Category Philosophy
The very wide field of philosophy
Amazing person: YOU
Because you are awesome. You do possess amazing qualities and you can shine.
It is easy to forget, to get the idea that you are less than amazing, to agree that perhaps you are not that good.
One of my sons came to me the other day and told me that another boy had hurt his feelings at school. I asked him who held the key to his emotions. He looked at me and said “I do“. I replied “But this time you gave it away to that other kid“. “Yeah…“. I asked “Should you take it back?“. He nodded and smiled. Back to his usual amazing self.
Try this: Every evening – find something that day that proved you are an amazing person. It doesn’t have to be big or profound. It can be that you really listened to another, were there 100% for the kids, helped another, lifted a friend or inspired another person. All of those are truly amazing actions if you really think about it. It’s all too easy to focus on what’s lacking, what’s wrong or what should be better. When you start focusing on what’s right, what’s good or amazing, something magical occurs.
I have written a series of “Amazing person” blog post. And it never occurred to me that something truly magical would happen in my life. But it did. And I am now pretty sure that there was a connection between me opening up my eyes for the amazingess in other people to what has recently happened. I will not yet relate what it is. All in due time. But I will tell you this: If you grab this torch and start writing about amazing people in your life, I bet there is a good chance that you will start to change. And perhaps that change will startle you.
I will write about other amazing people in the future, but right now I have reached a good point where it is time to let some other ideas, thoughts and emotions get some space on this blog.
May you understand how amazing you truly are.
Amazing person: Brian Culkin
In this post, I will let Brian himself start off with something really amazing:
And he has a mind to match it.
Brian can do stuff with his body I didn’t think was possible. And the viewpoints he can relate through his writing is crazy and inspiring.
Brian is an adventurer, artist and spiritual thinker. He’s intense and powerful and always able to land on his feet.
With the video above, I think any more writing by me here is superfluous.
Amazing person: A. K. Datta
“Come in, Sir“… “I heard that you can remember your past lives?”
“Yes“, I uttered before the barrage of questions was fired at me while he guided me to sit in the sofa: “Have you always been a man? A woman? How was it? Ever occupied an animal body? How does it feel to depart from the body at death? How does it feel to take on a new body? How do you know which one to take? By your own volition? What about destiny? Free will?…”
I answered and answered and answered. As fast as I could.
After about an hour of this one-way-interview, I gave the time-out signal with my two hands and said: “You are easily the most interested person I have ever met. You are amazingly interested, which to me is much more interesting than a person being interesting. But I do have a few questions of my own. Can I?”
He smiled gently, paused and said “Go ahead“.
But his interest in me, my experiences and knowledge wouldn’t be short-changed, and in between my questions and his very wise answers, he fired another one right back at me.
I learned that he had been the head surgeon at the biggest hospital in India before he in 1984 decided to devote his life to Hinduism. Not any regular branch of the religion where they worship Gods and Goddesses. The All World Gayatri Pariwar worships what makes Gods and Goddesses – the concepts of Knowledge and Wisdom. With the largest privately owned library in the country and with running a university where you can get a masters degree or even a PhD in Yoga, meditation and spiritualism – they are devoted to the spreading of knowledge. And they do so by setting an excellent example, such as traveling to villages across the country, cleaning the streets, cleaning up conflicts between people, teaching literacy and promoting ethical living, all while ensuring that locals take on the responsibility for each before they leave the village. They participate in many charitable causes, global peace initiatives and more. Dr. Datta himself has been on the panel of various UN initiatives.
Like Dr. Datta, the leaders of the religion are highly trained with backgrounds ranging from clinical psychologists, biologists and nuclear scientists. They do research into the realm of science and religion and the often invisible bridge in between.
Dr. Datta resembled an eager 4-year old with the wisdom of Yoda – youthful in his intense interest, wise in his profound answers. I learned that he is the second-in-command of this religion numbering some 20 million active followers.
I met him in Oslo in 2003 and decided to pay their headquarters a visit in March the following year.
Getting off the train in the holy city of Haridwar, I was greeted by Dr. Datta as well as the finance director of the religion, Dr. Gupta. He would be my guide during my three days stay at their Shantikunj.
I have never experienced such hospitality. Dr. Datta, a man of science, wisdom, interest and compassion ensured my stay was an adventure to be remembered.
I will never forget. And I will return to Haridwar.
Scientology in use
I recently got an interesting e-mail from one of the readers of this blog and asked her permission to post it here. It relates to a blog posts I wrote some time ago – I am not a Scientologist. Marianne has some good points:
Hello Geir,
I have been avidly reading your blogs (both of them) and many of the postings on the scnforum.org you started. Thanks for doing all that work over the years. As I read through the various materials on your site and then began reading Marty’s Rathbun’s blog, I had quite an epiphany, which I think is very much related to your concepts on tools and how you regard Scientology. I posted it on Marty’s blog on a thread announcing the new iScientology.org website. I wanted to send it to you rather than post it on your current blog because it appears that you are pretty much moving on — good for you!!
Its a beautiful website, carefully thought out and written. (referring to the new iScientology.org website)
I would love to see an addition to the information about Scientology, something I have found to be very true in my life.
Scientology is something I USE. I also USE my education. I also USE my mind. I also USE my body. I also USE my attitude. I also USE my country’s constitution. I also USE communication and CREATIVITY.
I am none of the above, for these are all things one does, not what one is.
I often see this on this blog, this effort to label someone as a “true” Scientologist or a “false” Scientologist. And depending on which “SIDE” one is on we get the labels: A squirrel. An apostate. A sociopath. And so on.
If I have an “identity” at all, it is “citizen of the universe.” I have found it fruitful to expand my view. Citizen: A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place.
This is from the 1953 Webster’s College Edition: Civilize: 1. To bring out of a condition of savagery or barbarism; instruct in the ways of an advanced society. 2. Cultured and courteous; refine.
I was hoping so much that there would be a return to the concept of Scientology is for USE. By ANYONE, Scientologist or NOT, who cares to learn it and learn it well.
I was hoping there would be a return to the principle that it is NON-DENOMINATIONAL and available to all of good will, with no one demanding that one BECOME A SCIENTOLOGIST, in effect or in reality denouncing one’s existing affiliations / membership. It was the basis on which I first took up Scientology training. I was told that it was perfectly OK that I was a Buddhist. No need to turn my back on my love and joy and experiences and my group. But it turned out that it wasn’t true, and more and more I found myself being pressured to denounce Buddhism in favor of Scientology, to declare myself a Scientologist.
I have long reflected on all this since I walked out of the CHURCH of Scientology. All these labels obscure the truth. These labels are all based on exclusion. Someone is not good enough, is awful, is detestable, is this and that and judge and judge and judge and judge.
I’ve had a belly full of this. Don’t you think its time to end this unworkable way of teaching Scientology auditing?
Make it safe and make it acceptable for the Rabbi in the synagogue to USE Scientology auditing. He can still be a Rabbi — a Rabbi who is a trained auditor. He does not have to BECOME A SCIENTOLOGIST. He can even deliver deliver auditing without calling himself an auditor, let alone a Scientologist. One who USES auditing to assist others. The same for the Christian minister.
It should be safe and acceptable for him to use Scientology. He does not have to become a Scientologist to do this. If Scientology is offered “identity free” then it will be freely used, by everyone, not just by those who are willing to forswear their original allegiances to become a new identity.
Even more fascinating, there were only two responses to my post, and one of them crystallized the epiphany for me. The person said:
You’re right. At some point it was not enough to be a student, to be a pc. That was the point when Scientology became a cult.
Anyway, I am writing to you about this because I really felt that I got to know you through all the many things you have written and your tolerance towards others who have shared their ideas and disagreements and so on throughout the last couple of years.
Thank you!
Marianne
Using HyperList for social engineering
Here’s one HyperList user’s account:
“There is this one girl with whom whenever I talk, we end up arguing and as usual girls are never defeated in an argument. This time, a few days back, I decided to plan out how to defeat her in an argument. Using the HyperList method, I planned everything. The list was around 3-4 pages big. Then I argued with her and yes bowled her out 🙂”
I am glad to be of assistance 🙂
Two small epiphanies
I just understand this:
“The flower of hope blossoms in the meadow of doubt.”
and
“Heaven is now. Hell is then.”
Discussions on the Net
I am sitting in a relaxing chair in one of my favorite places (Tehuset i Lillegrensen), contemplating three years of actively discussing on the Internet. Enjoying a cup of Chocolate Mint Tea, I write my current conclusion:
“Internet discussions are generally unproductive. They most often serve to solidify the viewpoints and opinions of a debater. When faced with opposing views, a debater will usually come up with increasingly strong and intelligent ways to defend his own – regardless of the value or rightness of those views. Discussions tend to be an exercise in rightness rather than a way to mold and morph and inspire one’s opinions, beliefs, trusts and outlook.”
Want to discuss this? Let’s meet over a cup of tea.
Bill & David’s garage rules
Most readers of my blog knows about my passion for HP calculators. But you may not know the reasons why. First of all it’s about exploring new mathematics. Secondly, the old programmable calculators offer the most easily accessible environment for programming – the calculators are small and with a push of a button, you can start programming away. Thirdly, it’s the sturdy design and craftsmanship and the constant innovation that used to be the hallmark of HP. The very essence of Old Hewlett Packard is captured in the rules that Bill Hewlett and David Packard put up on the wall in the their first office space – a garage:
- Believe you can change the world.
- Work quickly, keep the tools unlocked, work whenever.
- Know when to work alone and when to work together.
- Share tools, ideas. Trust your colleagues.
- No Politics. No bureaucracy. (These are ridiculous in a garage.)
- The customer defines a job well done.
- Radical ideas are not bad ideas.
- Invent different ways of working.
- Make a contribution every day. If it doesn’t contribute, it doesn’t leave the garage.
- Believe that together we can do anything.
- Invent.
That mindset formed the foundation of what came to be one of the most successful technology companies.
These days, we find tech businesses more focused on focus than innovation. More focused on regulating people than encouraging them. And more driven by profit than their heart.
One day I will implement this mind set in an modern technology company. I will keep you posted.
Generous
Being generous.
Giving without thought of reward.
But giving.
Every person is an adventure.
Of endless possibilities.
And everything is possible.
Chill.
No Blame, Shame or Regret.
What’s done is gone.
These are my aspirations.
I believe being generous is the most important.
Geir Isene - uncut 