" Points to Ponder "

* We hate people for the unpleasant characteristics we share with them.
Next time you hate someone, look for the reason within yourself...
It's all in your head!


* Never do something you can't afford to take the responsibility for.


* If you don't know what a sign means, then it is not your sign.
Maybe not yet!


* He who hastens towards a goal, isn't yet sure about his choice.

" As Far As I Know... "

I have to come to realize how immensely tiny I am compared to the infinitely huge universe I dwell in.
And also that there could surely be a much greater world than whatever my imagination (let alone my senses) can ever conceive.
And hence The Question:
"What can I ever possibly know for sure?"
And The Answer:
"Just that I am here now."
And nothing more.

All the rest of my knowledge is just as far as I know, up to now.

“ Real Images vs. Imaginary Realities “

What we consider to be realities about the world, people, events... are nothing but images we perceive.
Like a camera that can never capture any real object in the whole, but just an image.
The only thing you can work on is to try to get the clearest image possible.

We live by and through those images.
Our feelings, emotions, affections and even thoughts and behavior are shaped up by those images.
And what's more, one of the most practical ways to know oneself is to study the impressions you make on different types of people.
It's like checking your reflection in a mirror.
I don't think you can say which mirror is giving you the most precise image, because however self-conscious you may be, there are a million things you can't know about yourself by yourself.

Once you begin to live in the world, you have exposed yourself to be pictured by other souls.
You may be able to decide what kind of ways to relate to the world, but you can't really decide what images others get and what interpretations they make out of it.

And who could decide which one is the true real image?
Because the complex of Mind/Image/Subject (or in other words: Me/ Image/World) which allows us to understand the world the way we do, although similar in some aspects, is also somewhat unique from person to person, or even for one person in different phases of his/her life.

As long an image works for you,
as long as it maintains the standards you've set for your life to function according to,
as long as it keeps you happy, peaceful, hopeful and satisfied...
you can consider it valid.

And as mentioned before, these standards, and therefore images may vary a great deal from person to person.

So,
To understand a person, best thing you can do is to try to visualize his/her images.
And, as a start, you can get that through what that someone writes and says.
Of course, no one can deny the value of in person/in flesh experience to get to know someone.
But the measure of knowledge you need to get a relation going is highly dependent on whatever you want to do with it.
All aspects of a person are not needed in every relationship.
As emotions, feelings, affection and love can be shared at different levels, sometimes even a few aspects would be enough, considering what level of relationship you pursue.
When a relation is based on correspondence, the range and type of personal information you need is different from when you are considering a proposal of marriage, isn't it?!!

Life is nothing but the complex of Me/Image/World.
I guess that explains why the way we react to the world around us, is first and foremost influenced by our attitude towards it; attitude being the way you pick your images.


When you see a rose what do you say?

1. Oh my! This thing has got thorns!
2. Oh my! This thorny stick has got a beautiful sweet-smelling flower with it!

Well? Which one is your choice?
That's your life!

“ Dear Friend, VIII ( The Evil Car ?! ) “

Dear Friend,
You asked me:
“Why do you believe in God?
Isn't He the all beneficent, all merciful almighty?
So, why doesn't he put an end to all this evil going on in the world? "

Well,
Here goes my answer:

I don't believe in a concept of God that intervenes in our worldly businesses.
I believe in our freedom of choice.
And hence, whatever injustice and ugliness you see –or whatever the reality is, regardless of judgment- is the direct result of this human freedom.

Also I believe that although you are free, you can't get away from the consequences of whatever you do.
There is not a personal God that will award/punish you for your actions.
It's the way this world works.
It reacts to you according to your being benevolent/malevolent, honest/dishonest, etc regardless of whatever you do.

Here is an example to clarify my point a little:
A car manufacturer (God) has given you the best car: your self.
And a road maker (also God!) has made you the best road: the world. (This is the concept of divine benevolence, according to me!)

And all the religions can do for you is to teach you how to drive your car. And inform you about the rules of the road.

But it can give you neither the map nor the destination.
You have got to choose your own destination and find your own way around.

Now, can the car manufacturer or the road makers be blamed for the reckless drivers and tragic accidents? (Where you might even hurt some other innocent driver who is being most careful.)
Who do you hold responsible for whatever happens when you are at the wheel? (Considering that the car + the road is ok!)

The only difference is that here you don't receive any speeding tickets from The Divine Police!
You drive carelessly, you have accidents.

This is the way it is.

" Who Am I ? "

Each and every human being has a concept of the self he/she is related to. And he lives for/by/with that concept.
It's all in our consciousness.
Even the part that questions the existence of a personal, individual core at all.

Now, of all these different elements forming our identity, which one is our real self?

The answer is: all and none.

Consider a tree.
It has: root, trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, blossoms, fruits…
So which one is the tree?
Is tree anything but each and every one of these?
But, could you point out each one and call it The Tree?

Maybe it's not the best example.
You can say that a tree is still a tree without its leaves or blossoms or fruits!
I know. It's just an example. You can think of better ones yourself!!

But what I am trying to say is that our self is constituted of different layers. Influenced by our genetics, environment, education…
And we are common in almost all of these factors in many aspects.

But what makes each individual unique is the exclusive combination of them all in each certain individual.
A common denominator of all the numbers adding up to our total self.
And this grand total is what makes us free from the determination of each of these constituents.


To realize all the different identities residing in our mind we need a little meditation.
When we try to put a little distance between ourselves and the multi-personal scene of babble inside us, we come to realize an original self that seems to be ever-observing all this commotion in process.

And this fundamental basis, though buried in the depth of our unconscious, is common in all humans. (However different and unique each one is in his/her details.)
In fact, it's what makes us defined as human beings in the first place.
And reaching towards that core could be the key to a universal understanding of good and bad.

" Path of Wisdom "

When you have good reasons for an idea, you accept it.
When you have good reasons against an idea you reject it.
And if the reasons for and against an idea have an equal share of validity?

You might choose to suspend deciding about it and take a neutral stand.
But what if this idea is not neutral in vivo?
What if it plays a significant role in your life?

In social affairs, I believe, the best solution to resort to democracy.
But how can each individual come to his/her own decision?

Here is the very moment that faith comes on stage.
To choose to believe or disbelieve in a statement, beyond questioning. In a non-logical way. (Non-logical is different from illogical.)

You believe or disbelieve, because it seems more suitable to you either way round.
Or because someone who seems to enjoy what you are looking for, believes in it.

Surely there is only one true answer to any question in this world.
And we have to do our best to get to it.
And as far as we can figure out things by our own analysis, I am all for logic.

But as you said, there are some certain questions the answer of which we cannot possibly know.
And that's why I believe no religion can claim the whole truth.

Religions help you in places where logic has no say so.
So, it's not the question of outside reality.
It's the matter of inside faith.

The answer is true because you want it to be true.
That's why I believe faith cannot be questioned.
Because it's either this or that.
And you have no way through logic to get to it.
You pick the answer that suits you best.

When I look at different religions, I see that they have had almost identical functions for their true followers: Bringing them peace, happiness and hope. Thus, a high level of self-satisfaction.
And so I can't but believe that whatever advantage they might have, lies in their common points, not contradictions.
Because the differences are due to the contingent factors of their origin and development. Not related to their basis.

So I believe in the credos that, in the first place, can't be answered by logic. And in the second place does not contradict the basic credos of another religion.

The variance in details is not so much important.
It's more a matter of taste!

I never interpret religious texts literally.َAnd
I believe there are buried treasures you should strive to extract.
You've got to be able to read between the lines.
And learn the methods not the verdicts.

Now, what does my faith consist of?
Three basic beliefs I guess. (Which is somehow common in all religions that I know of.)
1. This world is charged with the grandeur of a supreme, almighty, all wise, all benevolent being. Some call it God.
2. Whatever good or bad we do, returns to us. One way or another.
3. This life is not all there is. We don't end by death.


Of course, time definitely changes our views and ideas and… everything.
That's a good feature in a human being:
The ability to learn from one's past experiences.

You have to check and recheck your ideas constantly.
To see whether you can find any reasons for or against them.
With no dogmatism, which in many cases can be easily mistaken for faith.
Dogmatism is to believe in an idea and to believe it can never be proved otherwise.
And faith is to believe in an idea because it hasn't yet been proved wrong.

The key point is to never retire from hunting for truth.
And never to feel that you have the whole truth.
All you can have is a share, an image of the real thing. Like the thousand pictures reflected in each piece of a shattered mirror.
And all you can do is to never give up your pursuit.
And also never to stick to what you already got.
Always be ready to let go of the old ideas/habits/lifestyles… for the better wiser ones. And be willing to pay whatever price it takes.

This way you can guarantee that you are following the Path of Wisdom in your life.