James Allen

From Passion to Peace

Liam Ellul

Moral philosopher and OG of motivational prose James Allen refreshingly holds passion as a lower form of energy which ‘informs hidden thoughts of glorification of one's self' in the book he offers advice on how to rise into peace through aspiration. 

He is also immensely quotable (see quotes I picked out at the bottom).

The book (only 50 pages) is about developing techniques for ‘transmuting’ the ignorance that emerges from passion and transcending into knowledge -- moving from passion to peace. This concept I find relevant and appealing.

While abstract and at times a bit vague -- I found the book a lovely meditation into the interplay of the moral forces within me. 

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QUOTES I LIKED:

“Passion is at the base of the structure of life peace is at its crown and summit. without passion to begin with there would be achievement to end with.”

“Passion represents power misdirected and when curbed, conquered and beneficially directed represents working energy.”

“Passion is the flaming sword that guards the gates of paradise only admitting the wise.”

“A wise man subdues his passion.”

'Selfishness is why you are a slave. A slave to your own thoughts.' [paraphrasing]

“Passion to peace is not about altering the deeds of others.”

Gaze upward [literally]! The UPWARD WAY! [Paraphrasing]

“If he constantly renews his mind with glimpses of the heavenly vision, he will reach the heavenly state. [...] The lover of the pure life renews his mind daily with the invigorating glow of aspiration. He rises early, and fortifies his mind with strong thoughts and strenuous endeavor.”

“Aspiration provokes temptation.”

“The stronger a man's passions the deeper his temptations and selfishness [...] All his enemies are within.”

“Knowledge of cause of temptation creates transmutation from the bondage of error.”

"In transmuting his mind from evil to good, a man comes to distinguish more and more clearly between error and Truth, and so distinguishing, he ceases to be swayed and prompted by outward things and by the actions and attitudes of others. Instead, he acts from his knowledge of truth. First acknowledging his errors, and then confronting them with a searching mind and a humble heart, he subdues, conquers, and transmutes them."

"It is the conversion, or complete reversal of this self or selfishness into Truth that constitutes Transmutation. The enlightened man has abandoned the delusion that the evil in others has power to hurt and subdue him, and he has grasped the profound truth that he is only overthrown by the evil in himself. He therefore ceases to blame others for his sins and sufferings, and applies himself to purifying his own heart. In this reversal of his mental attitude, he transmutes the lower selfish forces into the higher moral attributes. The base ore of error is cast into the fire of sacrifice, and there comes forth the pure gold of Truth."

'He has identified himself as truth. He now knows himself.' [Paraphrased]

“That which supremely differentiates the fool from the wise man is this—that the fool meets passion with passion, hatred with hatred, and returns evil for evil; whereas the wise man meets passion with peace, hatred with love, and returns good for evil.”

“The Transcendent Life is ruled, not by passions, but by principles. It is founded not upon fleeting impulses, but upon abiding laws.”

“While men are involved in the passions of self, they burden themselves with cares, and trouble themselves over many things. Above all else, they trouble over their own little, burdened, pain-stricken personality, being anxious for its fleeting pleasures, for its protection and preservation, and for its eternal safety and continuance. Now in the life that is wise and good all this is transcended. Personal interests are replaced by universal purposes, and all cares, troubles, and anxieties concerning the pleasure and the fate of the personality are dispelled like the feverish dreams of a night.”

“It is longing for some personal delight, along with its accompanying fear that delight should be lost forever.”

Amina Madadi (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ)

"Only he who has conquered himself can subdue others; and he subdues them, not by passion but by love"
" The fool descends into deeper and deeper ignorance; the wise man ascends into higher and higher knowledge. The fool desires, suffers, and dies. The wise man aspires, rejoices, and lives."
"If a man has conquered lust and anger, hatred and pride, selfishness and greed, he has conquered the world. He has slain the enemies of peace, and peace remains with him."

Few pages, yet a real tresor, this book explains step by step the way to a life of peace, aspiration and freedom, not easy but totally worthy :)

From Passion to Peace

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