Age-Old Gyaan

For a few years now,I've been scouring the Internet,TOI and any other medium I can lay my hands on, to find proverbs,philosophical quotes,and general food for thought. Once just a source of exercise for my brain cells,this has been a full fledged hobby for a considerable amount of time.

   Although some may argue that this philosophy business,the proverbs,the quotations,and what are  generally perceived as the 'to do' and 'how to' lists of life are not something to be spoon fed,and that wisdom is best acquired through personal realization,I think the gyaan left behind by wise men of the old times is certainly something one can take along as a handy manual.

  I agree with the view that the things wise old men have said, are, at best, Utopian in today's day and age. A man of values is often a beggar while a dishonest Nizam reaps the rewards of his skulduggery.That said though, even if we practise a small fraction of these old truths,take what is relevant today, our lives would be so much better, in all respects.

  Come to think of it, even if we take it as a casual reading, there is lots to gain from these things.For me, too, it started just as a read, but the more you delve into the wisdom of people like Kautilya, Plato,Nietzsche,etc, we find that most things there,can be incorporated into our lives today.

Some of the recently read ones that I liked are as follows:

1. Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.

                                                                                                        --Friedrich Nietzsche

2. Since it is all too clear,it takes time to grasp it. When you understand that it's foolish to look for fire with fire, The meal is already cooked.

                                                                                                        --Zen Proverb

3. All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.

                                                                                                        --Dhammapada (126)

4. The Obstacle is the path

                             --Unknown


5. It is a cart if it goes well,otherwise,it is but timber
                             --Unknown



6. Justice without force is powerless,but force without justice is tyrannical.
                                                                             --Blaise Pascal

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