Philosophy Corner

Welcome fellow wine lovers and seekers of the truth!

This being the first of our philosophy corners, let’s talk about philosophy itself, and how philosophy can actually enrich our lives. So sit back, get comfortable, and of course pour a glass of good wine. Maybe a red wine from the St. Julien district of Bordeaux, or a nice Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley. You may not happen to have one of these more costly wines lying around, or feel like spending from $20 to whatever a bottle (not that they are not worth it). For about $8 a bottle try a 1997 "Terra Noble" Cabernet sauvignon "Oak Aged" from Chile (yes, Chilean wines are getting better). This wine delivers nice fruit and smooth cabernet flavors, and has some depth for the buck. I also want to tell you about another Chilean wine: the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon from "Calina". From my tasting notes: Flowery bouquet of ripe cabernet. Medium bodied. Layered, with fruit flavors, and a dry finish. I found it for $6.99 -- what a buy!

O.K. now that we are settled down, to further calm our minds let’s take a few deep breaths. Now inhale, (with our wine glass placed below our nose, of course) focusing on the symphony of different aromas in the bouquet, and how each aroma is an entity in itself. The way it blends with other aromas to become a whole even greater than each of its individual parts could ever hope to be. Now exhaling, give thanks that we are able to sit here, enjoy our wine, have a few laughs, and ponder the truths of life. Now do 3 more breaths at your own pace. Very good. Now the mind is just a little calmer and our daily worries seem just a little further away. Plus, if you just opened your wine and it needs to air this

Philosophy is a broad subject that has been around for as long as humans have walked the earth. There are as many philosophies as there are communities of people on earth. These philosophies can be loosely grouped as follows:

· Western Philosophy: The Greeks; The Romans; Christ and Neo-Platonism; The rise of Christianity and the early church; The Dark Ages; Middle Ages; The Renaissance; Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Age; Modern Era; Post Modernism; on and on, till the thinkers and religions of today.

· Eastern Philosophy: Shaivism; Vedanta; Taoism; Confucianism; Buddhism; Tantric Thought; Yoga Philosophy; etc.

· Philosophies of Indigenous Traditions: Beliefs of Native Americans; Aborigines; Africans Tribes; and all tribal people living in harmony with nature.

All these philosophies are ways of understanding and interpreting the nature of reality and the human condition within it. The way reality is interpreted affects the individual, the environment, the culture, and the sciences, politics, and religions of that culture.

This site will draw from these philosophies and focus on how they can help us to live a happier more content life, with a greater understanding of ourselves, and the world around us. The great Greek philosopher (and wine lover) Socrates (470-399 BC) once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. This is a strong statement, so for our site we will tone it down a bit, saying, “By examining our life it will become more then, just worth living”- WP.

What does examining our lives really mean? Examining our lives can start with taking a mental step back from our daily concerns, so we can view our own lives and the world around us objectively. Viewing or examining our lives from this mental vantage point gives us a clearer insight into life and it’s workings. From this point of view (or state of mind) we are free from the emotional, mental, and physical affects that our daily thoughts and act ivies have on us.

“The wise only possess ideas; the greater part of mankind is possessed by them”

Samuel Coleridge (1772-1834)

By spending time each day in an unattached “witness state” of awareness, examining our own minds and the world around us. Questions and mysteries may come up, but slowly new truths will dawn upon our consciousness.

“Philosophy, when superficially studied, excites doubt; when thoroughly explored, it dispels it.” Bacon (1561-1626)

Wise words! To “thoroughly explore” philosophy we must not just study it, but align ourselves with its principles . In this way we can fully understand and experience it’s truths. This can all be accomplished within the framework of our current lives by viewing ourselves and the world in a slightly different way.

“To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts; but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates" Thoreau (1817-1862)

Many philosophies shed light on the more subtle and higher realities of this universe. In turn we must sharpen our minds to grasp these principals, and to quiet our minds, so not to miss the simple (but profound) truths right under our noses. The mind is the tool we use to understand philosophy. This is why we are going to start by discussing the “witness state” of consciousness and the nature of the mind. We will draw on:

· Western philosophy- to understand the workings of this universe and our relationship to it, within the context of the rational mind's framework.

· Eastern philosophy- to understand our mind and our inner nature through the awaking of consciousness. To understand ourselves, the "observer", the one who is trying to understand reality.

· Indigenous philosophies- to understand that we are one with nature. To know the inner workings of nature and the "Spirit that moves in all things"

All these philosophies intertwine with each other and have many similarities. They are different ways to approach, understand, and identify with the highest truths.

Well it's getting late here, and I have just finished my 'responsible share' of good wine. So it's time to sign off for now. In future issues of WinePhilosopher.com we will be looking into the witness state of consciousness, how to achieve it, how to use it, and what philosophers over the ages have said about it.

Walk in Peace, My Friends; but watch where you step.

WinePhilosopher

E-mail wp@winephilosopher.com

[About Us] [ Philosophy Corner] [ Wine Reviews] [Art and Us] [Artists-Yesko & Carroll]

[Wines of the World] [Cyber Shop] [HOME] [E-mail us] [Artist-Max Donson]

[Wine & History] [About Reserve Wines] [Touring, Napa Valley] [Good Links]