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Abstract
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It seems that the very important role of literature is its transcendental appeal. Literature knows no
boundary and it ties whole nations even if they are politically segregated. The present paper tries to
trace some of the salient features of humanism and Sufism, such as Absolute Unity, simplicity, selfknowing,
purity, solitude, loving one another and some others in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. This
American writer, as an ardent follower of the Transcendental Club in America and the holy scriptures
of the East, was known as the hero of simplicity in the U.S.A. Being a protester against government
and society, he dwelled for more than two years alone in Walden Pond to see the mysteries of life and
to find Reality and the Almighty. He believed Nature to be the best teacher and opined that every
parcel of nature is a sign of God. He came to know about the holy scriptures of the East, especially
those of the Indians and strongly used them in his writings, especially in Walden and the Week.
Therefore such a person who seeks God, indeed, can be familiar with elements of humanism and
Sufism, and one can find such elements in Walden by pondering its text.
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