Manifestation of our existence in this world is mandatory !
Exams, Marcus Aurelius, and the Lesser Struggle
"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." – Marcus Aurelius
I’m sorry to have kept you all waiting — my exams were on.
They went well, by the grace of God and your prayers.
I’ve always thought the whole point of exams is to grind our knowledge until it’s so finely powdered that we forget it right after writing the paper. Just joking. Don’t take me too seriously here — although, let’s be honest, there’s a grain of truth in it.
Yes, it was a struggle, but life continues. And until we attain liberation or salvation, there’s no stopping. In fact, even attaining liberation, salvation, or moksha is a bigger struggle — so for now, I’ll stick with this lesser struggle instead.
Western Philosophy: After Aristotle Came the Party
In the vast realm of Western philosophy, after Aristotle, there was a dramatic shift — the Hellenistic schools arrived: Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics, and later, the Neo-Platonists.
Personally, I’m a fan of the Stoics and the Platonists, but let’s start with the Cynics.
Cynics – The “Dog-like” Philosophers
The word “Cynic” literally means “dog-like” (look it up later).
They believed in living according to natural law, valuing virtue above all. Desires? Rejected. (Yes, I know, everyone says that.) They valued freedom, were outspoken, shameless, and mostly focused on ethics. Their founder was Antisthenes.
Epicureans – Pleasure with a Philosophy
Epicureans were a different flavor — they embraced hedonism but not in the “eat cake all day” way. They valued kinetic pleasure (active pleasures) and katastematic pleasure (stable, long-lasting pleasures).
Epicurus’ famous Four-Part Cure was:
-
Don’t fear gods.
-
Don’t fear death.
-
What is good is easy to get.
-
What is bad is easy to endure.
His philosophy is known as the Garden Philosophy. Oh, and here’s a confession — in the exam, I accidentally wrote this part for someone else’s answer. Yes, tension in life is real.
Epicurus also delved into physics and cosmology, speaking about atoms and the void. He divided desires into:
-
Natural and necessary
-
Natural and unnecessary
-
Vain and empty
He even got into the whole determinism vs. indeterminism debate, starting the endless “cause and effect” discussion that the entire universe seems to be trying to answer — like a never-ending merry-go-round.
Skeptics – The Masters of Doubt
Skeptics claimed that true knowledge is impossible to obtain. Imagine if they said this today — all exams would have been canceled!
They introduced epistemological doubt and rejected the possibility of certainty. They raised the problem of the criterion (how do we know what we know?) and practiced suspension of judgment, refusing to commit to any belief.
Stoics – My Granny’s Philosophy
The Stoics followed earlier thinkers and emphasized the dichotomy of control: some things are within our control, others aren’t — realize this, and you’ll live better.
My granny always spoke about this, and what she said was true. I miss her deeply and don’t know when I’ll see her again.
Stoics believed God is in the world and part of it. They promoted a strict life of indifference. Personally, I think indifference can make you a cold person — so maybe I’ll apply it to myself but not when relating to others.
Neo-Platonists – Mystics of the Mind
The Platonists spoke of religion and metaphysics. They proposed four grades of reality:
-
The Monos (The One)
-
The Nous (Divine Mind)
-
The World Soul
-
Matter
They believed in a free-flowing transfer of energy called emanation.
I think beyond ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, there’s a world of emotions — a realm where God abides, into which our conscience flows, where true companionship and unity in spirit exist. Maybe that’s the world I’m seeking.
Indian Philosophy: Jainism and the Nature of the Self
Shifting to Indian philosophy — Jainism is entirely focused on achieving salvation or moksha.
It’s a race to remove karmic particles to attain godhood. The soul’s inherent nature is infinite happiness, power, and consciousness. Souls become unequal later because of karma.
Jains believe the universe consists of Jiva (soul) and Ajiva (non-conscious matter — including matter, motion, rest, space, and time). Karmic particles attach to the soul, causing internal bondage, which leads to material bondage.
Their three jewels are:
-
Right conduct
-
Right faith
-
Right knowledge
Often, we think Jain life revolves around the 12 vows and 5 vows — but to me, their way is subtler. They know who they are, and life follows that awareness.
They even have something Ignatian in spirit — the idea of choosing the lesser evil.
Jain sects include the Svetambaras and the Digambaras. I’m fascinated by the Digambaras, who wear nothing and live in total renunciation.
Sometimes I introspect and realize I’ve started living life as it flows — without much complaining. Yes, I do complain sometimes, but mostly, I’ve accepted it. Deep down, I hope some divine power is controlling all this. Still, I want to live a life my heart desires — and I’m waiting. Waiting and waiting. The time will come.
Causality, Prakriti, and Purusa
In Indian philosophy, there’s a debate on causality: the effect is in the cause. The proofs include:
-
Non-existent things cannot be produced.
-
Something must produce something.
-
Not everything can produce everything.
-
The cause contains the potentiality of the effect.
-
The nature of the cause and effect is the same.
Then there’s the understanding of the self:
-
Prakriti – unconscious, subtle matter that governs the universe.
-
Purusa – conscious self.
Prakriti is made of three gunas:
-
Sattva
-
Rajas
-
Tamas
Like everything in Indian philosophy, there’s argument after argument, with proofs for Prakriti such as:
-
All things are limited.
-
All things have their own ontological order.
-
Activity results from a cause.
-
Cause and effect are distinct.
-
Ultimately, cause and effect are one.
To me, Indian philosophy is the evolution story of the self.
Reflections: Nature, Tribals, and the Heart
From childhood, I’ve been drawn to Indian epics and stories, shaped by my inter-religious upbringing. I’ve lived among people who were diamonds in nature and character, and I have friends who are gems in themselves.
I admire tribal life — their harmony with nature, their interdependence, their togetherness through every transition. Everything they do is for the good of the community. Their common goal? Peace of mind.
In life, my dear friends, never forget your mistakes or your victories — they shape you. Life favors those who strive hard.
In this quest to understand God, the world, the universe, and nature — never forget your heart. That’s where God speaks. I know this isn’t strictly philosophical, but it’s what I believe.
"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." – Marcus Aurelius
I’m sorry to have kept you all waiting — my exams were on.
They went well, by the grace of God and your prayers.
I’ve always thought the whole point of exams is to grind our knowledge until it’s so finely powdered that we forget it right after writing the paper. Just joking. Don’t take me too seriously here — although, let’s be honest, there’s a grain of truth in it.
Yes, it was a struggle, but life continues. And until we attain liberation or salvation, there’s no stopping. In fact, even attaining liberation, salvation, or moksha is a bigger struggle — so for now, I’ll stick with this lesser struggle instead.
Western Philosophy: After Aristotle Came the Party
In the vast realm of Western philosophy, after Aristotle, there was a dramatic shift — the Hellenistic schools arrived: Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics, and later, the Neo-Platonists.
Personally, I’m a fan of the Stoics and the Platonists, but let’s start with the Cynics.
Cynics – The “Dog-like” Philosophers
The word “Cynic” literally means “dog-like” (look it up later).
They believed in living according to natural law, valuing virtue above all. Desires? Rejected. (Yes, I know, everyone says that.) They valued freedom, were outspoken, shameless, and mostly focused on ethics. Their founder was Antisthenes.
Epicureans – Pleasure with a Philosophy
Epicureans were a different flavor — they embraced hedonism but not in the “eat cake all day” way. They valued kinetic pleasure (active pleasures) and katastematic pleasure (stable, long-lasting pleasures).
Epicurus’ famous Four-Part Cure was:
-
Don’t fear gods.
-
Don’t fear death.
-
What is good is easy to get.
-
What is bad is easy to endure.
His philosophy is known as the Garden Philosophy. Oh, and here’s a confession — in the exam, I accidentally wrote this part for someone else’s answer. Yes, tension in life is real.
Epicurus also delved into physics and cosmology, speaking about atoms and the void. He divided desires into:
-
Natural and necessary
-
Natural and unnecessary
-
Vain and empty
He even got into the whole determinism vs. indeterminism debate, starting the endless “cause and effect” discussion that the entire universe seems to be trying to answer — like a never-ending merry-go-round.
Skeptics – The Masters of Doubt
Skeptics claimed that true knowledge is impossible to obtain. Imagine if they said this today — all exams would have been canceled!
They introduced epistemological doubt and rejected the possibility of certainty. They raised the problem of the criterion (how do we know what we know?) and practiced suspension of judgment, refusing to commit to any belief.
Stoics – My Granny’s Philosophy
The Stoics followed earlier thinkers and emphasized the dichotomy of control: some things are within our control, others aren’t — realize this, and you’ll live better.
My granny always spoke about this, and what she said was true. I miss her deeply and don’t know when I’ll see her again.
Stoics believed God is in the world and part of it. They promoted a strict life of indifference. Personally, I think indifference can make you a cold person — so maybe I’ll apply it to myself but not when relating to others.
Neo-Platonists – Mystics of the Mind
The Platonists spoke of religion and metaphysics. They proposed four grades of reality:
-
The Monos (The One)
-
The Nous (Divine Mind)
-
The World Soul
-
Matter
They believed in a free-flowing transfer of energy called emanation.
I think beyond ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology, there’s a world of emotions — a realm where God abides, into which our conscience flows, where true companionship and unity in spirit exist. Maybe that’s the world I’m seeking.
Indian Philosophy: Jainism and the Nature of the Self
Shifting to Indian philosophy — Jainism is entirely focused on achieving salvation or moksha.
It’s a race to remove karmic particles to attain godhood. The soul’s inherent nature is infinite happiness, power, and consciousness. Souls become unequal later because of karma.
Jains believe the universe consists of Jiva (soul) and Ajiva (non-conscious matter — including matter, motion, rest, space, and time). Karmic particles attach to the soul, causing internal bondage, which leads to material bondage.
Their three jewels are:
-
Right conduct
-
Right faith
-
Right knowledge
Often, we think Jain life revolves around the 12 vows and 5 vows — but to me, their way is subtler. They know who they are, and life follows that awareness.
They even have something Ignatian in spirit — the idea of choosing the lesser evil.
Jain sects include the Svetambaras and the Digambaras. I’m fascinated by the Digambaras, who wear nothing and live in total renunciation.
Sometimes I introspect and realize I’ve started living life as it flows — without much complaining. Yes, I do complain sometimes, but mostly, I’ve accepted it. Deep down, I hope some divine power is controlling all this. Still, I want to live a life my heart desires — and I’m waiting. Waiting and waiting. The time will come.
Causality, Prakriti, and Purusa
In Indian philosophy, there’s a debate on causality: the effect is in the cause. The proofs include:
-
Non-existent things cannot be produced.
-
Something must produce something.
-
Not everything can produce everything.
-
The cause contains the potentiality of the effect.
-
The nature of the cause and effect is the same.
Then there’s the understanding of the self:
-
Prakriti – unconscious, subtle matter that governs the universe.
-
Purusa – conscious self.
Prakriti is made of three gunas:
-
Sattva
-
Rajas
-
Tamas
Like everything in Indian philosophy, there’s argument after argument, with proofs for Prakriti such as:
-
All things are limited.
-
All things have their own ontological order.
-
Activity results from a cause.
-
Cause and effect are distinct.
-
Ultimately, cause and effect are one.
To me, Indian philosophy is the evolution story of the self.
Reflections: Nature, Tribals, and the Heart
From childhood, I’ve been drawn to Indian epics and stories, shaped by my inter-religious upbringing. I’ve lived among people who were diamonds in nature and character, and I have friends who are gems in themselves.
I admire tribal life — their harmony with nature, their interdependence, their togetherness through every transition. Everything they do is for the good of the community. Their common goal? Peace of mind.
In life, my dear friends, never forget your mistakes or your victories — they shape you. Life favors those who strive hard.
In this quest to understand God, the world, the universe, and nature — never forget your heart. That’s where God speaks. I know this isn’t strictly philosophical, but it’s what I believe.
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