It’s a beautiful seventeenth century morning in the lush green garden of Faithsill. There’s a fair skinned man in his fifties peacefully walking around. He has grey hair, long beard and is wearing a thick robe made out of animal fur. His name is Renn Waran.
During his walk he admires the green plants, trees and other kind of vegetative species bearing multicolored flowers and fruits. Although it seems he is walking aimlessly, his feet guide him to the center of the garden. This place is slightly misty as there is a hot spring pond located there. On the edge where land meets water there are steps. He gently lifts his robe to dip his bare feet inside the warm water.
He gives out a sudden moan of satisfaction that one would get by making contact with warm water in a freezing environment. Believe it or not Faithsill is a cold place in Drandt state, despite being green. The high hills close to the north pole, on which a small town called Faithsill is located is perennially snow covered. The only reason life is able to thrive on the top is because of availability of naturally heated ground water.
“So… so… cold.” speaks a shivering man. Unlike the first guy, this one is with a slightly darker complexion and has his body wrapped in a simple woolen cloth.
RENN WARAN: Good morning. Come my friend, join me in the pool.
GURAKH RAO: Good? more like cold morning.
He shivers until he quickly comes and immerses his feet in the pond.
RENN: You would not be cold if you had worn what people here wear.
GURAKH: I am sorry. But the place I come from, we don’t kill animal for resources.
RENN: You call it killing, we call it survival.
These two people are of about same age. But their appearance clearly indicate that they belong to two different worlds. Faithsill can be said to be one of the centers of wisdom during the 17th century. Philosophers from all around the world come here to have wise conversations. Gurakh is yet another philosopher who has come from a far away place called Arsa. But now it is his time to leave.
RENN: A guard arrived before dawn. He said the ship will sail for Arsa tomorrow so he has come to take you to the port.
GURAKH: Already? it seems like I came here just yesterday.
RENN: Yes… Time here runs differently. Eternal day or eternal night. I hope you enjoyed your stay here?
GURAKH: Yes. Yes indeed. This place… although cold it is very beautiful. A perfect metaphor for life. ‘You will be awed with what it has to offer but it will make sure that you struggle through it.’ I love this place.
RENN: Then consider staying for a few more days. There’s so much we haven’t talked about.
GURAKH: That is difficult my friend. My family, my people need me. While physically I am here my spirit is with them, pulling me towards home.
RENN: Spirit?! Do you wish to have yet another argument before we leave?
GURAKH: Actually, I do. As philosophers we live to argue. I came here to do the same. To understand the different perspective you people have towards life. I don’t agree with most of the things still I understand where your arguments come from. But the thing you say about soul… I cannot accept.
RENN: Why is it so difficult…? Our five senses allow us to observe the world around. Only the things we sense exist. That is all. How can I believe in something that I cannot see. I’ve never seen a soul, have you?
GURAKH: There is more to life than what meets the eye. The thing that makes us conscious about self is a gift from the gods. Doesn’t your religion support this belief?
RENN: Yes, but I am not my religion. We, the philosophers of Faithsill, don’t blindly preach the teachings of Deviral, there are other people for that job, we are here to challenge them. To make sure that our religion stays relevant with the change in our understanding of our world.
GURAKH: So what do you think?
RENN: Having extensively studied our biology, I know that our consciousness or ‘soul’, if you would prefer that word, comes from here (Renn points at his head). Our thoughts, memories, emotional experiences are what makes us conscious of our self. We gain consciousness after we are born and then lose it when we die, if not before.
Clearly Gurakh does not share the same opinion. He thinks for a while and then speaks.
GURAKH: So what you are saying is… that… if I am to write all my thoughts, memories and experiences on a paper, it will suddenly come to life? It will start talking, walking and live a life like you and I do?
At this point Renn knows that Gurakh is exaggerating. But realizing that there is no other way to conclude this argument, he says,
RENN: Yes, that is exactly what I mean.
GURAKH: Okay then, I will write everything I know on paper, bind it in form of a book and once it is ready I’ll send it to you. Maybe, if what you say is true, you can have philosophical arguments with that book, the way you do with me. Agreed?
RENN: Agreed.
They shake hands as a sign of ending the conversation. Both of them step out of the pond and continue with their day. Gurakh Rao leaves Faithsill on a positive note. Going onboard a ship he realizes that he has a long isolating journey ahead. Remembering the last conversation with Renn he starts writing a book titled, Atmannah which means ‘my soul’.
Now, Gurakh Rao, the wise thinker of Arsa, eventually does complete the book. But whether this book actually comes to life or not, that’s a story of another time.
back to CONVERSATIONALE PHILOSOPHIAE
First of all thank you for reading this post. What you read here is not my absolute belief set in stone. I am always open for discussion and future alterations to the post. Actually I consider these posts as a conversation starter. So if you have an opinion to share, please do comment down below.