Manish Vaidya Prof. Peter Mann MLA Foundations 101B Winter 2023 Pathways to Spiritual Bliss in Swallowing the Sun and Confessions Rumi and Augustine both espouse a similar state of bliss achieved through oneness with the divine, however their prescribed paths to attain this state of mind are strikingly different. Rumi draws upon Sufi mystic traditions,…
Al-Zarqali and the Astrolabe in al-AndalusĀ
(Essay submitted to complete requirements for the class HIS189: Muslim Spain: Philosophy and Culture., Fall 2020, Stanford Continuing Studies) Manish S. Vaidya Prof. Vincent Barletta HIS189 Al-Zarqali and the Astrolabe in al-Andalus Muslim rule began in the Iberian Peninsula at the start of the eighth century CE. After a period of conquest and subsequent consolidation…
Prague: Historic, Romantic, Cozy, Modern & Very Affordable
TL;DR: Beautiful, historic, and friendly city. Very affordable. Take public transportation everywhere. Very walkable too. Get to the Charles Bridge early in the morning, followed by a visit to the Castle. Must see the Museum of Communism Introduction Prague is one of the most beautiful and very tourist-friendly cities I have been to. The whole…
Book review: Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder, and the Cold War in the Caribbean by Alex von Tunzelmann
Epic, sweeping & meticulously researched saga An epic, sweeping, and meticulously researched saga recounting the tumultuous 20th-century history of the Caribbean islands. Alex invests a tremendous amount of effort in crafting this historical account for her readers, and it undeniably shines through. I also appreciate her ability to humanize the historical figures rather than reducing…