CJ Faderogao

The wound is the place where light enters you. This simple yet profound quote is by Jalal al-Din Muhammad R umi   or simply, Rumi . A Sufi ¹  mystic, Islamic scholar and poet from the 13th century. He spent most of his life in the city of  Konya of modern day  Turkey.   A Millenia after his death, his poetry verses continue to inspire people-be it academics, artists or lay people. His works still top book bestsellers list, and he is even recognized as the most read poet in the United States today.  A portrait of Rumi by Hossein Behzad. His poetry which covers humanity, divinity, and love endured the passage of time proving that there's much for us to learn from his teachings. I will continue to spread his acclaim by sharing a brief of his teachings, in the hopes that more people to know his message.  His enigma lies in the beauty of his preaches; poetic verses inspired by universal spirituality. And in order for us to know his creeds, we must first know his deeds. Let's get to 

I recently visited a Buddhist temple last weekend. And while engrossing myself in the temple's beauty and sacred atmosphere, I was reminded of the diversity of faiths that we have on the world. We have faiths dating back thousands of years that we have cling into for comfort, hope, and personal peace. Both eastern and western culture had their roots in religions that shaped not only civilization but also our early understanding of the human condition. For the longest time, these religions served as our moral and spiritual guides. Given this, I find it inviting to revisit some of these faiths; explore and wonder about their messages, appreciate their ties with our culture, and ponder on their doctrines that have captured the heart and mind of man for centuries. Here are the core teachings of the 5 Major World Religions: Buddhism Let's start with Buddhism. This religion originated from India,

What does it mean to be educated? We often associate education with being institutionalized. We consider a person educated based on grades, diplomas, or titles. While we often put emphasis on these things in gauging other people's-and even our own-aptitude, we know through observation that they alone don't make a person completely cultivated. There are more, often veiled, aspects that merits our consideration.  You might wonder what this aspects are, as I also did when it became a subject of my contemplation these past weeks. Searching for answers myself, I came upon a book that helped me. A memoir released in 2018 that I felt was relevant to the questions I was posing. Aptly named, it is Educated by Tara Westover. This book is a memoir of Tara Westover's peculiar journey towards being "educated." She is from rural Idaho, United States. Following a long, challenging-but rewarding-period of education and unusual upbringing, she was able to finish a doctor's deg

No random actions, none not based on underlying principles.  -Marcus Aurelius Last week, I presented a portrait of the INTJ's psychology. I shared about how it is structured, how it functions, and its general characteristics as a personality type.  In this second part of the series, I'm going to share my experiences and observations as an INTJ.  Drawing upon developments from my childhood, teenage years, up to my present life as a young adult. * * * How I see the world as an INTJ Since my early childhood, I have always been fascinated about how the world works. I've explored my budding curiosities on Religion, Science, and Literature. Dwelling on questions such as "Is there an afterlife?" or "Is there life on other planets?" Talking about these things with like-minded friends would fill me with joy and excitement. Indulging myself in my school textbooks, especially those on Science, nurtured my natural curiosity that I have carried on to my present life