Tags:philosophy
Art of War
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.” There is a reason why five-star generals and Fortune 500 CEOs alike have consulted this classic book on the planning and conduct of military operations. Written in China more than two thousand years ago, The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist, and tactician. The Art of War remains one of the most quoted and referenced how-to books ever written. Now, with a foreword by Stephen K. Bannon, this seminal work takes on renewed significance, offering a blueprint for success amidst the chaos of contemporary challenges. As we navigate the complexities of the twenty-first century, The Art of War stands as a beacon of strategic wisdom, guiding us through the turbulent waters of life, leadership, and conflict. Its profound truths, encapsulated in thirteen timeless chapters, illuminate the path to victory in any arena, whether it be the cutthroat world of business, the arena of politics, or the theater of war.
The Art of War
Still a source of inspiration for soldiers on the battlefield and managers in the boardroom 2000 years after it was written, Sun-Tzu's The Art of War is the most influential book of strategy in the world, translated from the Chinese by John Minford in Penguin Classics.'Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting'For more than two thousand years, Sun-Tzu's The Art of War has provided leaders with profound insights into the use of skill, tactics, psychology and discipline to outwit opponents. Said to have inspired Napoleon, and used by Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur, as well as many famous business gurus, politicians and sports stars, its ancient words of wisdom provide a touchstone for today's managers and executives fighting their boardroom battles. This best-selling book offers ancient wisdom on how to use skill, cunning, tactics and discipline to outwit your opponent.Little is known for definite about Sun Tzu (544-496 B.C.) and his life during the Warring States period after the decline of the Zhou dynasty, but his classic The Art of War has been one of the central works of Chinese literature for 2500 years.If you enjoyed The Art of War, you might like Machiavelli's The Prince, also available in Penguin Classics.'Absorb this book, and you can throw out all those contemporary books about management leadership'Newsweek'Reflecting on Sun-Tzu's work is to the business manager what weight lifting is to the champion athlete - an exercise that makes one stronger'John Kohut, Beijing Bureau Chief, South China Post
The Art of War
The definitive translation of Sun-tzu's timeless classic of military strategy, Art of WarSun-tzu's Art of War is almost certainly the most famous study of strategy ever written. This treatise has been credited with influencing some of the most legendary military operations. Beyond the battlefield, people far and wide have long turned to Art of War for advice on how to succeed in various competitive situations, and companies around the world now make this book required reading for their executives. In this translation, Chinese warfare scholar Ralph D. Sawyer places Art of War in its proper historical context, outlining several battles that Sun-tzu either conducted or that may have influenced him, and offers an edition that is uniquely accurate and accessible.
The Art of War
Written 2500 years ago, The Art of War is the oldest military treatise in the world, a classic study of competition and rivalry that has been utilized by soldiers ever since. Napoleon studied its strategies and tactics. It is required reading for intelligence personnel in the United States Marine Corps. "Warriors" of Wall Street and in corporation cultures rely on it for guidance. It's even been rumored to help players win at the board game Risk.This 1910 translation by the British Museum's Lionel Giles is the most popular one available, a highly readable version of this still startlingly relevant text.Lionel Giles also translated The Book of Mencius and Sayings of Confucius.Sun Tzu lived in China in the 6th century B.C. and was a contemporary of Confucius.
Beyond the boundaries ... of the human being
"I have nothing to say ... and i am saying it"I am ... writing.Yes ... i keep writing.I keep .... expressing myself ... even if many of the things i write .. are actually a clear evidence of the ... nonsense ... which is dominating my whole existence.Yes ... i keep writing ... doing it as a self therapy ... which i need a lot.It's sort of a ... treatment.I do it everyday.Day ... by day.And days are passing ... then weeks ... then months ... but nothing improves.No ...Life still continues ... as a story about the nonsense into its absolute form.So ... i keep expressing myself ... having nothing to say ... but illusory expecting to receive important messages ... from my inner soul.Maybe ... all is an abstract tendency of going beyond the boundaries ... of my being.And ... i desperately try it.Expressing ...Expressing ...Expressing ...But ... not saying anything.Most probably ... i am still disconnected of the inner self.And ... no matter as much as i try ... nothing changes.I guess it's normal.I am an ordinary human being ... same as the others ... dominated by the nonsense ... without any real control on myself ... and ...Well ... life continues anyway.I also continue to write.I continue to express ... that "nothing" from inside of myself.Looking ... like uselessBut ... i am just doing my therapy sessions.On ... and on and on ...
MY LIFE IN A PRISON WITH INVISIBLE WALLS
If you ask a school boy about the ideal life ... that is one without homework and very long vacations.The summer vacation is the ideal time for them ... but still one day the autumn is coming.If you ask an employe in a corporation about the ideal life ... he will say that he would love as the working week to have 2 days of work a day instead of 5.The school boy, no matter the age ... is not feeling free.Years ago ... when he was not in school ... he felt the freedom of doing only what he wanted to do.The employee from the corporation, even if he knows that he is paid very, very well ... he is not feeling free either.But why?!Well ... cause the society is teaching us ... somehow by force ... to live in ... “prisons”.Now let me give you another example.Let’s assume the case of a businessman, that already had success, has a beautiful house, has money, a good company, a wife, beautiful kids .... basically everything.And ... still ... if you ask him if he is happy ... he will only reply that a piece from the puzzle is missing.I know lots of businessmen that have a great success ... and even if they have everything ... almost all of them have a mistress that is completing their lives.It’s a non sense ... i know ... cause most of them have the perfect life scenario.An amazing house.A amazing car ... or cars.A beautiful wife.Very nice children.... and?!Why this nonsense?!Why does a person look for something else when already has the perfect life?!Well ... cause what we call ... perfection ... is only a dogmatic way of seeing life.The missing piece from the puzzle is the mistress ... that makes him feel loved in a totally different way.She makes him be ... a free person.A hobby would make the school boy and even the employee from the corporation ... to love what is doing ... and also feel free ... enjoying the present activity.You see ... no matter what path we chose in life ... the moment when we forget about the dogmatic path of living ... we feel the freedom.We feel alive.Our actions ... will look like a total nonsense to the others ... but we will be happy.The human being is looking for perfection ... but the happiness is not found in there.The dogmatism will never help us to ... be us.But ... on the path of discovering ... the real path ... at least we will have the guts to ... dream ... about the real freedom.
EXPLORING OURSELVES
There are many times in life when we have lots of existential questions inside of our minds.Accepting those thoughts ... and actually embracing them is the path for understanding but also having a normal ... and why not ... also a beautiful life.I personally try to understand those existential questions from the early age of 4 or 5.One of the things that i remember from that time was that i was in the kitchen with my mother and she was explaining me that we live in a world with bad people and i should be aware of that.Maybe if she was telling me that Santa Claus was not real, i would have accepted that much easier.But i totally disliked what she told me and it was the first time when i disconnected myself from her.I told to myself ... “This is not true. I will explore the world and i will prove that this is not true. Noooo ... we don’t live in a world with bad people!”.It was the start of my journey on a philosophical path, that for many, many times looked like a pathless path to me, but also to the ones were looking at me.As a child i was an introvert, but today ... after socializing so, so much with so many people that i met ... i became an extrovert.And ... i accept on the stage of my life absolutely any kind of person ... i met.Even if i don’t like that person ... or i don’t feel comfortable in the presence of that spirit ... i continue my journey of exploring the human beings and i kind of like it.I try to ... read ... people ... to see each one of them as a book, cause all of them ... have their own stories... and i also try to somehow ... invent .. a guide of surviving in this world.I felt many times, probably same as you, that my mother’s theory about the world is true ... and i was too idealistic for this Universe ... but i still had the hope that things will always change into better.I was exploring life ... and while doing this i discovered that even in bad things, i will always find a beautiful side.So ... there is an ugly and a beautiful side, but depends which one we are seeing ... and the world itself can be defined as ugly or beautiful ... only and only by what we actually understand from what we see.And ... to learn the art of observing the world ... first we need to explore life ... with all its aspects and then ... meditate and ask ourselves before defining anything if it’s worth losing our time with the ugly elements ... when still life has so, so many beautiful sides.
BEHIND THE ABSTRACT
Someone once said to me ... “I don’t want to be abstract ... I want it to be real”.It was the reply at the fact that i’ve said to her that a friend of mine, that was in fact married, was loving her in an abstract way.But we all do the same ... we refuse to understand the meaning of the abstract in our lives ... or to see what is the message behind the message.And then we live the same experiences on and on and on ... and we keep wondering why ... why ... why??!!I believe today that refusing to start learning the art of understanding the abstract ... is a way of refusing to continue growing as a spiritual being.Somehow the Universe, even if we dislike it, gives us the same lesson on and on and on ... but we just can’t see that the Universe loves us ... all of us ... and tries all the time to save and help us ... to understand what we call lessons of life.The abstract is strange sometimes ... i know ... but seeing what is behind the abstract, you understand the meaning of life.So ... how should we start?!Where we should pay more attention in the events from our lives?!Well ... somehow is quite simple.Everything has a huge impact on us ... annoys us in a terrible way ... or has a repetitive character ... in there you will find the meaning of the lessons you need to study.In the end ... we can even use the slogan ... “It’s not what it looks like” ... cause probably this is the real definition of the abstract.But can we ignore the signs?! ... the lessons?!You might have moments when you could believe that ... but then the power of the message will have a stronger intensity.And will be repeat on and on and on ... and the abstract values will annoy you in a terrible way.The solution?!Maybe ... just have an opened mind and pay attention to the details.So ... we should spend life only meditating?!Sure not ... but we should keep the right balance between living and enjoying life ... and also thinking about it ... its messages and how we could grow as spiritual beings.And probably keep in mind that ... behind the abstract there is a always message.
INSERT COIN
Having dreams is .... normal.We also see people having clear goals ... and it's quite interesting... looking like a more organised person which is dreaming.... on and on and on.And the truth is ... that the human being could be defined as a machine ... that is always coming up with new and new desires.I look into my past ... and i see myself saying in front of the Universe ... i want that and that ... and that.And ... i can't stop myself ... even if i know that same as Budha said ... the desire itself is the source of all the human pain.I smile realising how i've wasted my life chasing for on million contradictory desires.... but also honestly realising ... this is a non ending story.So ... starting a weird process of self therapy... analysing all those desires ... especially the ones that obsessed myself ... I've finally concluded that in fact ... i want more to "taste" those desires.It was like i loved Rolls Royce... and i wanted to drive such an amazing car ... but i did not really wanting to pay such a huge price for this car .... the maintenance ... the taxes …the insurance etc.In fact ... all i wanted was to ... drive it ... for a while ... and enjoy the sensation of doing it.And the list of similar desires ... was so damn long ...So ... i wanted that ... and that and that ... hoping in fact that ... i'll get some sensations... which will bring me nice vibes into my soul.But .... It was only one problem.I did not really wanted to ... pay the price.Almost ... for any of those desires which were dominating obsessively my existence.Time was passing ... and i was somehow ending all the time ... being sad and disappointed.... cause my desires did not became real.Not all of them ... but many.But ... i've also noticed with some of those weird desires which i had .... that they were not what I've imagined.It was indeed all ... illusory.I could simple try and test all ... simple paying a price ... like renting the Rolls ... and see if i really want such a car.It was not that i could afford it ... but i could try to taste it ... by paying a minimum price for that ... only to understand better if that was a good path to follow or not.I had to insert ... a coin.But i was not really ready to do it.Yes ... not even pay ... a vey little price for it.I was just dreaming ... so nicely pretending i have clear goals with my life ... but all i was doing was to allow being dominated by those illusory desires.And this moment when i've understood i have only 3 choices... my life changed.Firstly ... I could ... stop dreaming.Or i could pay the price of getting that desire ... and stop being so stupid ... believing that a great dream ... costs 2 pennies.Or ... i could simple .... "taste" a little bit that desire .... see if i really want it ... and then decide if i delete that obsession from my mind ... or not.So ... all was about ... insert coin ... paying the price for it ... or .... simply stop myself dreaming with my eyes opened... like an idiot.
THE ERA OF NONSENSE
Times had changed.All is different.People, society itself ... the way we connect with this world we are living in.Everything.And it is not that things are totally different than 1000 or maybe even 2000 years ago.Fortunately or unfortunately i see serious changes even than 20, 10 or i could even say 5 years ago.Personally for me is difficult to adapt to this new world.Extremely.First of all cause i am not dogmatic anymore.In fact, i even detest everything related to dogmatism.But what am i trying to say?!... without having that type of boringness a grandpa has.I guess ... my main concern is strictly related to the nonsense, cause ... yes ... i believe we really live into the era of the nonsense.Comparing to how things use to be ... it's not that we see a huge change ... but too many things look illogical.Really illogical.And i smile.In fact, i even laugh.I look around myself, seeing lots of princes and princesses.And even people daring to see themselves as kings and queens.Indeed an era, which is under the total domination of our egos.Yes ... that false self.Most probably that is the new reality and i need to accept it.I have to understand that the values of the human being had changed.Or at least ... for many, many of us.And it is so, so funny cause we believe that all we see is true.Maybe even try to be the same as them.Pay a lot of attention to how we dress.The brands, the style ... and all related with the look.Maybe accept that consuming of drugs is normal, allowing us to live a certain type of happiness which we can't live in normal circumstances.Using personal growth ... the techniques of affirmations and all related to that to make everyone believe that we really are into a certain way.I mean ... the best a human being can be.But ... i laugh when i see everyone believing into a certain type of superiority above anyone around.I laugh seeing simple people suffering so, so much of prince or princess syndrome.I laugh of their blindness.I laugh in front of such a nonsense.I see all that as a representation of a pathetic lifestyle.... but i will just define all as a nonsense.I try to stay disconnected of this new type of society.I try to not accept it as normality and actually reject its influences for my soul.But i continue writing.Analysing.Defining.Hoping that one day people will realise what is really the meaning of the concepts as ... illusion of life, illusion of the self ... and in fact all related with the term ... illusion.Avoiding to annoy too many of you, i try to write only of what i believe it is actually ... illogical.Cause i know that beyond the nonsense there is a very powerful message.One ... which we hided too much.And is late.Almost too late.
THINK … DEEPER
Have you even asked yourself why so many people in this world are living an unhappy life?!But what about you?!Are you a happy person ... or not?!And if not ... have you ever thought why?!Is just a simple question, same as you would ask yourself why you don’t know skying ... if you never took lessons for that?!You see ... truth be told ... in school we’ve learnt lots of things, including complicated math formulas, languages that we will never use in life, chemistry issues that will not serve us with nothing etc etc ... but no one ever bothered to teach us at least a short list with things to do .. for having a beautiful .. and why not ... an amazing life.I mean .. we can easily understand that we can’t paint if we haven’t learnt the art of painting, we can’t sing piano without a little bit of help came by a piano teacher etc etc ... but when it comes to life ... to our private lives in fact ... we simple can’t find the path for a non ending great story.There is always something that is ruining our vibes.We find ... lots of silly problems ... and we actually allow them to disturb us from staying on the right spiritual frequency ... and in fact ... enjoy life.But ... let me tell you the truth ... i did the same for years ... many, many years in a row.My life was kind of an emotional dance ... between good and bad vibes ... but i could not find a way of stopping it.I even named it ... in a silly way ... the dance of emotions.Until one day when i realized that this nonsense journey back and forth ... from good to bad energies ... was ruining my inner soul.I knew i had to stop it, but i felt i had no control over the process.It all looked like i was in a prison with invisible walls ... and i had no escape at all.I started to meditate.More and more.Understood that i need to look deeper ... why i have this silly balance of duality ... if i want a beautiful life.This is when i started to look deeper and deeper ... analyzing and defining my life from on million perspectives.In the end .. by talking to myself a lot, but also writing my thoughts ... i somehow became my own therapist.I invite you in a journey of discovering the way of thinking deeper ... what life is really about ... and how we can remove the negative elements from our timeline ... but also replace them with beautiful things that might bring us an existance fulfilled with eternal great vibes.
DISCONNECTING ... ... seen as un amazing trick for a beautiful life
Disconnect ... connect ... disconnect again ... re connect ... seen as a circle of life.I try to understand life.But ... it's probably an illusory desire.Most probably ... the real truth is that i want to know how can i totally disconnect from all what means negativity.Totally disconnect from .... unhappiness ... and all what makes me feel ... depressed..... my anger, my frustrations, my envy, my jealousy, my .... all this large spectrum of negative feelings and emotions.And ... i keep meditating.I keep ... exploring.I pretend i want to know what this universe is ... but all i want is to find out how i can be happy ... or at least eliminate this sadness from my soul.And more i analyse... more i feel that it is all about ... disconnecting.Cause .... yes ... i can't stop being angry if i don't disconnect from the reasons why ... i am angry.I can't stop myself be jealous ... if i don't disconnect from the reasons why i am jealous.I can't stop myself ... envy someone ... if i don't totally disconnect from that person.I can't stop being furious ... if I don't disconnect from the reasons why i am furious.But ... i am too illogical to be able to stop being dominated by ... sadness.Yes ... too illogical.I could simple keep in mind those ideas ... and the moment when i feel any negative vibe ... try to understand right away why i feel that ... and what i have to disconnect from.It is simple.But ... maybe too simple for an idiot as myself.Fortunately ... being my own therapist ... I continue this charade of pretending i am sort of a philosopher or psychologist … trying in find to find out the reasons of my unhappiness.And ... i keep analysing.More ... and more ...The funny thing is that ... today ... i trend to believe that a beautiful life is a lot related on the ability of being disconnected ... from negativity.Cause ... life itself is beautiful.So ... maybe i should become more conscious ... on the stage of life.Feel better ... the energies ... and be more selective ...