Mylene L.

Capricho
BSA-4B
PHILO 106 1:00-2:30 PM TTH

Waking Up to the Journey

The first chapter of Os Guinnesss book, Long Journey Home, begins with the authors
realization that on the point of his life, there has to be something more. The author is convincing
the readers that there are things beyond the reality that we are currently facing, that there are
deeper things in life that cannot be assessed by worldly things. This could be manifested in a
way that there are things in our lives that we have striven to achieve yet when we have
achieved such things, we come to a realization that these are far less than enough, that we are
not able to achieve satisfaction or fulfillment. This matter, had led me to asking myself, what if I
achieved my desires and goals in the future, would it give me a feeling of accomplishment? Or it
will leave me a sense of emptiness because I will feel that there is something more that I want
to achieve?
In the first chapter, Os Guiness pointed out three requirements for a fulfilling life. These
are a clear sense of personal identity, a strong sense of personal mission, and a deep sense of
lifes meaning. (pg. 2) The first two requirements are rooted in the third requirement. As the text
goes on, the author expressed that the book is written for those who are seeking for something
more, and to those who are pursuing a life rich with significance.
The author shared a story about the lives of Janis Joplin, who took her life at the age of
twenty-seven because of loneliness, and Bertrand Russell who struggled in life as he was
orphaned at the age of three by the death of his parents, and orphaned philosophically when he
was sixteen by his atheism. He was a torn person, longing for home and for love. He seemed to
be detached in mind and body, and the root of it is loneliness. He even said it himself, that he
had a very internal and terrible spiritual loneliness. He was yearning for something. We all
feel that sense of longingness within us, that we need to find a sense of meaning and
belongingness in our journey.
Life is a journey, and we are invited to make sense of this short stay that we have.

An Examined Life in an Unexamined Age

The second chapter begins with the story of E. F. Schumacher when he visited St.
Petersburg, Russia, and despite having a map in his hand, he realized that he was lost. It turned
out that the map did not show churches on it, according to the Intourist guide who helped in.
According to Schumacher, this was not the first time that he received a map that did not show all
the things that he could see right in front of his eyes. He experienced it even way before in
school and university, where he was given mental maps of life and knowledge which turned out
to be things which he less cared about. Moreover, the mental maps gave no place to the faith
that was so vital to him. (pg. 12)
Today, we are challenged to lead an examined life in an unexamining age. This
challenged is greatly influenced by Socratess observation that the unexamined life is not worth
living. This challenge could be difficult because of the busy lives that we are living and because
there are people who have such poorly detailed mental maps to follow, and that what we think
we see doesnt match what we are told. This could be observed in various scenarios.
There are great people who possess a profound and genuine faith however, faith
continues to be dismissed by many of the educated and cultured as something only for the
uneducated and uncultured. Faith is commonly dismissed as reactionary. The Western culture
persisted in making and using maps that ignore faith and spirituality, and they considered faith
as intrusive, undemocratic, and quite out of place. (pg. 13) People who disregard faith are tonedeaf and color-blind. They are unable to harmonize with the greater portion of the humanity
because they have drowned themselves to their self-sufficient ideas and selfishness. They were
not able to grasp the most beautiful and deepest experience a man can have, a religious sense
of Faith. (Albert Einstein).
Long Journey Home highlights four stages of the journey. First, that the present
approach makes no pretense of originality. Second, that the thoughtful seekers journey is not
the only and required way. Third, that the present approach will not attempt to set out proofs, but
rather indicate the paths and pointers, that if followed, will lead to sure convictions. And lastly,
that the present approach is not a demonstration for spectators but an invitation to participants.
(pg. 17-18). The journey that we are taking while reading this book is the most important journey
of all, the journey from our heads to our hearts, and from our hearts to our wills. We are invited
to set out; to let the mind and heart run deep.

A World of Difference

The chapter begins with the story of Muggeridge and the change that he experienced in
his life. He used to believe only of those things which are solid and the proven, all other things
are, according to him, fatuous, preposterous, and desultory. He attempted to end his life in 1943
because he experienced disillusionments. He felt alone and lonely, and he decided to take his
life by drowning. He started swimming but all of a sudden, he began to swim back to the shore
when he saw the glow of the lights from Peters Caf and the Costa del Sol. He felt an
overwhelming joy when he saw the lights of the world, the lights of his home, and he felt that he
must reach it. He never experienced such a joy before. Upon seeing that glimmer of light, he
understood that he had to act upon it, that he had to find a reason for his life.
Muggeridges story reminds me of Viktor Frankls famous line, He who has a why to live
can bear with almost any how. When he saw the glimmering lights, he became absorbed by it
and he realized that his life there, his home is there. He found such joy in it that he was ready
and eager to undertake the quest to understand it.
Later in the chapter, the author differentiated the words seeker and drifter. Seekers are
those who are serious and restless. They have questions in their lives and although they have
answers, they reconsider and find answers outside their present answers. On the other hand,
drifters are rarely looking for anything in particular. They are cool, noncommittal, ever-open,
concerned only to cover all bases. Theyre eternally ready to be converted and reconverted ad
nauseam. (pg. 26)
A true seeker asks and asks. His questions bore into his existence. This will to find
meaning is fundamental. It is the primary motivational force in man. (Victor Frankl) We are
inclined to ask and ask because the way how we view life is necessary because it gives us a
sense of meaning. According to George Steiner, More than homo sapiens, we are homo
quaerens, the animal that asks and asks.
A true seeker seeks for meaning and purpose in his life. However, like a sea full of
waves, life is not without risk. Everyone experiences hardships and trouble. But despite this fact,
a true seeker knows that his life is a quest to discover why life is worth the trouble.

Trading Our Tomorrows

The chapter begins with a story of Michel Faucault and his Nietzschean quest to
become what one is. (pg. 34) He aimed to complete his quest through the ordeal of
experiencing extremes to unleash creative forces and intense joy, and through the discovery of
the Dionysian element in his personality.

Grateful- But Who do We Thank?

Cries to Heaven, Cries for Hell