An empty tomb speaks for itself

Easter reminds us the joy of Resurrection of Jesus for the first time in the History of the History of Humanity. It is the holy moment of Accomplishment of a Deadly Commitment for the Salvation of Humanity. What a fortunate crowd are we?. However it is not by our credit that we are the partners of Resurrection. Rather by HIS Holy Passion and Death on the Deadly Cross that he won Life for us by paying his life as a ransom.

Hence, Let us not identify Christ with His works, miracles and actions. If so we are no less then the people who sought Bread from Christ; and not Christ. May this Easter help us to draw our soul to Christ of Life and not to the Bread of Christ.

                            An empty tomb speaks for itself.listen with your Heart..to understand..HIM

                                                            Happy Easter.....dear friends....

Ludwig Wittgenstein: A Linguistic Horizon

“What is the intention or aim in your philosophy? – To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.”

To put you into Context: Ancient Western Philosophers were so conceptual and metaphysical that they concentrated on the primordial matter and substantial form. Thus they insisted only on conceptual knowledge, and failed to clarify the problems of daily life. They had different theories on language with regard to words, sentences and reality. Contrastingly, Wittgenstein initiated the notion of language games that endowed with rules, norms and principles for the better use of language as a tool in meaningful communication. The aim of his philosophy is to find linguistic expression meaningfully.

Incarnation: Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was born Vienna, Austria on 26^th April, 1889 in a well to do family as the youngest of five brothers and three sisters; parents were Karl Wittgenstein a Jewish industrialist and mother Leopoldine Kalmus, a Catholic woman. As a boy he was passionate about engineering and aeronautics which in fact had a great influence in his thinking and philosophy. In the contemporary period his contribution to linguistic analysis was outstanding with his concepts of private language, picture theory and language games. His philosophy is so unique that he connects language and its grammar to the life and its norms.

The Advent of a Linguistic Legend: It was the threshold of the 18^th century where the invention and advancement of science and culture was rampant. It was the time of Renaissance of culture and a time of scientific revolution; where Wittgenstein was the one who initiated a trend of philosophy making Language as the object of his philosophical investigation and enquiry. He completely drowned the presumptions and presuppositions of the ancient and medieval philosophical jargon and conceptual dilemmas. Thus he set a trend where the traditional philosophy needs a therapy to heal from the metaphysical and conceptual jargons which in fact added more confusion instead of solving the problems. Therefore, his philosophy was also called as a therapeutic philosophy.  

Wittgenstein out of his quest for philosophical knowledge and learning read the philosophies of Aristotle, Plato and Spinoza and discovered that their language was imperfect with some defects and ambiguities. Therefore, for him, the function of philosophy should be clarifying the confusion created rather than adding more confusion. He introduced a new method to solve the problem by analysing sentences, and the use of words. This he called as a therapeutic method which aims to solve philosophical problems, puzzles and ambiguities. He considered philosophical problems as a mental cramp to be relieved or a knot in our thinking to be united. He argued that such problems arise due to the misinterpretation of the forms of language.

The Works to His Credit: Wittgenstein is popular for his enormous writings and philosophical works. To his credit there are two major works which influenced the entire linguistic philosophy. His early work is known as the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) and the later part of his work is known as Philosophical Investigations (1949). And all the important works published after his posthumous books are Philosophical Grammar, Blue and Brown Books, Writings on Philosophy of Psychology and On Certainty. Interestingly when he was asked to publish his works he was rather unwilling. Because he thought, despite his intellectual calibre, he feared that he would be misunderstood. This was one of the reasons why he was unwilling to publish his works. Once, just a day before his death he told his Friend Mr Bevan, that he had wonderful life and wished to communicate the same to all his friends. Finally this great philosopher breathed his last on 29^th April, 1951 at Cambridge, England.   

His Contribution: In the linguistic analysis it is Wittgenstein who contributed the most through his philosophical and significant works. If critically analyse his philosophical journey, we see him first stepping into very negative philosophical wing while initiating a Private Language concept which itself is a wrong premise. Thus he gradually makes a path for Positivism and Analytical Philosophy while associating with some of the renowned philosophers of the 18^th Century like Schopenhauer, Russell and Moore.  

Significance:  The early Wittgenstein made language as a personal object through his concept of Private Language and Picture Theory. The emphasis of Private Language is that there cannot be anything in common but subjective. Thus he made a mistake by establishing language and feelings as subjective products of experience and knowing. Contrasting to his early premise, later Wittgenstein introduced a new way of investigating language with a new concept of words as tools in the language; where language is like a Chess game in which each pawn has meaning in a particular context in a particular move. In this context he said that words contain the potentiality of doing not only one function but many other functions just like any tool that we use for different purposes. Thus he established a descriptive method of philosophy contrasting all other theoretic, explanatory and conceptual methods of past.

 Linguistic Insights: It is fascinating to understand the linguistic insights of Wittgenstein. He said that, the phenomenon of language has been considered as the vehicle of thinking and therefore language belonged together to an inexplicable phenomenon of human life. For example, the child first learns the names of the objects or people and gradually learns to associate the names and words to the thoughts. Thus language becomes a linguistic activity that indwells thinking and learning which unveils the scope for the communal activity and mutual sharing by which communication leads to communion. Even to the post-modernism of Derrida’s concept of Deconstruction have roots in Wittgenstein’s later philosophy.  

The Ripple Effect…!

I am delighted to appreciate and acknowledge the concrete initiative of the College Staff and Students of brining out in the form of a beautiful magazine. The theme of this issue is Youth of Today: Problems and Possibilities which I feel is relevant and much debated and talked about issue in and around the world. It is a wonderful and praise worthy effort from the part of the students and the staff members who contributed informative, innovative and inspiring knowledge and wisdom coupled with their experience. Hence, I vehemently feel that their good work will certainly bear fruit like the ripple effect.

I take a beautiful image of the ripple effect precisely, to bring to everyone’s attention that how influential and contagious is one’ goodness. Mind you Evil does have the same effect. We know that, nothing is accidental, incidental, coincidental or by chance but by our CHOICE. Yes, there are problems; there are difficulties and obstacles for any noble cause. Only by meeting and beating these problems youth can reach glory and thus make sky as their limit. Believe me, such are the men and women who discovers the joy in making the problems into possibilities and difficulties into opportunities. Therefore, It’ noting but the matter of one’s perspective, attitude and disposition. With positive outlook towards people, problems and pains we make the stage to spread the ripple effect and inspire many youth. This reminds of a quote from the Bible, Having been strengthened in Christ, to strength my brothers and sisters, which the slogan of St Paul and Peter the two major pillars of the Church.

Dear readers and well wishers, I wish and hope that this humble work of our College Management, inspire you, enrich you and help  you to enhance your life for a change, for a cause and for an influence. Thus, we commit ourselves as one force for the Ripples of Effect from and for…

Thank you.

CHANGE: That Leads to Godlessness in Youth…

At the time of Jesus, the people sought for signs from God to understand the second coming of the savior. Paradoxically today’s generation seems to be looking for miracles to believe in God. This tendency postulates the absence of faith and presence of godlessness attitude. I wish I am wrong in making this premise. 

Of late I was shocked when a couple of graduate students told me that they do not believe in God. I was shocked not because they do not believe in God but what would be their reason to say this, despite years of formation and seminary life. I really wonder whether they understood what they said.

Perhaps the change of times and the change of cultures and change of belief systems could have influenced them. Let us not forget the fact that there is nothing certain except the change itself. Yes change is the only certainty. So it is the change that influences the mind of the young today. The speed of change is tremendous. Just to put you in context……Years ago the choices that my grandfather had to survive were simple things like Land, Water, Cattle and Cart, Car, T.V and Radio. But today the choices that I have…oh vow…I face a problem of choice because plenty of things at my disposal. To drink, to eat, to wear, to travel, to relate and to live…the choices are….Coco Cola, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald, Samsung, Apple, Puma, RayBan, Reebok, fastrack, docomo, airtel, Ford, Marcedez and the hub of everything facebook, twitter, watsup and Google. Today with all the facilities, still the young face tragedy in life unlike our forefathers with minimum things. Believe me the young today is experiencing an Identity Crisis due to mishandling and manipulating the things that are at hand; which unveil a way to Godlessness, isolation and existential despair.

Once I was having a chat with one of my friends about what actually were the reasons why the young people go away from God and thus lead a Godless life that would certainly influence the others like any contagious sickness. Some of the points of our discussion about the things that lead to Godlessness today are…

Sense of Impatience: The young today have developed a tendency to seek immediate results for the efforts that they make; be it studies, work or prayer. Since they are in haste they forget the fact that these things take years to bear fruit. Today we are living in the age of touch, click, instant, fastrack, instant results, instant coffee and instant. In this age of comodification, the qualities like patience, calm and compose have become unwanted commodities. As a result we lose patience and develop aggression, irritation and temper. And we know with this character we get absolute disorientation having no standards in life. To give you an example, we know formation is not a period of time or a stage of life. But it is an ongoing process where one comes out of darkness and steps into light and grace.   

Sense of Disorientation: A life without goal and focus will be like a ship without rudder. The journey of such life becomes insipid and meaningless. There is nothing to work for and nothing to strive for in life. What the young need at this level is to discover something that they love passionately and get oriented in life’s journey. Then it becomes a dream to chase and make a reality.

Lack of Sense of Humor: It is said that “A fool laughs at others’ mistakes, and the wise laughs at one’s mistakes.” Yes, we lost the true sense of humor. It is nothing but being optimistic about oneself. Such an attitude makes one to find something good in him/her and find oneself worth appreciating even in the worst circumstances. In this regard our parents can be the best examples that we could find ever. Jesus Christ himself set a beautiful example before us where we can see his death on the cross leading us to the joy of resurrection; where a symbol of suffering becomes a signpost of resurrection.

Lack Sense of Family: If father is the head of the family; then mother is the heart of the family. In family we learn the virtue of charity. The youth today have a feeling that in family all are outdated and irrelevant. So they give least importance to the parents. They forget the fact that parents know everything about them despite what they are and what they are not. We know all great people who left the legacy in the page of history are from a good family who were obedient to the parents and to the family.

Sense of Independence: Yes, today’s young people are not in a stage to listen to other. Because they have mass media in hand that shows them all that they want and all that they need instantly. Therefore, strong sense of independence creeps into their head; which is a great paralysis of this generation. Thus they become no more the citizens of the society but the natives of the Mass Media, as an analysis described. With this attitude they conceive everyone as weak and incomplete. But they develop many fake friends in the social networks forget to make good friends who are near. Today the young have fake friendships and less good friendships. This is a tragedy in the lives of the young. Because, today they are the friends who take advantage of friendship and forget them in trouble. And finally end up seeking some psychological and spiritual counselling. 

Change: A Wake Up Time...

We know it was Heraclitus who said that the world is full of flux/change. For him change is certain and nothing else. What ever it is, what I would like to draw your attention to is that there are Christians being persecuted in the name of God. There are number of Christians being killed by the terrorists and those who perpetuate violence by their deeds and acts of unkindness. Oh God when is the end to such religious attacks of the innocent.

It is not in one corner of the world nor one corner of the country. Today religious violence is prevalent every where in the world. It has become a common phenomenon of the daily newspapers ad news channels.

Even in India in BJP's reign religious problems are becoming everyday's issues. In the name of God Reconversions, Achadin and Ghar Vapsi are just luring every non-Hindu citizen to embrace Hinduism. If not we know what would be the consequences of such behaviour. There are also cases where Christians and Muslims being reconverted into Hinduism offering money 2-5 lakhs. So, God is put in terms of money. We can sell  God and we can also buy God.

Therefore, I feel it is a high time for every person who believes Jesus is under threat. As everyday is change of yesterday but then every tomorrow arrives no yesterday promise any security to a believer.
It is time for us all to wake up and be aware of what is waiting...interns of religious violence....

It is Trust dat Builds Life...

On 18th Feb, 2015

Random Reflection from one of my students during Hermeneutics Oral Exam: He said "A bad person sees a bad person bad; because he doesn't trust the other. 
but a good person sees a bad person good; because he trusts the other." So it is TRUST that builds our Relationships, Family and Community. Beautiful....

When flora and fauna want to Propagate?

Today evening I was with my students working in the Mango Garden. While working we noticed that out of so many flowers that bloomed are down now. Most of the flowering has been withered away due to some natural conditions and situations. What ever would be the reason....I was wondering why only some trees can be planted by the seed, others by the stem and few others by the flower and the rest neither of them but by a formulae...
Have you ever thought about it? First of all they bloom, flower and bare fruits not just by their instinct and natural condition. But they do have the instinctual desires to propagate themselves and spread their roots across just like humanity strive to procreate and propagate. That's why all the trees and plants (flora and fauna) when they feel that they are going to die or perish then they start flowering and then bearing fruits. This was shared by one of the senior Salesian members of my community. I was really thrilled to know this wonderful secret of the plants and trees.