“In fact no one recognizes the happiest moment of their lives as they are living it. It may well be that, in a moment of joy, one might sincerely believe that they are living that golden instant “now,” even having lived such a moment before, but whatever they say, in one part of their hearts they still believe in the certainty of a happier moment to come.”
Orhan Pamuk
When we blow out the sacred flame in a temple, we cast our own impurities onto what symbolizes the Buddha’s wisdom and clarity. Therefore, it’s best to extinguish it gently—out of respect and mindfulness—rather than use our breath.
Root is a concept I have been thinking and writing about a lot lately. In my opinion, it represents stability, culture, identity and anything that creates a sense of balance in life. More importantly, it is what connects you to your past like a strong chain. In many martial arts styles, one of the first lessons is to develop a firm stance or “strong roots.” This grounding is crucial not just for balance and stability, but also for generating power.
I was watching this scene from the Marco Polo series where Kublai Khan was criticized about embracing Chinese traditions in his Mongol court. It reminded me of Graham Fuller’s insight in Turkey’s New Geopolitics: “Historically, the Ottomans, and later other external powers, discovered that occupying a region was only the first step. The deeper challenge lay in truly integrating or ‘digesting’ the societies, cultures, and identities they had swallowed.”
History shows that great powers like the Mongols, Ottomans and Alexander the Great often ended up being absorbed by the cultures they conquered, from marrying into local families to proudly adopting new identities. The cultural, religious, and historical roots run deep and they almost always reassert themselves despite superpower’s best attempts at conquering people.
Today, I called my professor to thank him for everything he had done throughout the course. As we spoke, he became emotional and shared a Shakespearean quote : “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” In that instant, I had a satori moment of enlightenment. :)
Loved this lecture by Dr. Ghomshei. Two people were watching a movie where a white horse and a black horse were racing. They decided to bet on which horse would win. One bet on the white horse, the other on the black. The white horse won. The winner hesitated to accept the winnings. When asked why he replied It doesn’t feel right to take the money, as I have seen this movie three times and knew the outcome. The other one said I have seen it five times yet I still hoped for a different ending!
Dr. Ghomshei uses this story to illustrate that we often hope for different destinies and outcomes even when the ending is predetermined. He compares this to life: we have seen this “movie” before and know what happens to those who stray from the path of righteousness. If you are unaware, read history to see what befell those who were tyrants or deviated from the right path. He emphasizes that it’s impossible for the ending to change. We have seen the cosmic movie—in the end, light prevails over darkness, and righteousness triumphs.
“Races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth.” This quote from Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude was on my mind today to write about. It is a major tension in the novel whether fate is determined by external factors such as prophecy or destiny or one’s own choices or free will. Is what we call identity something we are born with? What happens if I deny my roots? If I change my name to Johnny for example, and change the color of my skin and eyes—you know what I mean, the facade—do I really become Johnny? I have always wanted to be a buddhist monk meditating somewhere in South Asia in my dreams. If I do so, is that really going to be me? Or am I going to be rootless and fragile endlessly swept around like tumbleweeds in a desert?
This scene from the movie Dances with Wolves: Just before John Dunbar’s marriage to Stands with a Fist, he shares a meaningful conversation with Wind in His Hair who was the best friend of Stands with a Fist’s late husband. Wind in His Hair mentions that he didn’t like Dunbar when they first met and confesses his own anger issues. This honest admission indicates self-awareness.
He believes that his best friend’s death was part of a greater destiny that allowed Dunbar to become part of their lives. This perspective shows a beautiful surrender to faith, accepting that some things are beyond our control.
Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it faith stepping into the darkness and accepting that some things are determined for us, even if we have no control over them? Wind in His Hair accepts his anger as part of who he is. By being aware of his shortcomings, he doesn’t resist them but acknowledges them openly. This acceptance doesn’t signify weakness but rather strength in recognizing and embracing his true self.
Through this acceptance, he finds closure over his best friend’s death. He understands that his friend’s passing paved the way for John Dunbar’s arrival, and this realization allows him to move forward with peace in his heart.
I love this part of King Lear: Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. That’s when the king asks Cordelia, his youngest daughter to flatter him in order to receive a part of his kingdom. Cordelia simply refuses excessive flattery:
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less. You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I Return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Integrity is a virtue, yet in a cruel transactional world it condemns one to downfall, as it happens to Cordelia.
P.S. Akira Kurosawa’s Ran is the best adaptation of King lear in my humble opinion.
Located in a Vietnamese coffee shop: painting of a Vietnamese girl wearing a traditional hat (non la) and dress (ao dai). The painting has a certain elegance to it and I found myself staring at the artwork for a long time.
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
The first step to love…. Deny your name.. Deny yourself..
This amazing scene from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… reflects profound teachings rooted in Zen, focusing on compassion and the weight of karmic consequences. a young Shami (novice monk) goes around harming animals near the temple, tying stones to a snake, fish and a frog a forbidden act in Zen Buddhism to disrupt the natural order and causing suffering to the creatures.
Having seen the boy’s actions one day the master waits until the boy is asleep and then ties a stone to the his back. The master does this so the boy can feel the same burden and pain that he inflicted on the animals. The master’s intention is to teach the boy compassion, showing that harming other beings no matter how small, reveals a lack of awareness and empathy.
The powerful lesson comes when the master instructs the boy to go and relieve the animals of their pain and suffering. The master tells the shami that if the snake or fish are dead the boy will carry the weight of that stone in his heart for the rest of his life. This is a reminder of our actions and their consequences that stay with us throughout our lives. Some actions we take never truly leave us, like throwing a stone into a still pond creating ripples that continue to spread endlessly. Indeed like throwing a stone into a still pond…
Today, I am babysitting. An acquaintance unexpectedly asked me to take care of her little son while she took her exam and she would come to pick him up afterward. Little Arian and I went to a coffee shop. He is a curious boy, nine years old, and he tries to connect with everyone in the coffee shop and I’m trying to get him to eat his breakfast while we chat. He loves sugary food and drinks, and I’m trying to convince him not to have so much of it.
To my surprise, little Arian could keep up with all the conversations about school, food and culture. We even talked about Shahnameh, and to my surprise, he knew about some of the characters. I found that remarkable for a kid who was born and grew up here in the US.
While encouraging him to eat more protein, I tell him, “You know … not everything that tastes good is good for you.” The mischievous boy keeps smiling and saying “But it feels good!”
I was asking myself how could his mom trust me to take care of her little son? I think sometimes life doesn’t leave us with many choices. Then I remembered my own mom. Whenever she had to teach a class I recall Shiraz University’s large, beautiful campus vividly, with this huge glass kiosk in the middle. My mom used to take me to the kiosk, hand me a children’s magazine Keyhane Bacheha and ask the security guard to watch over me until she finished her class.
Now that I remember she used to do the same thing, but— and there is a huge condition here—it was always a specific guard she trusted. If that particular guard wasn’t there, my mom would take me to her classroom, have me sit in the back with the other students, while she lectured.
I don’t know how my mom’s intuition worked but the the experience today made me reflect and appreciate the trust.
:) I’m hoping to keep my integrity intact until I hand this mischievous boy back!
One must always see big. Greatness is in the gaze, not in what one looks at.
André Gide
Spielberg produced this striking movie back in 2001, and I personally love the opening scene where Professor Hobby tries to convince the company’s board to create a robot child for childless couples. He discusses advancements in neural networks and language models, which have become complex enough to perform many tasks, including love.
Professor Hobby asks Sheila, a robot woman, “What is love?” Sheila responds by listing the physiological impacts of love on the body. This shows that in the age of artificial intelligence, where language models interpret concepts in various ways, we need a beacon—a reference point—and that could be philosophy.
disciplines like philosophy and logic will soon return to organize these concepts. What is true love? Does it include altruism? Are we talking about the philosophy of love? In some beliefs, God is seen as true love, and men and women can only see the reflection of his love through each other.
One board member then asks a moral question: if a robot child is made to love humans, can a human love the robot back? Professor Hobby responds by asking, “When God created Adam, did He create Adam to love Him?” This highlights the conundrum of love. Is love to be reciprocated? Didn’t God give Adam ability to exercise his free will to whether love him back or not? Are humans in a similar situation now? If they design robots that can love unconditionally, is it genuine love? or just simulating love?
The world may never see an actress of the stature of Irene Papas. In this famous scene from the classic Antigone, she defies Creon’s edict by burying her brother, Polyneices. Unapologetic for her actions, she states the most famous quote of the act: “I was born to love, not to hate.” A reminder that the laws of heaven are above those of man.
We don’t always have the chance to see ancient texts that tell us what our ancestors were thinking. If you are curious about how people told stories around 2000 BC in Mesopotamia, you should read the Epic of Gilgamesh. It gives us a peek into what was on their minds back then. Themes like friendship and yearning for immortality. Desires that still resonate with us today.
The story is originally written on 12 clay tablets, and just take a look at how they start the first chapter:
He who saw the Deep, the country’s foundation, [Who] knew… , was wise in all matters! [Gilgamesh, who] saw the Deep, the country’s foundation, [Who] knew…., was wise in all matters!
This conversation between King Baldwin and Balian of Ibelin is a masterclass, especially for those who appreciate history. The King talks about the burden of responsibility. Even when men in positions of power are moved, one’s soul remains in his own keeping. And when you stand before God, you cannot say, “But I was told by others to do thus.” I was thinking about how many who committed atrocities throughout history, when brought to justice, claimed they were simply following orders.
In a different soundbite the King mentions that when he was 16, he won a great victory, and in that moment, he felt like he would live to be 100, but now he knows he shall not see 30. This immediately reminded me of Shah Ismail Safavi, and it’s on my mind to write about it..
A love as transformative as Boyle’s law! Pressure builds, love ignites :). My all-time favorite moment with Cuba Gooding Jr. and the beautiful Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
I was reading up on Kabuki and came across this interesting picture that shows the significance of how different characters hold a pipe and what is revealing about their social status. In Kabuki, every gesture is choreographed, and even the way a pipe is held carries meaning. The Warrior (top left) grips the pipe in the middle, symbolizing balance and control and reflecting his readiness for combat. The trader (top right) holds the pipe with a casual and refined grip, indicating his comfortable and leisurely life in society. The farmer (bottom left) holds the pipe tightly, showing his hardworking, grounded nature. Look! the gambler (bottom right) is holding the pipe loosely by the tail end, demonstrating a carefree, risky, and possibly arrogant attitude.
When I was a kid, I loved reading simplified stories for children based on Rumi’s poetry. My favorite stories were Moses and the Shepherd, The Merchant and the Parrot, The People Arguing Over Grapes, and The King and the Handmaiden. These stories were funny and engaging, though some in the original text for the adults felt a bit deep or even forbidden for a child.
As I grew older, I realized these stories were from Rumi’s Masnavi, a collection of poems filled with deep meanings. Rumi was clever! like a tree spreading seeds through the sweetness of its fruit, he used these stories to draw readers in, planting ideas that would reveal their full meaning as I grew older. It’s not about saying he made me wise, but he had a way of planting thoughts that grew and deepened over time.
I’m reading my favorite part of Edward FitzGerald’s translation of Omar Khayyam and thinking you ill, ill twist of fate.
“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
We are the flower, thou the sun! Forgive us, if as days decline
— Emily Dickinson
beautiful Black-eyed Susans in northern Maryland.
Adieu, Samouraï 🖤
Among Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar adaptations, Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1953 film is a favorite of mine. Marlon Brando wrote in his autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me about the challenges and uncertainties he faced acting alongside great English actors like John Gielgud and James Mason. My favorite scene is where Caesar talking to Mark Antony and pointing to Cassius and says “Let me have men about me that are fat Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o’ nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look He thinks too much such men are dangerous.
