variation on a theme...
"Tantra is said to teach the method of changing the outgoing current into the return current, transforming the fetters created by Maya into that which 'releases' or 'liberates'. This idea is behind two of the sayings of Tantra: 'One must rise by that by which one falls' and 'the very poison that kills becomes the elixir of life when used by the wise.'"
which reminds me of the ancient Greek pharmakon.
And look how things come full circle (thanks, Derrida!):
"Socrates: Very well. I heard, then, that at Naucratis in Egypt there lived one of the old gods of that country, the one whose sacred bird is called the ibis; and the name of the divinity was Theuth. It was he who first invented numbers and calculation, geometry and astronomy, not to speak of draughts and dice, and above all writing (grammata)[...]but when it came to writing, Theuth said, 'This discipline (to mathema), my King, will make the Egyptians wiser and will improve their memories (sophiterous kai mnemonikoterous): my invention is a recipe (pharmakon) for both memory and wisdom.' But the King said . . . etc. Let us cut the King off here. He is faced with the pharmakon. His reply will be incisive."
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I almost bought E an ibis figure for his writing desk at the exhibit last week -- but I bought him a baboon instead (also related to Thoth and writing, and the more interesting figurine of the two).
which reminds me of the ancient Greek pharmakon.
And look how things come full circle (thanks, Derrida!):
"Socrates: Very well. I heard, then, that at Naucratis in Egypt there lived one of the old gods of that country, the one whose sacred bird is called the ibis; and the name of the divinity was Theuth. It was he who first invented numbers and calculation, geometry and astronomy, not to speak of draughts and dice, and above all writing (grammata)[...]but when it came to writing, Theuth said, 'This discipline (to mathema), my King, will make the Egyptians wiser and will improve their memories (sophiterous kai mnemonikoterous): my invention is a recipe (pharmakon) for both memory and wisdom.' But the King said . . . etc. Let us cut the King off here. He is faced with the pharmakon. His reply will be incisive."
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I almost bought E an ibis figure for his writing desk at the exhibit last week -- but I bought him a baboon instead (also related to Thoth and writing, and the more interesting figurine of the two).