What are you doing about reality?
I try to understand it... I experience, I think, I discuss...
And...
And what?
That's it?
At times I feel like changing it... some part..
Why?
Umm... because its not the way it should be..
So what?
...
And why aren't you doing anything then?
...
-------------------------------------------------------
There is no race, I am not gonna run...
Are you sure?
...not with others.
What about time?
You m*****f**ker...
...
I can't just start running... Isn't it absolutely essential that one finds the right direction to run?
So, you are trying to find the right direction?
Yes... umm... well.. I want to...
And how will you do that?
...
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Reality and the mirage.
Some interesting thoughts ran through my mind as I was standing at the edge of a terrace garden, looking at the dark clouds passing in the dusk sky, breeze flowing onto my face...
What happens if one tries not to do anything to obtain pleasure (neither instant nor deferred, thus disobeying the "pleasure" as well as the "reality principle")? How does one make choices about one's actions? Will the actions arising from the "discomfort avoiding principle" be effectively the same as the "reality principle"?
(Following is not for people with some affection towards me)
What if I come to know that I am going to die in 10 days/a month/a year from now? Will I change the course of my actions?
Meanwhile, my blog was tag-lined "pieces of a mirage" reflecting my earlier mental-state that I had denied myself a reality because I kept/am running after a mirage, and all that I am dealing with now are the pieces of that mirage... After some dose of Zizek baba it seems to me that what is, is reality and I am constructing the mirage because the reality has tricked my brain into creating the need for a mirage... Damnitt!
Beliefs: Science and Pseusoscience
Prof Kroto mentioned Carl Sagan in one of his talks today. His book and video titled "Demons haunted world"...
I am listening to his videos. He is blasting all pseudoscience in the most composed way. Telling us how to withhold our beliefs until we find a compelling evidence either way. Talking about virtually anything, if we have the evidence to believe something, believe it; if we dont, withhold the belief. Dont disbelieve. The implications are far larger in contemporary world with the deadly combination of ignorance and technology...
And the way he is talking about the disease that he has which could turn into leukemia if not treated. I am deeply moved.
Cheers to science and the power that it gives us, to understand.
I am listening to his videos. He is blasting all pseudoscience in the most composed way. Telling us how to withhold our beliefs until we find a compelling evidence either way. Talking about virtually anything, if we have the evidence to believe something, believe it; if we dont, withhold the belief. Dont disbelieve. The implications are far larger in contemporary world with the deadly combination of ignorance and technology...
And the way he is talking about the disease that he has which could turn into leukemia if not treated. I am deeply moved.
Cheers to science and the power that it gives us, to understand.
Cribbing
"Why dont we stop looking at certain things?", I casually said to one of my juniors who was pissed of at the questions ppl were asking Nobel laureates here.
Very easy for me to say but difficult to follow. But honestly thats one thing I want to believe in and compel myself to do (and I am rapidly improving). To stop looking at certain things that are stupid and dont really matter to me.
Actually I should see them, but I should understand why things are like that (which I already do) and try to change them. It will definitely save a lot of energy (probably at the cost of relations to certain people) and help me invest in things that really matter. This particular investment is very critical to do what I enjoy doing.
So the key is:
1. Stop Cribbing.
2. Find what it takes to nurture ideas- look at the right things.
Fire
Are we bound by an image that we create of ourselves and the world? A comfort zone? How can we come out of it? And do what people call "unleash the potential"? What is the activation energy thats needed - A 'zalak' of what lies beyond?
Was talking to my cousin. He was fresh out of a relations training course his company had organized. And he tells me that people always have that spark inside somewhere, the spark to go beyond. I always thought that the spark is rare. Perhaps it is present in everyone, hidden to various extents. (As I write this, I wonder if I am rediscovering what people are speaking all the time the world over. But if it is so, I dont see it happening - the ignitions!) Perhaps my world is a li'l too small! (This would be worst.)
And of course any philosophy that is taught doesnt stay beyond a week... There has to be a need to follow that philosophy... It should make a significant difference to your life. A significant difference that you want and can see... And by default most of us are short sighted.
So, the questions are:
1. How to know if the spark is there?
2. How to find what it is?
3. How to ignite it?
And of course igniting one spark should not limit us to a flicker, lets go for a flame and a fire!!
Was talking to my cousin. He was fresh out of a relations training course his company had organized. And he tells me that people always have that spark inside somewhere, the spark to go beyond. I always thought that the spark is rare. Perhaps it is present in everyone, hidden to various extents. (As I write this, I wonder if I am rediscovering what people are speaking all the time the world over. But if it is so, I dont see it happening - the ignitions!) Perhaps my world is a li'l too small! (This would be worst.)
And of course any philosophy that is taught doesnt stay beyond a week... There has to be a need to follow that philosophy... It should make a significant difference to your life. A significant difference that you want and can see... And by default most of us are short sighted.
So, the questions are:
1. How to know if the spark is there?
2. How to find what it is?
3. How to ignite it?
And of course igniting one spark should not limit us to a flicker, lets go for a flame and a fire!!
Survival
If I get a chance, Would I give any sort of ready-made equality to everyone?
Yes. I would like to make everyone free of survival as the reason to do anything. Anything but survival will do. Survival seems like such a cheap reason to do anything.
Do you remember the beggar on the signal who asks you for a rupee or a gajarewali mulagi who pleads you to buy one even when you dont want to or a chaiwala on the bus stand who wakes up at 4 in the morning or come closer- your son terribly studying because he needs good grades to survive in this 'bad' world or still closer- you doing extrawork in the office just to please your boss when you really would have been enjoying a hot coffee at your home.
What is common in these cases is they are all doing something that is forced on them- no choice you see. And the reason is a percieved danger to your survival. How realistic it is I have no idea. But it is a percieved danger.
Chillax kid. You might say. No need to make it so harsh. Thats Life! You might want to say just in case even you start seeing survival is a cheap reason. Makes you somehow uncomfortable, does it?
I deny accepting life like this. Are we living in THE fear? (Whatever happened to good ol' "Fuck fear, drink beer" btw.) The question is- can you refuse to live like this? Can the boy at the signal refuse to live like this?
Thats why I want to help you. (It is sounding cheaper than survival. Sometime later, I ll tell you whats in it for me) I want a world where everyone can chose how he wants to survive. You will have to take the trouble to find another reason to do things then. (Its not so easy at it sounds)
To start with- how about because you like something?
Yes. I would like to make everyone free of survival as the reason to do anything. Anything but survival will do. Survival seems like such a cheap reason to do anything.
Do you remember the beggar on the signal who asks you for a rupee or a gajarewali mulagi who pleads you to buy one even when you dont want to or a chaiwala on the bus stand who wakes up at 4 in the morning or come closer- your son terribly studying because he needs good grades to survive in this 'bad' world or still closer- you doing extrawork in the office just to please your boss when you really would have been enjoying a hot coffee at your home.
What is common in these cases is they are all doing something that is forced on them- no choice you see. And the reason is a percieved danger to your survival. How realistic it is I have no idea. But it is a percieved danger.
Chillax kid. You might say. No need to make it so harsh. Thats Life! You might want to say just in case even you start seeing survival is a cheap reason. Makes you somehow uncomfortable, does it?
I deny accepting life like this. Are we living in THE fear? (Whatever happened to good ol' "Fuck fear, drink beer" btw.) The question is- can you refuse to live like this? Can the boy at the signal refuse to live like this?
Thats why I want to help you. (It is sounding cheaper than survival. Sometime later, I ll tell you whats in it for me) I want a world where everyone can chose how he wants to survive. You will have to take the trouble to find another reason to do things then. (Its not so easy at it sounds)
To start with- how about because you like something?
Beauty
Beauty! Sounds like a deep philosophical idea, right? Specially, when you are looking at a clear dark sky, countless stars, a crescent moon and the Venus; just before the God of the east will command them to dissolve in his brightness. Divinely beautiful! I am captivated.
I come back and set to capture this beauty in words on my blog. And I stumble. I just cannot describe how beautiful it was. I cannot because I do not know why is it so beautiful? Or even, what do I mean by it is beautiful? I cannot define what I mean by beauty. Perhaps, I am too much influenced by the image that has been shaped by years of my nurture- that sky, those stars, the moon, the Venus. It has to be beauty.
And then I remember what I had talked with someone long back. Is beauty something that gives me visual pleasure? Just a physiological response! (Kill me, O! charming Venus!) Does it really matter? Does it somehow make it less beautiful? To understand that it might be a physiological response. Plain and pure pleasure!
Is this feeling any different than seeing the vehicle lights reflecting from poles on the road, steam from the hot cup of tea, the sunlight slowly pouring in or just thinking of this question- Why is it all so beautiful?
"Nightmare"
I just had a nightmare.
I was walking along a narrow path which seemed to be the circumference of a circle. There were people walking with me. People of all kinds. Some tall-some dwarf, some walked fast-some just trudged along, people with colorful dresses-people with sullen faces. We all walked along the circle.
Soon we reached an intersection. Bored by walking along the same road, I turned. Some people turned with me, some continued, some took the next turn. I could see faces adding, faces subtracting.
Some time passed and there was yet another crossing. I changed the path again. Sometimes I let the crossing go and continue. Soon I realised that there were nothing but intersecting circles.
I began to wonder "Why were we all here?".
I asked the man walking besides me. And he kept mum. Then I asked the next one and then the next and the next. And they all kept mum.
I was beginning to feel tired. However now the curiosity had taken over me. I was getting more and more determined to know the answer. I kept walking till I no longer remembered how many circles I had crossed.
Then for the first time I saw an amazing thing. At the centre of what seemed to be the largest circle I saw a man standing. His face had a divine glow. And he seemed to be the one who knew everything.
I shouted across to him "Hey! Do you know why are we all here. Walking along these circles."
He smiled and sublimed into the space.
I was walking along a narrow path which seemed to be the circumference of a circle. There were people walking with me. People of all kinds. Some tall-some dwarf, some walked fast-some just trudged along, people with colorful dresses-people with sullen faces. We all walked along the circle.
Soon we reached an intersection. Bored by walking along the same road, I turned. Some people turned with me, some continued, some took the next turn. I could see faces adding, faces subtracting.
Some time passed and there was yet another crossing. I changed the path again. Sometimes I let the crossing go and continue. Soon I realised that there were nothing but intersecting circles.
I began to wonder "Why were we all here?".
I asked the man walking besides me. And he kept mum. Then I asked the next one and then the next and the next. And they all kept mum.
I was beginning to feel tired. However now the curiosity had taken over me. I was getting more and more determined to know the answer. I kept walking till I no longer remembered how many circles I had crossed.
Then for the first time I saw an amazing thing. At the centre of what seemed to be the largest circle I saw a man standing. His face had a divine glow. And he seemed to be the one who knew everything.
I shouted across to him "Hey! Do you know why are we all here. Walking along these circles."
He smiled and sublimed into the space.
"heaven"
"Chiang, this world isn't heaven at all, is it?"
The Elder smiled inthe moonlight. "You are learning again, Jonathan Seagull," he said.
"Well, what happens from here? Where are we going? Is there no suchplace as heaven?"
"No, Jonathan, there is no such place. Heaven is not a place, and itis not a time. Heaven is being perfect."
He was silent for a moment. "Youare a very fast flier, aren't you?"
"I... I enjoy speed," Jonathan said, taken aback but proud that theElder had noticed.
"You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that youtouch perfect speed. And that isn't flying a thousand miles an hour, or amillion, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit,and perfection doesn't have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is beingthere."
Without warning, Chiang vanished and appeared at the water's edgefifty feet away, all in the flicker of an instant. Then he vanished againand stood, in the same millisecond, at Jonathan's shoulder.
"It's kind of fun," he said.
-jonathan livingstone seagull
The Elder smiled inthe moonlight. "You are learning again, Jonathan Seagull," he said.
"Well, what happens from here? Where are we going? Is there no suchplace as heaven?"
"No, Jonathan, there is no such place. Heaven is not a place, and itis not a time. Heaven is being perfect."
He was silent for a moment. "Youare a very fast flier, aren't you?"
"I... I enjoy speed," Jonathan said, taken aback but proud that theElder had noticed.
"You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that youtouch perfect speed. And that isn't flying a thousand miles an hour, or amillion, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit,and perfection doesn't have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is beingthere."
Without warning, Chiang vanished and appeared at the water's edgefifty feet away, all in the flicker of an instant. Then he vanished againand stood, in the same millisecond, at Jonathan's shoulder.
"It's kind of fun," he said.
-jonathan livingstone seagull
excerpts from krushnamegh kunte's webpage
These quotes are adopted from krushnamegh's web page. For a very fascinating tour visit:http://www.bio.utexas.edu/grad/krushnamegh/Moorings/index.htm
"It is not in the nature of the man....to start out by giving up. Some give up at the first touch of pressure, some sell out, some run down by inperceptible degrees and loose their fire never knowing when or how they lost it....Yet few hold on and move on, knowing that the fire is not to be betrayed,learning to give it shape purpose and reality.But whatever there future, at the dawn of their lives , men seek a noble vision of man's nature and of life's potential."
-Ayn Rand
"We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another, no sunrise finds us where the sunset left us.Even while the earth sleeps we travel.We are the seeds of the tenacious plant. it is in our ripeness and the fullness of our heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered."
-Kahlil Gibran
"It is not in the nature of the man....to start out by giving up. Some give up at the first touch of pressure, some sell out, some run down by inperceptible degrees and loose their fire never knowing when or how they lost it....Yet few hold on and move on, knowing that the fire is not to be betrayed,learning to give it shape purpose and reality.But whatever there future, at the dawn of their lives , men seek a noble vision of man's nature and of life's potential."
-Ayn Rand
"We wanderers, ever seeking the lonelier way, begin no day where we have ended another, no sunrise finds us where the sunset left us.Even while the earth sleeps we travel.We are the seeds of the tenacious plant. it is in our ripeness and the fullness of our heart that we are given to the wind and are scattered."
-Kahlil Gibran
regarding the quest to question and to find answers
Prashna chinha he eka avasthech symbol ahe..."Jeevant"panach...
This ? symbolises life...
Anil Avchatanchya shabdat...
"lage ghar ghar... phirle dole, man takli...
mhanje mrutyu?
che che to tar... adhich hoto
sodun jate... jeva kutuhal"
prashna padne ani uttara shodhne hi manvi jivnachi khari "quest" ahe...
cheers to the "QUEST"...cheers to "LIFE"!!!
This ? symbolises life...
Anil Avchatanchya shabdat...
"lage ghar ghar... phirle dole, man takli...
mhanje mrutyu?
che che to tar... adhich hoto
sodun jate... jeva kutuhal"
prashna padne ani uttara shodhne hi manvi jivnachi khari "quest" ahe...
cheers to the "QUEST"...cheers to "LIFE"!!!
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