Fundamental questions about life arise in various contexts, making us wonder about the real worth of living. However, it is certainly a sign of our times when one is alerted to the fundamental question about the meaning and significance of life by an ominous text message. The main character of this book, Professor Enrique de los Reyes, receives such a warning: the onset of super-typhoon Haiyan, the strongest ever to hit landfall, and the impending danger to his friend and his relatives in the Philippines. As he anxiously awaits more news, he recalls and reviews in the context of this tragedy his philosophical wanderings throughout a long academic career in pursuit of the meaning of life. He wonders how these could now be reconciled with the urgent need for him to attend to this particular situation. The response to his query comes from a most unexpected source as he assesses Alexander Pope’s advice to drink deeply from the Pierian spring and realises its import for one’s conduct in life. This reflective account of a human quest is the last volume in a trilogy which probes into philosophical themes in a narrative way. The first book, Those Distant Shores: A Narrative of Human Restlessness, looks at human restlessness and explores the fundamental theme of human transcendence by following the life-stories of three boyhood friends and of another young student as they embark on their respective journeys in life. The second book, That Elusive Fountain of Wisdom: A Tale of the Human Thirst for Knowledge, deals with the fundamental craving of human beings for fulfilment as depicted in the various characters from different countries who pursue their respective academic interests and ambitions.

Witty and “enchanting” reflections on the experience of travel, with a focus on art, music, and literature, by the author of Brave New World (The Spectator). One of the most renowned and prolific writers of the twentieth century, Aldous Huxley produced not only dystopian fiction like Brave New World and philosophical memoirs like The Doors of Perception, but also insightful travel writing. Here, he discusses his visits to Italy, France, and other European destinations; reflects on cultural landmarks; and ruminates on the benefits and challenges of travel itself, offering a fascinating glimpse into the Europe of a century ago—and the mind of a remarkable author. “As opposed to those who believe that the best picture is the most famous or expensive one, or the one that wins a prize, Huxley speaks for those prepared to spend contemplative time with works of art.” —The Sydney Morning Herald

With all the messages that come our way through social media and in sophisticated gadgets, does the Christian message of love, hope and redemption still have an importance and relevance? What does it have to offer to enable us to meet the various challenges which beset present-day living? Today there is an even greater and more urgent need to focus on it. After all, the Christian message is not merely information because it is also about a way of life. Neither is it simply an exhortation since it also presents a definite goal. This book provides some philosophical considerations which underpin its central teaching. While aware of its richness and complexity, the essays concentrate on the Christian message insofar as it provides a vision for humanity and articulates a mission to implement it. The book serves to establish points of encounter, rather than points of departure, in order to contribute to the ongoing reflection by those who believe in that message, as well as to the debates with those who oppose it.

This tale follows fictitious characters as they journey in search of wisdom and the fulfillment of their objectives. Set mainly in the fascinating university town of Leuven, Belgium, it revolves around the personal, social, political and academic aspirations of visiting scholars in the town. Richard Gutierrez from the USA needs to get tenure at his university. Jennifer Sydney from England is determined to advance her career. Aisling O’Shea and her six-year old son Philip from Ireland have different expectations of their trip. Piotr Malachowski wants to understand a life rooted in the bitter experiences of the internment camp of Majdanek in Poland. The nationalistic Fr Miguel Fuentes from the Philippines wonders what he can learn from a Western university to deal with the challenges in his country. What starts out as an academic sojourn for these individuals becomes a life-changing experience as their paths cross in Leuven and they learn about each other and themselves and about life itself.

This book contributes to ongoing discussions on the important role of education and on the challenging tasks facing educators today. Drawing on their long, vast and varied experience as educators, administrators and scholars, the authors deal specifically with certain fundamental issues with a view to engaging those involved in education in an examination of what underlies educational theory and practice. The book shows that education is not simply about attending school, academic institutions or any other establishment of learning or training, but, rather, is a process that looks further than the time spent learning lessons, attending lectures, doing research, acquiring knowledge, honing skills, or developing competence, important and crucial as these activities are to human development. Its greatest challenge and purpose come, instead, from life itself. For this reason, this book is about education as preparing us to live a more fulfilled life, and as a process that lasts a lifetime. All those involved in education at all stages and in various capacities will find this book both beneficial and engaging.

“Distant Shores” can mean various things. Literally, distant shores refer to one’s travel destinations. Figuratively, they represent human desires, ambitions, or goals. But “distant shores” also stand for the human yearning, imbedded in everyone, for final fulfillment. Such yearning makes human beings fundamentally restless. This work is about all of these forms of restlessness. In story form, it explores a fundamental philosophical theme: human transcendence. The narrative follows the life-journeys of three Filipino boyhood friends who had different ambitions in, and dreams about, life. A parallel story of another young man from Spain, who is coming to grips with his father's philosophical views on life, links up with one of these Filipinos during a trip to Ireland. As the four characters’ respective and very different narratives unfold, their dialogues develop and their reflections deepen, one is caught up in the challenges they have had to face, the goals they have achieved, and the failures and successes they have encountered. In different, and at times unexpected, ways they illustrate the restlessness of human nature itself.

Life presents us with challenges as well as opportunities. It confronts us with obstacles as we journey on, but it also offers us various pathways and routes that we can take. Comparing our life-journey to the travels we make in life, this book is an invitation to readers to face up to those challenges and to meet them through a series of reflections called “comma-moments”: the chance to “stop momentarily and mull things over,” or to “create space in time” as they go about the business of living from day to day. Like commas in a sentence, which help us to read and interpret its meaning properly, a life punctuated with short reflective breaks enables us to draw out its meaning and significance. Drawing on his vast educational background and diverse global travels, the author shares with readers some “thoughts for food” while on our life-journeys. These reflections, as well as anecdotes and stories, also avail themselves of the real-life experiences of others and the wisdom of many contemporary voices and historical figures throughout the world, especially those who have been concerned with the kind of reflection that will help as we move on in life. In particular, it discusses a conceptual life-map to aid us navigate our way in life and to step up to its challenges.