Talk Less and Talk Sense!!!

Actions speak louder than words. True. But most of the time, we are blind (deaf?) to them. Even if noticed, they finally settle down as mere sound bytes - thoughts, if you insist, inside our petty brains. How do we form the words that we let reside in our brains or let out through our never resting pouts?

Often they are from the periphery of our consciousness. Arrows without the energy of sense (logic or emotion) that never reach their assumed targets. These blind darts cause more wilderness as they hit everything but their targets.

Blame the brain for our communication voids. Yes. It processes information, not that we have too much of it or its higher cousin, knowledge, at such a rapid pace that our poor vocal strings can’t match. In a wasteful attempt to run along, our faculty for speech puts the words out as they come along, often making us sound stupid. A slower brain and a mouth that can match its pace will do us more good than the faster ones. In fact, slower brain and hyperactive vocal cords form a dangerous combination.

So? Let’s talk less. If possible, talk sense. For aspirants: if you can, think less.

Why we read Philosophy....?

Ever wondered why do we read philosophy? Why a dumb book like The Alchemist/The Monk who sold his Ferrari, which tells nothing more than god is there to help you (but not in so few words), is so much hyped up? Why so many trite books on positive thinking are bestsellers? Why there is still so many clashing ideologies and resultant confusion even after so many millennia of human existence and exploration of the Truth?

One of the basic premises of psychology is that mind dislikes uncertainty and tries to satisfy itself through a self-made explanation of the situation at hand. If you cannot make it up for yourself, then borrow. The very essence of philosophy is to explain things in terms of what we know - with our limited and confusing vocabulary and experiences. That the end result is even more confusing is not surprising.

If you tell me that all these people are searching for The Truth, I am sorry. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A passable answer could be that they are trying to escape from reality as they see it.

Believe me. Philosophy won’t help in your escape regardless of whoever/whatever/how much ever you read, for the simple fact that all of these philosophers are trying to explain their experiences and thereby satisfy their own minds. And incidentally satisfying their wallets as well. I know the following statement is so trite, but I need to use it here. Each individual is unique. This calls for unique philosophical volumes for each individual. But if we were to have such volumes, one would be dead by the time one counted them. How then do we make use of the existing theories instead of adding to the confusion?

A rational approach to learning requires the student to have at least a basic idea of what he wants – what he aims to achieve through the study. An identifiable, definite goal is to make you more sensitive to what happens. To equip yourself with skills and knowledge so that you can decide what life means to you and what to do with it. After all, the meaning of life is what you give to it. Improve your observational skills by focusing on your physiological and psychological health. This helps you in becoming more receptive, free of the limitations of logic. After all, it is your happiness and not logical precision that you are after.

A recurring theme across eastern philosophical literature is that enlightenment is instantaneous. Bhagavad Gita, arguably the best piece of philosophy on the whole earth, says enlightenment is remembrance. It is like tuning into your favorite channel on your radio. The song is already there in the air. All you got to do is to switch to the correct frequency. Tuning your antenna into the Existence. This is where, I think, the western philosophy gets straitjacketed by its over-emphasis on logic. Instead of improving the sensitivity/receptivity of the student, it focuses on squeezing reality into tested and established patterns.

I would like to digress a bit (as if I already haven’t) to try to interpret the concept of nirvana/Buddha/bliss. Nirvana is a state of mind (I would rather not use ‘absence of mind’ as many Buddhists say for the simple reason that mind may still function as a faculty even after enlightenment). It is a state of mind that brings out the best in you. From this springs your attitude or bhavana (for the want of a better word), which determines how you feel about what happens to you, and ultimately your happiness. It is like carrying your climate wherever you go.

Regardless of whether you like the concept of determinism (if that sounds too heavy, use fate) or free will or a compromise of the two as The Alchemist puts it, it is your experience that matters the most. If you feel good, go ahead and use it. Don’t worry about its authenticity and popularity. As long as you get cured, does it matter whether what you had is a placebo or a regular pill?