SUNDAY

To resolve out of absolutely full consideration, even in regard to that which is insignificant, to keep every thoughtless action, every insignificant action (deed) away from the soul. One should have well-formed reasons for every deed and one should, by all means leave alone that which has no significant motive. The so-called ‘real Judgment’ which does not depend on sympathy or antipathy: If one is convinced of the rightness of the resolution one has formed, one should hold fast to it.

This is ‘Real Judgment’.

MONDAY

In speaking, only what has sense or significance should come from the lips of those striving for higher development. Speaking for the sake of speaking is bad in the sense that general kinds of conversations where all subjects are jumbled together should be avoided. One shall, by no means, cut oneself off from one’s fellow companions, one should develop one’s conversation, step by step into something of significance.

One speaks and gives one’s answers thoughtfully. Thinking about the thing in all directions, never speaking without reason, rather loving to remain silent. One must try to utter neither too many words nor too few.

This is the ‘Right Word’.

TUESDAY

The outward deeds; they should not be disturbing for other human beings; where one is caused to act out of one’s own inner conscience, to consider carefully, how one can meet the demands in the right way for the sake of the entire and continual development of one’s fellow human beings, the eternal.

If one acts out of oneself, out of One’s own inner initiative, thoroughly to anticipate the effects of one’s own actions:

This is the ‘Right Deed’.

WEDNESDAY

The meaning of one’s life, to live in accordance with nature and spirit, not to lose oneself in the external hurry of life, to avoid everything that brings restlessness and haste into one’s life. To do nothing rash, yet not to be inwardly Idle. To see in life the means for working for higher development and to act accordingly.

One speaks in this connection of right life,

‘Right Standpoint’.

THURSDAY

One should do nothing which lies outside one’s capacities, but one should do everything which is within one’s powers. One should place above everyday life, and that which happens at the moment, goals and ideals, which are in connection with the greatest duties a human being can have. For instance, to develop oneself, by making a habit of these exercises, in order to help one’s fellow human being all the more, to advise them, although perhaps not in the immediate future.

What has been said can be summed up in:

‘Make a habit of these exercises.’

FRIDAY

Strive to learn as much as possible. Nothing passes us without giving us occasion to accumulate the experience which is of value for our lives.

If one has performed anything wrongly or imperfectly, this can be an incentive for repeating the performance later on rightly and perfectly.
One will not do anything without looking back on experience from which one can derive help in one’s decisions and affairs. One can learn a great deal from everybody, also from children. Remember in the right way, experiences one has had.

This is called the ‘Right Memory’.

SATURDAY

To pay attention to one’s ideas and thoughts. To think only significant thoughts. To learn little by little to discriminate between the essential and the non-essential, truth from mere opinion, the eternal from the transitory. To train to become inwardly absolutely silent in listening to the words of our fellowmen and to renounce expectations that the opinion of another will agree with one’s own, especially to renounce every criticism in thought and feeling.

This is the ‘Right Opinion’.

SUMMARY

To turn one’s gaze inwards from time to time, even if only for five minutes daily, at the same time. In so doing one should sink down into oneself, carefully take counsel with oneself, test and picture one’s principles of life, run through in thought one’s duties, think over the contents and true purpose of life.

In a word: Strive to discover the essential, the enduring, and earnestly work with the end in view, for instance, virtues to be acquired. (Not to fall into the mistake of thinking that one has done something well, but to strive ever further towards the highest prototypes.)

One also calls this exercise:

‘Right Examination’.