Definition of Philosophy

The Giving Philosophy

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What is the logic behind the philosophy of giving ?  How much should we give?  To whom shall be give?  When shall be give? Why on earth should we give?

How much should we give?

“As much as we can” , such is the ideal answer to this question of how much.  There is a saying that we do not truly give unless it hurts to do so.  When we give something that is clearly in excess of what we need, we are expected to do that.  And because it does not  require considerable sacrifice on the part of the giver, it does not fully answer to the real essence of giving.

To whom shall we give?

By natural order, we give to our loved ones.  We reserve what we have and then pass it on to them because that is again an expected thing.  The meaning of giving is magnified when we give to those we don’t even know because we know they need it and we can help them through it.  It becomes even more noble when we give without being asked.

When shall we give?

The most obvious answer is: “At any time it is needed”.  Giving cannot be limited like a scheduled thing as in once a month or once a year.  We give because we see the need and we choose to act on it. 

Why on earth, should we give?

We give because it is part of our essence as a human being .  We are less of a human when all we know is how to take.  Giving makes us like ourselves more because it gives us a chance to discover something good in us.

People have not been created equal in terms of material wealth, talents, and physical attributes.  This truth provides us the chance to give where it would matter most.  By giving, we are able to share a part of us with others that will serve us in the end.

 

The Question of Free Will

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Man is especially proud of having free will – that which gives him the ability to make conscious choices without being limited by any form of constraint.  Whether this is true or not has been the subject of various contentions between philosophers.  Some view free will as an illusion created by man to attribute to himself a certain control over his destiny when in fact all his actions are but natural results of the process of cause and effect.

Going into the inner intricacies of personal philosophies about free will necessitate understanding about what freedom means to each mind.  When given a choice between good and bad, a person can choose the good and claim that he chooses to do so.  Others can contradict that the choice for the good is only a predisposition for something that has been decided in the past, meaning that the choice was made because it was pre-determined that it was the good thing to do.  This is then countered by the proponents of free will as a clear exercise of such ability since the person can always choose the bad and yet he doesn’t.  And so the circle of reasoning continues with each having a point against each other and yet being unable to fully convince people of their absoluteness.

Many religions point to a greater power who determines the destiny of each individual.  Science attributes genetics and biochemistry for predispositions.  Free will enters the picture when a decision is made in spite of such determinants and predispositions specially where there are no physical restraints that can affect the outcome.

There is a question of free will when in spite of absence of any constraint; a decision is arrived at due to necessity.  How much freedom does that represent when there is no other recourse aside from the chosen one?  Men bereft of the idea that they have free will turn out more fatalistic in nature being resigned to whatever life has in store for them.

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What is a Personal Philosophy?

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A personal philosophy sums up what we as a person value most in our lives.   It is a reflection of the heights we wish to achieve and provides a clear idea on how we intend to go about it.  A philosophy does not merely sound-off our wishes but the most fervent desires and beliefs that define who we are. 

Views and opinions may change in time but a philosophy remains fairly constant.  There may be changes in how it is said or written depending on the age and experience of a person but the underlying principles will be the same.  Thus, if a child is brought up in an environment of fairness and justice and effectively imbibe the related values, it would be a safe assumption to say that the philosophies he would later hold on to would be grounded on fairness and justice. 

This simply means that we do not just produce a philosophy out of the blue because it sounds good and is approved by our peers.  There is always a reason why a person comes up with a particular philosophy in life.  It is developed through time and cannot be convincingly created without any basis. 

Every person has a personal philosophy.  Whether it is articulated or not, it will dictate the actions and decisions we choose to make in life.  It forms part of our subconscious, telling us if we will be able to live with our decisions.  The moment we contradict our philosophy, internal chaos begins because we have assailed our own beliefs.

A clear personal philosophy serves as an effective guide while we try to negotiate our path towards our goals.  There will be many decisions to be made before we reach our objectives and the philosophy we hold in life will carry us throughout.  There are no hard-fast rules in forming one but it would probably be a lot better for humankind if the philosophies we fight for do not end up hurting another.

What You Need to Know about Chakras

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The word chakra originally came from Hindu texts which spoke about tantric traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism. The word was derived from In Sanskrit it means “wheel” or “turning” in Hindi. They are thought of as “wheel like vortices which can be found in the various points of the body of living things. They are seen as “force centers” that are filled with energy. Human bodies for example hold hundreds of these.

However, there are seven major energy centers which function as transmitters, receivers as well as processors of life energies. Every single point relays to our levels of consciousness. The different types of energies -physical, spiritual, emotional and mental all have distinct traits correspond to their respective functions, their connection to the many glands of the body’s endocrine system and the seven colors of the rainbow. These forces form a network within the body, mind and spirit which interrelates as a holistic system.

Understanding the various chakras enable us to understand ourselves and make use of these to build harmonious relationships and improve our selves including our physical and spiritual relationships. In a way they function as entrances where emotions flow into so that they are felt and expressed. The beliefs and attitudes we have created in our minds run through these chakras and then they are scattered to our organs and even the cells and tissues that comprise them.

Knowing how these influence our bodies and minds enable us to make better choices and decisions which are based on balance and awareness instead of running like a headless chicken when we are affected or swayed by forces we cannot control.

 

Image from Wikipedia