Category: All Writings
The Cultural Significance of Music Through the Ages
The Evolution of Music: A Historical Perspective Music has undergone a remarkable transformation, reflecting the societal values, technological advancements, and artistic movements of various cultures throughout history. From its inception in ancient civilizations to contemporary genres, the evolution of music is intrinsic to the human experience. In ancient times, music primarily served practical purposes, such…
The Rise of Coffee: From Bean to Beloved Brew
A Brief History of Coffee The origins of coffee can be traced back to the ancient coffee forests of Ethiopia, where legend asserts that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the energizing effects of coffee beans. His goats reportedly became frisky after consuming the berries from the coffee tree, leading Kaldi to try them himself.…
The Architects of Civilization: How Creators and Manufacturers Drive Progress
The Role of Creators in Civilization Throughout history, creators—encompassing artists, inventors, and philosophers—have been fundamental in shaping the trajectory of civilization. Their contributions have not only redefined cultural paradigms but have also driven intellectual progress and innovation. By leveraging imagination, creators have often paved the way for significant societal changes, introducing new ideas and practices…
Why appreciating beauty is important – indeed, necessary – in our lives?
Understanding Beauty: A Philosophical Perspective The concept of beauty has intrigued philosophers for centuries, creating a rich tapestry of interpretations that reflect not only aesthetic values but also the deeper essence of human experience. From Plato to Kant, thinkers have theorized about beauty as both an objective quality and a subjective experience. Plato suggested that…
Could L-Arginine help with Long Covid? Some findings through my habit of searching for solutions
I came across the idea in a very matter-of-fact way as part of the process of researching on Amazon, of all places. I looked at L-Arginine and considered its benefits in relation to what I had learned about Long Covid in the past couple of years.
The Waltz Garden – a place of magic.
It is really my wish from the writing of this piece, that those who read it come to think of The Waltz Garden as having a permanent place among the gardens they know of. That they come to think of it as unique. By no means has this garden reached its zenith. It is still…
The WG magic speaks first, unhindered
While I was taking the time to select from among the postings of The Waltz Garden, there were some starting from the beginning of 2020, that stood out. Actually, there isn’t any that does not stand out. These simply became instances that could be chosen from a list, where nothing deserves to be ignored.
Does having knowledge of evil cause a person to commit evil?
One thing, though, is the repeated attempt toward good and the desire for such. Yes, one does think of finally having arrived at a place, to a state of solution from which evil no longer rises. Philosophers have wanted that; religious texts speak of it. Both of these in the ideas of Utopia, of Paradise,…
The young people’s search for optimism and for hope
Even personal problems, if constantly ruminated on, can drown any person’s enthusiasm. The young people of our day have the chance to leverage historically unparalleled resources and make a real difference.
A fondness for the fountain pen, but more so, for writing by hand
“To sit at one’s table on a sunny morning, with four clear hours of uninterruptible security, plenty of nice white paper, and a fountain pen — that is true happiness.” – Winston Churchill
Remembering Sir Roger Scruton
A great thinker does not need the endorsement of others. Before the content of his thoughts, which, if they happen to point to truths, his ability stands itself as the gift exemplified. Sir Roger Scruton (27 February 1944 -12 January 2020) shall be remembered as one such thinker.
About creating art by going outside of contemplating the process
Creating anything is art. It is an act of art that goes through a process. Whether one is consciously and methodically following a method like Sherlock Holmes, the detective, or spontaneously giving rise to art, creating is a process. Creation lies in moving beyond the stage when one is about creating; one, then, moves outside…
An eye for potential vindicated through actions
The ability to perceive, and to look deeper than mere appearances is a truly wonderful gift. Deeper insight is in the very constitution of some from birth. For others, it can at best be a gained skill. While for the former it comes effortlessly and naturally, for the latter it comes as a labored, deliberate…
Discovering optimistic individuals and their contribution to our world
In this interconnected modern world, there are possibilities like never before. The possibility of discovering optimistic individuals who can contribute positively to our world is definitely there. It is with optimism for such a possibility that enormous efforts have been made. From a local level to the global, this possibility drives so much human communication.…
John Steinbeck about understanding people
John Steinbeck is a great writer, as the Nobel committee seemed to have suggested. He answered the recognition in his own way. It is a pleasure even reading his quotes. As he says, understanding other people – that would seem rather obvious to be the cornerstone of communal living, of individuals co-existing in society. While…
Working with artists on Twitter – a privilege, a pleasure
I was just recalling in the last post about how more of my time was spent engaging with others. A lot of that engagement did come through Twitter. As many have found, it is a medium that allows for speed and brevity. Brevity, too, is not so much an issue now because it is easy…
Returning to writing after a gap
There is the possibility for greater communication through writing – much of it finding efficacy and peace due to privacy. Social networking seems to have put all that used to remain private out in the open. Maybe, there is still a getting used to this and a regaining of balance.
Creators’ Lives: The Need to Turn and Change
To the many creators among us, David J Rogers has these words of encouragement, coming from his experience and observation. He wants to encourage realization coming from within the creator’s mind itself. This ought to be recognized, and commended. I’ve met many quietly magnificently gifted people who frustrate me and whom I’ve felt like shaking…
We have the basis, the infrastructure to develop upon – further thoughts from Jeff Bezos
We have the basis today for a life hardly conceivable even a few decades ago. Great strides have been made, thanks to science, architecture, and the development of the arts through its expressions. A young person today can work at home, and then, walk to the nearest coffee shop. There he can sit alone or…
Jeff Bezos’s view of the world and his understanding of the future
Jeff Bezos, like others, has a worldview. A view of the world, or also called worldview, is such a fundamental part of our thinking. As one approaches toward the end of one’s expected life, one finds that it is this view that was guiding him as a person. Jeff Bezos’s view of the world would…
Solitude to sustain and nourish “The self”
The self is one of the earliest realities a person becomes aware of. Right from the time a child is born, he becomes aware of his own self. He senses and responds to his environment. He feels hunger, pain, and also the pleasurable sensations of being held and fed. In all of this, the child…
The adaptable self through the connections
The idea of the self is important and very clearly seen in human thinking. It is because humans are intelligent and aware. This consciousness we have through the workings of instincts, as well as very complex emotions, leads to the self. What the self is, becomes clear as it continues to be defined by experiences. …
Edward Hopper – The Book of Life
Edward Hopper is a painter of gloomy-looking paintings which don’t make us feel gloomy. Instead, they help us to recognise and accept the loneliness that so often lies at the heart of sadness. In his Automat, a woman sits alone drinking a cup of coffee. It is late and, to judge by her hat and coat,…
The continued need for writing
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”— Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the…
Ineffable
“Ineffable” is a post from the Renegade Press. The writer, Chris Nicholas, admits to his feelings of inadequacy and the later surprise at his own success. Presented below are three excerpts from his post, followed by the chance to buy his book, You. I’m thrilled about my future as both a writer and a man.…
Realization and changes
There is a lot in life that depends upon realization. We have the information before us a lot of the times. The judgments as to whether that information is correct or not are important but remain secondary. The more important factor is to move from interacting with the information and move on to the point…
Keeping some confidence in other human beings
It is difficult to communicate with others if you do not have any confidence in them. One of the things that make being a human special is the ability to communicate. It is the ability to put thoughts into words that make us unique. It is also, thus, reasonable to conclude that we alone are…
A fascination with wrist watches
I remember, as a young boy, this fascination with wristwatches. At the time, there was no deep philosophical reason for it. Watches simply were machines to be fascinated with. The way these were designed; how methodical and systematic was the movement of the hands to show the minutes, hours, and seconds! Specifically, some of the…
The notches on tools and the end of the world
We are surrounded by tools. From the ordinary nail cutter to the kitchen knife, to our smartwatches, mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, and computers. Tools of all different kinds are all around us as evidence of human ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Somewhere, someone saw a need and decided to create a solution for it. In that creating…
Myths give us power – The Power of myth
Source: Myths give us power – The Power of myth When we think of a myth, we tend to think of old stories. Those stories may be real, or at least what we have come to think of as real. Or those stories may be so far removed from how we understand life, we may…
