Chapter One - An Introduction to Life.

There is a story. It is the most important story man has known.

It has been told countless times, in countless traditions. It was told in Ancient Egypt, it is told today.

It has been uttered in all the tongues under the sun. Both poets and philosophers have shared this story, along with men and women from all walks of life.

It is in print today, in every country, in every culture and in every language.

And yet, it remains virtually unknown.

It is heard, but never understood.

Essentially, this story is an attempt to answer one simple question. How can we live happy lives?

Philosophy, in the context of Peripatetica, is an attempt to do likewise. Here we address the possibility of living lives free of all pain, anger, stress, disappointment and disease.

Here we attempt to take the story of Jesus, of Mohammed, of Buddha, of Hermes, of Lao Tzu, of Kabir, of Rumi; to take this story and wrest it from the religions which render it useless. To take this story from the minds of its readers and to place it in their hearts. To take this story, which is paid only lip service, and to make it the backbone of our lives.

There is no task more important, no issue more critical. This story has existed for so long, and been retold in so many guises simply because there is no message more crucial. But still it fails. So few listen. So few really hear and understand what is being conveyed. These stories are characterised most by their misinterpretation.

This story must be retold until all of humanity understands its message.

Until then the leaders of one nation will go on bombing the people of another - expecting such action to solve certain problems the world faces. Until then we will go on living in confusion - not understanding one another, nor ourselves. We will continue to do things we don't want to do, to fall prey to illness and accident, to hurt those we think we love and to live half-lives, thinking we are happy and content, when really we are living as shadows.