Desai to Flandry:
"'We have not had the good fortune to be born in an era when our society offers us something transcendental to live and die for.'" (p. 391)
Would that be good fortune? Does Desai want to fight in a crusade or a jihad? If not, then what does he mean by "'...something transcendental to...die for'"?
Is there a slight difference in meaning between "transcendental" and "transcendent"? We do not need society to offer us the transcendent because it is ever present but Desai seems to have dismissed it:
"'I hope to do more than read sutras in my retirement...'" (p. 390)
The Yoga Sutras teach meditation.
6 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I'm surprised by these comments of yours. I never thought that here Desai was showing sympahty for any kind of violent "transcendentalism." Rather, it was people like Fr. Axor, a being both kind and genuinely devout, whom Desai had in mind. To say nothing of people like St. Thomas Aquinas and Dame Julian of Norwich!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But Fr. Axor's spirituality is perfectly possible within the Terran Empire whereas "...something transcendental to...die for..." sounds dangerous, more like what Aycharaych tried to foment on Aeneas.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Maybe some would understand this use of "transcendental" as ominous and dangerous, but that was simply not how I understood it. At most, I would think of it as a widespread turning to belief in God. A resurgence in piety, and that does not have to take violent forms. But I do see now what you mean.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
DIE for? Either warring against infidels or suffering martyrdom?
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Or being willing to die for one's faith in times of persecution. As happened during the Penal Laws era in Great Britain.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But it would not be "good fortune" to live in such times.
Paul.
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