I think Russian literature has been making me a stronger person and more of a powerful thinker.
(Alexander Solzhenitsyn)
Greetings Everyone,
As for these past couple of years, I have noticed within myself an increasingly profound fascination with all things Russian!
Art, literature, philosophy...you name it!
While I was studying in the Aristides Atelier, I remember being totally absorbed with the paintings of Ilya Repin and Ivan Kramskoy.
Even more so of today I have found my intriguing thirst for knowledge from some of the world’s greatest minds to be ever increasing.
With that being said I can’t help but to acknowledge the major influence of the writings and lectures of Jordan Peterson has had on me in relation to my aims towards self empowerment and my pursuit of truth.
Well over a couple of years now (just about the time right before he started to become famous) up to this very day I find myself listening to his lectures on average one a day and often over and over again in attempts to understand as much as possible.
As I can imagine with many others, the works of Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, as well as Nietzsche and Jung ( I know they’re not Russian ;) ) have been well known but as of lately I have experienced this newfound willingness and bravery to plunge right into devouring these books.
Not too long ago I finished Crime & Punishment and Solzhenitsyn’s Gulag Archipelago..as of now I am right in the middle of The Brothers Karamazov.
As far as the Gulag Archipelago, I would completely agree in that you really are not quite the same person after you read it!
I now truly believe that it is one of those books everyone just has to read. Granted it is an account of one of the most horrific periods of history involving the shattered remains of morality, I think its content is applicable now more than ever.
The book really is like medicine. The book is like a gift in realizing you could have this cancerous growth inside of you and this gift is perception of laser like precision in which helps you remove it.
We must always remain aware of what we once were while being aware of what we could be.
I feel the same as with Crime & Punishment, even though it is a novel it still has more of a prophetic nature.
(Here's a master copy drawing I finished while in the atelier of Kramskoy's "Dostoyevsky on His Deathbed")
There is no doubt that Dostoyevsky had rock solid bravery and an uncanny ability to make the strongest argument possible when it comes to humanity’s greatest questions that we are still confronted with today.
The Gulag Archipelago appears to be nothing but the results of what Dostoyevsky forewarned, the results of a weakly defined morality and lack of mental clarity.
As I have delved into these great literary works I have found a deep sense of peace, strength, optimism, and bravery in this new found sense of clearer thinking.
I feel as though whether or not these perspectives can be concluded as “right” or “wrong” is really besides the point at the moment.
They still could be taken apart, dissected and discussed...in fact I would highly encourage it as it’s detrimental for humanity to move forward.
As one digs deeper and deeper in the attempts of understanding the infinitely complex realms of order and chaos, one begins to see this phenomena not just unfolding within powerful social and political structures, but within all cultures, families, and within oneself.
It is because of these writers I feel as though I have gained a stronger and clearer ability to ask questions and think in a straightforward manner. And in doing so allows for a more efficient and impactful course of action and a deeper conviction towards the path into higher being and truth.
Please feel free to let me know what you think?
I agree with your thoughts, but personally, I will extend it a bit further and say that I enjoy reading and studying about most/all past cultures. There was something so simple about their lifestyles and rugged about their thoughts. They had ample time to contemplate which I think allowed them to form whole thoughts. Much of our thoughts currently, seem fragmented. Thanks for writing this.
@therussianmonk Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it :) And yes, I too love to learn as much as I can from all parts of the world.
What I find that really hit home for me concerning what has happened in this piece of Russian history is that they experienced so much that we here in the U.S. have yet to experience...and thank the powers that be for that!
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