He never tells you how to play the game but in a sense he does. I am reading this for the 2nd time and noticed some things I hadn't noticed the first time-30 years ago. I agree, that Hesse, pronounced anyway you like by the way, creates a philosophical view unlike other authors. The basic question I ask anyone undertaking a philosophical journey is "where are you right now?
Oh for God's sake. Hesse was using the game and the hierarchical social order of players in their isolated environment as an allegory of Academia. The big reveal was that mastery of the game was still a far cry from "Real World" experience.
I always thought that Coincidence was a theme of The Glass bead Game as well . Jung was interested in coincidences too . I think if you could create a perfect society then people would rapidly cause it to disintegrate , perhaps human nature demonstrates entropy .
Is it really strange that everyone has a different 'definition' of God? If God exists in the form a large number of people seem to belive, then although they couldn't agree on the specifics, they would all agree that God must be greater, far more complex than a human. (And people believe that God has dimensions that are infinite, or simply is infinite or eternal). So, ask each human believer about God and you are going to get a different, small, representational piece of that greater 'being'. Clearly, if God exists then God can't be defined, or reduced to fit human perception, by humans. I believe that 'God' exists. I also believe it is pointless for me, or anyone else, to attempt to define God. I believe that what I should pay attention to in this world is how to live a better life. Inspiration, including to define 'Better' in the previous sentence, keeps coming from a multitude of sources - ideological, natural, human. One thing we can be sure of is that we have a certain ability to control our attention. I also believe that this control of attention can be improved - for example, by reading the right books. The rest of religion (the other 90%?) is just manipulation by humans for worldly temporal gain, be that money, power, or whatever.
If you say so. Would God be any less 'real' in that case? (How do you define 'Real'? 'Real' is just electrical signals interpreted by your brain... (thanks Morpheus :o). It's what we SAY and DO and FEEL that matters, insofar as these affect ourselves and others in the here&now world. The rest including the entirety of religion and philosophy is only relevant insofar as it may help us to take wise decisions. (Oh, I dropped >Sex< and >Reproduction< off the list of motivations for organised religion at the end. How very British of me).
PS. I've found one useful and , for me unarguable, definition of God: That which established the initial conditions at the moment of Creation (i.e. the Big Bang, if you follow science). IMPORTANT: This leads on to Natural Law. Look up Mark Passio on Natural Law on youtube.
I'll probably never understand why anyone chooses to be a dictator . It's always the same. Deaths , arrogance, pride and in the end dry bones in a grave much to everyone else's relief . I wonder if the glass beads could tell me the answer.
Congratulation for your video. I am reading the book at the moment. I like it and reminds me of ideas of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle for working on your own moral values. Also their respect as all ancient Athenians, to the music harmony not as a sense of entertainment only, but associating with mathematics and art. They were also analysing and were trying to describe an ideal future society. I think that the mentors of all pholosophies and religions are trying for a different course of progress for the humans. Less materialistic. They were praising ascetism, communication with the nature, live in simple ways but also cultivate the mind.In a true spiritual and scientific progress of the human nation. Today the world we are given, the entertainment we are given and the progress we are tought to conquest, i feel that keep our minds idle. Something like Herman Hesse is decribing in the world described before the invention of the glass bead game. Excuse me for any mistakes in my English.
Your English is good enough Sir! And IMO you got the point of the book perfectly. I think the main points to bear in mind in life are 1./ what we DO, especially as it affects others, and 2./ Where we are trying to get to in our own lives. Everything else and especially philosophy, beliefs and the specifics of religion, we should consider secondary to these. In my case the answers are to be found in trying to grow and live a better life - but I doubt that personal perfection, the ideal society or immortality are attainable. In any case there is plenty to keep interested in and busy with, before these questions need to be, or can be, asked seriously. But neither that does not mean it is useless to explore now where the limits might be, just don't make it the main goal of life, or get lost in the wastelands of scolasticism or comparative religion. Life is to be lived. Heaven and Hell exist but not elsewhere, they are right here right now. "You only live once". Hahaha, who knows. But you certainly get a new chance to do better every day you wake up. So in that way (and others) it is definitely possible to live many many times.
It's a sad commentary on the a path of mental acquisition of knowledge teaching others as we go. The work is not completed on the earth due to death. It seems and is sad that all that striving ends in dissolution of knowledge, but our spirit has hope to do more.
Spiritual awakening can lead to GOD, but if one does not remain in the faith with sound doctrine to grow in such faith obtaining more knowledge to become wise, one can be lead to false doctrines, false "illuminations", false gods, idolatry ... and finally very bad consequences. Specially those who receive "illuminations" from The Theosophical Society (Gnosticism/New Age religion). GOD gives us the INDIVIDUAL capability to reason at different levels. Life in the flesh is very short and we actually never know when will we die, but we know it can happen at any time, and still we aim to learn and gain.... for what reason? what are we really looking for?. It is because we have a brain, and we are able to reason, that some have the marvelous experience to find GOD in every single thing we see. Others just use their brain's capability trying to deny Him. And others simply don't care. One thing is for sure, we are not all of the same Spirit and we do not all learn from the same Spirit. That is why many have a different picture of GOD. But there is only ONE GOD, and ONE Son, Jesus Christ.
No. Gnosticism & New Age religions can fall, just like any other, but they DON'T have a monopoly on malpractice ... ALL religions (especially any organised religion that goes beyond teaching by example or teaching via stories i.e. parables) are susceptible to temptation, or to mistakes, whichever way you prefer to look at it. I take no pleasure from mention of the Inquisition, the Crusade wars, support for state-sponsored terrorism, or more recent child abuse and other scandals that certain established Christian churches have been involved in. Falling from higher places generally has worse consequences than falling from lower places, but that is not a universal excuse to refuse the challenge of the climb. But by all means, be aware of the well-known recurring pitfalls of religion per se: e.g. the DEVOTEE syndrome, the FALSE MESSIAH syndrome, The TALK-THINK syndrome, the HUNT-THE-GURU syndrome ... or even, the ORGANISATION syndrome. Your last two sentences are either rather confused, or you are deliberately saying that only certain pre-selected humans, may have the chance to learn from your ONE God. If so, then he would not fit the criteria for a loving or inclusive God would he? Be careful, because in accepting any ... ANY definition of God, you have to admit that definition has been mediated, i.e. it has been passed down through imperfect humans. Or do you think the officers of the churches on Earth are more than human?
It does not matter, how you find your comfort in this world, what path you take or how you manage the whole situation you made for yourself. There is no one path, no one answer or one way to any of this life..its not complicated. No one knows...no one, not the Pope, not the professor, or the richest man on earth. You may not know, its not for you to know, all the religions in the world can't tell you, they tell you to have faith. They do not know. You can pray till the cows come home, read every book ever written, live to be 109 and you will never find The answer..your not allowed to know, period. Your here to grow, to experience and learn, if you had answers you would not do as you should. Mankind can not be trusted with truth, they are programmed from birth, mankind is controlled, until humanity frees themselves and take active roles in changing life on earth there can be no answers. Earth is a small tiny place in this vast universe of billions of planet's, you are small potatoes, but together you can make a difference and that is why your here.
He never tells you how to play the game but in a sense he does. I am reading this for the 2nd time and noticed some things I hadn't noticed the first time-30 years ago. I agree, that Hesse, pronounced anyway you like by the way, creates a philosophical view unlike other authors. The basic question I ask anyone undertaking a philosophical journey is "where are you right now?
Yes, good question! Where are you right now, nine years later!
Oh for God's sake. Hesse was using the game and the hierarchical social order of players in their isolated environment as an allegory of Academia. The big reveal was that mastery of the game was still a far cry from "Real World" experience.
Your wearing a Brewer's hat and discussing modernist literature...brilliant.
I always thought that Coincidence was a theme of The Glass bead Game as well . Jung was interested in coincidences too .
I think if you could create a perfect society then people would rapidly cause it to disintegrate , perhaps human nature demonstrates entropy .
Is it really strange that everyone has a different 'definition' of God? If God exists in the form a large number of people seem to belive, then although they couldn't agree on the specifics, they would all agree that God must be greater, far more complex than a human. (And people believe that God has dimensions that are infinite, or simply is infinite or eternal). So, ask each human believer about God and you are going to get a different, small, representational piece of that greater 'being'. Clearly, if God exists then God can't be defined, or reduced to fit human perception, by humans.
I believe that 'God' exists. I also believe it is pointless for me, or anyone else, to attempt to define God. I believe that what I should pay attention to in this world is how to live a better life. Inspiration, including to define 'Better' in the previous sentence, keeps coming from a multitude of sources - ideological, natural, human. One thing we can be sure of is that we have a certain ability to control our attention. I also believe that this control of attention can be improved - for example, by reading the right books.
The rest of religion (the other 90%?) is just manipulation by humans for worldly temporal gain, be that money, power, or whatever.
God could be just 'a concept'
If you say so. Would God be any less 'real' in that case? (How do you define 'Real'? 'Real' is just electrical signals interpreted by your brain... (thanks Morpheus :o).
It's what we SAY and DO and FEEL that matters, insofar as these affect ourselves and others in the here&now world. The rest including the entirety of religion and philosophy is only relevant insofar as it may help us to take wise decisions.
(Oh, I dropped >Sex< and >Reproduction< off the list of motivations for organised religion at the end. How very British of me).
PS. I've found one useful and , for me unarguable, definition of God: That which established the initial conditions at the moment of Creation (i.e. the Big Bang, if you follow science). IMPORTANT: This leads on to Natural Law. Look up Mark Passio on Natural Law on youtube.
I'll probably never understand why anyone chooses to be a dictator . It's always the same. Deaths , arrogance, pride and in the end dry bones in a grave much to everyone else's relief . I wonder if the glass beads could tell me the answer.
"Not only God doesn't exist but try finding a plummer Sunday night."
--W. Allen
Thank you for explaining in detail🙏
Congratulation for your video. I am reading the book at the moment. I like it and reminds me of ideas of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle for working on your own moral values. Also their respect as all ancient Athenians, to the music harmony not as a sense of entertainment only, but associating with mathematics and art. They were also analysing and were trying to describe an ideal future society. I think that the mentors of all pholosophies and religions are trying for a different course of progress for the humans. Less materialistic. They were praising ascetism, communication with the nature, live in simple ways but also cultivate the mind.In a true spiritual and scientific progress of the human nation. Today the world we are given, the entertainment we are given and the progress we are tought to conquest, i feel that keep our minds idle. Something like Herman Hesse is decribing in the world described before the invention of the glass bead game. Excuse me for any mistakes in my English.
Your English is good enough Sir! And IMO you got the point of the book perfectly.
I think the main points to bear in mind in life are 1./ what we DO, especially as it affects others, and 2./ Where we are trying to get to in our own lives.
Everything else and especially philosophy, beliefs and the specifics of religion, we should consider secondary to these. In my case the answers are to be found in trying to grow and live a better life - but I doubt that personal perfection, the ideal society or immortality are attainable. In any case there is plenty to keep interested in and busy with, before these questions need to be, or can be, asked seriously. But neither that does not mean it is useless to explore now where the limits might be, just don't make it the main goal of life, or get lost in the wastelands of scolasticism or comparative religion. Life is to be lived. Heaven and Hell exist but not elsewhere, they are right here right now.
"You only live once". Hahaha, who knows. But you certainly get a new chance to do better every day you wake up. So in that way (and others) it is definitely possible to live many many times.
It's true. As the past creates the future- the future also creates the past (through discovery, archeology, etc)
Will my cat always be a cat ?
+MrJames1201
no
9 years later i discover it. right!
It's a sad commentary on the a path of mental acquisition of knowledge teaching others as we go. The work is not completed on the earth due to death. It seems and is sad that all that striving ends in dissolution of knowledge, but our spirit has hope to do more.
I loved the book and I love your practical approach to it. Really enjoyed this video 💯💪
Thank you so much!!!! I loved this!
"My Dinner With Andre" is one of my favorites..."We're all bored..."
Very nice synthesis.
Whatcha smokin' bro?
Spiritual awakening can lead to GOD, but if one does not remain in the faith with sound doctrine to grow in such faith obtaining more knowledge to become wise, one can be lead to false doctrines, false "illuminations", false gods, idolatry ... and finally very bad consequences. Specially those who receive "illuminations" from The Theosophical Society (Gnosticism/New Age religion). GOD gives us the INDIVIDUAL capability to reason at different levels. Life in the flesh is very short and we actually never know when will we die, but we know it can happen at any time, and still we aim to learn and gain.... for what reason? what are we really looking for?. It is because we have a brain, and we are able to reason, that some have the marvelous experience to find GOD in every single thing we see. Others just use their brain's capability trying to deny Him. And others simply don't care. One thing is for sure, we are not all of the same Spirit and we do not all learn from the same Spirit. That is why many have a different picture of GOD. But there is only ONE GOD, and ONE Son, Jesus Christ.
No. Gnosticism & New Age religions can fall, just like any other, but they DON'T have a monopoly on malpractice ... ALL religions (especially any organised religion that goes beyond teaching by example or teaching via stories i.e. parables) are susceptible to temptation, or to mistakes, whichever way you prefer to look at it. I take no pleasure from mention of the Inquisition, the Crusade wars, support for state-sponsored terrorism, or more recent child abuse and other scandals that certain established Christian churches have been involved in.
Falling from higher places generally has worse consequences than falling from lower places, but that is not a universal excuse to refuse the challenge of the climb.
But by all means, be aware of the well-known recurring pitfalls of religion per se: e.g. the DEVOTEE syndrome, the FALSE MESSIAH syndrome, The TALK-THINK syndrome, the HUNT-THE-GURU syndrome ... or even, the ORGANISATION syndrome.
Your last two sentences are either rather confused, or you are deliberately saying that only certain pre-selected humans, may have the chance to learn from your ONE God. If so, then he would not fit the criteria for a loving or inclusive God would he?
Be careful, because in accepting any ... ANY definition of God, you have to admit that definition has been mediated, i.e. it has been passed down through imperfect humans. Or do you think the officers of the churches on Earth are more than human?
It does not matter, how you find your comfort in this world, what path you take or how you manage the whole situation you made for yourself. There is no one path, no one answer or one way to any of this life..its not complicated. No one knows...no one, not the Pope, not the professor, or the richest man on earth. You may not know, its not for you to know, all the religions in the world can't tell you, they tell you to have faith. They do not know.
You can pray till the cows come home, read every book ever written, live to be 109 and you will never find The answer..your not allowed to know, period. Your here to grow, to experience and learn, if you had answers you would not do as you should. Mankind can not be trusted with truth, they are programmed from birth, mankind is controlled, until humanity frees themselves and take active roles in changing life on earth there can be no answers. Earth is a small tiny place in this vast universe of billions of planet's, you are small potatoes, but together you can make a difference and that is why your here.