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January 26, 2007
She’s looking at Dali’s paintings, I’m reading Tolstoy; thinking about loneliness, suffering, Schopenhauer, death, and Christ’s last night on earth.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Posted by amin at 12:42 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2007
No matter where I stay, I always feel I'm a burden to people; In Iran my grandfather, in Boston Zary, and in California Hushang. I desire nothing more than independence.
Posted by amin at 2:14 AM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2007
Today I was talking to Zary about her doctor. She said that he's Persian and a very nice guy. I asked her whether he's young. She said, "He’s middle-aged; something around 60"!!!
Posted by amin at 1:30 AM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2007
* I'm in Amherst. It's very quiet here. Students have not come back yet.
* Read a short story called The Thing Around Your Neck by the African writer Chimamanda Adichie. It's one of the best short stories I've read. It left a great impact on me.
* Kierkegaard's Sickness Unto Death...
- Descartes : "I think, therefore I am"
- Kierkegaard: "I believe, therefore I am"
* Am thinking about applying to School of Visual Arts in New York and San Fransisco Art Institute. But my first choise is ICP.
- After I left California 4 years ago I promised to myself that I'm never gonna go back...
- Hopefully everything is going to work out. However, I'm not worried at all about the future...
Posted by amin at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)
January 7, 2007
I turned 23. I’m in a good state of mind and eagerly looking forward to the future. I have never been as peaceful and comfortable with myself as I currently am. Last year was a very good year; both personally and intellectually. I’ve become much more confident, peaceful, and determinate. On intellectual levels something like a revelation happened to me and it was Schopenhauer who brought me this light. After reading him I became a changed person. I read his book twice; in four nights. There was also Tolstoy. What a man! What a great man. I read his Confession and What Is Art? Even if he had not written a single novel his name would still be uttered in the silent prayers of lonely monks. And then came Wittgenstein. His character reminds me of van Gogh, his thoughts of Ancient mystics, and his face of a prophet. And lastly I read Kant’s book on ethics and fell in love with it. “Acting from duty…”
Bill Jay has this section in LensWork where he asks simple questions from famous photographers. As I was reading his interview I answered the questions myself.
Initially I wanted to be…a poet
My favorite music is…Bob Dylan
My favorite movie is…21 Grams
My favorite novel is…Crime and Punishment
When not photographing I enjoy…reading books
My favorite meal is…Persian food
I am most irritated by…people who talk at libraries
For me an influential thinker of the past was… Lao Tzu
A current major influence is…Wittgenstein
I get the most pleasure from…solitude
I am most uncomfortable when…speaking English in front of more than two people
My proudest moment was…each time my mom says she’s proud of me
My last purchase was…Dostoevsky’s “Notes from Underground”
The purpose of life is…to be good
Posted by amin at 12:30 AM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2007
“I lost two of my sisters in two months. It makes you think, you know. Rolling Stones were my sister’s favorite band. When I came back from Ireland, for seven days in a row, each time I sat in this car and turned on the radio, they were playing one of their songs. I believe in these things, you know. I know she’s watching over me, telling me that she’s here for me, and that everything is alright.”
May God give her enough strength so she can endure her sufferings…
Posted by amin at 12:46 AM | Comments (0)