It seems that the outcome of any artistic project is fundamentally dependent on the enthusiasm and vigor with which it is started. The spirit with which this start is imbued is decisive. For a bad or weak start, there is not much to be done, while a vigorous start can be extended by manual labor and simple discipline. That is why it is so important to do the ideation separately, at a time that precedes the execution. In this way, one can take advantage of the unsurpassable stimulus of those moments when the idea is ready and seems to explode.
When Faced With What He Does Not Know
The better he who, when faced with what he does not know, keeps quiet instead of doubting. And if he does not feel confident in his perception, and if he is really interested in the object of his current ignorance, let him study, listen and, above all, want to know. And let him stay that way for as long as it takes, studying, listening and wanting. One day, perhaps, he will know; and he will value the knowledge he has acquired. If, however, he does not get to know, at least he will have maintained a posture that he can never be ashamed of.
When We Investigate Mystical Traditions…
Something that should be noted is that when we investigate mystical traditions in depth, even if at first some of them seem very simple and superficial, we always end up finding something rich and interesting. And then we compare them and see how many ways we can reach similar conclusions, and how many ways we can reach different, but equally valid and edifying conclusions. If it comes from a sincere and disinterested search, there is no doctrine unworthy of our attention.
One Genuinely Brazilian Element
If there is one genuinely Brazilian element that stands out in the eyes of the world, it is spirituality, as it has come to be called. In this respect, Brazil, even if it does not recognize it, is worthy of, if not next to, a level very close to that of any country, regardless of how much older it is. And if we compare its spiritual refinement to a country of similar age, such as the much envied United States, the result is overwhelming. This is simply a fact. The way in which religious traditions have developed and enriched here, whether imported or original, is impressive and is not only due to syncretism and cultural miscegenation. Very unique individuals have been born on Brazilian soil, some of them true geniuses, something that could very well serve as the “personal and historical pretexts” that, according to Nelson, justify the lack of self-esteem of Brazilians.