Another enchanting stroll through the mental gardens of Silvio. I couldn't help imagining you working on this piece of writing and how much you might have had to adeptly cut, eliminate and prune—like a sculpture working to reveal the hidden figure within—so that, in the end, you could leave us with this delightful celebration of nothing.
Rick! Thank you so much my friend. You're always so capable of depicting such a beautiful picture with your ever present comments. And yes, you're spot-on on my working on this piece. :)
Seinfeld featured in a Silvio piece? What's not to love! Culture high and low are mixed really well here, the theme is even more poignant. Making some meaning out of nothing -- isn't that we do all the time, and what makes like wonderful?!
Thank you, Helen! Yes, it's something more widespread than one might think, although my humble opinion is that one should let it happen almost unconsciously, without realizing that "nothingness" is going on. Or else the magic stops. :)
Thank you, Tai! You're the repository of so much wisdom and knowledge. Love this Heart Sutra excerpt! Real glad you liked this and thanks again for the kind words. :)
The ancient greeks used to do "agorazein" , basically is the way philosophers met and talked with each other. Or how they became philosophers... talking "about nothing".
Amazing and insightful premise Silvio, that talking about nothing leads into talking about everything. As usual, love the imagery, examples and how you take us into different places so seamlessly. Getting addicted to your musings!
Also, I already have a Silvio's list of book recommendations that keeps on growing, and Philip Roth just became the top one, sounds really good!
Thank you, Oscar! You won't be disappointed with Roth. He was the ever present short-list candidate for the Literature Nobel but never got it. But maybe the way thing turned out is even better, if you ask me. :)
That's such a great detail to know! I actually think exactly like you, since the same happens with one of my favorite authors, Milan Kundera. Excited to read him!
Thank you, Karena. But here's an intriguing (at least for me) thought: true, we could include movement (sports, dance, etc.), the figurative arts, and the performing arts as universal languages. But Math and Music are encoded, almost univocal languages, which means they largely don't require an interpretative experience. Math is the quintessential non-interpretative language, in that what it says is really universally conveyed and understood. Music is pretty much the same, although a tiny bit less than Math. Art and movement need interpretation; anybody can "get their message", but it's an interpreted message which can be different for each of us. Food for thought. :)
I think even the seemingly mondane dialogue can lead to reflections and thought comparisons, as long as it doesn't get too esclusive.Roth said, each of us is able to handle only a certain amount of virtue, and adds that since he let the repellent into his life, he learned to finally live in his better conditions...Thanks Silvio
"Roth said, each of us is able to handle only a certain amount of virtue, and adds that since he let the repellent into his life, he learned to finally live in his better conditions" -- wow, this sound so interesting. Thanks for highlighting it, Liliana. :)
Thank you so much, Nic! Really appreciated your shout out on twitter. Yes, we definitely need to hang out at some point. I feel a lot in common. This might be an interesting excuse for a trip to SA (as I've never been). :)
You write on nothingness with such striking sharpness. I recently read an articled titled "Notes on Taste," and reading your piece prompted to reflect on how I've always thought that enjoying Seinfeld requires one to have a certain taste. Perhaps it's not so much a taste but more so the curiosity to find profundity in the mundane.
P.S. The other day I received a package labeled "Extremely Urgent" which made me think of you 😂
Thank you, Rach! You got me curious now, can you share that article? "I've always thought that enjoying Seinfeld requires one to have a certain taste" -- this is so true. You have no idea how many people I've encountered that reacted with a "so what? I don't get why you like it so much" after watching some Seinfeld. Its brilliance is definitely not understood by everyone. Maybe it's like you said. Maybe it's about this willingness to just be with the nothing and wait for something to come out. Like trusting a process.
Another enchanting stroll through the mental gardens of Silvio. I couldn't help imagining you working on this piece of writing and how much you might have had to adeptly cut, eliminate and prune—like a sculpture working to reveal the hidden figure within—so that, in the end, you could leave us with this delightful celebration of nothing.
Rick! Thank you so much my friend. You're always so capable of depicting such a beautiful picture with your ever present comments. And yes, you're spot-on on my working on this piece. :)
Seinfeld featured in a Silvio piece? What's not to love! Culture high and low are mixed really well here, the theme is even more poignant. Making some meaning out of nothing -- isn't that we do all the time, and what makes like wonderful?!
Thank you, Helen! Yes, it's something more widespread than one might think, although my humble opinion is that one should let it happen almost unconsciously, without realizing that "nothingness" is going on. Or else the magic stops. :)
Talking about nothing....I always thought that philosophy started just by talking about nothing.
That might very well be its ultimate genesis. Who knows. :)
Well, here's an excerpt from the Heart Sutra that supports your contention:
Here then,
Form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form.
Form is only emptiness,
Emptiness only form.
Feeling, thought, and choice,
Consciousness itself,
Are the same as this.
All things are by nature void
They are not born or destroyed
Nor are they stained or pure
Nor do they wax or wane
Another wonderful meandering romp through the twists and turns of mundanity and imbuing it with skill and craft, Silvio.
Where do ideas come from and where do they go?
What are waves to the ocean? Be still and know.
Thank you, Tai! You're the repository of so much wisdom and knowledge. Love this Heart Sutra excerpt! Real glad you liked this and thanks again for the kind words. :)
I'm not sure if it started but it seems like it kind of ends there. Where else is there to go?
The ancient greeks used to do "agorazein" , basically is the way philosophers met and talked with each other. Or how they became philosophers... talking "about nothing".
Exactly!
Amazing and insightful premise Silvio, that talking about nothing leads into talking about everything. As usual, love the imagery, examples and how you take us into different places so seamlessly. Getting addicted to your musings!
Also, I already have a Silvio's list of book recommendations that keeps on growing, and Philip Roth just became the top one, sounds really good!
Thank you, Oscar! You won't be disappointed with Roth. He was the ever present short-list candidate for the Literature Nobel but never got it. But maybe the way thing turned out is even better, if you ask me. :)
That's such a great detail to know! I actually think exactly like you, since the same happens with one of my favorite authors, Milan Kundera. Excited to read him!
So much wonderful stuff already said about "nothing".
My contribution to this week's discussion ... adding movement as another universal language. Sports, dance, they are self-translating.
Thank you, Karena. But here's an intriguing (at least for me) thought: true, we could include movement (sports, dance, etc.), the figurative arts, and the performing arts as universal languages. But Math and Music are encoded, almost univocal languages, which means they largely don't require an interpretative experience. Math is the quintessential non-interpretative language, in that what it says is really universally conveyed and understood. Music is pretty much the same, although a tiny bit less than Math. Art and movement need interpretation; anybody can "get their message", but it's an interpreted message which can be different for each of us. Food for thought. :)
You’ve inspired me to write about the art of noticing! THANK YOU! I’ll write it in WOP - are you joining this cohort?
Vicky! Thank you! Glad you liked it. And no, I'm not joining this new cohort. Maybe the next one. :)
Wow this is such a beautiful, beautiful piece 🤍
Thank you so much, Lola.
I think even the seemingly mondane dialogue can lead to reflections and thought comparisons, as long as it doesn't get too esclusive.Roth said, each of us is able to handle only a certain amount of virtue, and adds that since he let the repellent into his life, he learned to finally live in his better conditions...Thanks Silvio
"Roth said, each of us is able to handle only a certain amount of virtue, and adds that since he let the repellent into his life, he learned to finally live in his better conditions" -- wow, this sound so interesting. Thanks for highlighting it, Liliana. :)
Mundane sorry(not mondane)
This was a wonderful read. I think we need to hangout in real life at some stage, Silvio!
Thank you so much, Nic! Really appreciated your shout out on twitter. Yes, we definitely need to hang out at some point. I feel a lot in common. This might be an interesting excuse for a trip to SA (as I've never been). :)
You write on nothingness with such striking sharpness. I recently read an articled titled "Notes on Taste," and reading your piece prompted to reflect on how I've always thought that enjoying Seinfeld requires one to have a certain taste. Perhaps it's not so much a taste but more so the curiosity to find profundity in the mundane.
P.S. The other day I received a package labeled "Extremely Urgent" which made me think of you 😂
Thank you, Rach! You got me curious now, can you share that article? "I've always thought that enjoying Seinfeld requires one to have a certain taste" -- this is so true. You have no idea how many people I've encountered that reacted with a "so what? I don't get why you like it so much" after watching some Seinfeld. Its brilliance is definitely not understood by everyone. Maybe it's like you said. Maybe it's about this willingness to just be with the nothing and wait for something to come out. Like trusting a process.
And LOL at your P.S.. :)
Here's the article "Notes on Taste": https://www.are.na/blog/notes-on-taste