Love and Thought
No matter how the postponement of respected Hoca Efendi's case is interpreted in legal terms, it has created a soothing effect on the public conscience as respects its practical foresight. It is possible to ascertain this effect through simple observation. Regardless of one's point of view or inclination, every person of this nation, full of love for humanity and country, wishes to share the joy of common values and improvement from the bottom of his or her heart. This richness of the heart exists in every person, and it is important in view of its being an assurance of democratic consciousness. Professor Ali Fuat Basgil pointed this out when he said that the assurance for both democracy and civilization lies in the heart and in human love. (On the Way to Democracy, pg. 113)
Some postponements are worthy; however, Behcet Necatigil says we should never postpone love with the words, "Let's not postpone love for tomorrow" and "Feelings are for filling the heart, not for keeping inside." Necatigil is looked down on because of his sentimentality; however, his poetry is precisely the poetry of thought. It has been clearly revealed by many philosophers that real thought cannot be born without love (Fromm, Unamuno, A. France, A. Gise, C. Meric and many more). Thought without love and love without thought reflect the sadness and longing of the same postponement.
Optimistic observations of ordinary people regarding the perception of the decision [of the court], even in this time of universal crisis, carry the value of thought. We are greatly in need of "balanced" love and tolerance and a united mental workout, and of becoming a united whole with this consciousness in these critical days that demand the redrawing of new maps and the designating of balances all over again.
The purpose of "united intelligence" is correct, but it has not been fitted yet. Intelligence does not accept partnership, proxy or substitution. "Being able to think by one's own intelligence" is one of the principal concepts of philosophical literature. What is intended here is in fact the productivity of a united mental workout and the existence of an illumination of the heart purified from the ego's unproductive reactions. Namely, we need an illumination of the heart before an illumination of intelligence. People who say the same things possibly mean different things and vice versa. It is possible to act sometimes this way and sometimes that way. And a total universal chaos continues Up until the present day, the history of humankind has faced different periods characterized by various striking examples of excess.
The era of mathematics (17th century), the era of enlightenment (18th century), the era of positivism (19th century) and the era of relativity (20th century) -- there were other classifications by different criteria. However, in those eras, none of the new trends could establish a domination of monopoly or a domination of monotony. Even though some people do not realize it, diversity has always been lived. Very dedicated idealist, pantheist, spiritualist and monotheist philosophers lived and wrote during the era of positivism in the 19th century. However, since one (in the name of individualism!) has never been so scanted and lonely, intelligence has never before been this unsupported and helpless.
The exhaustion of words is a very serious situation. You write, say, convey, repeat with all your patience and ability, but it does not help, not even a little bit. If there is an "inborn" illumination of the heart and a "gained" mutual illumination of intelligence, it is possible to understand, to explain and to be understood -- in short it is possible to continue to give and take. Otherwise, a word loses its power, and thought cannot be produced, shared or improved. A nonproductive cycle occurs and "People who stay put make more noise than people who improve."
It is possible to break this nonproductive cycle if one begins with the premise that "The essence of love is the value of its thought." Thought is the essence of love, and love is the essence of thought. Even though not perfectly established, balance has always existed, yet its existence is no longer felt. The nonproductive cycle occurs as such, and its termination depends upon gaining a thought-love balance.
The most importantly debated matter today is the validity of idealism or the validity of realism. As if it were possible, a mentality is revealed that says, "Now is the time for realism; the conditions of valid idealism are different." In fact, this dilemma reflects humanity's state of depression, and it has no solution unless an attempt is made to solve it with love and the thought-essence of love.
I will try to present the subject in greater detail as soon as I have a chance. For now, only this much is possible.
Editorial note: 'Hoca Efendi' is the name of Fethullah Gülen among his friends.
ZAMAN
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