The words of Russell - arguably the coolest philosopher of our time

Earlier this morning, struggling from the last remnants of sleep, I went online like any other day. I came across some writings from Betrand Russell. Somehow I forgot I read a fair bit of Russell once in my life and I enjoyed it tremendously. Here's one passage that I have shared with few loved ones.. they know who they are.



Three passions have governed my life: The longings for love, the search for knowledge, And unbearable pity for the suffering of humanity.

Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness. In the union of love I have seen In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of [people]. I have wished to know why the stars shine.Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens, But always pity brought me back to earth; Cries of pain reverberated in my heart Of children in famine, of victims tortured And of old people left helpless. I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, And I too suffer.

This has been my life; I found it worth living.

I never fail to feel good each time I read these lines.

And in another one,

If throughout your life you abstain from murder, theft, fornication, perjury, blasphemy, and disrespect towards your parents, your Church, and your king, you are conventionally held to deserve moral admiration even if you have never done a single kind or generous or useful action. This very inadequate notion of virtue is an outcome of tabu morality, and has done untold harm.

Each time I read Russell, I find myself starting all over again. The importance of doing good and why it matters to others and also personally to my growth. Being kind and having goodness in your heart. I like to think I'll shape my life on such values and morals. Such conviction.  


Then one thought led to another. I am somewhat reminded about what Ernest Hemingway once said.. something about write the truest thing you know. I struggled with this a lot. While part of me aspires to do just that, the other half of me simply lacks the confidence and clarity needed to perform such a formidable task. And here I honestly say that I don't write beautifully, or even with much depth. My words are simple and in many ways, the emotions running through it all too familiar.

And it is a huge responsibility to write the truth. I see it as a privilege. Writing about what it true is not so much about the need to preserve a portion of one's history or memory of things. I have always thought memories are mostly reinventions. To me, this whole writing the truest thing I know is about me finding the words that best express those events and the truth they give me. I write about them because to me they matter to me, not anyone else. This I realised is not an easy process. I still endeavor to lead such a life although I know attaining it is as elusive as it gets. Regardless I keep these words close to my heart and on days when the world around me seems nauseating, I think of them and know that somehow they can make me feel slightly better. These words, although not mine, will continue to live on even after I ceased to be and my ashes becomes tiny speckles on this red red earth. For now, they inspire me.

by means of an introduction

Silent in Spring is a collection of ponderings, mindless mumblings, whimsical stories of my very small existence. Occasionally attached with photographs, some planned, many accidental.

I got the name from Rachel Carson's landmark book - Silent Spring. The book was published in 1962 and very much coincided with the beginning of the environmental movement in the West. Silent Spring essentially speaks about how the use of pesticides can have detrimental and far-reaching consequences. In the face of unlimited usage of pesticides and the likes, animals and humans will eventually face the same death.
The title was an allusion to the spring season where silence prevail because all the birds had died from pesticide poisoning.

No birds, no songs, silence in spring, silent in spring.

If you have not read the book, have a go... it might inspire you.

You can find out more about Rachel Carson and her works at www.rachelcarson.org

Jervis Bay, Australia

Oh, one of my favourite pictures from times in Down Under! This was one good weekend. Rented a huge vacation house, with loads to eat and drink and good friends. Winter 2006.

Funeral Blues

I thought I'll start by sharing one of my favorite poems by W.H. Auden. Funeral Blues. Fell in love with this one. Typically depressing but then again I enjoy reading Schopenhauer.

***
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear white cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song,
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods,
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
***

Let's start

Today I decided to start a blog after many failed attempts. Patience and writing do not always go hand in hand for me. But I will try - again. Should I fail to keep this up, at least I tried. I could safely say that. Part of the reason why I want to write again is because very soon (in less than a week), I am going to embark on a new journey in my life. I will be moving to a far away continent and for all the crazy reasons - I am going to pack my bags and moved halfway across the world for a boy. Crazy yes. But I'd rather try than not. 

As such, this space is my way of keeping friends, loved ones, strangers and you posted on my random stories, sights, thoughts and what-nots on my upcoming journey. For now, my life looks like a gelatinous puddle of uncertainty. This posting marks the end of my term in Canberra, my hurried return to Singapore and my upcoming adventures.

I hope to use this blog as a means for me to express, explore, experience and experiment with life and things in general. What I know and what I don't coming together.

To my loving friends, forgive me for any random inklings and thoughts that may not necessarily make perfect sense. If you should spend two minutes reading this, I hope you go on and for that, I thank you.

So here goes. Fingers and toes crossed.