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December 31, 2004
Colin Wilson's Mind Parasites
What a wonderful time we are having! Beginning with yesterday's book discussion group on Colin Wilson's "The Mind Parasites", I was excited to find the high level of acceptance that each of the eight group members demonstrated for what is often a uniquely different point of view from the others. As we are developing, I am often persuaded by another's perceptions to recognize a more refined truth in the books and films we explore. I wonder if we are perhaps like the group presented in the book: people of like mind with individual capabilities joining to enregetically defeat the Mind Parasites of despair, misunderstanding, insecurity and exhaustion.
For those of us who "rode the train" from the book discussion to La Madeleine to the movie discussion, we indulged in a spirited eight-hour discourse.
With our open membership format, it was interesting to see the same number of folks, yet a different mix, at last night's Iranian movie feature, "The Taste of Cherries". Being lovers of synchronicities, those of us on the longer train ride of course noted some similarity in themes of the book and the movie. Once again, I believe we have stumbled into our old friends, Free Will and Fate. In the Mind Parasites, suicide is fought against by an effort of will to develop the mind and seek a Higher Power. In the Taste of Cherries, suicide is surrendered to and left to Fate.
- Elaine
Posted by lyceum at December 31, 2004 08:26 PM