defense of what has been acquired being the obsessive idea, and yet no real defense being possible, because one cannot defend what is undefendable. All that can be defended are imaginary, illusory, protective devices…
Those who are trying to put the onus of responsibility for the dangers which threaten on the shoulders of the ‘dictators’ might well examine their own hearts and see whether their allegiance is really ‘free’ or a mere attachment to some other form of authority, possibly unrecognized. …
Real love is never perplexed, never qualifies, never rejects, never demands. It replenishes, by grace of restoring unlimited circulation. It burns, because it knows the true meaning of sacrifice. It is life illuminated.
Of course, we can’t post something from Henry Miller without referencing the trouble one of his books once got Jerry in:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDrh5pujB9I&w=600]
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