“We uploaded all our published books and asked two questions”

Question 1: What ideas in philosophy are resonant with the ideas expounded in the uploaded texts?

The ideas expounded in the uploaded texts resonate deeply with several philosophical traditions and concepts.

These connections highlight the universality and profoundness of Etsko Schuitema’s themes, bridging personal growth, leadership, and spiritual maturity with foundational ideas in philosophy.

Here are the primary resonances:

1. Existentialism

• Resonant Ideas: Authenticity, responsibility, and self-transcendence.
• Connection: Schuitema’s emphasis on aligning intent with attention and embracing the maturity of giving over getting reflects existentialist concerns with living authentically. Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger emphasized taking responsibility for one’s existence and making meaningful choices in a contingent world. The idea of “being present” and “witnessing” in The Millennium Discourses aligns with Heidegger’s concept of Dasein—being-in-the-world authentically.

2. Stoicism

• Resonant Ideas: Mastery of the self, alignment with nature, and the practice of virtues like courage, generosity, and patience.
• Connection: Stoicism, as articulated by Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, underscores the importance of inner discipline, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, and acting with benevolence. Schuitema’s focus on intent and the role of suffering as a catalyst for spiritual and personal growth echoes Stoic ideas of using adversity to refine character and align with the natural order of the universe.

3. Sufi Philosophy

• Resonant Ideas: Unity of existence (Tawhid), the journey of the self, and the refinement of the soul through giving and surrender.
• Connection: The texts deeply resonate with Sufi teachings, particularly the concept of annihilating the ego (fana) and aligning oneself with divine will. The metaphor of The Two Sandals (intent and attention) mirrors the Sufi path of balancing inner intention with outward practice. The focus on dhikr (remembrance) in The Millennium Discourses also draws directly from Sufi practices to cultivate presence and divine connection.