Please, please, please tell me that you’ve read the Tao of Pooh. It is basically the embodiment of this article — highlighting the heart of Eastern philosophy (Taoism specifically, hence the name) as wisdom borne of experience. With healthy doses of skepticism of Western intellectualism, despite its own Western nature, and a wonderful dose of Winnie the Pooh references.

Also, as a point of curiosity, where do you see the critical balance shift? (Because, obviously, Western theology and philosophy has its own experience-based mysticism, just as Eastern theology and philosophy can get wrapped up obtaining an objective truth.) Where is the religious/geographic line where the shift begins to happen? I’m presently trying to play that game with Islam — i.e. medieval disputes such as Ibn Rushd (Averroes) and the Maliki school versus Ghazali (Algazel) and the Sufi/Asharite schools — and I honestly can’t tell if that’s the point where the balance begins to shift.

    the Search for Self

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    Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will. — Mahatma Gandhi