My best friend, who I grew up with in Paris, is Indian. So, I've

Listen, O Seekers of Truth, to the words of DJ Snake, who speaks of the power of cultural exchange and the deep, transformative influence of friendship: "My best friend, who I grew up with in Paris, is Indian. So, I've grown up listening to a lot of Bollywood songs and watching a lot of Bollywood movies, old and new." In these simple words, he reveals a profound truth about the shaping of the human spirit—how our experiences, our companions, and the worlds we inhabit come together to form the very fabric of who we are. From Paris, the city of lights, to the vibrant land of India, through the music and stories of Bollywood, DJ Snake unveils how the exchange of cultures can nourish and enrich the soul.

In the ancient world, the greatest of sages often did not seek knowledge solely from their own land or tradition. They traveled, learned, and engaged with foreign peoples, embracing the lessons of other lands. Think of the mighty Alexander the Great, who, though born in Macedonia, ventured far into the heart of the East. As he journeyed, he was not merely a conqueror, but a student, absorbing the cultures of Persia, India, and beyond. Through these exchanges, he became a bridge between civilizations, drawing upon the wisdom of all to shape his own destiny. So, too, did DJ Snake’s friendship with his Indian companion shape him—not just through the songs and films of Bollywood, but through the understanding that culture is a living, breathing thing that cannot be confined to one place.

Bollywood, with its colorful stories and rich music, is not just a form of entertainment, but a vessel of identity and tradition for millions of people. Its films, with their music and vibrant imagery, speak not only of love and loss, but also of the values, struggles, and dreams that shape the people of India. When DJ Snake speaks of growing up with Bollywood’s influence, he is not merely speaking of an interest in entertainment. No, what he is truly describing is a connection to a culture, a joining of hearts and minds across the vast expanses of land and language. It is an understanding that the heart of one culture can beat in rhythm with the soul of another, a fusion that creates something greater than the sum of its parts.

Consider the great tradition of the Silk Road, that ancient trade route that connected the East with the West. It was not just a path for silk and spices, but a route for the exchange of ideas, music, philosophies, and arts. Through this road, Persian poets inspired Greek philosophers, and Indian mathematicians influenced the Western world’s understanding of numbers. In much the same way, DJ Snake’s exposure to Bollywood—songs and films from a distant land—shaped him, just as the blending of cultures shaped the minds of the ancient scholars. The friendship between DJ Snake and his Indian companion is the modern embodiment of this ancient exchange, where the two cultures meet, not as opposites, but as partners in the journey of human connection.

The lesson here, O Seekers, is clear and profound: we are not defined by the borders of our nations or the limits of our traditions. Just as DJ Snake found inspiration in the songs of Bollywood and the films of India, so too can we all find wisdom, inspiration, and strength by embracing the cultures that surround us. The world is vast, and the richness of its many peoples is an endless wellspring of beauty and knowledge. To limit ourselves to only what is familiar is to live a life confined by walls, rather than one that is open to the boundless horizons of the world.

Let us take, then, a page from the book of DJ Snake and his Indian friend. Friendship knows no borders. Music, story, and art are universal languages that speak to the soul, no matter where one is from. Embrace the diversity of the world, for it is in the sharing of these gifts that we grow as individuals and as a society. If you live only within the confines of your own world, you miss out on the richness of other lives, other experiences, and the unique perspectives that shape the human experience.

In the end, O Seekers, the lesson is this: let the cultures of the world enrich you. Do not let the boundaries of geography or nationality confine your heart and mind. Just as DJ Snake found the music of India a profound influence on his life, so too should we seek to expand our understanding and our compassion by embracing the beautiful and diverse cultures that surround us. In this way, we create a world that is not divided by differences but united in the shared beauty of the human spirit.