eschatology

means: the branch of theology that treats of death, judgement, and the future state of the soul.

 

Here is Sheldon Kopp's Eschatological Laundry List:   Eternal Truths

 

1. This is it!

2. There are no hidden meanings.

3. You can't ge there from here, and besides there's no place else to go.

4. We are all already dying, and we will be dead for a long time.

5. Nothing lasts.

6. There is no way of getting all you want.

7. You can't have anything unless you let go of it.

8. You only get to keep what you give away.

9. There is no particular reason why you lost out on some things.,

10. The world is not necessarily just.  Being good often does not pay off and there is no compensation for misforture.

11. You have a responsibility to do your best nonetheless.

12. It is a random universe to which we bring meaning.

13. You don't really control anything.

14. You can't make anyone love you.

15. No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else.

16. Everyone is, in his own way, vulnerable.

17. There are no great men or women.

18. If you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way.

19. Everyone lies, cheats, pretends (yes, you too, and most certainly I myself).

20. All evil is potential vitality in need of transformation.

21. All of you is worth something, if you will only own it.

22. Progress is an illusion.

23. Evil can be displaced but never eradicated, as all solutions breed new problems.

24. Yet it is necessary to keep on struggling toward solutions.

25. Childhood is a nightmare.

26. But it is so very hard to be an on-your-own, take-care-of-yourself-cause-there-is-no-one-else-to-do-it-for-you  grown-up.

27. Each of us is ultimately alone.   

28. The most important things, each person must do for themselves.

29. Love is not enough, but it sure helps.

30. We have only ourselves, and one another. That may not be much, but that's all there is.

31. How strange, that so often, it all seems worth it.

32. We must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power, and partial knowledge.

33. All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data.

34. Yet we are responsible for everything we do.

35. No excuses will be accepted.

36. You can run, but you can't hide.

37. It is most important to run out of scapegoats.

38. We must learn the power of living with our helplessness,.

39  The only victory lies in surrender to oneself.

40. All of the significant battles are waged within the self,.

41. You are free to do whatever you like. You need only face the consequences.

42. What do you know...for sure...anyway?

43. Learn to forgive yourself, again and again and again, and again......

 

This was written in 1970 for all of us searching for meaning and ways to live. The list is in the back of his book

entitled : If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him!   

 

These truths helped me get thru some difficult times years ago, and I am finding them useful again. To my friend about

to travel, I suggest attention esp. to 13.  For me its 26 and 27.

 

May you all find something helpful in the laundry list.