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We found this article by Assagioli in the Archive of the house, which was once his residence and nowadays the headquarters of the Institute of Psychosynthesis. We found it useful to publish it, despite the outdated language, as an opportunity to reflect for all of us. It contains some teachings of high moral and ethical values, which may or may not be shared, but anyway put us in front of our individual responsibility about what to do with our lives. As Editors, we would appreciate receiving letters and comments about this article in order to open a constructive debate on major issues of contemporary man.
Dr. Roberto Assagioli. (Doc. #23246 – Assagioli Archives – Florence) Original Title: Il Decalogo della Saggezza. Translated and edited by Jan Kuniholm. Original published by the Institute of Psychosynthesis Florence
If you find yourself overwhelmed by difficulties, if some serious problem is bothering you, if everything seems to go against your desires and aspirations, instead of complaining and blaming things, people or the circumstances in which you find yourself, carefully read these Ten Rules of Ancient Wisdom. They provide a way out of your present difficulties and worries.
1) Know yourself.
Realize who you really are, what is hidden in your being, and the reason for your life. Within you is the Light that can enlighten you. Seek it in your heart, in the innermost and deepest Center of your life, and then you will know that there dwells an eternal and immortal Deity, which is ultimately yourself, and at the same time infinitely wiser and more powerful than you are now. You are a Child, a manifestation of this Life Principle which you can find in your heart and to which you can give any name you like, partaking of its Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence. The purpose of your present existence is the expression of these infinite possibilities that are latent in your deepest being.
2) Search within yourself for the Essence of all that you desire or want .
Life is a constant manifestation “from the inside out,” and nothing escapes this Law. Everything is born and develops in the invisible before it becomes manifest in the visible world. Therefore you must first find in yourself the essence and substance of what you want, recognize it and acquire it in your inner consciousness, in order to attract it to you in the outer world. It is necessary, in this regard, that you learn to concentrate , withdrawing to where you can do so most easily, and isolating yourself — as far as you can — from all outside influences. Fix your thoughts on the highest thing you can conceive, on your Ideal or on the Life Principle that dwells within you, and which for you is the Source and Reality of all good. Think of what you desire as being “real” — something that is, in itself, inseparable from your being, that has already been given to you by your own Omnipotence — so that your task consists simply in [developing] the ability to receive it , making yourself a suitable “channel” for its expression. Give thanks to the Source of Life itself that dwells in you; thanksgiving demonstrates Faith, strengthens Hope and manifests Love, opening the secret door to all the treasures that await, in the invisible world, those who know how to receive them .
3) Love your neighbor as yourself.
We may believe in the illusion that we are separated from the Principle of Life, and from the people, beings and things around us. But this is not so. In reality each one of us is one with this One Principle and indivisible with all beings, people, and things that exist and can exist. If life presents itself as a struggle it is simply in order for us to learn the Law of Love, which is the only almighty and invincible Force. Each of us must therefore seek to understand, resonate with sympathy, and learn to love all those around us, even those who seem unworthy, who regard themselves as “enemies.” Then the mask that hides their true, intimate nature under a deceptive appearance will fall away.
4) Be optimistic.
Joy and optimism should be the natural expression of the inner Light that shines within us as the Source of all good. Let this Light shine on your face and let nothing have the power to upset or disturb you. It is not the things themselves that have value, but the way in which we see and deal with them. Moreover, our inner vision and attitude have a determining and decisive influence on the circumstances and attitudes of the people around us, so that everything ultimately depends on our own choice.
5) Strive to give.
Constantly strive to give , give the best of all that you can give and offer. Don’t say you don’t have ; in yourself there is an inexhaustible Source whose possibilities will be expressed according to your love and willingness to give. Never be too poor or selfish to give anything or share what you have with anyone, but learn to give freely, as an act of love, without expecting anything in return. Let your giving be the safety valve that opens in you and manifests, from the inside out, the infinite possibilities for good that lie latent in your being. Develop them and make them useful, fertile and fruitful: this makes you like the tree whose roots are close to the source, and which continually thrives and bears fruit, and whose branches never wither. The unexpected solution to your problem may sometimes be found in a giving inspired by true love and free from all ideas of self-interest and utility.
6) Reflect on your words.
In every word there is a latent principle that is the creative force of what the word itself expresses. This principle tends to continually mold and shape, in its own image and likeness, the character, attitude, inner being and outer appearance of the person who says it, shaping circumstances and attracting things similar or of the same nature. Make it a duty, therefore, to reflect on what you are about to say, avoiding any expression, however apt, in which there is something you would not want manifested in your life, or a judgment you would not want on yourself.
7) Guard your thoughts.
Regard every thought as something that you allow to control you; that is, you give it the power to manifest itself in external reality and make itself visible. Therefore turn away from yourself every thought of what you do not desire, especially every malevolent thought or idea directed towards anyone; every thought of sadness, hatred, resentment, revenge, despair, boredom, sickness, poverty, failure, worry, enmity or death. Let your mind be like a clear and serene cloud, or a precious garden in which only the most beautiful and valued flowers and plants are cultivated.
8) Watch over your instincts.
Instincts form the foundation of the “temple” of your life [ie your body] and, according to their nature, support it and enable its elevation, or tend to destroy it by making you their slave. Therefore, be temperate and sober in your food and habits of physical life. Do not eat hastily. In order for your food to become the builder of your “temple,” every particle of it must remain in your mouth until it is completely dissolved . Drink plenty of water, eat sparingly, avoiding alcohol or foods that come from the death and the suffering of animals, and use medicines in moderation. Wash yourself every day, sleep as much as you need, but no more; learn to breathe slowly and deeply, with full lungs, and be master of your body. Do not abandon yourself to vices that degrade it or to passions that devour it and destroy its noblest tendencies. Love is too sacred a thing to be profaned.
9) Put your trust in the invisible.
Do not put your trust in external and material things. These can fail you, and they will fail you when that is necessary for your spiritual development. Know that all that is manifest comes from the Unmanifest, which is its Infinite and Inexhaustible Source, and it materializes in your life according to what you recognize in your consciousness. Never believe yourself alone or isolated. The Omnipotence of the Life Principle that dwells in you is always with you and never departs, provided only that you place absolute, exclusive and unlimited trust in it. Only fear and uncertainty make you vulnerable.
10) Use your talents, be silent, and work .
Everything you have or possess, materially as well as spiritually, has been given to you to make the best use of it of which you are capable. Therefore, use the talents you have received — your faculties and possessions — as best you can for your own good, as well as for the good of those around you. Only on this condition will they multiply, whereas by hiding them in fear you would lose them. Speak no more than is necessary, avoiding any indiscretion about your intimate and personal affairs or about what has been confided to you; it is better if you don’t talk about yourself at all. Always remember that silence is necessary for the success of what you undertake, and that the most powerful forces and wills operate in silence.
Do not remain idle and inactive, waiting for a profit that would escape you. There is always something useful you can do for those around you. Do it with love, considering yourself to be in the service of the Creative Intelligence that dwells in you, of which you are the expression and with which you are privileged to cooperate, so that “your Glory” may be manifested. These rules must be observed completely. Every omission creates a more or less serious consequence. If you follow them carefully and faithfully, your life and affairs will take a new turn, and you will become an increasingly perfect and adequate “channel” for the manifestation of the infinite possibilities of Universal Life. Your individual existence will find itself well directed and guided with a steady hand on its course towards the harbor of Good, and before you will open a path of unlimited progress.
