More than Words !

Existence precedes and commands Essence.                                                                 - Jean Paul Sartre  Existentialism is a collection of abstract theories which looks into the human lives and concentrates on the realities of individual choice, freedom and existence. We cannot absolutely define existentialism. Existentialism puts forth the concept that we must define the meaning to our own life and we must make decisions based on our understanding despite the fact that we live in universe, which is completely irrational. Existentialism destroys the myths that are fed to us. Existentialism is popular because it is based on freedom. An absolute freedom, where one is the only one responsible for himself. No one else can make decisions for him.  The existential philosophy explains th...

Friedrich Nietzsche, the monk with a big mustache, who died of syphilis was one of the most influential and famous philosopher from the 19th century. His ideas were revolutionary. And unacceptable. He was despised by many and loved by few. But there is no doubt that he was one of the best existential philosopher. Thus Spake Zarathustra is the only fictional book written by Nietzsche. It was his magnum opus. A book for all and none. Nietzsche explains to us how there is an eternal recurrence of the same thing.  The book has borrowed the imagery from Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave' from Republic. Nietzsche was not particularly a fan of Plato. But when we read his works we can know that he was influenced by him. Plato explains that an enlightened thinker is in a gradual struggle like a man who is struggling to free himself of the illusions in an underground cave. Who learns that once he ascends to the world above and views things in the daylight, he discovered...

A book written while Joyce was sinking. That's what Carl Jung tells about Finnegans Wake. Jung deduced that Joyce's works come as a process of unconscious exploration. The book is an experimentation of language that Joyce carried out for 17 long years. It's a bewildering book. Rarely we read such a gem. Because it's incomparable to any other book. Just like Joyce's Ulysses. Even the harshest critique would have nothing to say about it. If they do, well they are critique. Finnegans Wake remains a pinnacle of linguistic achievement in English.  What makes Finnegans Wake so special? The answer is simple. It's that book, that is everything. For a reader, it's like jumping into the Rabbit Hole that was once jumped by Alice. Finnegans Wake is a wonderland. It's a novel, a myth, a poem and a riddle. It's the dreamspeak of Joyce. Joseph Campbell famously said that 'If our society should go to smash tomorrow (which, as Joyce implies, it may) ...

Hermes Trismegistus was the first Egyptian Philosopher. He was the founder and initiator of ancient mystery schools. He is said to have written The Book of Thoth, Emerald Tablets and The Divine Pymander. He was the master of all from medicine, chemistry, law, art, arc, music, rhetoric, magic, philosophy, geography, mathematics (esp. geometry), anatomy, and oratory. Because of his extensive wisdom and mysteries, he was later considered amongst the Egyptian Pantheon.  His wisdom largely correlates with the Vedas, Kabbalah, Nordic and many other world culture and religions. A lot of mysteries surrounds Hermes Trismegistus. Hermes is called the 'Thrice Greatest', the greatest of all philosophers, the greatest of all priests and the greatest of all kings. In the Islamic tradition, Sayyid Ahmed Amiruddin, a teacher of the Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari and Abdul-Qadir Gilani Sufi schools,  has pointed out that Hermes Trismegistus has a major place i...

Enchiridion means the art of happiness. The book was written by Arrian one of the student of Epictetus around 100 AD. Arrian later wrote the biography of Alexander the Great. Epictetus is one of the key stoic philosopher. Epictetus was a former slave. His master was Epaphroditus, who was on of the Emperor Nero's personal guard. Epictetus gives a very unusual and authentic insight into life. Epictetus tells us that to be tranquil and happy is to go with the flow of life. Just flow.  Enchiridion provides a practical view to life which focuses on understanding how we can manage our grief with understanding. To endure the misfortunes of life by character and apatheia (clear judgement). To do so, the four key virtues of life are: 1. Sophrosyne: Self Control  2. Dikaiosyne: Authenticity/ Righteousness  3. Sophia: Wisdom/ Prudence  4. Andreia: Courage/ Fortitude  Epictetus puts a great input into the understanding of acceptance. Which is on...