Someone found out that Neely not only gave his students exercises and music and shows, but also encouraged reading books and meetings in exotic places.
This critic said to the sage:
“I’ve already forgotten how many years you have been fighting against such superficiality and tinsel!” Now I find that you yourself use this in your so-called teaching. Stop this practice immediately or explain it to me.
Neely replied:
“I don’t have to give it up or explain it, but I’m glad to tell you about it.” Here's the reason. I give exercises to people to help them understand what they are for. Most people do not understand this, and they are like a man who went to a tavern and fell in love with the cook instead of eating soup. People perceive music the wrong way, so I deprive them of music until they can benefit from it rather than be amused by it. While they do not know what music is for, they consume it like people warming their hands by a fire on which they could cook something edible. As for the environment, certain types of it are cultivated by aesthetes, who thus deprive themselves of further value and teach others to stop before they get something really worthwhile. They are like people who, having gone on a pilgrimage, can only think about the number of steps taken. As for exercise, I cannot give any more of it than letting him read books until he learns that there is something deeper than the superficiality of inhaling the aroma of a fruit and then forgetting that it is here to be eaten. No one minds inhaling the aroma, but everyone will soon die if they refuse to eat.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru