P.O. Box 2285
Framingham, MA 01703


	Home About Contact

35. A Yarn About Aristotle

Aristotle had a very good life. He was born in 384 BC to the court physician of King Amyntas of Macedonia. Growing up not only did he probably play with Amyntas's son Philip but his very cultured and well-to-do family gave him the best education possible (with Plato). He was greatly admired by his childhood buddy and, in fact, married Philip's niece. When Philip became king, he asked him to educate his precocious son. So, somewhat reluctantly, Aristotle tutored Alexander (The Great), starting when Alex was about 13 years old, for about 5 years. Alexander was very bright and did lots of things that we all know about from reading history but had a major problem in that he demanded to be treated like a god and, being the Prince (then Regent and then later, King), usually got that treatment. He did not get that treatment from Aristotle.

As you can imagine, tutoring an intelligent, powerful and exceptionally charismatic teenager who always wants his own way was no piece of cake. A couple of things about Alexander brought forth some resentment in Aristotle. One was his raging impatience and the other was his long-time love affair with his boy-toy Hephastion. Although greatly honored by both Philip and Alexander, Aristotle left the court and went back to his hometown with his 2nd wife and son after Alexander became King. Somewhere in there he figured out his resentment, got over it and got on with his life. He founded The Lyceum and successfully taught the culturally elite mostly philosophy, ethics and, of course, logic. He died peacefully (stomach problems) in 322 BC at age 62.

I'm ten years older than Aristotle was when he died and I'm trying to imagine his frame of mind at the close of his life. I'm interested because three of his main interests, interest me very much today AND (here comes the yarn) I think I was part of the energy that was Aristotle. I'm aware of the common criticism of people who claim past life connections: "They always claim to have been famous people." I've thought about that and I think A- it's true and B- it makes sense that you would remember a life that had great meaning for you. (I claim to be part of the energy of three famous people. The rest were rather ordinary and the last was a drunken musician.) The only gainer in recollecting my past lives is if it helps to appreciate and enjoy this life NOW because my happiness, and yours, is locked into The Now. This recollection, at least for me, does that, as you will see.

Aristotle was interested in logic (with a capitol L: Logic), teaching, and felt a heavy responsibility for Alexander. I don't know how to say this except to just say it: I believe (which means I can't prove it: more yarn) one of my sons was part of the energy of Alexander. My son isn't homosexual or bisexual (as far as I know) but he has many of Alex's other characteristics. Is this clear? I believe I was part of the energy of Aristotle, tutored Alexander, and today, one of my sons was part of the energy that was Alexander.

Alexander was called The Great because of his piercing intelligence, ruthlessness, his string of military victories, his diplomatic skill (mucho charisma) and incredible bravery. He wanted to conquer, unite, and be king of the world. He did, for about 10 years, force nations and clans that did not get along to trade with each other.

As a high-powered trader, for 20 odd years, my son uses ethics only when it suits him (just like Alexander and Lorenzo*). And too many people who get drawn into his orbit of activities do not do well, i.e., their association with him, diminishes them. His business activities, always wildly successful in the beginning, never pan out and many people wind up getting hurt both emotionally and financially.

In my past life recollections of Aristotle tutoring Alexander, Da Vinci's dealings with *Lorenzo De Medici [See Extrapolations, Chap X, "The Man Who Thought He Was Leonardo Da Vinci"] and my dealings with my son in this life a linking incident pops up because of a chronic back pain of mine. In musing over this pain an incident flashed into my mind from about 50 years ago when my son was an infant.

I reached over his crib rail, lifted him up and, like many a new parent, strained my back. With the spasm of pain (cause of my current pain?) came a wave of resentment that just washed over me. That resentment linked to past resentments that all involved my son. I recalled that Aristotle, who wanted to teach, was resentful about his tutoring chores with Alexander, Da Vinci, who wanted to do a jillion other things, was resentful about his thwarted desire to advise Lorenzo (The Magnificent said, "no thanks"), and I resented my infant son for the pain and because "he had just added to my struggles as an art student."

To resent someone else for your troubles is a seductively easy mistake to make and I think we all do it to some degree. In fact, I think it is a universal mistake. The problem with doing it is that it puts your happiness in the hands of someone else. To resent someone for your unhappiness also dissipates your awareness level severely, keeps you out of the Now and makes you forget your inextricable bond to God. It's a trifecta of emotional reaction.

Alexander felt my resentment, so did Lorenzo, and my son felt that very strongly and, in fact, on a recent visit told me that angrily and directly. Thank you son for having the courage to do that. It helped jolt me into remembering who I am and what I am responsible for. As well as you, I am responsible for my own happiness.

Mistakes properly understood are powerful instructions. Can I forgive myself for making that mistake? You betcha. Forgiving anyone, especially yourself, has a very powerful way of bringing you back into the present moment. Now if I ran the world my son would read this, communicate with me, and be similarly jolted. Jolted into remembering who he is.

Anyhow, I think it's a good yarn.

<< Back Table of Contents Next >>