The Waste Land Thinking Activity

Here, I answered the questions of thinking activity. I'm sharing the link of my Sir's blog in which he asked questions...http://dilipbarad.blogspot.com/2014/10/presentations-on-ts-eliots-waste-land.html?m=1

THE WASTELAND By T.S.Eliot it shows the ruined image of society. The barreness of life and growth of only materialism leads toward the meaninglessness of life.



1) What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

Eliot stands for Regressive, backward looking as it tries to find answers of contemporary malaise in Upanishad, Buddhism and Christianity.

On the other side Nietzche stands for progressvie and forward looking, in giving solution to the problem of contemporary crises in faith and self.

In compared to Neitzche's thought, yes Eliot is regressive but it doesn't mean that he only rises question on his contemporary society, he also tries to give way of solution rather than the answers. Cycle of time always moving and when History start repeating one must have to look back and try to learn that what are mistakes our ancestor did and now when time comes to us how we will deal with it?
It is certain and right that new questions's answer we couldn't find in Upanishad, Buddhism and christinity but the way of living,understanding towards any situation one can devlop.
So we can conclude that it is also right that problems of contemporary crisis' solution is in faith and self but, the level of faith and understanding of self must be necessary. It comes from reading of mytho-historical and religious thought. Eliot achived that unversality of thought.

2) Prior to the speech,Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:




What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?


No, I'm not agree with Eliot's view that 'Salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition' and supression or contol over desire lead toward any better life. In stend of that it's better to giving free vent to desires.


For proving this point i want to give example of one letter's fragment by Osho.

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'. (Where, How and Why are the Indian thoughts referred?)


There is an image or central theme of poem is death in life is eastern philosophy in westeland, rebirth and the continuation pf an endless cycle of suffering in a world, and many other refrences is there...


1.The Fire sermon
The fire and sermon is name of sermon given by Buddha. Gayasisa is the place where buddha prech the fire sermon about achieving libration from suffering through detachment from the five senses and mind, by that Eliot also wants to convey a message tp stay detached from all body and sense's desire.


2.What the Thunder said
There is refrence pf Upanishad in this Prajapti
Spoke in thunder 'aakashvani' to devotees are pointed out the way of salvation. Eliot shows the way of spiritual re-birth on the basis of wisdom of India.


"Rock and no water and the sandy road

The road winding above among the mountains"


Climbing a painful mountain pass through pain and agony and after that you reach destination the feeling of Air is Shantih.


3.River Ganga and Himalaya
Eliot refers to Wisdom of India for spiritual salvation of modern humanity. Holly river Ganga known for its purity and also for purification , and Himalaya is known for spirituality and peace.


"Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves
Waited for rain, while the black clouds
Gathered far distant, over Himavant".


4.Three Da
Datta.. Give
Dayadhvam... Sympathize
Damyata...control


Da..Da..Da.. As reminder to practice self control, giving and compassion.


5.Shantih Mantra
Path pf knowldge is always painful and peace comes after knowing something that is the real Shantih. Thus Eliot ends Wasteland with hope.