The Road Less Travelled · Uncategorized

The Road Less Travelled: Grace (Part 4 of 4)

411lCr7XvpL._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_“Life is difficult.” Thus begins the popular book ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck (1936-2005), an American psychiatrist. First published in 1978, the book’s simple language lends to easy understanding. Peck draws considerably from his daily clinical practice as evidenced by the innumerable examples sprinkled across the book. In a four part series I briefly explain the tools Peck writes about to achieve mental and spiritual growth; at the outset he mentions he does not distinguish the two. The four tools are discipline, love, growth-religion and grace.

In this final section, Scott Peck details the role of grace in a human’s life. Just as in earlier parts of the book, case studies, anecdotes and even Greek myths are employed to illustrate the importance of grace and its relation to mental health. This article attempts to present a condensed version of the last, yet profound, segment of the book. While I try my best to avoid a piecemeal approach, the subheadings are an endeavor to unite various ideas.  

Continue reading “The Road Less Travelled: Grace (Part 4 of 4)”

The Road Less Travelled · Uncategorized

The Road Less Travelled: Growth & Religion (Part 3 of 4)

411lCr7XvpL._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_“Life is difficult.” Thus begins the popular book ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck (1936-2005), an American psychiatrist. First published in 1978, the book’s simple language lends to easy understanding. Peck draws considerably from his daily clinical practice as evidenced by the innumerable examples sprinkled across the book. In a four part series I briefly explain the tools Peck writes about to achieve mental and spiritual growth; at the outset he mentions he does not distinguish the two. The four tools are discipline, love, growth-religion and grace.

As we grow in discipline and love (discussed in Parts 1 & 2) so does our understanding of the world. Scott Peck explains our comprehension of what life is about is our religion. Religion is not necessarily a belief in God or rituals, although it can encompass those as well. He says, “…everyone has an explicit or implicit set of ideas and beliefs as to the essential nature of the world.” These ideas form our religion. Our religion must be wholly personal and not dictated by others.  Continue reading “The Road Less Travelled: Growth & Religion (Part 3 of 4)”

The Road Less Travelled · Uncategorized · Wellbeing

The Road Less Travelled: Love (Part 2 of 4)

411lCr7XvpL._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_“Life is difficult.” Thus begins the popular book ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by M. Scott Peck (1936-2005), an American psychiatrist. First published in 1978, the book’s simple language lends to easy understanding. Peck draws considerably from his daily clinical practice as evidenced by the innumerable examples sprinkled across the book. In a four part series I briefly explain the tools Peck writes about to achieve mental and spiritual growth; at the outset he mentions he does not distinguish the two. The four tools are discipline, love, growth-religion and grace.

While discipline is the first step to achieving a full life what is the motive or the energy for discipline? Love, says Scott Peck. Peck defines love as, “The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” He clarifies self love and love of others go hand-in-hand and are ultimately indistinguishable. Love is not just a desire but a combination of action and intention. Peck dedicates a major part of his book to love and the length of this post reflects that.  Continue reading “The Road Less Travelled: Love (Part 2 of 4)”