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| Sep 11, 2000
| Sep 11, 2000
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really liked it
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The parallels to India (Bharat) and Hinduism are expertly linked. A lot of my energy has been spent in this sector myself, so to readThe Tellingat
The parallels to India (Bharat) and Hinduism are expertly linked. A lot of my energy has been spent in this sector myself, so to readThe Tellingat this time is quite…providential. Sutty’s character speaks a lot to myself. Not just me, I’m sure there are plenty of people who feel as though they don’t belong to any category and can’t quite capture the truth they’re searching for. From a spiritual or religious perspective knowing that someone or something in the culture is right (or maybe aligned with truth), but the society, or some other SOMETHING, is not quite so… It’s so apt to use a blend of religions centrally sticking to the ones that are more akin to lifestyles rather than belief systems. The dissection of linguistics, histories and philosophies to show the complicated and simple cunning of censorship and…whatever word(s) describe this. And very obviously how this is what India is/had undergone. Many people continually use colonialism as a term to explain what’s happening here, and while they’re not wrong, as this book highlights they’re not quite completely right. Sutty’s very much like the private eye exploring what was lost, what was changed, and in a weird way it’s for HER gain. The truth is flowering within and without. And in that weird contradiction that is the concoction of truth she stands alone. /sigh I don’t necessarily like Leguin’s prose. Her writing is brilliant .It’s like medicine. Bitter until better. What’s most fascinating about all of this is Leguin just pointed the way to my own heart. It’s a realization. How I’ve always felt laid bare in front of me. I feel seen, truly. How and why Ursula Leguin is not on school reading lists is CRIMINAL. On any and all levels of education. The women is a MONUMENT.A MONUMENT. While she would shush my cries, someone has to speak up. “This system wasn’t a religion at all, Sutty told her noter with increasing enthusiasm. Of course it had a spiritual dimension to it. In fact, itwasthe spiritual dimension of life for those who lived it. But religion as an institution demanding belief and claiming authority, religion as a community shaped by a knowledge of foreign deities or competing institutions, had never existed on Aka.” ~page 105 - Unrelated highlights of the book - Coffee and Starbucks…akakafi and Starbrew. Haha, xD I think I’m most enamored with the off-the-cuff statements that left me feeling profound are what delights me in this novel. For instance, one of the characters drops the knowledge that progress is the death of literacy, at least, reading literacy. These assertions, though minor details in the story, strike me as true. ...more |
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| 8182529573
| 9788182529571
| 8182529573
| 4.33
| 2,154,387
| Apr 06, 1943
| 2018
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really liked it
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Charming. The pictures are perfect. The novel is endearing. The dedication alone sets the tone of the novel. Somber, yet optimistic, especially with ev Charming. The pictures are perfect. The novel is endearing. The dedication alone sets the tone of the novel. Somber, yet optimistic, especially with every appearance of the Little Prince. There is a trove of wisdom in this novel. There are truths, disappointments, and everything that we can't talk about. All of this brought to us by the Prince. Like a child who gives their point of view in terms their own and in a way never seen before. The fables of the Little Prince are an adventure I think anyone can take. It is refreshing and rejuvenating for adults. I'm sure children take it as it is. In between I'm sure there is meaning that can be found for any age. When I read about the author I was amazed at the sequence of events in their life. It's astonishing how Antoine met their end and I believe that is why when I read this book I feel as if I'm looking at the shadow of a rose cast in full moonlight. If only we were able to see the rose during the day. It would be a beautiful sunset... ...more |
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| 0141026286
| 9780141026282
| 0141026286
| 3.74
| 106,433
| -2100
| May 04, 2006
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it was amazing
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Widely considered to be one of the most ancient pieces of literature in recorded human historyThe Epic of Gilgameshis a great story, one that speak
Widely considered to be one of the most ancient pieces of literature in recorded human historyThe Epic of Gilgameshis a great story, one that speaks volumes of us and our ancestry. No matter what is said, there has to be a certain amount of mystery associated with this story. Drawing comparisons with the Greeks, for me it’s like the Amazons or Troy. They cannot be disproven and yet there are findings that suggest there was a city thatcouldbe Troy and it may not only exist in literature. So where does myth end and pieces of history begin? Is it our history with all the mystical, and quite mythical, flourishes? There’s something comforting about this. To know even at the beginning our fears and our kingdoms were not too different. At our heart, or maybe our storytelling hearts, we are inextricably linked by the chain of our humanity. These are not chains of bondage, but a proud heritage. For me, what hits home in all my soft warm places, is that the virtue of friendship is found here. The Epic of Gilgamesh cannot be told without Enkidu. The search for immortality, a very human quest, is prompted by the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. For me that was the diamond in the rough. Initially I set out to see what the quest for immortality yielded in our ancient eyes. My heart sings that it is also a story of friendship. That’s all I will say for now. ...more |
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| 0007420072
| 9780007420070
| 0007420072
| 3.84
| 343,757
| 1513
| 2011
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it was ok
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Well, sweep me sideways. I can't take this with any real dose of vigor. First, I should have checked on Machiavelli and then read this. His personal c
Well, sweep me sideways. I can't take this with any real dose of vigor. First, I should have checked on Machiavelli and then read this. His personal character will have an impact since his opinion is largely a basis for this book, especially when it seems contradictory. I'm going to come back for sure and see if my own opinion changes after some more reading. By and large, I would say I have not really finished this book. For me these types of philosophies are born from the ground up. They do not start up and come to the ground. Which is why on discourses of war, rule and governing I find that their is more wealth to be found in the Art of War or the Book of Five Rings. I will say that Niccolo did see that there is a way things ought to go and there is the way things do go, and/or are going. Let me rephrase that. The realm of discourse is always different from the realm of action, particularly if the realm of discourse follows tangents into the imagination. I'm guilty of skim reading. I hardly ever do this. I could list the number of times off my fingers. Not exactly sure why I did this, but I believe it's because I don't have a total interest in this. I have an urgency to read theMoon is a Harsh Mistressdue to another Goodreader's review. Don't get me wrong, I can see why this is a classic. It's not the classic for me, I'd rather read Nietzche (or would I...) or perhaps one of the philosophes. Eh, who am I kidding. Something I do find intriguing about Machiavelli is his perception. He sounds misguided and fearful. I know I might sound like I'm taking the moral high ground and being judgemental, but the book was not that entertaining and largely it was written in hubris. One thing that drives me utterly mad is that it is looking back in history and trying to pave the way forward. It's no wonder government can fail so miserably. It's like looking in your rear-view mirror and trying to drive forward predicting the path of the road. "Nevertheless it cannot be called virtue in him to kill his fellow-citizens, betray his friends, to be without faith, without pity, or religion; these are ways may get a man empire, but no glory or reputation." ~Page 37 Depends on what you are aiming for. There was a quote about archery and aiming higher than the intended target to get closer to the mark. The whole of this book was apparently written for "The Most Illustrious" Lorenzo. Niccolo sucks up big time. While I have no problem separating an author from their work, when the work consists of their opinions and the brown nosing is apparent in the writing...well, I just can't find it in me to enjoy this as much as everyone else. ...more |
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| 0829400656
| 9780829400656
| 0829400656
| 4.07
| 3,833
| 1548
| Dec 12, 1968
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I'm not really finished. This book is a method. It's a set of rigorous instructions to be followed for spiritual development. It's strict and should b
I'm not really finished. This book is a method. It's a set of rigorous instructions to be followed for spiritual development. It's strict and should bear fruit. Most folks might see it as asking too much and giving too little. The book is not meant to be read and that's my fault for trying to read through the instructions to gain some insight or knowledge, and while that can happen it's primary purpose lay in its routine exercises aimed at anointing individuals in spiritual refreshment within the Christian tradition as outlined by St. Ignatius. It's likely a very potent process if followed to the letter. ...more |
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| 0399142789
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| 0399142789
| 4.21
| 39,510
| 1995
| Oct 29, 1996
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liked it
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**spoiler alert** I believe this book can inspire change. I think there are things in here that will strike people individually as important. For me I
**spoiler alert** I believe this book can inspire change. I think there are things in here that will strike people individually as important. For me I find some to be very good and then I lean back and shake my head, because I think I know better after reading certain parts. I realize that the book identifies those exact people, but I felt like Nietzsche when he attacked the Bible and spotted, quite clearly, where the gospels were elaborating more on their opinions and less on the scripture. For one thing, I wholeheartedly am for the idea, thought, action, what have you that God is in all things and therefore his message is not constrained to any one thing. That I accepted graciously and it reminded me to pay attention. To get personal, I actually had to put my dog down over the course of this reading. I love my dogs like family and more so I was, and am, distraught about what happened. My dad, who can be pretty distant to me, told me something that gave me more solace than anything and I do not doubt that this would be a "voice of God" as speaking through someone. And to further expound this place would have to come from love. So I am down for the highest high as love and for actions that spring from that fountain are full of regenerating touch. Of course my father chose his words, but they were instinctual and I knew them true. I agree with a lot that's said here and I cherish the book for its perspective, however I am not so quick to accept everything blindly. Which is a testament to the book, I suppose since I will need to go forth and experience my truths about this book. Anyway, it is like a blueprint for the Alchemist where the Alchemist is the fictional telling of someone basically living out this blueprint. I prefer the Alchemist for it's story telling narrative, but this works too. ...more |
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| 0140067477
| 9780140067477
| 0140067477
| 4.01
| 122,356
| Apr 28, 1982
| Jul 28, 1983
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liked it
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And so, I think I’ve read and/or listened to too much Alan Watts. Not that there is such a thing. That man’s a gem. In regard to a book trying to expl
And so, I think I’ve read and/or listened to too much Alan Watts. Not that there is such a thing. That man’s a gem. In regard to a book trying to explain Taoist thought and philosophy, well… while I was charmed by some of the Poohlosical musings, such as “they burn their toast” and many more that won’t come to mind because my memory loves to fail at moments like this, I feel like I already have a grasp of the subject. This is a charming, cute little book. Most importantly I don’t hate the message. It’s more like the delivery. This book feels preachy, whips out some weird n obscure examples, and at times can feel anti-west. I know in the spiritual category the East comes out on top as a given (ironically), it still feels like Benjamin isn’t turning that negative into a positive. There’s also a weird amount of explanation that feels like a steaming pile of poo. Only weird because it’s not Pooh. Know what I’m sayin`? As stated above, I felt like most of this is a rehash of philosophy I’ve had the pleasure of dabbling in. It’s always refreshing with a new angle. One of the few things I found unfamiliar was the Uncarved Block. If it were totally fresh I may have come to knowThe Tao of Poohin a different way. If this were my introduction to Tao I might have fell head over heels. It isn’t, I didn’t, and I feel like a bear who has an empty honey pot. ...more |
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| 4.16
| 9,054
| 1889
| 1990
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really liked it
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| 1932073205
| 9781932073201
| 1932073205
| 4.13
| 53,902
| 1980
| Apr 13, 2006
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| 1593082592
| 9781593082598
| 1593082592
| 3.97
| 64,898
| 378
| Mar 01, 2007
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really liked it
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**spoiler alert** Augustine seems like a pretty insightful person. Only when I go out and read the books do you mark that down as true. I swear, every
**spoiler alert** Augustine seems like a pretty insightful person. Only when I go out and read the books do you mark that down as true. I swear, every philosopher I start to read becomes my favorite. I become much more acquainted and astonished by them when I read their individual books as well. Needless to say this was pretty enjoyable. Either the translator or Augustine himself (or a mixture of both) had a nice penchant for wordplay, because I love the turns of phrase, metaphors, so on and so forth. For instance, “Then, as this vehement quarrel, which I waged with my soul in the chamber of my heart, was raging inside my inner dwelling, agitated both in mind and countenance…” the rest of it is just as good. Alas, it is just as profound as well. I have a certain amount of respect for Augustine for how personal he was during this book, whether his intentions were to publish or not. Though, from some of the excerpts it seems clear that he plans on revealing this to a wider audience than himself and that which is most high. Just from these Confessions alone you can see the influence that this man began to sow. That arm reaches, still, into the present day! At the very least in his writing, in person he must have been one smooth kat. Which he goes into great detail about. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but I will admit I was getting bored during some parts that I thought were unnecessarily thought out. Some were entertaining though, such as when he acknowledges God and how he doesn't have to tell God he's writing it, but he does anyway, and praises him anyway. I've written similar things, so I see where he has to define and draw distinctions. One of the more interesting pieces to this is you see his influences which come in the forms of different friends and most particular, Augustine's mother. I think it is in book 10 where you come to fully realize the influence she must have had. Again, the descriptions and explanations are far out, but hit home in an undeniable way. Pretty tired for my review so this is it, book was good and now on to the next one! ...more |
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| 1577315936
| 9781577315933
| 1577315936
| 4.13
| 42,035
| Jun 10, 1949
| Jul 28, 2008
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liked it
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It took me forever to read this book. I will write a legit review once I'm not so tired. I just felt a need to mark this one down as read. Go me!
It took me forever to read this book. I will write a legit review once I'm not so tired. I just felt a need to mark this one down as read. Go me!
...more
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| 0765308703
| 9780765308702
| 3.95
| 13,974
| Sep 01, 1978
| Jan 01, 2004
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really liked it
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**spoiler alert** This book is fantastic. Without getting too technical or being too overambitious in a review I'm simply going to leave you with this
**spoiler alert** This book is fantastic. Without getting too technical or being too overambitious in a review I'm simply going to leave you with this. An explanation of why I got this book into my hands and what it means to me. I saw the movie first and it was quite the transformative experience for me. One, because I didn't think a movie could look so beautifully with effects from that time period. Two, because it tackled something very important to me, which is the object of death. Three, it was a movie with an interesting message, mind-opening creativity and it was based on a book. I've watched a wonderful movie. I like to read. It never occurred to me to read this book until a few months ago. The movie motivated me enough to look up the author. Richard Matheson wrote I am Legend (I saw that movie too). I Am Legend is amazing along with the several stories that are included with it. Still, it never occurred to me to read What Dreams May Come. Loved the movie, I enjoy the author's writing, but I shelved some of his works on the bookshelf in the back of my mind. It can be a place where books die or where books are forgotten. The bookshelf in the back of my mind operates with a single thrum of power (a thrum being the unit of power that thoughts run on) that functions at odd hours and when I least expect it. Without getting too personal, suffice to say, I needed help in my life and I was losing family members (or friends I know are/were losing family members). Reading is therapeutic for me now. Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. The thrum (being a thought, had a thought of its own (measured in kilathrums)) urged that I should slow down on fantasy/sci-fi/Comics and read more scholarly things. Then I realized that's never going to happen, me slowing down on fantasy/scifi, that's just me taking a break from reading period. I realize that I can't finish this review and that everything I intially said out the outstart is a lie. Ah, well. Anyways, I started to think, gee maybe I need to read some things more relevant to my life right now. I need to read What Dreams May Come because it's a book I want to read (I shelved it on my eternal bookshelf) and it's relevant to my life. Largely I know what the book is about. It's not at the bookstore, so I destroy my community further by ordering the Book on Amazon, because while I do love supporting my community, when I need to get things done I get things done. Crap, wrong book - the sentence before this is true just not for this one. I now have the book. Ever since my life started going to shambles in a spiritual and emotional sense I have torn through books like fire. Even if it is a single character to relate to I searched for the bond or link that I could fish from the depths. It's hard sometimes. I enjoyed those books thoroughly, perhaps not as much as if I had read them another time, without the small black hole in my chest. I slowly read What Dreams May Come. I'm hesitant to call the organizing theme chapters because they were small but it's not wrong. They weren't numbered, but it had chapters which, for me, averaged at about 5 pages. Not bad. Five pages a day, let's take it slow. The moment I abandoned this method and read every last bit was when the first nightmare in heaven struck Chris. When he had a memory where everything turns out alright and the dream seems to mirror it, however he realized with horror that the dream was a nightmare. This was my fishhook. Regardless of how you feel about this book, even if you find it to be the most outlandish piece of work in the universe, I think it's worth considering, what I'm almost pressed to call a fact, that life continues. To me it's the only common belief that seems to be prevalent in humanity from corner to corner and belief to belief. I think it's a testament to its impact that Richard included an introduction and began his work the way he did and ended it that way. There is so much to say about this work that I'm not going to bother containing it in an interview. There are parts I found hard to swallow. And it all seems so easy when Chris says, "what I have told you is partial" but what is life? Would not death be as diverse as life? If I continue this may be very off putting. I have my views and I believe I've come to most of them in such a way that I cannot just discard them. The message in this book is one I simply cannot discard. This is not the best book I've ever read, though I'm certainly glad I read it. Even if this is a work of the author's imagination you have no idea how comforting it is to imagine that - no, to believe, that in death I can reunite with those lost. To be greeted by them in love. This book revitalized me. It is going to go down as a reread and one I would recommend to anybody I find in similar circumstances I found myself in. What a wonderful life. On the the next! ...more |
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| 0394719042
| 9780394719047
| B007249J3Q
| 4.28
| 3,042
| 1960
| Jan 01, 1973
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really liked it
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I enjoy reading Alan Watts, he has a certain simple profundity that he can express quite effortlessly. It's all quite natural to him. I've heard some
I enjoy reading Alan Watts, he has a certain simple profundity that he can express quite effortlessly. It's all quite natural to him. I've heard some of his audio books, but this is the first reading. It was short which makes it pleasant, but leaves a little to be desired, I guess this was never supposed to be a novel anyway. It reminds me of lectures I would get from one of my professors at community college, at least in the way that I showed up to class and was able to take something away with it. Just as what happened to me with this book.
...more
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| 0140449337
| 9780140449334
| 0140449337
| 4.28
| 261,168
| 180
| Apr 27, 2006
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really liked it
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| 0140194614
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| 0140194614
| 4.16
| 6,875
| 1972
| Feb 01, 1993
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| 0062360973
| 9780062360977
| 0062360973
| 4.21
| 673
| 1985
| Oct 28, 2014
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really liked it
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**spoiler alert** Wow. So this book has taken me a very long time to complete. I have reasons and excuses, but mostly I had a lot to think about. Of a
**spoiler alert** Wow. So this book has taken me a very long time to complete. I have reasons and excuses, but mostly I had a lot to think about. Of all the thinkers, philosophers, great minds, or whatever title suits your fancy, I found that Jiddu Krishnamurti causes the most reflection in me. David Bohm largely played my role, the student. Krishnamurti is a master in this scenario and, if you're like me, you are playing the student. Ultimately, he and I would be friends. I know it would have been a pleasant experience to have attended or be a part of his talks. This is a book that records the dialogues between David and Jiddu (with other guests on occasion) in the same vein as The Republic with Socrates and his audience. I do not always follow and sometimes I think I might be thinking or trying to hard when the discussion is on, but I do have plenty of "ah-ha!" moments as when I'm reading philosophy. I believe this book requires an open mind, or rather, an open mind would help. Some of these ideas will come across as crazy and even Krishnamurti poses the question, "Are we crazy? Is this logical?" I may not be the best read, but I have read enough to believe some of this crazy. I'm an oddball myself, and if someone poses the question and I have to answer honestly I would have to fess up that I do believe parts of fantasy and science fiction are real. They are so much the real to me because I find myself in them. It's the creativity, the characters, the story, the moral, the theme, every element of a story excites my being. It's my passion. Whether I'm reading it, writing it, thinking about it, or living it in some imaginary daydream, it all has a very real quality to me. This is why I can accept modes of communication that require silence. This is how I can believe and have faith in what Krishnamurti says. If I'm totally honest in my own journey - I am at the wall... At least I think I am. I see everything that's being said, I've reread what was said and it all clicks, yet the wall remains. It's very tricky and one day I will outfox it, assimilate it, overcome it, who knows. I know I am not suppose to do anything. Just be still. I went off on a tangent, but the reason I mentioned my readings is because this is likely the seventh time I've come across the notion. The message that when you no longer allow your thoughts to reign supreme a transformation will take place. I cannot speak from experience, as I said, I'm at the wall. I have people I have met and there are people that I've read who say these same things. Then you open up a bit and you can see the message written everywhere. I suppose I might be able to say it's the universal language that God uses (will say this in Alchemist style). Perhaps I'm too obsessed with my own suffering. I believe the chains that bind me to myself feel unbreakable at times. I feel like they are innumerable. After reading a book like this, I believe they are illusory, yet they still feel so very real. That's my personal crisis. That's all of our crisis. I enjoyed the book and I will likely reference its pages for years to come. Thank you Jiddu and David for recording these conversations (or whoever saw to it) for posterity. There are plenty of memorable quotes, but it does much better to read the book, or listen to their talks online. I suppose I need to end with something that has a bit more flair. In order to end the endless, to see whatis,we have to cease our becoming. Focus on the now. The root of the cause is in thought. Thought is in time. Thought has fragmented our minds. We live in a world of man-made divisions. If we simply did away with it in a cessation of thought what solutions would come forth? Or rather, what then would happen to all mankind's problems? ...more |
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| 0007902093
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| B007YTR80A
| 4.02
| 185,874
| 1320
| Oct 01, 2011
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liked it
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**spoiler alert** Canto III intro was epic. "Through me the way is to the city dolent; Through me the way is to eternal dole; Through me the way among th **spoiler alert** Canto III intro was epic. "Through me the way is to the city dolent; Through me the way is to eternal dole; Through me the way among the people lost. Justice incited my sublime Creator; Created me divine Omnipotence, the highest Wisdom and the primal Love. Before me there were no created things, Only eterne, and I eternal last All hope abandon, ye who enter in! " I read the first half while I was attending college (er, playing lots of video games) and read the later half (Canto 20 and after)sometime whenever now is, where I've graduated yet still read classical literature for the fun of it. While I remember some of the first portion, the second portion felt more descriptive. Probably because I dropped it for a good bit of time before writing this review or because the deeper we went the more attention I dialed in. Canto III introduction was epic though, no way I will forget it. The gates of hell can't be imagined as anything else but a sign scrawled with those letters in blood. I guess for our contemporaries this may be pretty...graphic? Can't expect anything less when writing about hell. Unless it's like a personal hell, say a corporate desk job. Alas, Dante what would your Inferno behold in the 21st century? I imagine it would be different, but the themes would remain much the same. There's a lot to look into when reading this symbolically, religiously and contextually. If you're like me you'll miss out on a couple of things. Dante will mention notable characters through history that we can all see in Hell, but then he will mention his own contemporaries and you suddenly feel a bit left out. Over all you can still come away with a vague idea of their trespasses and understand why they are in hell trapped in a snake pit. Which reminds me that even for a classical work this was pretty hard to read through. I read the Collins Classics rendition. I wish I could read all works like this in the native tongue, but I got to settle for what I can get and dive into translated works. You'd run into these issues anywhere, but sometimes it was hard to distinguish between figurative and literal language. Some passages needed a reread and I am probably going to read the book as a whole again anyway, but I think it would be useful if there were footnotes as you read. I noticed a glossary of terms, etc. towards the back, however I'm not willing to flip for definitions and colloquialisms just to keep up with the times. I have a lot more to say, but I feel I can never write interesting reviews for classics. I'll add some more if I feel a need to. In summary, it's quite the display of Hell envisioned by Dante. Full of contemporaries, historical figures (some widely known, some not so much) and a lot of political transgressors, it turns out hell doesn't seem like a fun place. We progress with Dante and Virgil and find that Hell is no place for sympathy and pity. The punishments of the sins is in accordance with the violation of God's will and not the temporal moral systems we live by. Definitely worth a read if you are into this sort of thing. If you can't handle reading some dry literature at times, it probably isn't for you. ...more |
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| 9780061713279
| 0061713279
| 4.36
| 2,095
| Sep 29, 1847
| Mar 10, 2009
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it was amazing
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Man, this book is a kick in the butt right now. Kierkegaard’s a piercing cry for us to do better. I’ll hide my personal diatribe behind a spoiler tag
Man, this book is a kick in the butt right now. Kierkegaard’s a piercing cry for us to do better. I’ll hide my personal diatribe behind a spoiler tag so the general review isn’t gargantuan. The writing’s entertaining, enlightening and for everybody, HOWEVER Soren leaves no stone unturned, much like Augustine defending Christianity against pagans and outlining every scenario under the sun inThe City of God’s introduction. Meaning it sounds like he talks too much. What he talks about is super important. For me, reading this book was like a shriek heard in the middle of the night. You’re all eyes and ears. I finished the third chapter and it’s evident that this book is one, on its own, which can lead to self-realization. There are many books, many teaching which can do it, but Kierkegaard really gets Christianity. He’s at the heart of it. And at the heart of Christianity is salvation, as it is so in most religions, spiritualties and leaders who have come before us with these paths. There’s no point in keeping this on my currently read. I’ll be reading, and thinking of this, for a long time to come. If I wanted to I could read it all in a day, but that would be a disservice to the work. This book is more like instruction than anything else. The top reviewer here on Goodreads summarizes the book best. Peace, love and gratitude ya’ll. (view spoiler)[ Every other paragraph there’s something to think about for being a better person, a living being, with something to contribute to yourself and therefore the world. The thing that bothered me to begin this review only 40 or so pages in is the remark about habit. Unlike Aristotle (probably using different definitions of habit, all the same) Kierkegaard swears against habit. I tend to fall into ruts of the same-doing. There is that complacency, sense of security, which I have been shaking up. To keep me surefooted without anything to hold onto I’ve gotten rid of so many personal possessions that simply took up space. And that is a freeing activity because there’s no real reason to remain attached to these things. It helps facilitate a giving mood as well. It reminds me of the ‘schock’ principle while working out. Even your body, the muscles, can fall into a rut if you run it through the same daily, rote routine. The idea of the shock principle is to throw it into a whirl. 3 sets of 8 bench presses the past 2 weeks? Time to melt you down. Half the weight, double the reps, or run near max shaving off the weight while increasing the reps at steady intervals. Ditch the barbell and grab dumbbells. Hit an incline at various angles, run pushups until your arms are jelly and can’t hold you up anymore. SHOCK IT. To me, that’s one way of viewing Kierkegaard’s disdain for habit. Obviously Kierkegaard goes much deeper and relates it to a vampire which sucks your blood while accommodating your every need. This bit about habit hit me particularly hard, and is pushing along my own momentum which needed the help. Love thy neighbor. Honestly, this is almost all that needs to be said. The simplest commands, which even children understand, get confounded and complicated over time. It’s a message for the heart, and in my opinion, it is the mind which misinterprets an area it was never meant for. Here’s a quote from Onion Knight in Final Fantasy Dissidia (a kid) “I was a fool to defy my heart, just to bind myself to reason” it’s the jedi way of trusting your instincts. We definitely have a capacity, perhaps a divine one, which guides us. Secondly, I’m reminded of a Greek play, and perhaps this is just from the Sandman comics, but it’s like that tale of the guy who rescues his wife from Hades. The deal goes like: I will allow your wife to return to the mortal realm under the condition you do not turn around to see her. Otherwise, she’s mine forever. One simple command which will lead to what you want, but it’s the doubt which creeps in (likely from the mind). Doubt is good, however with something like ‘love thy neighbor’ what is there to doubt? The world would for sure be a better place. Having finished the chapter it does beg the question, how can we speak of equality without a spiritual component, eternal, or God? For equality is in the command to love thy neighbor, it is humanity in the eyes of God, and it is in the absence of your preferences, your likes and dislikes. Soren also puts education in its place. It’s similar to the poet, and passionate preference, education can slip in through most cracks and supplant a teaching of the heart for it has logical reasoning to back it up. And it’s worth asking if the educator, or education, has a command as profound as ‘love thy neighbor’ which transcends knowledge in that there’s no simpler, better path to get closer to your neighbor. Y’know what? I’m gonna rap it up here. What’s the point? I can keep these thoughts on a Word document for myself, I’m sure many others have written papers much better than this describing all the Soren outlines. The man is brilliant. He’s likeable. He’s a philosopher of God. What more would the man want said or that I can say? The rest is for me. We should all love. We shall love thy neighbor. Love is the way. Thank you Soren, thank you reader and thank you God:D (hide spoiler)] “Who has the more difficult task: the teacher who lectures on earnest things a meteor’s distance from everyday life- or the learner who should put it to use?” ~Page 62 “But Christianity never suffers a man to go in vain, not even a single step, for when you open the door which you shut in order to pray to God, the first person you meet as you go out is your neighbor whom youshalllove.” ~Page 64 ...more |
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Mar 05, 2024
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| 1842930389
| 9781842930380
| 1842930389
| 4.31
| 2,493
| 1948
| Jul 01, 2002
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it was amazing
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Not much to say. The book might change your life. Mystical and enchanting. One of a kind as far as I’m concerned. Chance the reading. A quiet, criminal Not much to say. The book might change your life. Mystical and enchanting. One of a kind as far as I’m concerned. Chance the reading. A quiet, criminally-unheard-of gem of spiritual wisdom. It contains what all self-help/philosophy books set out to do. For readers of books likeThe Alchemistor theThe Tao of Pooh.I'm not sure I can say I totally loved the reading. Still, it's beauty and importance shine even when my understanding is found wanting. There's something special in the pages. ...more |
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| 193700600X
| 4.10
| 1,816
| Nov 29, 2011
| Nov 03, 2011
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really liked it
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The size of the book belies its value and not its simplicity. Wonderful. How to cultivate space. I for one might hang on to this. My intention was to The size of the book belies its value and not its simplicity. Wonderful. How to cultivate space. I for one might hang on to this. My intention was to read it and fling it at the library, but it's so short, simple and quite the breath of refreshing air. Even the illustrations are relaxing. Almost as if they were water paintings straight from a Buddha board.:) ...more |
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May 11, 2014
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Mar 2018
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Dec 06, 2019
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