October 19, 2011

Afterlife

Landscape with Trees

I don't care for the Christian concept of an afterlife. I distance myself from it ever more, without of course taking the trouble to attack it. It may have its value, alongside so many other metaphysical hypotheses. But for me the danger is that it not only renders what is mortal more vague and inaccessible, but also—because of our longing for the Beyond—it makes us less present and earthy. As long as we are here, and cousin to tree, flower, soil, may all that is near at hand be real to us and enter fully our awareness.

Letter to Countess Margot Sizzo-Noris-Cruoy

4 comments:

  1. Presence to our cousins, trees, flowers, soil. What would our care of the earth look like then?

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  2. i am in love with rainer maria rilke:)

    xo
    erin

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  3. teally interesting,thanks for sharing.do visit my blog

    ReplyDelete
  4. I couldn't agree with Rilke more, having myself come from a past with my head in the clouds (and pearly gates).

    ReplyDelete

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Go ahead, bloom recklessly!