Another Choice

Conversion

Human spirit – valor, courage, endurance and the need for freedom and the persevering urge to surpass oneself, this spring in human consciousness that makes it seize on the challenge of the impossible so as to change it into a step forward and a discovery of its secret capacities -, this spirit which leads certain individuals to give themselves unreservedly to the venture their heart has chosen whatever be the risks and to serve the love that has burnt them, this spirit resounds and vibrates throughout the entire species like a great carillon of recognition and all those who have struck it with their acts have sustained humanity with a truly nourishing sap. Most of them, yesterday as today, remain anonymous beyond a local circle while a few of them have ridden coincident circumstances which have multiplied the tenor of their feats – and their epics keep echoing through the years. What causes our tears to rise at the recall of their deeds is that these are our own people, only more veridical and wholesome and bolder and more knightly and better inhabited and what through them could be accomplished was so on our behalf and in our name, for the sake of liberty and of this inextinguishable flame within humankind. But in almost all these examples, the human spirit in order to manifest made use of the personal ego as its vehicle and energetic relay: almost none of these individuals could have engaged so intensely and persistently without the cover, structure and motive of the ego. This is because the very nature of this surpassing of the limits still belongs in the elaboration of the personal and individual ego: it is not yet a matter of a deeper need to join and unite with and melt in the life of truth beyond death.

It is not yet a matter of calling here itself the living presence of truth – incarnating upon earth.

***

Yet, we must join this spirit of adventure to our self-giving: we must unite this enthusiasm, this candid trust in a superior support, this boldness and audacity come what may, this noble sense of challenge, with our aspiration.

211