As a kid, I struggled with existential questions such as life’s purpose and my place in it. My exposure to many cultures and religions taught me how to think for myself and strive to express myself clearly. This was a real challenge, given that Persian and Hebrew are written from right to left as used in poetry and spirituality, while English is written from left to right for use in science and business. 

I eventually decided to study philosophy and comparative religion. The dictionary defines philosophy as “the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.” Perhaps a simpler definition of philosophy is the “love of wisdom.” Whether one is a doctor or farmer, lawyer or engineer, one can still become a philosopher through the accumulation of wisdom.

The picture above is a facsimile from the Papyrus Prisse, the oldest book in the world, dating to 2500 B.C. Written by Ptahhatp, the Vizier to the eighth pharaoh of the Old Kingdom’s Fifth Dynasty, many consider “The Teachings of Ptahhotep” as the first book on philosophy as it contains such pearls of wisdom like “As your reputation is immaculate, you need not speak.” Or, “No one will be born wise, so consult with the simple, as much as the educated.”

Socrates advised us to “Know ThySelf,” which is simple to understand but difficult to adopt. One of the best pearls of wisdom in Meditations, by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, is “Do less, better.” Add to that:  Laotzu’s “Tao Te Ching,” otherwise known as The Canon of Reason and Virtue; Plato’s Republic; Shakespeare’s plays; Rumi’s poems; Bob Dylan’s songs; and many other ancient and contemporary philosophers who have dedicated their lives to the accumulation of wisdom.

Let’s not reinvent the wheel, or strive to figure out the meaning of life on our own. The knowledge we need to live a happy and productive life is already out there.

— Sina.