Dear Jeyamohan,
I participated in your philosophy class. Initially, I had deep doubts about philosophy and my capability to listen. I’ve attended a few Geeta classes before. I found them to be incredibly boring. The concepts conveyed were remarkably simplistic and antiquated. Surrender, believe, and follow the duties given by your birth—these are the general ideas that emerged in those discourses, and I was accustomed to them for more than 40 years since my boyhood. The preachers, too, were very popular figures. They were very stale and repetitive.
Naturally, I was skeptical about these classes and visited with strong reluctance. I came there because I had some free time during those days and wanted to visit somewhere. Only the promise of alcohol-free programs actually drew me in. For thirty years, I served as a senior business consultant, spending half of my days surrounded by intoxicated individuals. Because I was a teetotaller, those meetings were a major source of torture for me, and I developed a strong aversion to them. My wife is not well, and my children are not in this country. I was alone and slightly depressed.
I desperately desired an outing in a serene environment. The atmosphere at Vallimalai was just amazing—not very cool nor very hot. Being amidst nature is a form of self-meditation. Surprisingly, I found I can be deeply involved in classes. For three days, I immersed myself in the realm of philosophical ideas, devoid of any other distractions. I never knew I could listen to something so intensely for such a long time. I have come to understand the essence of true philosophy.
My previous experiences with philosophy were not actual philosophical lessons; they were simplistic religious sermons by traditionalists. Like modern western thought, Indian philosophy is also dynamic and operates on a dialectical principle. Every idea has a natural opponent within it. You clarified that philosophy is about refining ideas, not ideas themselves. Indian philosophy is more poetic and addresses our own spiritual and emotional problems. When I understood that, I was really excited, and I felt a lot of new pathways opened for me.
Really, it was a wonderful start in my life. Suddenly, I gained a fresh perspective on myself, realizing that I possess philosophical capabilities. I can think originally. It is a wonderful invention indeed. It is a cliche saying, life-changing. But these days are really life-changing. Thank you.
Mohan
