The Art of Expression

 THE ART OF EXPRESSION

By Dimitris Karalis

There is no essential difference in material composition between a precious gem and a common stone. For instance, carbon exists in both coal and diamonds, differing only in the arrangement of their molecules, namely crystallization.

However, how vast is the difference between them in aesthetic beauty and commercial value? The pearl and the seashell also share the same structural composition, yet the pearl surpasses in delicate craftsmanship and aesthetic reflection. We observe a similar phenomenon in people. Two individuals may possess the same words and ideas to express themselves, yet one creates literature while the other mere commonplaces.

What is the reason for this expressive distinction? It lies in the refinement and presentation of their thoughts. One weaves their speech more closely and meticulously than the other. They elevate, refine, and deepen their ideas, composing the melody of their lexicon with the rhythm of an Aeolian harp. Such musically-adorned literature provides joy, knowledge, and inspiration to the developing reader. Profound literature is an inexhaustible source of knowledge and inspiration for evolving humanity.

Perusing such literary creations, like Plutarch's "Biographies" and "Ethics," we feel psychically rejuvenated, reading into the depths of his literary treasury. Each word is laden with divine mystery, causing our souls to float ecstatically, as if we were in the temple of Demeter. We revive the sacred splendor of the Eleusinian mysteries as if we, too, had experienced them in practice.

"Real literature is not written for egocentric self-promotion but to love and be loved," says Goethe. The profound writer does not leave the reader where they initially found them but inspires and elevates them to a higher intellectual platform. This is the ultimate purpose of every true artist. "Do not read whatever books you come across," says Shakespeare, "for when they do not appeal to your soul, you waste your time without gaining anything."

Every book written with a spiritual essence is immediately recognized, merely by reading a few lines on any page. There are three types of books, akin to our food:

1. Those we taste a little and immediately spit out as unsuitable nourishment (we discard them as we read).

2. Those we consume with pleasure but that do not nourish us (develop us) at all.

3. And those that require thorough chewing (careful reading) to extract their nourishing substances (knowledge) correctly.

By studying the "Divine Providence" of the Neoplatonist Synesius, we feel its spiritual truth becoming our own possession. Each word carries divine mystery, causing our souls to float ecstatically, as if we were in the temple of Demeter. We revive the sacred splendor of the Eleusinian mysteries, as if we had experienced them ourselves.

"The supreme purpose of profound literature is to offer vision, knowledge, and inspiration to the reader. Without spiritual truth as the helmsman of our expression, the soul refuses to participate in our literary journey.

This is precisely where the difference lies between animate and inanimate literature. From within, one enriches their lexicon with nectar to sweeten their thoughts.

"Do not publish this letter of mine," Nikos Kazantzakis requested from his friend and editor, Pantelis Prevelakis, "because I did not infuse it with soul. This sometimes happens to certain writers when they hastily write without spiritual coherence. A single wrong word disrupts the literary rhythm of our soul. Like an unskilled musician playing a false note in an orchestra, they are immediately interrupted by their maestro to correct the lyrical harmony. Who then writes literature, we or some other force?

Could it be that we become channels of an invisible source to convey its message to the expected humanity? How does one develop to write deeper literature? The question arises. Here are the pieces of advice given to us by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"If, by chance, divine providence calls upon any of you to explore its truth and beauty, you must be bold and faithful to its call. If you think to do as others have done, saying, 'Ah, I'll do the same as they did,' I am sorry for my initial dreams, but I want to first taste and celebrate the best that the earth and society offer. Therefore, I temporarily abandon all my intellectual romanticism for a more opportune time later.

Ah...! That is precisely when, my friend, the spiritual human inside you begins to die. At the same time, the buds of invention, science, poetry, philosophy, and fine arts start to wither and perish, just as they did in billions of your fellow humans before. This sacred moment of election is the most critical in your life, and you must steadfastly adhere to the intellectual calling that divine providence has sent you. Bow to the persuasion that enters through every point of nature within you, to become the communicative language in the hearts and souls of the world.

Be generously patient with the slow and foolish humanity, demonstrating how just the passage of divine wisdom is. Be content with the little light you have gained, for it shall be wholly yours. Explore and keep exploring ceaselessly. Do not dogmatize about what you have gained, nor accept any other extrinsic dogmas. Be vigilant against your egocentric temptation, as it misleads the mind with the soul and delays your spiritual cultivation. Spiritual truth also offers bread, bed, clothing, shelter, and ineffable happiness when you follow it faithfully and steadfastly. First, be useful to society, and it, in turn, will wholeheartedly care for your daily life.

Do not worry that society will never recognize or appreciate your thoughts. You know well that just as the sun and the moon cannot easily hide from the eyes of the world, the same happens with philosophical truth. Every pioneering thought is filled with spiritual light and is automatically revealed to the world. It manifests itself automatically, flowing with every word, glance, and movement you make, and it attracts sincere friendship like a magnet.

Humanity will warmly embrace your thoughts and reward you with the best it has in life. By faithfully following your intellectual calling, you become simultaneously the most beloved person on earth and among the Elysian children. Seek and actively live the truth within you, and all else will come of its own accord.

What is Strength

 "What is Strength”

By Dr Dimitri Karalis

Observing a tall young man with long and strong arms in the ancient marketplace gym, a friend of Isocrates expressed his admiration. 'Ah! This is someone who could become an ideal boxer with a little training,' he said. 'I agree,' Isocrates replied, 'but only when the wreath of victory is hanging very low and can only be won with a delicate touch.' In nature, we see that the towering and strong trees cannot withstand fierce storms as well as smaller shrubs. They are uprooted and damaged more easily many times.

The strongest wood in nature that does not break so easily is a shrubby tree called 'krania,' which bears its tasty fruits at the beginning of winter. It is highly sought after for the construction of shepherds' staffs but also serves as a reliable defensive tool when circumstances require.

In the realm of insects, we see the tiny and repugnant louse being the smallest and most detestable parasite in nature, yet it disrupts entire societies with its colonial skilfulness.

Excessive weight, as the renowned German doctor Louis Kuhne states, is not a sign of strength but a serious and dangerous metabolic disease. Although an overweight body may appear stronger than a thin one, it can never withstand illness and hard labour as effectively. The robustness of a finely crafted human body is flexible like a willow tree and tenacious like a beautiful cypress.

The impressive strength of an enormously bulky wrestler or boxer is partially due to the Earth's gravitational pull on each of them. Outside the Earth, in space where there is no gravity, mass does not function as a force. Even if an elephant were to collide with a tiny flea up there, it would neither feel pain nor shed blood. We use the term "weight" to denote the property of gravity reflecting on every mass, but it never represents the inner strength.

So, what is strength then? It surely isn't about volume or the result of excessive eating and excessive exercise, as all these consume nervous energy for movement, digestion, and exertion, especially when abused.

"Every gram of food consumed more than our body needs for metabolism signifies a loss of nervous energy and metabolic abnormalities as a consequence. If we remove this surplus food and replace it with more creative work in its place, then we will benefit twofold in health and in our pockets simultaneously. Strength is not generated with a full stomach or extensive exercise, but it is regenerated during sleep through the revitalization of the organism and the restoration of perfect blood circulation.

Fatigue never indicates the need for food but always for sleep. Every night, we renew our strength in the bedroom, not at the dining table.

Our ancient ancestors used to say that excessive food not only wastes money and precious time but also destroys our health simultaneously. Laziness originates from these abuses and especially from gluttonous habits. We observe enthusiastic and fanatic athletes spending a lot of time in gyms to become strong, they say.

Of course, they eat a lot when they exercise a lot, but what is the benefit? With less exercise and moderate food, they achieve the same goal faster and healthier—saving money, strength, fatigue, and nervous reserves at the same time."

We know from experience that when the muscles of the body are excessively developed, the mind usually remains underdeveloped. We never encounter individuals with overly bulging arms to be intellectually admirable. Usually, they behave aggressively, roughly, and earn their living as personal bodyguards or in various physical professions. It is even said that when the muscles of our ancient ancestors started excessively bulging, they lost their brilliant civilization simultaneously. They apparently violated their sacred maxim 'Mēdén Agan' (Nothing in Excess) and may have been influenced by the rough and intellectually indifferent Roman conquerors.

The ability of a person to perform well in their actions comes from four aspects:

1. The heart,

2. The lungs,

3. The mind, and

4. The soul. The soul does not need any food at all. The mind requires very little, And the heart, with the lungs, so little that it does not need special emphasis. Physical strength comes from perfect breathing. Intellectual strength comes from a clear mind, and spiritual strength comes from an unimpeded fearless soul.

Man is a tremendous electric force and does not need many coals like a steam engine to move, as it generates greater power and endurance when consuming less and purer food.

We need a clear mind, steady nerves, an elastic body, and mental courage to be whole as human beings. None of the above natural gifts should be absent if we want to succeed in life. One cannot think deeply and waste their strength on time-consuming digestion and various pleasurable abuses simultaneously. The economy of nervous reserves is more necessary than financial savings.

The deceptive illusion of feeling slightly stronger after eating and from other stimulating practices comes from the acceleration of blood circulation to expel the excess and unnatural food. It becomes, in short, a necessary waste of nervous energy to eliminate the unwanted and dangerous invader in the body (especially with alcoholic drinks). These are the reasons that lead many unhappy people into habits of gluttony, alcoholism, drug addiction, various stimulating narcotics, laziness, bankruptcy, and ultimately into prison and death.

Orthodox Medicine, I believe, has a sacred duty to enlighten humanity further to free it from the tremendous risk of its hygiene collapsing. The fact that Preventive Medicine is more effective as a therapy and less costly than pharmacology is indisputable. The medical profession should be a service to humanity, not a commerce, keeping the world away from the enlightenment of hygiene.