Memorize the Desiderata with me?

[jenneology]

I am going to start memorizing the Desiderata because it has provided valuable guidance and comfort during many periods of my life. Would anyone want to work me with on this?

I've got some ideas of games to play that would help us along: including pass on the next line, fill in the blank, timed tests. I'd also love to read people's experiences and applications of its principles, especially lessons learned or reinforced by its word.

Anyone interested?

[hopefulfaith]

We had to memorize it in 6th grade. I went to a Catholic school - in 5th grade, we memorized "Footprints" and in 6th grade, it was the Desiderata. I know it sounds weird, but they used these things to "teach us how to memorize", actually. It has come in quite handy.

Mostly, though, Desiderata has proven to be a real help over the years. I can still recite it/write it, but pieces of it will float through my mind on occasion and it is really very helpful and comforting. It has provided good wisdom over the years for me. I wish you the best in your study.

[Tradd]

What is it? I grew up Catholic (a very ill-educated one, thought) and this doesn't ring a bell. Thanks!

[cachet]

i would love to memorize it!

here is a link.

[jenneology]

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

I wonder though if Catholics schools would still have children memorize it if thet knew about its history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata I'd say probably because it is still good and spiritual.

[philomom]

I have this hanging up in my home. I love it.

[jenneology]

It was hanging on my parent's wall when I was a child. And after reading the wikipedia article about its history, I had to giggle because our copy attributed it to the anonymous Catholic monk too.

[Krisis]

Wow I love that, might be interested in memorizing it. I'd never heard of it before, but being LDS I guess that's not a huge surprise

[redveg]

As a child it was hanging up in our home. I loved it. My mother burned the edges so it looked weathered. I read it almost everyday. I never thought it came from any one faith, but my parents being German I knew a German man wrote it.

[chfriend]

Originally Posted by jenneology

I wonder though if Catholics schools would still have children memorize it if thet knew about its history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata I'd say probably because it is still good and spiritual.

I read the entry and can't think of any reason that it would be inappropriate for Catholic children to memorize. Can you explain?

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by chfriend

I read the entry and can't think of any reason that it would be inappropriate for Catholic children to memorize. Can you explain?

I don't know that the history itself is the issue, but the last 2 paragraphs contradict several Catholic beliefs that are held as Sacred Tradition. Subtly, but still...

It is certainly beautiful though

[jenneology]

Originally Posted by chfriend

I read the entry and can't think of any reason that it would be inappropriate for Catholic children to memorize. Can you explain?

I saw that because of the often mistaken belief that a Catholic monk wrote. Catholic schools would like have no problem teaching children to memorize it believing it was written by a Catholic priest, even given the subtle dogmatic contradictions. However, its really being a secular piece could deter Catholic schools from encouraging it in their classes.

[jenneology]

Alright! Let the memorizing begin!

I have known this part for years:

Go placidly among the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

I need to move on from that.

A question, what is your favorite phrase of the work? and Why?

Mine is likely, "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; You have a right to be here." I have that part memorized too, but I need to fill in everything in between that line and the first.

This line became even more meaningful when recently I learned that I am the only child of my father's to survive past birth. I did not know this but my father conceived two children before me, both whom were aborted. Given that I too was conceived out of wedlock, I just feel lucky that I got the chance to survive past pregnancy. Beyond that, I have felt often in my growing up years that I do not belong here on this earth. This is an important reminder to me to keep living and believing that I do belong here.

[holyhelianthus]

That is amazing! I would love to memorize it!

I really love the part you do as well, Jenne, but this part also stands out to me:

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

[holyhelianthus]

How is everyone doing?

[Purple Sage]

I'll join you all. This is weird because I've never had a dream about MDC before, but last night I had a very long dream about this thread. I've never heard of or read the Desiderata before but after that dream last night I had to come on here and check it out.

My first thought is that it sounds a lot like The Delphic Maxims (well, obviously not all of them since there are 147). Then after reading about the man who wrote the Desiderata, it makes sense because he studied philosophy which means he probably studied the Delphic Maxims, too.

I'm excited to memorize it with you.

ETA: It sounds a lot like The Golden Verses of Pythagorus, too.

[jenneology]

Purplesage, thanks for sharing those links. You have introduced those to me and I'm excited to learn them. I guess another project would be to memorize all those Maxims!

I worked on this part today, lets see how I do (no peeking!):
Go placidly amid the noise and haste
and remember what peace there may be in silence
As far as possible without __________
be on good terms with all men
Speak your peace? quietly and clearly, and listen to others
even the dull and ignorant
they too have their story.

...

Checking....

without surrender
Speak your truth

Got it.

I remind myself of that often "listen to others, even the dull and ignorant they too have their story." I have been able to learn much from people whose my first impression is not to give them the time of day. Gaining others people's perspectives from their experiences has helped me understanding a variety of topics more clearly and to learn the subtleties of issues.

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by jenneology

Purplesage, thanks for sharing those links. You have introduced those to me and I'm excited to learn them. I guess another project would be to memorize all those Maxims!

You're welcome. I don't think I could memorize the Maxims, but there are some Orphic Hymns I'd love to memorize after the Desiderata.

I memorized the first part yesterday. Today I'm going to work on the second part. I never realized what a great spiritual tool memorization is....repeating the lines and contemplating their meaning all through the day is amazing!

[jenneology]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

I memorized the first part yesterday. Today I'm going to work on the second part. I never realized what a great spiritual tool memorization is....repeating the lines and contemplating their meaning all through the day is amazing!

This is what I'm trying to do, exactly!

And you could consider this cheating, but on the days that I haven't fit spiritual study in, I can turn to the readings in my head and ponder on those. Those are the nights before bed that I get a good review of what I have memorized in the past, so it serves as a way to not forget either!

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by jenneology

This is what I'm trying to do, exactly!

And you could consider this cheating, but on the days that I haven't fit spiritual study in, I can turn to the readings in my head and ponder on those. Those are the nights before bed that I get a good review of what I have memorized in the past, so it serves as a way to not forget either!