Gentleness affords boldness...It has been said that s/he whom Heaven would save, it enfolds with gentleness. Grace, politeness and mildness of manner only manifest in an individual who has tamed and harnessed the brutal and coarse aspect of her/his nature. The degree of this attribute habitual to a person often corresponds to the degree and depth of alignment of his or her thinking with the order of Nature. "Order is the first law of Heaven", so the saying goes. However, orderliness is also a fundamental characteristic of the whole universe. All things in nature happen according to some system and law - hence it is ever harmonious. When your method of working is in agreement with the order of nature, your actions would be smooth and graceful. If you have ever watched a master craftsman at work, you would have been struck by the apparent ease and harmony of his actions. This is because he works with a technique or method, which makes otherwise difficult operations appear easy. Furthermore, tact (defined as careful consideration in dealing with others to avoid giving offense) facilitates receiving cooperation. This becomes a factor for our success since "many hands make light work."It is this tact or METHOD (which makes things easy) that is the esoteric meaning of the spiritual key of gentleness. This is why Jesus Christ could say “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”- Matt. 11:29, 30. Orderliness or method is shown by planning. Since they that fail to plan thereby plan to fail, the attainment of success in any endeavor must be based on a method or on a combination of techniques. Working with a perfected method, based on immutable natural laws, you can proceed cautiously to implement your plans for the accomplishment of any objective, no matter how great such may be perceived by the uninitiated. Thus, your mildness or method becomes the foundation of your boldness. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune…” Both of these qualities can be attained through the cultivation of gentleness. Click here to read some quotes on Gentleness.
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