It is inevitable that a tragedy should arouse sorrowful feelings. Still, out of that sorrow itself comes a feeling of triumph – the victory of the human will over the most adverse circumstances. And thus out of sorrow and defeat come joy and victory.
The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.
Can the world exist without one to cognise it? Which comes first the being-consciousness or the rising-consciousness? The former is always there and eternal; the latter rises and disappears. It is transient.
Both the good and the pleasant present themselves to a man. The calm soul examines them well and discriminates. Yes, he prefers the good to the pleasant; but the fool chooses the pleasant out of greed and avarice.
