The beginning of Nikos Kazantzakis’ «Asceticism»

The-beginning-Ascetism

We come from a dark abyss; we end up in a dark abyss; the bright space in between we call Life.

As soon as we are born, the return begins; at the same time the beginning and the return; every moment we die. That’s why many preached: The purpose of life is death.

But as soon as we are born, the effort to create, to synthesize, to turn material into life begins; every moment we are born. That’s why many preached: The purpose of ephemeral life is immortality.

In temporary “living bodies” these two currents fight:

a) the uphill, to composition, to life, to immortality;

b) the descent, towards decay, towards matter, towards death.

Both streams spring from the bowels of the primordial substance. At the beginning, life is surprising; it seems illegal, like nature, like an ephemeral reaction to the dark eternal sources; but deeper we feel: Life is also an anarchic, indestructible force of the Universe.

Otherwise, where is the superhuman force that slings us from the unborn to the born and guards us; plants, animals, people; in the struggle? Both reverse streams are holy.

It is therefore our duty to conceive the vision that accommodates and harmonizes these two huge anarchic, indestructible Urges; and with this vision to regulate our thinking and action.

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