On SomeDifficultiesofthe Inner Life.^45
It is this very uncertainty which gives the
poignancy to his distress. The understood is
always the manageable, and when we have
traced an effect to its cause we have gonefar
on the way to its control. All our keenest
sufferings have in them this constituent of
uncertainly; we are helpless because we are
ignorant. Itistheuncertaintyofouremotional
moods that terrifies us, for we cannot guard
against that which we are unable to foresee.
How then maywereach a placewhere these
moodsshall not plagueus,arockonwhichwe
canstandwhilethewavessurgearoundus?
Thelirststeptowardstheplaceofbalanceis
takenwhenwe recognise the fact-though the
statement of it maysound alittle brutal -that
ourmoodsdonotmatter. Thereisnoconstant
relationbetweenour progressandourfeelings;
wearenotnecessarilyadvancingwhentheflow
ofemotionrejoicesus,norretrogradingwhenits
ebb distressesus. These changing moods are
amongthelessonsthatlifebringstous,thatwe
maylearn to distinguish between the Self and
the not-Self, and to realise ourselves as the
Self. The Self changes not, and that which
changesisnotour Self, butis partofthe tran-