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Planning Document
Working Title: (Untitled)
Philosophical Histories (written Feb. 28, 2004)
It really began with Bruce Lee.
Granted, now, I had my little
this-and-thats in elementary school, and I recall convictions in myself
about how I would somehow circumvent my parents and keep my kids away
from Christianity. But it was in middle school that my mind Awakened,
to use Buddhist terminology, with realizations on various levels.
The first: the denial of friendship.
Burdens,
weights, unnecessary baggage you're better off not hauling about. Sixth
grade was arguably the most turbulent time of my life. It burned me and
I carry the pains I took from that year with me even today. But come
seventh grade, I began recollecting the reality and necessity of
friendship and compassion.
The weekly hours spent in Santa Clara
City Library were crucial to my development, both in philosophy and in
character. "Emotionally scarred?" I remarked to someone then, "I'm
emotionally dead." This was about the time when I formulated the Body,
Mind, Heart, Soul model that I still hold, but with some trepidation,
today.
The second: the rejection of divinity.
A friend of
mine who encouraged my philosophy (to whom I owe some debt) was treated
to two of my expository pieces in 10th grade. One was about change. The
other about the falseness of a deity. The former was inspired by
Pocahontas, and I later found out was deeply akin to Heraclitus. The
second was a standard explanation for the conception of deity: natural
phenomenon given human characteristic.
But I learned of Bruce
Lee in eighth grade. In my deep interest in martial arts, I picked up
his book on Jeet Kune Do and learned the art as best I could. I read
The Art of Gung Fu as well, but I was never as deeply entrenched in
that. By this time, it was ninth grade and my highschool reputation was
well under construction. Carrying these books aided it.
The third: the imperative of compassion
After
thorough research into the Book of Revelation and pondering of the End
Times, I discarded my investigation into the possibilities of
cessation, citing fruitless and meaningless interest as my reason. Thus
did arise my desire to only grow and never pursue routes that were
fruitless. I am still incapable of explaining this desire and
philosophy, as it is deeply contradictory and paradoxical, but
nevertheless mine intrinsically.
I also became a Christian and
was strongly moved by Zukav's book on souls. It was near this time that
I made my first correlation between the Bible and Taoism. It was during
the same time that I wrote the essay "Love" and the essay "Friendship".
Several other essays were initiated, none were ever completed. The
desire to pen my own philosophy was born late tenth grade.
The fourth: the reign of free association
Due
to my original interest in the writings of Bruce Lee, and my subsequent
interest in the tenets of Christianity, I was reasoanbly well-versed in
both Eastern and Western thinking structures for a high-schooler. To be
sure, I had an extraordinary grasp on such subjects at the time. Many
incorrect understandings have since been corrected.
I did,
however, develop the concept of a single origin of mankind by mythical
correlation and by drawing parallels between powerfully different modes
of thinking. My understanding in theology deepened with minimal reading
of literature, thus preserving an individualistic system of thought
while bringing a unique perspective into the idea of God. Namely, the
Tao. This is why my version of Christianity is so radically different
from most Christians, and why, until I discontinued my essays, I was
well-respected in my fellowship. (Now I'm respected as a techie. Go
figure.)
The fifth: the ascension complex
My desire to do
well is unquestionably first caused by parental urgings. But my
personal drive to do well was authentically sparked by the concept of
Arete -- excellence in all things -- and cemented by Immortality -- the
positive memory of a person perpetuated through the generations of
descendents forever. I wanted to impact the world. The compassion
imperative prompted me to conceive of the Real Santa Idea: to build an
international corporate empire strong enough to support itself, then
distribute gifts to all without cost to the recipients. Only one
person, until now, has heard this idea, which has never been forgotten.
The
drive towards excellence was tied into the Christian idea of becoming
Christ-like. The marriage of the two strivings spawned a fanciful wish
to be a deity, which prompted new thoughts on the God Tao. With the
compassion imperative in reminding once more, the desire to teach was
evident within me. While the compassion imperative is not within it
(holding a much higher place within the WHAN Treatise, rather, and the
Aqualgidus Papers as a whole), this drive towards excellence culminated
and was summarized in the writing "Order of Zael", posted less than
half a year ago.
The future: science, mythology, experience
My
current readings include Fritjof Capra and Joseph Campbell. My academic
interests are driven towards logical science and psychological
investigation. It is in the interest of growth that I find myself
learning all I can in all dimensions I can. Every page spawns a new
line of inquiry that I wonder at and let myself be guided along for a
time, studying the sights to see along the road and musing at their
facets.
But even as I inquire on a purely intellectual level, I
require myself to present myself as a sum of all my beliefs. My
strivings are many. I laugh and joke because I believe I ought to. I
dress in a manner I believe is befitting the sort of man I wish to
become; I behave as I would expect any gentleman to. My eyes are a
seeker's eyes, my ears are an inquirer's ears, my tongue is carrier of
a teacher's words, my hands are the hands of a healer, my feet take me
where I'm needed most. My thoughts are like a moon above the water,
detached and free, but nevertheless undeniably present. That is what I
strive to be, no less.
Inspirations:
The Albert Hur Inspirations:
- The Richness of Literature
- The Importance of Mythology
The Bruce Lee Inspirations:
- The Imagery of Water
- Detachment
- The Art of Artlessness
- The Tao
The Chris Crawford Inspirations:
- Programming as the New Language
- Programming as a Method, a Tool
The Jesus Christ Inspirations:
- Love is God
- The Importance of Love
- The Diametric Opposite: Fear
The John Ronald Reuel Tolkien Inspirations:
- The Concept of Sub-Creation
- Not All who Wander are Lost; Not All that is Gold Glitters
The Joseph Campbell Inspirations:
- The Reality of Heroism
- The Likely Origins of Mankind and Religion
The Josh Fredman Inspirations:
- The Necessity of Honor
- The Mandate of Being a Gentleman
The Min Liu Inspirations:
- The Universal Potential of Human Beings
- Passion in Life and Living
- The Dynamic of Friendship
- The Reality in Dreams
The Orson Scott Card Inspirations:
- All Human Beings are Connected
- Created Things Make Themselves
The Richard Bartle Inspirations:
- Virtual Worlds as Places
- Virtual Worlds as Vehicles of Character Growth
The Sebastian Mach Inspirations:
- The Magnitude of Infinity
- The Importance of Atmosphere
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