True Zen Never Stops.

Self-actualisation and walking your path.

In life you set your goals and start trying to reach them. You do this with the idea that achieving those goals will immediately give you happiness and a sense of fulfilment. You feel as if your whole life will not make sense if you don’t — and you strive even harder.

But you start to realise that life doesn’t work that way.

If you get to your goals quickly you realise that it’s not what you actually want. If you’re unlucky you will find many obstacles along the way, but there’s a silver lining — you will realise that adversity is what ultimately makes you.

Think of yourself as Ulysses on his way to Ithaca — who would he be without the obstacles he faced? And so understand that you are on the right path and do not complain. Embrace the pain. Embrace the struggle. Take it all in.

Amor Fati, as they say.

"My formula for greatness... is Amor Fati: That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Understand: Embarking on the path to self-actualisation is a life-long task. The moment you think you have arrived is the moment you have peaked. Be like Sisyphus.

“The problem with all students, he said, is that they inevitably stop somewhere. They hear an idea and they hold on to it until it becomes dead; they want to flatter themselves that they know the truth. But true Zen never stops, never congeals into such truths. That is why everyone must constantly be pushed to the abyss, starting over and feeling their utter worthlessness as a student. Without suffering and doubts, the mind will come to rest on clichés and stay there, until the spirit dies as well. Not even enlightenment is enough. You must continually start over and challenge yourself.”

― Robert Greene, Mastery

Keep striving as if you are never there — and at the same time accept that “there” does not exist. Doing this will develop skills and abilities that will take you to greater heights.

Tools of Zen & Self Actualisation

• Focus. Do not spread yourself too thin, that is the path to failure.

• Mental Fortitude. Practice a Zen-like attitude to life, a calm simplicity and always Amor Fati.

• Self Determination. Even if randomness plays a big role in our lives, understand that ultimately we are all self made. Do not envy and never look for pity. Patience and persistence will help you climb mountains.

• Anti-Randomness. Fight bad luck and circumstance with patience, a strong desire, persistence and inventiveness.

• Persistence. Be like Sisyphus.