Beyond the Natural Mind

8/9/2019 Beyond the Natural Mind

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/beyond-the-natural-mind 1/118

BEYOND THE NATURALMIND

A 21 Day Manifesto

Alan Macmillan Orr

The Natral Min! "eries

Boo# III



Beyond The Natural Mind

This electronic $or# has %een &lace! in the &%lic !omain %y the athor

Alan Macmillan Orr 2'1(

I"BN) *+,-1-2*1-2*(.1-.

This $or# has may %e share!/ re!istri%te! or &loa!e! freely

Ma#e a !onation to the athor for this %oo# 0 $$$alanmacmillanorrcom

2




Intro!ction

This is %oo# three in the Natral Min! "eries %y Alan Macmillan Orr

This %oo# ta#es the conce&ts of the natral min! 3 $a#in4 &5 to a ne$

le6el/ &lacin4 the in!i6i!al as sole creator of all he &ercei6es an!e7&eriences

If yo nee! to e7&lore these conce&ts more !ee&ly &lease retrn to %oo#one/ The Natral Min! 3 8a#in4 U&/ $hich is a 29' to&ic/ &ersonal

:orney into %ein4 hman

This is the final %oo# in the series I ho&e yo en:oy it/ an! yo 4et as

mch insi4ht from rea!in4 it/ as I 4ot from $ritin4 it

Alan

3




rea! an! $rite in the I5 form it is &ersonal My min! reco4nises it as aninstrction I 4i6e to myself $hich I %elie6e is more &o$erfl than aninstrction 4i6en %y someone else

8hy !o all the statements $ithin the manifesto start $ith To!ay5;

8ell/ there<s no time li#e the &resent In fact it<s the only time $e can sayis real5 as it is the only time $e can !irectly e7&erience

Altho4h $e can thin# a%ot the &ast an! the ftre/ to!ay is the only

time $e e7ist/ an! e6en if $e may %elie6e that $e may e7ist5 in alltimelines/ it ma#es sense to !eal $ith the &resent5 8ell/ for me any$ay

8hy !oes each statement sally contain the $or!s %e4in to5 or startto5;

8hate6er $e may choose to %elie6e a%ot the natre of min!/ an! ho$

lon4 chan4e ta#es/ it seems to ma#e sense to me to offer statements as&ossi%le ftre states of min!/ not a%soltes that mst %e !o4maticallyfollo$e!

I see each statement as a see!/ &lante! !ee& in my min!/ rea!y to ta#eroot in any sha&e or form I5 see fit Rea!y to %e calle! to action $hen I5see fit to let it

8hy shol! I follo$ yor manifesto;

I ha6e ne6er so4ht follo$ers/ an! in fact/ I thoro4hly !iscora4e the seof my $or!s for any in!i6i!al Rather/ I see my $or# as a &ossi%leframe$or# that hel&s yo !e6elo& yor o$n conce&ts an! i!eas

5




6




Day One

To!ay/ I acce&t that e6eryone in the $orl! has !ifferento&inions I res&ect their ri4ht to hol! these o&inions free from

fear or the threat of 6iolence5

A cce&tance is a $or! yo may not li#e After all/ acce&tin4 that someonehol!s an o&inion a%ot somethin4 yo fin! a%horrent may 4o a4ainste6ery fi7e! i!ea in yor min!/ %t let s e7&lore this to4ether

I %elie6e that $omen shol! not %e allo$e! to ha6e a%ortions5

I %elie6e that $omen shol! %e allo$e! to ha6e a%ortions5

If yo notice the a%o6e statements they are e7actly the same/ e7ce&t onesays shol!/ the other says shol! not Only one $or! is !ifferent/ %t ithas the &otential to create 6iolence an! an4er amon4st %elie6ers of either

statement

Opinion

A 6ie$ or :!4ement forme! a%ot somethin4/ not necessarily %ase! onfact or #no$le!4e5

I<m ri4ht Yo<re $ron45

7




E6ery !ay/ some$here/ someone is thin#in4/ or tellin4 someone/ that/%ecase/ yo see/ $hen yo ha6e an o&inion a%ot somethin4/ yo mst%e ri4ht/ an! anyone $ho hol!s an o&&osin4 6ie$ is/ in yor o&inion/ a

foe/ $ith $hom to !o %attleOccasionally the o&&osin4 6ie$s $ill en! in mr!er 8hy; 8ell/ $hen&eo&le rn ot of $or!s they resort to more con6incin4 metho!s 3 4ns/#ni6es/ fists/ etc That<s ho$ &rimiti6e $e really are as a s&ecies

8hether the o&inion is in a classroom/ or is hel! %y teachers/ reli4ios&eo&le/ or 4o6ernments ma#es no !ifference Yo see/ any o&inion is ane7treme &osition/ as it !oes not allo$ room for any mo6ement That<s my

o&inion/ an! that<s the en! of it5Bt An! there is a %t

If all $e !o is hol! an o&inion to orsel6es/ $hat harm !oes it !o;None

Bt An! there is another %t

8e can<t #ee& or o&inion to orsel6es can $e; 8e ha6e to share it/an! try to con6ince &eo&le at any cost that $e are ri4ht an! they are

$ron4

8hether $e ha6e any e6i!ence that $e are ri4ht is irrele6ant An! e6enif $e !o/ the &oint of tryin4 to con6ince &eo&le @in my o&inion is to %en!them to or $ill It seems to ma#e life %etter for or %rains

Yes yo are ri4ht/ I see that no$/5 e6en if yo !on<t is %etter than%ein4 &hysically or mentally %eaten into s%mission

An! the $inner of the o&inion contest can 4o a$ay ha&&y in the#no$le!4e that he is ri4ht It !oesn<t really hel& s in or Cest forenli4htenment/ #no$in4 $e are ri4ht/ !oes it;

"o ho$ !o $e transcen! this; 8ell/ yo notice that I ma!e thestatement I res&ect their ri4ht to hol! these o&inions5 To me/res&ectin4 &eo&les ri4hts to hol! @not e7&ress o&inions is fn!amentalin hel&in4 s mo6e &ast fi7e! &ositions If I res&ect yor ri4hts an! yores&ect mine/ then $hat is the &oint in hol!in4 onto fi7e! o&inions; If yo

hol! an o&inion %t !o not e7&ress it/ then the $hole contest of yoro&inion 6s my o&inion %ecomes 6ery chil!ish in!ee! Do yo a4ree;An!e6en if yo !o a4ree/ $hy shol! it matter to me;

8




Day T$o

To!ay I $ill start to ta#e &ersonal res&onsi%ility for mytho4hts/ actions/ an! the conseCences $hich arise from

them5

ersonal res&onsi%ility is a har! conce&t to 4ras& for most of s There isal$ays someone to %lame for ho$ I<m feelin4/ ho$ mch money I ha6e or!on<t ha6e/ $hy I can<t 4et a :o%/ $hy I can<t &ay my %ills/ $hy I can<t fin!some%o!y to lo6e me/ $hy I<m in !e%t/ $hy my $ife left me/ $hy a lo6e!one !ie!/ $hy the $orl!<s in sch a terri%le state/ $hy I<m afrai!/ $hy

someone $as mr!ere!/ etcBt $ho is really to %lame;

Blame

>eel or !eclare that @someone or somethin4 is res&onsi%le for a falt or$ron45

If $e ta#e a lon4/ har! loo# at or li6es an! the &eo&le $ho ha6e %eenconnecte! to or li6es in one $ay or another/ $e can al$ays fin! someoneto %lame/ an! that ma#es s @tem&orarily feel %etter

The ca&italist scon!rels are to %lame for the state of or economy/mslims are to %lame for the $est li6in4 in constant fear of a terroristattac#/ christians are to %lame for e6erythin4/ Ban#s are to %lame for me

losin4 my hose/ the 4o6ernment is to %lame for me not ha6in4 a :o%/lar4e cor&orations are to %lame for !estroyin4 the rainforests5 etc

"o no$ $e ha6e that ot in the o&en Yes $e<re an4ry/ yes $e<re hrt/ yes on the srface it loo#s li#e someone $as to %lame Yes the !rn#

9




!ri6er #ille! yor son Yes the mr!erer #ille! yor $ife Yes the chil!molester ra&e! yor !a4hter Yes the terrorists %le$ & yor familyThese are facts These $e acce&t Terri%le as they mi4ht %e to s/ they ha6e

ha&&ene! "o $ho !o $e %lame;Of corse $e mst %lame the &er&etrators= $e mst %rin4 them to

:stice Yes $e mst

"o/ $hat<s &ersonal res&onsi%ility 4ot to !o $ith %lame; Ho$ is me ta#in4&ersonal res&onsi%ility 4oin4 to %rin4 %ac# my mr!ere! $ife;5

Let me start from the %e4innin4

8e are s&&ose!ly the most intelli4ent s&ecies on the &lanet 8e areall ca&a%le of 4reat creation/ an! 4reat !estrction "o $hen I tal# a%otta#in4 &ersonal res&onsi%ility I am tal#in4 to e6ery &erson on the entire&lanet Mr!erer/ &olitician/ reli4ios e7tremist/ %an#er/ !o-4oo!er/charity $or#er/ oil $or#er/ 4n assem%ler

8e are all res&onsi%le for e6erythin4 that is ha&&enin4/ has ha&&ene!or $ill ha&&en Do yo see; 8e li6e in a connecte! $orl! 8e are all &arts

of the $hole An! altho4h $e may not ha6e the &o$er ri4ht no$ ofseein45 the ftre/ $e nee! to %e4in to

E6ery action %e4ins $ith a tho4ht/ an! en!s in a conseCence/ an!ron! an! ron! $e 4o

I/ as a &o$erfl in!i6i!al creator/ one &art of the most intelli4ent s&eciesof the &lanet ha6e tho4hts Those tho4hts may ha6e %een forme!thro4h the actions of another/ $hich en!e! in a conseCence/ $hich

starte! my thin#in4 &rocess

He #ille! my $ife He<s 4oin4 to &ay for $hat he !i! I<m 4oin4 to #illhim5

?an yo see the st&i!ity of statements sch as an eye for an eye;5 Ho$

chil!ish/ an! at the same time/ so !estrcti6eMost &eo&le tal# of ta#in4 res&onsi%ility for yor actions %t for4et

that e6ery action is &rece!e! %y a tho4ht an! en!s $ith a conseCence An! anyone $ho says I<m sorry I $asn<t thin#in45 is not tellin4 the

10




$hole trth "re/ yo may ha6e a&&eare! to :st act $ithot thin#in4/5%t I 4arantee there $as a tho4ht $hich tri44ere! it @e6en if the &ersonsffers from a !elsional mental illness

8e ne6er loo# for$ar! to see the the conseCences of or actions >orsome reason that is nim&ortant

I<m sre the in6entor of 4n&o$!er @a&&arently in china in the ninthcentry col! not ha6e foreseen the mr!er of t$enty se6en &eo&le at aschool in ?onnectict in the U" in Decem%er 2'12 I<m sre the &erson

$ho $or#e! on the &ro!ction line at the factory $hich ma!e theBshmaster 22( assalt rifle se! in the #illin4s/ $ol! not consi!er

themsel6es res&onsi%le for the mr!ersBt here $e ha6e t$o &eo&le/ se&arate! %y oceans an! lan! o6er +/'''

miles an! 1/2'' years a&art/ connecte! %y an e6ent that neither of themcol! ha6e foreseen

"eems a %it of a loose connection5 says yo The only &ersonres&onsi%le for the shootin4s at the "an!y Hoo# Elementary "chool $asthe &erson $ho &lle! the tri44er5

8as it;5 says meI<ll lea6e yo to thin# a%ot that one

I<m sre the in6entor of the motor car col! not ha6e foreseen the carcrashes that #ill o6er a million &eo&le e6ery year/ or the in6entor of ra!iocommnications foreseein4 that %illions of &eo&le are no$ a!!icte! totheir mo%ile &hones

?onnectin4 &ersonal res&onsi%ility for conseCences o6er hn!re!s orthosan!s of years seems li#e a craFy i!ea/ an! in!ee! it is/ e6en if $e can&ro6e a !efiniti6e lin#

8e li6e in the &resent 8e li6e ri4ht no$/ an! &ersonal res&onsi%ilitye7ists ri4ht no$ That<s $hy $e can only ta#e &ersonal res&onsi%ility fortho4hts/ an! actions $hich e7ist ri4ht no$ Bt that !oesn<t mean $eshol!n<t %e rollin4 the tho4hts for$ar! to see if or actions $ill ha6e

any ne4ati6e conseCences in the ftre

Im&ossi%le;

Let s 4o into this more !ee&ly

11




Day Three

To!ay I $ill slo$ !o$n/ :st for a moment/ an! %e than#fl forall that I am/ an! ha6e5

It all son!s a %it hi&&ieish !oesn<t it; Yo<re not here to listen toem&o$erin4 ne$ a4e nonsense are yo; "lo$ !o$n; Be than#fl; U4h

"o lets loo# into this statement a %it more !ee&ly shall $e;

I assme yo are ali6e/ as yo are rea!in4 this Yo may ha6e %een%orn ten/ t$enty/ thirty/ forty/ fifty/ si7ty/ se6enty/ or ei4hty years a4o/ an!

all yor life yo ha6e %attle! thro4h each !ay/ st!yin4/ $or#in4 har! at $hate6er yor chosen @or force! &rofession is/ %rin4in4 & a family/&ayin4 yor %ills/ an! 4enerally #ee&in4 yor hea! a%o6e $ater/ $or#in4to %enefitG!estroy natre an! hmanity

Yo are one &art of a se6en %illion $hole Yo are si4nificant only inthat yo e7ist an! $ill %e for4otten Cic#ly or slo$ly o6er time/ !e&en!in4on yor inflence on the $orl! an! the historians !esire to let yormemory fa!e or %e #e&t ali6e for some &r&ose or other

Bt to!ay yo are ali6e An! $hether yo &ercei6e yor life to %e 4oo!or %a!/ yor heart #ee&s %eatin4/ an! sa6e thro$in4 yorself off a%il!in4/ or %ein4 #ille! in a !eli%erateGacci!ental act/ yo $ill %e ali6entil yor %o!y has ha! eno4h

Yo $ill then %e &lace! in a coffin/ or co6ere! in cloth an! !e&en!in4on the cltre yo $ere in!octrinate! $ith/ either %rnt or %rie! Yorashes may li6e on a mantle&iece/ or %e scattere! to the $in!/ or yor %o!y

eaten slo$ly %y creatres in the 4ron!

"o there yo ha6e it Yo came ot of yor mother<s 6a4ina/ screame!/%reathe! o7y4en/ $ere fe! mil#/ o&inions an! &ro&a4an!a/ ntil yo $ereol! eno4h to earn a li6in4/ or $ere thro$n onto the street to fen! for

13




yorself Yo $or#e! har! or yo !i! not Yo case! chaos or create!%eaty/ 4ot ol!/ an! then yor heart sto&&e! The En! An! $hether yo%elie6e in an afterlife/ reincarnation or nothin4 at all That<s it

8as it fn; Di! yo en:oy yorself; 8hether the $orl! $as create! %y 4o!/ or $e e6ol6e! from a&es/ it

!oesn<t really matter/ no matter $ho yo trie! to con6ince !rin4 yorshort life on this &lanet

"o $hat !i! yo see; 8hat !i! yo e7&erience; 8ho !i! yo hel&; 8hat !i! yo n!erstan! a%ot yorself; 8hat !o yo mean yo $ere too%sy;

Of corse yo $ere %sy E6eryone ha! yo learnin4 or !oin4somethin4 for close to the 2 hors in e6ery !ay/ an! yo li#e! it Yoli#e! %ein4 %sy After all/ the $orl! mst #ee& trnin4 @e6en if it trns

$ithot s liftin4 a fin4er

"o if yo $ere that %sy ho$ col! yo ha6e time to slo$ !o$n;

I see yor &oint

The hman heart %eats on a6era4e o6er 1''/''' times a !ay/ in or!er tomo6e %loo! an! o7y4en all o6er the hman %o!y/ yet it as#s nothin4 inretrn It reCires no e!cation/ flattery/ money/ or &raise

An! yo<re tellin4 me yo !on<t ha6e anythin4 to slo$ !o$n an! %ethan#fl for;

Yes/ I hear yo Yo<re too %sy to listen to this hi&&ie nonsense

14




Day >or

To!ay I $ill start to notice my srron!in4s the natral$orl! of $hich I am #no$in4ly or n#no$in4ly !e&en!ent on5

8e6e !one &retty $ell as a s&ecies/ $ol!nt yo say; "o $hether as&ernatral %ein4 create! the $orl! or $e e6ol6e! from a&es it !oesntmatter

Neither 4o!/ nor the a&es in6ente! the internet/ the car/ 4as centralheatin4/ flshin4 toilets/ anti%iotics/ the :et en4ine/ the tele6ision/ the #nife

an! for#/ a4ricltre That &erson $as Man 3 homo sa&iens/ the mostintelli4ent s&ecies e6er to $al# the Earth

Thro4h the constant !esire to e7&lore/ Man has systematicallyin6ente! some of the most amaFin4 thin4s $e ta#e for 4rante!

>rom the hm%le %ric# to %il! or shelters/ to satellite na6i4ation tohel& &lanes/ shi&s an! cars na6i4ate to their !estination $ithot fear of4ettin4 lost/ Man the in6inci%le has %een there creatin4 ne$ i!eas an! ne$

technolo4y to %etter his $orl!I say his $orl!5 %ecase that is the only $orl! that e7ists to Man/ an!

$hy $ol!nt it; A lion only sees $hat it nee!s to sr6i6e/ that is the limitof its $orl!= an ant only sees $hat it nee!s/ to ensre the sr6i6al of thecolony= a %ir! only eats $hat it nee!s in or!er to ensre its o$n sr6i6al/an! the sr6i6al of its offs&rin4

8ait a minte somethin4<s not ri4ht here/ is it; Here I am com&arin4

Man $ith all manners of creatres %t the com&arison !oesn<t ma#esense= ho$ can I com&are Man the In6entor $ith creatres $hoseo&eratin4 mo!el is &re-&ro4ramme! sr6i6al; The sim&le ans$er is/ I

15




$atch t6 &ro4rams a%ot/ that $e 6isit $hilst on holi!ay/ %t $e !ont seeit as somethin4 $e ha6e a !ee& relationshi& $ith

Lets start $ith the %asics shall $e;

Me) 8here !oes yor foo! come from;5

Yo) I earn money an! I %y my foo!5

Me) 8here !oes yor clothin4 come from;5

Yo) I earn money an! I %y my clothes5

Me) 8here !o the materials to %il! hoses come from;5

Yo) I earn money to &ay my rent thats all I #no$5

Me) 8here !oes the heat come from to coo# yor foo!/ heat the $ater/ an! heatGcool yor hose;5

Yo) I earn money an! &ay my %ills5

>or %asic %t essential nee!s ai! for %y money/ create! %y a mysteryforce An! if yo li6e in a &oor contry yo are &ro%a%ly closer to themystery force than those of s li6in4 a 6ery nice lifestyle in The 8est5

"o $hat is this mystery force I s&ea# of; 8ell/ the mystery force is allaron! s "oil/ trees/ roc#s/ oceans/ ri6ers/ animals/ insects/ are all &art ofit Kot it yet; Of corse yo ha6e Its &lanet Earth/ also #no$n as home5

Bt $hat !oes this ha6e to !o $ith yo; 8ell/ if yo loo# aron! yorother home yo $ill start to n!erstan!

I am sittin4 in a small #itchen ri4ht no$ Aron! me are the follo$in4items @feel free to s#i& thro4h this list if yo start 4ettin4 %ore!

T$o chairs/ a ta%le/ a ra!iator/ t$o %o7es of cereal/ a !ra$er fll of#ni6es an! for#s/ a c&%oar! fll of c&s/ a c&%oar! fll of &lates/ %o$ls/4lasses/ a !ish$asher/ a sin# $ith hot an! col! ta&s/ a toaster/ a #ettle/!ryin4 cloths/ $ashin4 cloths/ a &inea&&le/ t$o %ananas/ a %a4 of oran4es/a micro$a6e/ a fri!4e freeFer @fll of 6arios &rchase! items/ an electric

coo#er/ a micro$a6e/ coo#in4 tensils/ cleanin4 &ro!cts/ alminim foil/a $all cloc#/ &ictres on the $all/ a %in @fll of foo! that is ot of !ate G&lastic &ac#a4in4 G anythin4 not reCire!/ a c&%oar! fll of resa%le&lastic %a4s

17




he$ Thats some list An! I ha6ent e6en %een thro4h all thec&%oar!s/ an! certainly not thro4h the hose Do yo $ant me to/ or

$ol! yo &refer to ta#e yor o$n in6entory in yor o$n time;

That list of &ro!cts are not e7ternal to me/ they are com&onent &arts ofthe Earth/ &t to4ether %y other hmans to sell/ to ma#e money/ to ma#emy life easier5 Bt ho$ many of the Earths resorces ha! to %e se! toma#e e6en one item on that list; Do yo e6en care;

That !e&en!s on ho$ mch money yo ha6e Yo see/ the moremoney yo ha6e the frther yo $ill %e from the sorce

If yo ha6e nothin4/ yo $ill %e closely connecte! to the sorce Yor

heatin4 G coo#in4 fel may come from fire$oo!/ %t there a4ain $here!oes the i4nition sorce come from; A li4hter; Matches; All of $hich ha!to %e ma!e sin4 materials from the Earth

If yo ha6e &lenty of money yo $ill ha&&ily &ay for foo! to %eim&orte!/ then &rocesse! an! &re&are! for yo so that yo can &t it inthe micro$a6e for fi6e mintes If yo ha6e 6ery little/ yo $ill ha6e to&lant see! @if yo ha6e any ho&e yo ha6e eno4h $ater to 4ro$ yorcro&s @$here !oes the $ater come from; the ri4ht tools to mana4e yorcro&s @$here !o these come from; an! finally tools to har6est yor cro&s@assmin4 that yo ha6e lan! yo can $or#/ shelter/ clothin4/ an! eno4hfoo! an! $ater to sr6i6e ntil yor cro&s are rea!y to har6est

"o yo see/ the closer yo 4et to the sorce/ the more connecte! yo are/an! the more com&le7 it %ecomes to sr6i6e on yor o$n Life on Earth iss!!enly not as a&&ealin4 as it seeme! a moment a4o

No more arts/ flyin4/ creatin4/ e!cation/ cars/ holi!ays/ e7otic foo!s/ $ine/ entertainment/ en4ineerin4/ science/ !iscssion/ &hiloso&hisin4/mo%ile &hones/ la&to& com&ters Instea! $e are left $ith $or# to allo$or contine! sr6i6al/ mch the same as the animals $hom $e %elie6e

$e ha6e nothin4 in common $ith/ %ecase/ yo see/ $e $ere create! %y4o! etc

The life $e ha6e on this &lanet has %een ma!e &ossi%le %y 1'/''' yearsof a sr&ls of foo! ma!e &ossi%le %y a4ricltre/ of the s%seCent

s&ecialisation of Man/ of s all &layin4 a small &art in a %i4 $heel Yes $e ha6e %een in6enti6e/ %t $hen $e loo# closely/ e6erythin4 is

ma!e &ossi%le %y the natral $orl!/5 @yo #no$/ the one $e are e7ternalto/ that $e ha6e conCere!

18




"o %efore $e se & e6ery a6aila%le resorce on this &lanet/ may%e $eshol! ha6e a lon4 har! loo# at or hoses/ or foo!/ or clothes/ or%ills/ an! realise that altho4h money5 &ai! for them/ the Earth an! its

inha%itants &ro6i!e! them at a cost far 4reater than the money yo 4a6e to4et them

One !ay $e may fin! the Earth realises that in or!er to &rotect itself/somethin4s 4ot to 4i6e An! that somethin4/ la!ies an! 4entleman/ $ill %es 3 homo sa&iens/ self-&roclaime! Jin4 of the 8orl!

19




20




Day >i6e

To!ay if I feel an4ry or feel the nee! to criticise anyone/ I $illnot try to :stify the feelin4/ instea!/ I $ill let it 4o5

An4er is a fnny thin4 isnt it; It seems to come ot of no$here Onemoment $e are all ha6in4 a 4oo! time/ an! the ne7t/ Ban4 An4er"hotin4/ screamin4/ %elittlin4/ criticiFin4/ name callin4/ threatenin4/&shin4/ &nchin4/ sta%%in4/ shootin4

"ome or all of the a%o6e may %e &resent $hen someone is an4ry/5 @a

state of hei4htene! &sycholo4ical/ emotional an! &hysical tension/ an!may %e case! %y &ercei6e! inslts/ a %il! & of tension to sch a &ointit cannot %e containe! any more/ feelin4s of %ein4 $ron4e!/ not 4ettin4

$hat yo $ante! etc

>or no$/ lets :st acce&t that an4er ho$e6er :stifie!/ is not the mosthealthy of emotions/ no matter $ho tells yo that it is "ome &eo&le alsosay that s&&ressin4 an4er is a %a! thin4 as $ell/ an! it nee!s to %e

mana4e!/ %y hel&in4 &eo&le !eal $ith ho$ they feel $hen they areinslte!5 or channelle!5 into an acti6ity that allo$s a controlle! release/sch as %o7in4

"o an4er mana4ement can %e a 4oo! thin4/ after all/ $e !ont $ant&eo&le rnnin4 ron! the $orl! screamin4 an! fi4htin4 each other !e tosch a sim&le thin4 as &erce&tion5

Is an4er real;

21




Let s 4o into that Cestion careflly Is an4er real;5 8ell/ the effects ofan4er certainly are eo&le can %e afrai! $hen someone is an4ry/ &eo&lecan 4et hrt $hen someone is an4ry Bt the emotion of an4er5 itself is

not 6isi%le to the na#e! i!ea/ :st the conseCences of the release ofener4y $hich $e ha6e name! an4er5

"o here I am/ li6in4 my life $hen s!!enly someone says or !oessomethin4 $hich starts to ma#e me feel li#e I am 4oin4 to %oil o6er"hol! I trn the other chee#5 or shol! I en4a4e them in 6er%al or&hysical %attle;

Lets loo# at it from the other &ersons &oint of 6ie$ for a moment

shall $e; If an4er is 4enerate! thro4h or &erce&tion of e6ents then yomst ha6e sai! or !one somethin4 that ma!e the other &erson an4ry

Yo !i!nt; 8ell/ may%e it $as ho$ yo $ere !resse!/ @$hat is thatman !oin4 $earin4 mslim clothin4 in a christian nei4h%orhoo! ho$

yo $ere %eha6in4/ @ha6in4 fn an! %ein4 %oisteros near ol!er &eo&le $ho !i!nt li#e it ho$ yo loo#e! @a $hite man in a %lac#nei4h%orhoo!/ in fact/ it col! %e anythin4/ col!nt it;

Lets face it/ ntil $e can see thro4h other &eo&les eyes an! &ercei6eorsel6es/ $e $ill ne6er really #no$ $hat tri44ers an4er Yo too# my &en/

yo &lle! ot in front of me/ yo s&o#e to that %oy I li#e!/ yo !i!nt saythan# yo $hen I hel! the !oor o&en for yo/ yo &she! &ast me in thestreet/ yore from a !ifferent 4ro&/ yo !ont %elie6e in 4o!/ yo %elie6ein the $ron4 4o!/ yo loo#e! at another man/ yo tal#e! to another

$oman/ yo !i!nt !o the hose$or# $hen I as#e! yoAn! on an! onan! on

"ome an4er5 may e6en %e s%conscios refle7 !e to cltralcon!itionin4/ &arental 6ie$s/ &eer 4ro& 6ie$s etc

8e can ne6er trly n!erstan! $hat it is that is ma#in4 &eo&le an4ryThey col! &ro%a%ly fin! a million thin4s to %e an4ry a%ot= %t $e cant

$orry a%ot other &eo&le an! ho$ they &ercei6e the $orl!/ $e can onlyconcentrate on orsel6es 3 on or &erce&tions/ an! the &ersonalres&onsi%ility $e ha6e for those &erce&tions

To!ay I ta#e res&onsi%ility for my an4er

22




To!ay I &ersonally ha6e se6eral thin4s to %e an4ry a%ot I am still o$e!money %y a &erson I !i! $or# for se6eral months a4o I am an4ry $ithmyself for &ttin4 on $ei4ht o6er the last year I am an4ry that I !o not

ha6e eno4h money for my tri& in for $ee#s time I am an4ry thatsomeone $as r!e to me in a coffee sho& I am an4ry that someone%m&e! into me an! !i!nt a&olo4ise

All 6ery :stifie! I $ol! say Any normal &erson $ol! %e an4ryfin!in4 themsel6es in :st one of those sitations/ $ol!nt yo a4ree;

8ell/ $hether yo a4ree or not/ an! $hether I am :stifie! in feelin4 an4rythe fact remains that I mst ta#e res&onsi%ility for the feelin4s/ not %lameothers for me feelin4 an4ry

Its yor falt If yo ha!nt %m&e! into me I $ol!nt %e an4ry/ $ol!I;5

Its yor falt If yo ha! :st &ai! me I $ol!nt %e an4ry $ol! I;5

If yo ha! :st !one as I sai! I $ol!nt %e an4ry/ $ol! I;5

If she ha!nt &ar#e! in my s&ace I $ol!nt %e an4ry/ $ol! I;5

Are yo startin4 to see ho$ ri!iclos this an4er is; 8e are s&&ose! to %ethe most intelli4ent s&ecies on the &lanet %t ho$ easily risen to an4er $eare Or lar4e %rains seem to str44le to co&e $ith !ay to !ay sitations/%ecase or i!eas of ri4ht an! $ron4 an! ho$ &eo&le shol! act/ an!ho$ they shol! s&ea# to s/ ha6e %een im&rinte! onto s from sch anearly a4e

Lets face it/ $e !ont #no$ $hy $e 4et an4ry !o $e; 8e may %e a%leto :stify it as I ha6e !one a%o6e/ %t $e !ont n!erstan! thenerolo4ical &rocesses that ha&&en $hen someone &lls ot in front ofor car/ !o $e; An! altho4h scientists may %e a%le to ma& &arts of the%rain $hich li4ht &5 $hen a &ercei6e! threat or inslt ta#es &lace/ itisnt 4oin4 to hel& s in the lon4 term to %e a less 6iolent s&ecies/ anymore than an4er mana4ement trainin4 $ill

"re I may %e 4i6en some &ositi6e self-tal# for $hen I feel an4ry/ orhan4 a %o7in4 %a4 in my 4ara4e to hit $hen I feel an4ry/ %t $hat if $e!ro&&e! the $or! An4er5 an! An4ry5 from or 6oca%lary;

23




Ho$ $ol! I !escri%e ho$ I am feelin4; Ho$ $ol! I connect $iththe &rocesses in my %rain an! %o!y; Ho$ $ol! I se my min! to seethro4h these feelin4s5 an! n!erstan! their tre natre; 8hat !oes the

feelin4 I se! to call A-N-K-E-R loo# li#e; 8hat is it com&rise! of; 8hatcolor is it; 8here is it;

?an yo see it; ?an yo feel it in yor chest; In yor feet; In yor arms;Does it e7ist in others/ or in yo;

8hat &r&ose !oes it ser6e yo; Does it &rotect yo; Does it sho$others ho$ &o$erfl yo are; Does it !o anythin4 to create a moreharmonios $orl!;

No; 8ell I ha6e one s44estion/ let $hate6er it is/ $here6er it is/ flo$

tho4h yo an! 4ron! to the Earth After all/ it is only ener4y Ener4y :st nee!s to fin! an e7it from the %o!y Let it 4o thro4h yor feet an!!issi&ate thro4h the Earth The Earth !oesnt min!/ in fact it &ositi6elyencora4es yo to !o somethin4 that creates more harmony an! less

6iolence Try it to!ay

24




Day "i7

To!ay/ I $ill start to e6alate $hat I !o to earn money/ an!ho$ $hat I !o im&acts the li6es of others aron! the $orl!5

8ho are yo to tell me I ha6e to e6alate $hat I !o for a li6in4; Thatsno%o!ys %siness %t mine5

Of corse/ yo! %e ri4ht 8e !ont li6e in a totalitarian society $here $hat yo !o is controlle! %y the state @an! if yo !o/ its time to mo6e

Yo ha6e %een e!cate!/ yo ha6e %een 4i6en careers an! frthere!cation a!6ice/ an! yo ha6e !eci!e! on a career ?on4ratlations

8hat yo !o may !e&en! on $hether yo &asse! or faile! yor e7ams/ $hat yor &arents $ant yo to !o/ $hat yor &eer 4ro& is !oin4/ or yomay ha6e !eci!e! to 4o yor o$n $ay

Yo may ha6e !eci!e! on a :o% that interests yo/ %t one thin4s forsre/ money is the reason yo 4et & e6ery mornin4 It isnt; 8ell/ yomst ha6e &lenty of cash then/ so con4ratlations a4ain

>or those &eo&le $ho 4et & e6ery mornin4 to 4o to $or#/ the onethin4 on yor min! is not ho$ is the $or# I am !oin4 affectin4 the li6esof others aron! the $orl!/5 or in!ee! ho$ is the $or# I am !oin4im&actin4 my o$n $ell %ein4/ the $ell %ein4 of my family an! frien!s/ an!last %t not least/ the im&act on the &lanet;5

Yore too %sy $orryin4 a%ot $or#in4/ I can n!erstan! that 8henI $as $or#in4 in information technolo4y all I col! thin# of $as the

&ro:ect I $as $or#in4 on/ an! $hat I ha! to achie6e If yo ha! as#e! methe same Cestion I ha6e as#e! yo to!ay/ I $ol! trn off com&letelyan! thin# $hy !oesnt he min! his o$n %siness5

25




"o $hen I say I n!erstan! that this Cestion may ma#e yo feel sli4htlyneasy/ I !o

Last year/ one of the rea!ers of the natral min! 3 $a#in4 &5 sent me anemail/ an! $hilst most $as com&limentary/ he too# me to tas# on the :o%ssection

I fon! the section title! :o%s left me 6ery an4ry/ anemotion I #no$ yo $ol! not a&&ro6e of/ to s44estthat &eo&le shol! choose their :o% accor!in4 to the

!ama4e it !oes to the &lanet etc/ is :st fancifl%llcra& if $e !i! that it $ol! mean there $ol! %e6ery fe$ :o%s &eo&le actally col! !o/ e6erythin4 hasa #noc# on effect to somethin4 else/ I &ro!ce &artsfor cars an! lorries Im sre yo col! 4i6e a millionreasons $hy I shol! chan4e my :o%/ is this :st ane7cse for yo to not 4et a :o% an! :stify it to yor!isa&&ointe! father/ yo are an athor yor %oo#s are

&rinte! on &a&er ta#en from trees !estroyin4 thenatral en6ironment of contless animals is thishy&ocritical5

I thin# the $riter of this email &erfectly enca&slates the feelin4s of most&eo&le $ho rea! $or#s of &hiloso&hy $here the $riter shares some %i4i!eas or conce&ts The tho4ht in most rea!ers min!s is this isim&ossi%le/ this col! ne6er $or#/5 an! of corse/ $hen $e thin# thin4sare im&ossi%le they sally are

The most &rofon! statement from the $riter is $hen he says tos44est that &eo&le shol! choose their :o% accor!in4 to the !ama4e it!oes to the &lanet etc/ is :st fancifl %llcra& if $e !i! that it $ol!mean there $ol! %e 6ery fe$ :o%s &eo&le actally col! !o5

"o let<s 4o into this &ara4ra&h 6ery 6ery careflly 8hat he is actallysayin4 is/ if &eo&le chose their :o% accor!in4 to the !ama4e it !oes to the&lanet etc/ there $ol! %e 6ery fe$ :o%s &eo&le col! !o 8o$ He<sa%soltely ri4ht

26




?rrently/ there are o6er se6en %illion &eo&le on this &lanet "e6en %illion&eo&le $ho are all &ro4ramme! to 4et a :o% to fee!/ clothe/ an! hosethemsel6es "e6en %illion &eo&le Do yo #no$ $hat that nm%er loo#s

li#e; On &a&er it is +/'''/'''/''' %t in the real $orl!/ can yo ima4ineho$ many &eo&le that is; No/ neither can I "ffice to say/ that is a lot ofmoths to fee!

"to& for a moment an! reflect

Kreat/ no$ $e<6e all ca4ht or %reaths/ I thin# $e shol! start loo#in4

%ac#/ %ac# to a time %efore the %irth of a4ricltre/ %ac# to a time $henlife $as 6ery !ifferent from it is no$= a time $hen &eo&le li6e! in small4ro&s/ $here $or#5 $as hntin4 animals an! 4atherin4 e!i%le &lants

Accor!in4 to archaeolo4ists an! historians these &eo&le li6e! in ca6esan! tem&orary !$ellin4s/ an! the $orl! &o&lation $as estimate! to %eanythin4 from ten thosan! to one million &eo&le

"o $hat !i! these &eo&le !o for a :o%5; 8ell/ 4i6en that there $as no

formal e!cation/ no in!strialisation/ an! no career 4i!anceconsellors/ I $ol! 4ess that their :o% $ol! %e hntin4 an! 4atherin4foo! an! !oin4 anythin4 else that $ol! hel& #ee& the small tri%e ali6e

A !ifficlt life; Yes/ in a $ay/ for they $ere al$ays tryin4 to fin! foo!/%t also a mch sim&ler life Di! they ha6e the time or the a$areness toen:oy that sim&le life; That is another Cestion/ one $hich I !o not ha6ethe ans$er to/ %t one thin4<s for sre/ their im&act on the li6es of others

$as fairly lo$/ as it $as on the &lanet<s resorces @that<s eno4h of thehistory lesson

"on!s %orin4 to me5

Yeah/ me too 8hat !i! they !o in the e6enin4/ there $as noentertainment or anythin45

No arts or %oo#s/ or t65

An! no %ars or cl%s5

An! no holi!ays5

I<m 4la! I !i!n<t li6e then/ son!s terri%le Ho$ !i! they sr6i6e $ithot face%oo# an! t$itter/ an! mo%iles;5

27




Ho$ !i! they &ay for anythin4 $ithot a cre!it car!;;;5

8e ha6e come a lon4 $ay since the time of ca6e !$ellers an! hnter4atherers 8e are Mo!ern Man

Bt $hat $e call Mo!ern Man5 hasn<t %een aron! that lon4 Untilthe !a$n of the in!strial re6oltion in the 1,''<s/ :o%s $ere intra!itional in!stries closely lin#e! to the lan!/ an! the &o&lation $asn<th4e either I<m not s44estin4 &eo&le li6e! in harmony/ far from it/ %tthe im&act they ha! on each other an! the &lanet itself $as lo$

The &o&lation cre&t & slo$ly at first/ reachin4 the first %illion only in

1,'/ then it starte! its stea!y acceleration to t$o %illion in 1*2+/ three%illion in 1*.'/ for %illion in 1*+/ fi6e %illion in 1*,+/ si7 %illion in in1***/ an! se6en %illion in 2'12/ %t this isn<t a to&ic on &o&lation4ro$th/ so $hy are $e !iscssin4 it;

O6er the last fe$ &ara4ra&hs $e tal#e! a%ot :o%s/ from noma!ichntin4 an! 4atherin4 for sr6i6al/ thro4h to the settlin4 of Man/ ma!e&ossi%le thro4h the !omestication of animals an! &lants/ %t no$ it<s

time to fast for$ar! to the &resent an! in &articlar to the ca&italistsocieties most of s li6e in @e6en if $e are 4o6erne! %y so-calle!commnists/ socialists/ or !ictatorshi&s

8hate6er the social &olicies &rse! %y 4o6ernments/ the &eo&le arefirmly entrenche! in ma#in4 money 3 lots of it/ an! :st %ecase yoha6en<t ma!e yor millions yet that !oesn<t mean yo $ol!n<t li#e to

"o let me as# yo a Cestion 8hat $ol! yo !o to ma#e money;

Ho$ far $ol! yo 4o to ma#e money;"ome of yo mi4ht say that yo ha6e ethics an! morals that $ol! sto&

yo from !oin4 thin4s li#e sellin4 !r4s/ %t $hate6er yor ethics/ $e can%e sre that yo ha6en<t ma&&e! ot the im&act of yor :o% on the &lanetas a $hole/ incl!in4 the im&act on yor fello$ man an! all the others&ecies

8hat;5 says yo Yo $ant me to !o $hat; Are yo craFy or

somethin4; Yo mst %e I !on<t ha6e time to !o that/ an! any$ay/ $hat<sthe &oint of me !oin4 it if I<m the only one !oin4 it5 An! I see yor &oint

8hat is the &oint of me !oin4 anythin4 if no one else is !oin4 it Bt if yo remem%er/ this is an I5 manifesto/ $e are not $orrie! a%ot anyone

28




else %t orsel6es here This is or life an! $e ta#e res&onsi%ility for ortho4hts/ actions an! the conseCences $hich arise from them

Let<s start $ith me shall $e; I !o many thin4s %t my official :o%5 is

&ro%a%ly a $riter/ an! altho4h I earn 6ery little from it/ it is my mainsorce of income

The rea!er $ho corres&on!e! $ith me says this yo are an athor yor %oo#s are &rinte! on &a&er ta#en from trees !estroyin4 the natralen6ironment of contless animals5/ an! he $ol! %e ri4ht Altho4h I#no$ ** of all rea!ers !o$nloa! the %oo# o6er the internet/ an! !o not%y &rinte! co&ies/ that is no :stification The com&ters they !o$nloa!

onto nee! resorces from the Earth/ &eo&le ha6e to sit in factories inre&etiti6e :o%s assem%lin4 them The com&ters nee! electricity as !oesthe internet $hich has a harmfl effect on the en6ironment/ an! themoney &ai! to the electricity com&anies an! internet com&anies is linin4the &oc#ets of in!i6i!als/ &t into %an#s $ho may %e in6estin4 incom&anies $ho ha6e nethical &ractices/ an! &ai! in the form of ta7es to4o6ernments $ho may se the money to o&&ress their o$n &eo&le/ an!start $ars in other contries @$hilst linin4 their o$n &oc#ets

An! the circle contines

st %ecase I $rite a %oo# $hich I %elie6e $ill hel& &eo&le chan4ean! therefore affect the $orl! &ositi6ely/ I am also a$are that I am a &artof the &ro%lem

An! in case this all son!s too craFy or too !ifficlt/ ta#e a !ee&%reath/ an! let<s rela7 for a minte

Koo!/ no$ $e may contine

I say that I am a$are that the $ay I choose to earn money has anim&act on my fello$ man an! the natral en6ironment/ %t I am alsoa$are that :st %y %ein4 ali6e has an im&act some$here/ an! as I !on<t&lan on committin4 sici!e any time soon/ I<ll ha6e an im&act e6erysecon! I %reathe

"o $hat<s the soltion to the terri%le im&act $e are all ha6in4 on eachother an! the $orl! 8ell/ as I sai!/ $e are not here to $orry a%otothers/ e6en tho4h $e may thin# that someone $ho ma#es %om%s or4ns for a li6in4 or $or#s in an a%attoir is ha6in4 more of an im&act thanor :o% $or#in4 as a $e% !esi4ner for a charity $hich sa6es chil!ren inafrica

29




Remem%er this - I am res&onsi%le for my choices to earn money I amres&onsi%le for the im&act my choice has on the $orl!/ an! once I ta#eres&onsi%ility/ an! ma& the im&act/ I $ill ma#e the ri4ht !ecision I cannot

ho&e to n!erstan! the im&act $ithot ma#in4 the connections As $e !ra$ this to&ic to a close/ let<s not $orry a%ot there not %ein4

eno4h :o%s to 4o aron! If $e are trly concerne! a%ot creatin4 amore enli4htene! life/ $e $ill fin! the ri4ht &ath/ an! if $e aren<t/ $ell

$e/ or fello$ man/ an! the &lanet $ill fin! ot the conseCences of that!ecision soon eno4h

30




Day "e6en

To!ay I $ill start to realise that the $orl! as I &ercei6e e7&erience it is create! thro4h the choices I ma#e from

moment to moment5

8e ha6e tal#e! a%ot %lame an! &ersonal res&onsi%ility in &re6ios to&ics%t in this to&ic let<s 4o frther/ let s loo# into the $orl! $ith ne$ eyes

8hen $e tal# a%ot the $orl!5 $e are tal#in4 a%ot it in it<s crrentform/ $here o%:ects a&&ear soli!/ $here e6ents are ncontrolla%le/ $here

thin4s ha&&en that a&&ear e7ternal to s/ %t !oes this mean $e ha6enothin4 to !o $ith its creation;

8e ha6e %een tol! that the $orl! $as create! %y either a %i4 %an45 or%y 4o!5 an! $e thin# that<s it - $orl! create! No$ $e :st li6e in it/coastin4 alon4 on its an! e6eryone else<s $hims Bt that assmes that $eha6e no &o$er in its creation5

>or most of s/ creation is an e6ent $hich ta#es &lace once/ $hether

that %e the creation of a ni6erse/ a chil!/ or e6en a seemin4ly inanimateo%:ect li#e a car or a tele6ision/ %t let<s try to thin# !ifferently for amoment

Ima4ine a $orl! $here no one ha! tol! s it ha! %een create!5 ho$ $ol! $e &ercei6e this $orl!;

?reation

The action or &rocess of %rin4in4 somethin4 into e7istence5

31




there The $orl! is soli! an! yo #no$ it E6erythin4 is in its &lace/ as it $as/ shol! %e/ an! al$ays $ill %e @ntil yo<re not aron! to loo# at it

Bt ho$ !o these !iscssions hel& s; Isn<t it irrele6ant to or !aily

li6es $hat the natre of reality is; Ha6en<t $e 4ot more im&ortant thin4s to $orry a%ot than some silly science Cestion; After all/ I am not acollection of s%atomic &articles an! neither is the tree I am a hman an!the tree is a tree En! of story

erce&tion

1 the a%ility to see/ hear/ or %ecome a$are of somethin4 thro4h the

senses

2 the nero&hysiolo4ical &rocesses/ incl!in4 memory/ %y $hich anor4anism %ecomes a$are of an! inter&rets e7ternal stimli

8hat is real; 8hat are yo seein4 $hen yo see a tree; Are yo :st

channellin4 li4ht into yor %rain an! thin#in4 nothin4; 8hat is the o%:ect yor %rain is actally &ercei6in4; 8ho tol! yo that this is a tree; 8hat if yo fon! ot after many years that $hat yo thin# yo are &ercei6in4 asa tree is actally a cat;

If yo toch this o%:ect in !irect e7&erience $ith it/ is it a tree no$;Not if someone ha! tol! yo it $as a montain Ho$ !oes it feel5; Doesit feel li#e a tree/ !oes it smell li#e a tree; 8here !i! these inter&retationscome from;

?ol! it not :st %e a transitory o%:ect in time an! s&ace ha6in4 certain&hysical &ro&erties yo ha6e %een instrcte! to &ercei6e an! e7&erienceas a tree;

Of corse/ these Cestions are not 4oin4 to hel& yo 4et a 4oo! :o%/ anice family/ an! &lenty of money/ an! that is $hat is im&ortant in life/ solet<s mo6e on

8hen I see a %lac# man $hat !o I see; 8hen I see a $hite man $hat !o Isee; 8hen I see a homeless man $hat !o I see; 8hen I see a 6e4etarian

$hat !o I see; 8hen I see a $oman in a %eatifl !ress $hat !o I see;

33




8hen I see a meat eater $hat !o I see; 8hen I see a sol!ier $hat !o I see; 8hen I see a terrorist $hat !o I see; 8hen I see a man in athority $hat!o I see; 8hen I see an american $hat !o I see; 8hen I see lots of money

$hat !o I see;

8hite Blac# e4etarian American Terrorist Beatifl Money 8omanMan Beatifl Homeless Meat Eater Athority "ol!ier

Yo may %e $on!erin4 $hy I ha6e con6eniently la%elle! these &eo&le for yo; 8ell/ yo !i!n<t nee! me to la%el them !i! yo; 8hen yo rea! see

a $hite man5 an ima4e flashe! into yor min!/ an! &ossi%ly %ro4ht &certain emotions

8hen yo rea! see a terrorist5 $hat !i! yo actally see5; 8as therein fact a terrorist5 in front of yo $hen yo rea! it; 8as there a man!resse! in military style clothin4/ co6erin4 his face/ hol!in4 a #alashni#o6;No; An! $hile $e<re at it/ !o yo fin! it stran4e that I col! !escri%e thisterrorist/ yo #no$/ the one yo $ere thin#in4 a%ot; The one $ho is not

in front of yo/ that yo ha6e cannot !irectly e7&erience;"o ho$ can $e &ercei6e these &eo&le at a !istance; Ho$ can $e

&ercei6e an! e7&erience these &eo&le that $e may ne6er ha6e met/ an! yet :stify a certain feelin4 to$ar!s them; Ho$; It<s easy/ :st as# yor&arents/ 4ran!&arents/ frien!s/ teachers/ reli4ios lea!ers/ 4o6ernments/co-$or#ers/ ne$s&a&er e!itors

A short !ialo4e $ith a man e7&eriencin4 4rief

Man) My $ife an! son $ere #ille! %y american "ol!iers5

Me) I n!erstan! that the loss of yor $ife an! son mst %e terri%lefor yo5

Man) I hate all american sol!iers5

Me) I n!erstan! that yo mst %e 6ery an4ry at the s&ecific &eo&le $ho !i! this/ %t hatin4 e6eryone $ho $ears an americanniform :st creates more hate5

34




Man) I !on<t care/ I $ant to see the !eath of as many american sol!iersas &ossi%le They $ill &ay for $hat they !i! to my family5

Me) Yor family ha6e %een #ille!/ that is a terri%le thin4 that

ha&&ene! to them They $ere the one<s $ho $ere #ille! Not yo5

Man) Bt their !eaths mst %e a6en4e!5

Me) Ho$ $ol! yo a6en4e them;5

Man) I $ol! han4 the sol!iers $ho !i! this5

Me) Bt that<s not 4oin4 to %rin4 yor $ife an! son %ac#/ all that $ill

ha&&en is t$o more &eo&le $ill !ie/ an! t$o more families $ill%e 4rie6in4/ an! then $ant 6en4eance for the !eaths of their sons5

Man) I !on<t n!erstan! 8hat !o yo mean;5

Me) They #ille! yor family Yo #ill their sons They come here an!#ill yo/ an! then #ill as many of yor &eo&le as they can All thathas ha&&ene! is more &eo&le &ercei6e that they ha6e %een

$ron4e!/ e6en if the actal e6ent ha&&ene! to someone else/ an!

more &eo&le $ill !ieMan) Bt my family5

Me) Are 4one from si4ht/ %t not for4otten They e7ist $ithin yormemories/ an! yor feelin4s5

Man) Bt I $ill ne6er for4i6e5

Me) No one is as#in4 yo to >or4i6eness is a $or! that !oes not hel&s here The $orl! e7ists $ithin yo ri4ht no$/ no matter $hen

yor family !ie! The $orl! is yors to &ercei6e an! e7&erienceane$ Yo can ta#e the o&&ortnity to &ercei6e it any$ay yoli#e Bt it is yor choices that $ill create yor reality5

Man) Ho$ so;5

Me) Last $ee# $hen yo sa$ an american sol!ier $hat !i! yo <see<;5

Man) I sa$ the niform an! I $ante! to #ill them5

Me) "o let me 4et this strai4ht These $eren<t the men $ho #ille! yor family/ %t yo &ercei6e! the niform/ an! $ol! ha6e#ille! them if yo ha! the chance;5

Man) Yes5

35




Me) ?an yo n!erstan! that yo $eren<t actally <seein4< a hman%ein4/ nor a niform/ nor an american/ $ith yor eyes %t amental re&resentation of the &erson $ho #ille! yor family;5

Man) Yes I s&&ose that is $hat $as ha&&enin45Me) 8hat !i! yo feel $hen yo sa$ these men;5

Man) I felt an4er/ ra4e/ %t also I felt 4reat sa!ness5

Me) Do yo thin# yo can start to &ercei6e these men !ifferently; Do yo thin# there is a chance yo $ill realise that the $orl! as $esee it is not set in stone= that $e can ma#e choices a%ot ho$ $e&ercei6e the $orl! e6ery moment $e e7ist;5

Man) I al$ays tho4ht I $as &ercei6in4 the $orl! from moment tomoment/ I !i! not realise my %rain $as rnnin4 on atomatic&ilot No$ I ha6e time to thin# a%ot it/ I !on<t thin# I e6er #ne$there $as another $ay to see the $orl! I trste! my %rain/ an! Itrste! the information that $as %ein4 fe! to it %y e6eryone5

Me) The min! is tric#y/ an! altho4h it seems stran4e to !istrst yoro$n %rain/ it is the only $ay $e can set orsel6es free from the

tra&s $e ha6e %een set/ intentionally or nintentionally5

Man) I am %e4innin4 to see that Than# yo for hel&in4 me see!ifferently/ if :st for a moment5

Me) The moment is all $e really ha6e/ an! it<s my &leasre5

?hoices are so mch more than $hat to ha6e for !inner/ $hat :o% to !o/

$here to 4o on holi!ay/ or $hat ty&e of ne$ tele6ision yo are 4oin4 to%y Are yo rea!y to ma#e a choice to &ercei6e an! e7&erience the $orl!!ifferently/ if only for a moment;

36




Day Ei4ht

To!ay I $ill 4i6e my %rain a rest from en!less thin#in4 assch ma#e my $orl! a Cieter &lace5

8e ha6e sometimes !escri%e! &eo&le as tho4htless/ %t !oes that meanthat there isn<t a tho4ht 4oin4 on in their %rain; Does that mean thattheir min! is Ciet; No/ it 4enerally means $e %elie6e they are notsho$in4 consi!eration for others

"o &erha&s tho4htless is a %a! $or! to !escri%e %ein4 inconsi!erate/

for I $ol! li#e to se the &re form of tho4htless5 to mean nothin#in4/ %t it<s not 4oin4 to %e an easy tas#/ no sir

8e are en4a4e! in thin#in4 from the moment $e $a#e & ntil themoment $e 4o to slee&/ an! sometimes or %rain $a#es s & to !o somemore thin#in4

"o $hat !o $e thin# a%ot; 8ell/ ha6e a loo# aron! the $orl! an! yo<ll see E6ery$here &eo&le are thin#in4 a%ot :o%s/ e!cation/ stats/

relationshi&s/ money/ %ills/ !e%t/ :stice/ res&ect/ cheatin4/ mr!er/hatre!/ lo6e/ cars/ hosehol! a&&liances/ msic/ tele6ision/ chil!ren/e7ams/ :ealosy/ 4ree!/ holi!ays/ ha&&iness/ fitness/ fatness/ sa!ness/health/ alcohol/ !r4s/ ci4arettes/ to!ay/ tomorro$/ yester!ay/ ne7t year/ne7t life/ an! on an! on

eo&le can<t hel& it They :st ha6e to thin# a%ot somethin4 Theymay ta#e time ot for Ciet time/ %t that is sally e7ternal Ciet time

Insi!e there is still a min! storm ra4in4 "o $e try e6erythin4 to Cietenor min!s incl!in4 me!itation/ %t e6en me!itation isn<t Ciet/ altho4he7ternally it may a&&ear to %e so

37




"o ho$ !o I Cieten my min! $ithot years of %!!hist me!itationtechniCes; Ho$ is it &ossi%le that I can sto& thin#in4/ e6en for amoment; 8ell/ the sim&le ans$er is/ it<s com&licate!

Or min!s ha6e no off s$itch/ $e cannot !eci!e/ thro4h $ill alone/ tosto& thin#in4/ e6en for a moment "o $hat !oes that tell s a%ot ormin!s; Does it tell s that e6en tho4h $e thin#5 $e are in control of oro$n min!s/ there is another force at $or#; Does it tell s that or min! is!i6i!e! %et$een t$o controllers in !irect com&etition;

Do yo fin! this stran4e;

?ontrol

Determine the %eha6ior or s&er6ise the rnnin4 of 5

Ri4ht no$ as# yorself5 a Cestion 8ho is in control of my %rain;5 8hat is yor5 ans$er; 8as it I am5 or yo are5;

8hether yo are5 or I am5 the one thin4 that shol! %e a&&arent/ is

that yo are one &erson/ yet there seems to %e t$o of yo &stairs 8ho is $atchin4 $ho; 8ho is master/ $ho is ser6ant; 8ho is 4o!/ $ho

is the lo$er %ein4; 8ho is tal#in4/ $ho is listenin4; 8ho is $orryin4/ $hois calmin4 yo; 8ho is %attlin4 $ho;

"o many Cestions/ it<s eno4h to fry yor alrea!y o6er-$or#e! %rain/an! yo tho4ht there $ol! %e a sim&le matter of flic#in4 a s$itch Bt!o not $orry/ hel& is at han! from yor frien! an! foe 3 yor %rain

Di6i!e! at %irth;

"o $hen !i! this !i6ision start; 8as it a 4enetic error; 8as it &re-or!aine!%y 4o! in or!er to torment s !rin4 or lon4 ar!os life on Earth; Or

$as it somethin4 $hich !e6elo&e! in line $ith or &hysical !e6elo&ment;

One thin4<s for sre/ the constant thin#in4/ Cestionin4/ !iscssin4 an!ar4in4 that 4oes on %et$een or ears !oes not hel& s/ nor the $orl!aron! s/ li6e in Ciet

38




"o $hat is to %e !one $ith or %rain; "hol! $e ha6e it remo6e!;E7treme an! im&ractical it may %e/ %t a !efinite im&ro6ement on $hat

$e ha6e no$

All :o#es asi!e= li#e any animal of 4reat &o$er/ learnin4 to n!erstan!it/ rather than !ominate it is the %est $ay to tame it

A $il! ocean may case !eath to those $ho ri!e its $a6es/ or try to ha6e &o$er o6er it/ %t those $ho $atch from the shoreline may e7&erience

4reat serenity5

"o ho$ !o $e tame the lion $ith t$o hea!s; Ho$ !o $e n!erstan! or

min!s in sch a $ay that they natrally Cieten $ithot resistance;

The ans$er lies in the min! itself

Once the min! #no$s or intention is merely to $atch/ to n!erstan!/ $ithot any threats of !ominance it lets its &rotecti6e 4ar! !o$n 8ho isit &rotectin4/ yo may as# 8hy/ it is yo O$ner an! ser of thise7traor!inary machine

hello %rain/ I<! li#e a chat

Me) I $ant to n!erstan! I $ant to #no$ $hy I #ee& thin#in4 all thetime5

Brain) 8hat !o yo thin# a%ot;5

Me) Oh yo #no$/ the sal stff/ money/ relationshi&s/ oh I !i!n<t4et the &romotion I $ante! an! I hate the %lo#e ne7t !oor/ he<sal$ays &layin4 lo! msic5

Brain) Those seem li#e 6ery normal !ay to !ay isses/ $hy conslt me;5

Me) Becase I #ee& thin#in4 all the time I can<t sto& it "ometimes I4et really %a! tho4hts Is it yo !oin4 that to me;5

Brain) I am !oin4 nothin4 I am the re&ository of information/ the

inter&reter of all yo &ercei6e/ I am the !iary/ the alarm cloc#/ theremin!er5

Me) 8hat !o yo mean/ remin!er;5

39




Brain) Ah/ I see $here yo<re 4oin4 $ith this O#/ let s loo# at ascenario shall $e; Yor nei4h%or &lays lo! msic/ ri4ht;5

Me) Ri4ht5

Brain) 8ho !oes he &lay that lo! msic to;5

Me) I !on<t #no$5

Brain) 8ell I<ll tell yo He &lays the msic to himself He li#es to &lay itlo! for se6eral &ossi%le reasons) a he li#es it lo! % he is tryin4to im&ress someone in the hose c he is inconsi!erate ! he!eli%erately $ants yo to %ecome annoye! May%e there<ssomethin4 else %t that<ll 4i6e yo somethin4 to 4o on5

Me) Ri4ht/ $ell he !efinitely !oes it !eli%erately He #no$s I<6e 4ot to4et & early/ an! he !eli%erately &lays msic so %loo!y lo!Honestly/ I col! stran4le him All I #ee& thin#in4 is sht &"ht & The thin4s I<! li#e to say an! !o to him5

Brain) O# 8e<re 4ettin4 some$here 8hat else !o yo thin# a%ot;5

Me) 8ell/ I $as s&&ose! to 4et this &romotion an! then they $ent

an! hire! a ne$ 4y for the :o% They #ne$ I $ante! that :o% I<6e%een at the com&any for o6er ten years I col! !o that :o%stan!in4 on my hea!5

Brain) "o $hy !i!n<t yo 4et it;5

Me) They sai! they nee!e! someone yon4er $ith a !e4ree Thisne$ %lo#e<s 4ot three years e7&erience a4ainst my ten/ an! he4ets the :o% :st %ecase he<s 4ot a !e4ree I<6e threatene! tolea6e They $on<t #no$ $hat to !o $hen I<6e 4one I &racticallyrn that &lace5

Brain) 8hat else;5

Me) My $ife "he<s al$ays moanin4 "he<s al$ays com&lainin4 a%otmoney/ an! ho$ she $ants a ne$ tele6ision an! car&et %t can<taffor! it/ %ecase I<m not %rin4in4 in eno4h money "he !ri6esme ma! "he !oes nothin4 %t loo# after the #i!s all !ay "he!oesn<t realise the &ressre I<m n!er5

Brain) "o $e ha6e three scenarios here to loo# at One is a nei4h%or $ho &lays lo! msic The secon! is the &romotion that yo $ante! %t !i!n<t 4et The thir! is yor $ife $ho com&lains Let

40




me as# yo this/ <!o yo thin# these &eo&le are !oin4 all this to yo/!eli%erately;<5

Me) Of corse they are The %lo#e $ho &lays his msic lo! #no$s it

&isses me off/ %t !oes it any$ay My %oss #ne$ I $ante! the&romotion %t 4a6e it to someone else My $ife #no$s I $or#har! to earn money for the family %t she still com&lains5

Brain) An! $hy !o yo thin# a%ot these thin4s all the time;5

Me) Becase all of these thin4s really &iss me off5

Brain) Bt yo $ant yor min! to %e Ciet Yo $ant a rest from all thisthin#in4;5

Me) A%soltely/ it<s !ri6in4 me ma!5

Brain) Yet still yo han4 on to these tho4hts;5

Me) I can<t hel& it I try really har! %t I can<t %loc# the tho4hts5

Brain) Remem%er the story of the $il! ocean;5

Me) Yes/ %t ho$ !o I a&&ly it here;5

Brain) Remem%er I also tol! yo that I $as a remin!er/ li#e an alarmcloc# $hich !re$ thin4s to yor attention that nee!e! to %e !ealt $ith;5

Me) Yes5

Brain) 8ell/ I<m here to remin! yo of three thin4s One Yo mst !eal $ith the nei4h%or $ith the lo! msic5

Me) 8hat/ !o yo mean li#e 4o an! sort him ot/ 4i6e him a tal#in4

to;5Brain) The nei4h%or is :st a man li6in4 his life/ rnnin4 his life the

$ay he $ants to Do yo thin# his min! #ee&s him a$a#e $orryin4 that he may ha6e &set yo $ith his lo! msic;5

Me) No I<m sre he !oesn<t care5

Brain) Ne6er &resme to #no$ the content of another<s min!5

Me) "o $hat shol! I !o/ :st i4nore it;5Brain) On the contrary/ yo mst notice ho$ it ma#es yo feel/ an!

$rite !o$n that feelin45

Me) Then;5

41




Brain) Then yo mst calmly 4o to yor nei4h%or an! e7&lain ho$ thelo! msic ma#es yo feel5

Me) 8hat if he !oesn<t trn it !o$n;5

Brain) Yo as#e! me ho$ to Cieten yor min!/ %t $e cannot tame a $hole ocean in one !ay5

Me) 8hat else;5

Brain) I only remin! yo of thin4s yo #no$ yo mst !eal $ith/ %tremem%er it is yor feelin4s a%ot nresol6e! e7ternal e6ents $eare tal#in4 a%ot here 8hether yor %oss 4a6e yor &romotionto someone else %ecase he !oesn<t li#e yo is nothin4 to !o $ith

yo/ it<s yor metho! of !ealin4 $ith the feelin4 of not %ein44i6en the &romotion $e are tal#in4 a%ot/ not the e7ternal to

yor min! Yor min!/ me/ is ma4nificent/ %t $e mst learn ho$to commnicate $ith each other/ in the same $ay/ yo mst learnto !eal $ith others min!s5

Me) "o $hat yo<re sayin4 is/ my $ife isn<t actally an4ry $ith me;5

Brain) No/ I am sayin4 that ntil yo n!erstan! ho$ yor $ife feels

an! she n!erstan!s ho$ yo feel yo $ill al$ays ha6enresol6e! tho4hts That is $hy I #ee& remin!in4 yo to !eal

$ith them5

Me) 8ill this ma#e my min! Ciet; I alrea!y tol! yo that this is all!ri6in4 me ma!5

Brain) Listen to ho$ yo feel/ $rite !o$n ho$ yo feel/ try ton!erstan! ho$ others feel/ an! resol6e $hate6er is ma#in4 yo

nha&&y $ith the sorce of that nha&&iness Yo5

Me) "o it<s all a%ot me; Not the others;5

Brain) Of corse it<s all a%ot yo Ho$ yo &ercei6e an! e7&eriencethe $orl! is yor choice Yo #no$ that5

Me) Yo<re ri4ht I nee! to resol6e each isse as it comes & an! notlet it tro%le me so mch5

Brain) The $orl! e7ternal to yo is li#e a ra4in4 ocean/ %t ho$ $e letthat affect s is & to yo To Cieten the min!/ all $e mst !o isnot allo$ the e7ternal to !ictate the mo6ement of or internal

42




ocean No$ if yo !on<t min!/ I<! li#e a rest from all this constant!iscssion $ith yo I s44est yo !o the same5

Me) I n!erstan!5

43




44




Assme yo $or# from Mon!ay to >ri!ay from *am ntil 9('&m/ $ithhalf an hor for lnch Is that all the time yo are $or#in4; 8hat a%otthe time yo ha6e to 4et & an! the time it ta#es yo to 4et to an! from

yor $or#; De&en!in4 on yor location from yor $or#/ yo may s&en!at least one hor commtin4 time each !ay

Assmin4 yo $or# from *am/ that means lea6in4 at ,am/ an! 4ettin4& at +am @conser6ati6e estimates At lnchtime yo !on<t really ha6etime to !o mch so yo mi4ht as $ell sit an! eat yor foo! at yor &laceof $or# 9('&m comes/ an! assmin4 yo !on<t ha6e to $or# late/ 4ethome a%ot .9&m Is that a fair analysis of yor !ay;

8ritten on &a&er it seems li#e not too %a! a !ay Bt $e ha6e as#e!someone $ho has a life li#e this to $rite !o$n a !iary of their !ay eter $or#s in an a6era4e :o% in the acconts !e&artment of a lar4e com&any inthe soth east of en4lan! He is (. years ol!/ is marrie! to ane an! hast$o chil!ren/ ames/ 1'/ an! Isa%elle + He li6es a&&ro7imately one hora$ay from his :o% an! catches the train O6er to yo eter

Mon!ay

I 4ot & late to!ay I $as so tire! after the $ee#en! There $ere !elayson the train on >ri!ay an! I !i!n<t 4et %ac# ntil after ,&m The #i!s $erestill & so I s&ent a %it of time $ith them/ then ha! a 4lass of $ine/somethin4 to eat/ then crashe! ot

"atr!ay/ I ha! to %e & early ames ha! foot%all &ractice at *am so/

after a Cic# %rea#fast/ I !ro&&e! him off then came %ac# to &ic# & ane"he $as !ro&&in4 Isa%elle off at her msic lesson/ so I 4ra%%e! a Cic#coffee/ an! $hen she 4ot %ac# $e rshe! !o$n to the s&ermar#et to !oor $ee#ly sho& As sal the sho&s $ere so %sy an! &ar#in4 $as ani4htmare ?onscios of the time/ $e rshe! ron! an! mana4e! to 4ete6erythin4 $e nee!e!

8e 4ot home/ n&ac#e! the sho&&in4 an! I $ent to &ic# & ames He $as hn4ry so $e sto&&e! at McDonal!s for a Cic# snac#

Both #i!s $ere 4oin4 to %irth!ay &arties in the afternoon so ane ha!to ma#e sre they $ore somethin4 smart Of corse/ neither of them

$ante! to $ear $hat she ha! &ic#e! ot for them/ %t se6eral tantrms

46




later/ they $ere clothe! an! !eli6ere! to the &arty I for4ot to ta#e ames<&resent so I ha! to rsh %ac# &ic# it & an! !ro& it off

"atr!ay afternoon $as sally my !ay to $atch s&ort %t ane ha!

some :o%s aron! the hose she $ante! me to !o A Cic# 6isit to thelocal DIY centre/ an! I $as %ac#

I mo$e! to the la$n/ an! &t to4ether a ne$ chest of !ra$ers $hichha! %een !eli6ere! in the $ee# It $as no$ ''&m an! I ha! to &ic# &the #i!s ane $as ot ha6in4 her hair !one an! %yin4 some ne$ clothes/as $e $ere 4oin4 ot for !inner $ith some ol! frien!s that ni4ht so it $as& to me to fee! the #i!s an! ma#e sre they $ere rea!y for the %a%ysitter

at +''&m After $hat seeme! hors/ ane 4ot %ac#/ ma!e me a san!$ich an! I 4ot

rea!y to 4o ot

Of corse/ I ha! $ay too mch to !rin#/ %t it ha! %een a stressfl $ee# an! I nee!e! to let off steam/ %t %y 12('am $e $ere in %e!

AmaFin4ly/ I 4ot a lie in on "n!ay/ $ell/ till 1'am any$ay ane ha!%een & $ith the #i!s since ,am an! ha! ma!e me %rea#fast I rea! the

&a&ers/ sho$ere!/ an! 4ot rea!y 8e $ere ha6in4 her &arents o6er forlnch an! it $as !o$n to me to set the ta%le/ an! !o a 4eneral ti!y &

$hilst ma#in4 sre the #i!s $ere amse! Isa%elle an! ames $erefi4htin4 o6er the ninten!o/ an! it too# all my stren4th not to shot atthem to %e Ciet as I $as still feelin4 fra4ile from the ni4ht %efore

At 1&m/ the &arents-in-la$ arri6e!/ an! altho4h I 4et on $ith them/the i!ea of ha6in4 to entertain them all !ay $as a %it too mch for me/ %t

$e ha! a 4oo! lnch

In the afternoon $e all $ent ot for a $al# in the &ar#/ an! %y earlye6enin4 all I $ante! to !o $as crash in front of the tele6ision At :st after11('&m $e retire! to %e! I $as e7haste! an! not at all loo#in4 for$ar!to $or# the ne7t !ay

"orry/ $here $as I; Oh yes Mon!ay 8ell/ as I sai!/ I 4ot & late/ fifteenmintes late to %e e7act/ $hich meant I !i!n<t ha6e time to ha6e %rea#fast

I :m&e! into the car/ an! !ro6e to the train station/ fortnately it<sonly ten mintes a$ay an! the traffic $asn<t too %a! I fon! a s&ace/ %t%y the time I 4ot a tic#et from the &ar#in4 machine I only ha! t$o mintesto catch the train an! ha! to rn I :st ma!e it/ %t of corse there

47




$eren<t any seats/ so I ha! to stan! for almost fifty mintes= then a fi6eminte t%e ri!e/ follo$e! %y a fi6e minte $al# an! I $as in the office

The first thin4 I !i! $as 4ra% a coffee/ $ell/ t$o to %e e7act I ha!n<t

eaten an! I nee!e! to $a#e & As sal my %oss Da6i! $as on my case for the mornin4 re&orts/ an! %y1'am I $as in a meetin4 for t$o hors I col!n<t $ait for lnch I $asstar6in4 Unfortnately $e !on<t ha6e a canteen so I :st ran ot the officeat 1&m to 4ra% a san!$ich

The afternoon $as Cite slo$/ :st a %it of $or# on the com&ter/ an!no real stress/ $ell ntil 9&m $hen I $as calle! to another meetin4 to

!iscss some acconts !iscre&ancies All I col! thin# a%ot/ $as I $as4oin4 to miss my train if I !i!n<t lea6e on time >ortnately the meetin4en!e! :st after 9('&m an! I 4ra%%e! my coat an! ran for the t%e $hich

$as soli! as sal/ meanin4 I ha! to rn to catch my train home

No seats a4ain/ so I ha! to stan!/ %t the train 4ot in at .9'&m an! tenmintes later I &lle! into the !ri6e I ha! arran4e! to meet my frien! fora 4ame of sCash at +('&m at the local 4ym/ so it $as a case of 4etchan4e! an! 4o

I li#e sCash/ it<s really fast mo6in4 an! ta#es my min! off the !ay/ an!hel&s me n$in! I lost the match/ %t it<s all a %it of fn/ an! after a Cic#sho$er/ ha! a Cic# %eer $ith my frien! an! $ent home for !inner

The #i!s $ere in %e! %t I rea! Isa%elle a story/ $atche! the late ni4htne$s an! $as in %e! :st after 11('&m That $as my Mon!ay5

Than#s eter/ for sharin4 yor $ee#en! an! yor !ay 8ol! any of yo

li#e eter to tell yo a%ot his Tes!ay/ 8e!nes!ay/ Thrs!ay/ >ri!ay/ orthe ne7t $ee#en!; No/ neither $ol! I There isn<t eno4h s&ace on the&a&er for that

"o $hat !i! $e learn a%ot eter<s $or# !ay/ an! his rest &erio! at the $ee#en!; Di! any of yo see yorsel6es in his story or $as it all a %it toon%elie6a%le for yo;

8ell/ a&art from the #i!s &art that col! ha6e %een me t$el6e years

a4o/ constantly on the 4o/ constantly in !eman!/ $here the i!ea of a rest!ay col!n<t ha6e %een frther from my min!

48




Yon4 &eo&le shol! %e %sy5 my father al$ays se! to say/ an! $hilst Ia4ree $ith him that sittin4 !oin4 nothin4 is a %a! thin4/ $e are ne6erta4ht ho$ to rest

Yo 4et &lenty of time to rest $hen yo<re aslee&5 sai! a frien! ofmine/ %t slee& is essential an! not a conscios !ecision to rest

"o ho$ !o $e rest; "hol! $e sit an! $atch tele6ision; "hol! $erea! a %oo#; "hol! $e 4o to a s&a; "hol! $e ta#e an e7ten!e! holi!ay;"hol! $e me!itate; "hol! $e s&en! time in &rayer;

Unfortnately/ e6erythin4 $e consi!er as rest is actally an acti6ity 8eha6e %een con!itione! %y the society $e li6e in that 8or# Is Koo! 8or#

Is Beneficial5 An! of corse &eo&le $ol! say that It %enefits theem&loyers to ha6e yo %elie6e that/ an! it %enefits the 4o6ernment to a4et yor ta7/ an! % #ee& yo occ&ie! so yo !on<t come & $ith anynotions of o6erthro$in4 them

Yor &arents $ant yo to $or# %ecase they say it is only ri4ht for&eo&le to 4o ot to $or# an! &ay their $ay/ an! yor &eers $ant yo to

$or#/ %ecase/ $ell/ they<re !oin4 it/ an! so shol! yo

Bt $e are not Cestionin4 $hy &eo&le $or# 8e #no$ the reasons If $e!on<t li#e $or# then $e<ll :st ha6e to fin! some other $ay to fee!/ clothean! hose orsel6es

8hat $e are tryin4 to nco6er is $hy $e are !ri6en to mo6e at sch arate/ e6en !rin4 or official5 rest &erio!s

?ol! this ha6e somethin4 to !o $ith or hnter 4atherer herita4e=the nee! to %e on the 4o at all times in search of foo!/ $ater an! shelter;

An! if this is so/ col! or nee! to %e constantly occ&ie! %e a trait lefto6er from early Man that $e ha6en<t let 4o of;

I $ol! li#e to see early homo sa&iens tryin4 to co&e $ith thema!ness $e call mo!ern life "re/ they $ere al$ays on the loo# ot forfoo!/ %t com&are! to the mental an! &hysical stress or frien! eter $asn!er !rin4 his $ee#en! of rest/ I thin# or ancestors $ol! %e ha&&yto stay ri4ht $here they $ere

8e #ee& 4oin4 n!er incre!i%le &hysical stress on the %o!y/ %t are $e%iolo4ically eCi&&e! to !eal $ith it;

8e are at heart a sim&le s&ecies/ $ith the &otential for com&le7&ro%lem sol6in4/ an! com&le7 social relationshi&s/ %t the system that

49




Day Ten

To!ay I $ill start to realise that the more I &ossess/ the lessfree I trly am5

ossessions They<re fnny thin4s E6en tho4h I ha6e let 4o of ** ofmine/ there are still some that I can<tG $on<t let 4o of The first is myla&to&/ $hich I $rite all these %oo#s for yo lo6ely &eo&le on The secon!is all my cam&in4 4ear in case I e6er nee! a &lace to stay The thir! is mymsic in case I e6er 4et as#e! to D a4ain/ forth is my 4itar/ in case I

e6er &ractice eno4h to %ecome 4oo! at it/ fifth is se6eral %oo#s ontra!itional thai massa4e an! anatomy in case I e6er for4et ho$ to massa4e/si7th is se6eral %oo#s on 4ro$in4 frit an! 6e4eta%les/ an! last %t notleast/ my shoes/ an! clothes

I !o not crrently ha6e my o$n &lace to li6e as I col! not &ay the rentas#e! !e to the $or# I !o/ so I mst stay $ith #in! hearte! family an!frien!s/ %t if I !i! I<m sre the list $ol! %e in the !oFens if nothn!re!s of items

Yo see/ hoses an! a&artments ta#e a lot of frnishin4 @ :st ima4inethe nm%er of tensils one nee!s in a #itchen Bt all of these thin4sseem necessary $hen yo ha6e yor o$n &lace to call home

"o if all these items are im&ortant $hat<s all this tal# of %ein4 free $ithot them; ?an<t I %e free $ith all the &ossessions; 8ell/ the !efinitionof free is not n!er the control or in the &o$er of another= a%le to act or%e !one as one $ishes5 $hich on the srface !oes not a&&ear to ha6e

anythin4 to !o $ith &ossessions/ %t let s in6esti4ate this frther

51




Me) Not n!er the control of another5 an! a%le to act as one $ishes5 are the t$o statements $ithin the !efinition/ so let meas# yo a Cestion Ho$ !i! yo 4et the &ossessions;

Man) I $or#e! for them I !on<t o$e anyone a &enny E6erythin4 I%o4ht is mine5

Let s reflect on the !efinition once a4ain/ shall $e;

Not n!er the control of another5 an! a%le to act as one $ishes5

Me) "o let me as# yo the Cestion a4ain Ho$ !i! yo 4et the&ossessions;

Man) That<s nfair/ that<s a tric# Cestion Alri4ht/ so I ha! to 4o ot to $or# for many hors to %e a%le to &ay for the thin4s I %o4ht/ %tit $as my choice to 4o ot to $or#5

Me) An! no one $ol! !isa4ree $ith yo there It $as yor choiceNo one force! yo Bt I ha6e to as# yo the Cestion <are yo

free;<5Man) 8ell/ I li6e in a society $here I am a%le to s&ea# my min!

$ithot fear of arrest/ an! I am free to !o $hat I $ant as lon4 as I!on<t %rea# the la$5

Me) That<s tre/ %t that is the &olitical state of affairs in yor contryat the moment/ a%le to %e chan4e! on the $him of the ne7t4o6ernment "o $hat is this free!om yo are tal#in4 a%ot then;5

I<m sre most of yo ha6e yor o$n !efinitions of free!om= free!om ofs&eech %ein4 the one most &eo&le tot as the ltimate free!om Bt I 4i6emyself that ri4ht/ an! if anyone $ants to im&rison me for sayin4somethin4 that they !isa4ree $ith/ then that is $hat they $ill ha6e to !o>or $hen $e $orry that $e $ill %e loc#e! & or mr!ere! for s&ea#in4ot a4ainst terror/ tortre/ or inhmane acts to$ar!s hmans/ animals/ or

the &lanet itself/ then $e mst Cestion or commitment to $hat $e%elie6e in

52




"o if yo !on<t min!/ $ith that ot of the $ay/ let s 4o %ac# to the tas# athan!/ that is tryin4 to n!erstan! $hy I am less free $hen I ha6e more&ossessions

Or first !iscssion $as $ith someone $ho ha! $or#e! har! an! &ai! fore6erythin4 $ith the money he ha! earne!/ %t he Cic#ly realise! that thetre cost to &ossession $as the nee! to 4o to $or# e6ery !ay to &ay for it

At least he !i!n<t %y it on cre!it/ $here he has no$ a!!e! anotherlayer of com&le7ity to his free!om5 No$ he mst 4o to $or#/ not :st toearn money/ %t to &ay %ac# the loan/ $ith interest/ for the items he no$&ossesses %efore he is %ac# to the first layer of :st $or#in4

Let s assme that or &erson is a 6ery for$ar! thin#in4 yon4 manan! !eci!es to &rchase a hose He alrea!y has the !e&osit from hissa6in4s that he has $or#e! for/ %t mst no$ %orro$ money from a %an#for an a6era4e of 2' years/ meanin4 he is tie! to $or# for at least that time@nless he $ins the lottery/ or earns a lot of money

Bt or &erson !oesn<t care a%ot that It is consi!ere! a $orth$hiletas# to &rchase yor o$n hose He 4oes a%ot frnishin4 it $ith 6ariosloans/ an! soon he has a lo6ely home to call his o$n

He only has a small t$o %e!room home/ $ith one %athroom/ onelon4e/ an! one #itchen %t alrea!y has more &ossessions than half the&o&lation of the $orl!= not that most of them $ol!n<t :m& at thechance of ha6in4 them Bt that<s another story

In time/ or &erson fin!s that s&ecial someone an! they !eci!e to 4etmarrie! It is a $on!erfl $e!!in4 an! they recei6e many 4ifts/ an! mo6ein to4ether/ %t soon realise that if they are to ha6e a family they $ill nee!a %i44er hose They %orro$ more money/ %y a %eatifl ne$ hose/ an!&rchase many more &ossessions an! frnish a %a%y room @Or &erson<s

$ife is 4oin4 to ha6e a %a%y

Bt or &erson is only on a mo!est income/ an! his $ife !eci!es that ifthey are 4oin4 to %rin4 & their chil! $ell an! 4i6e him a 4oo! life/ she

$ill ha6e to retrn to $or# soon

The chil! $ants for nothin4/ an! is si4ne! & to a 6ery 4oo! school@after all/ or family $ant to 4i6e him as many o&&ortnities as &ossi%le

?ar re&airs/ insrance/ income ta7/ concil ta7/ ne$ car&et/ ne$tele6ision/ re-&aint the hose/ more 4a!4ets for the #itchen/ ne$ 4ar!en

53




eCi&ment/ a holi!ay to !e-stress All normal thin4s in the life of orfamily

Oh !i! I tell yo they are thin#in4 of ha6in4 another chil!;

Or &erson/ %orn na#e! into the $orl!/ no$ has so many layers &ile! onto& of him/ all !e&en!ent on him #ee&in4 his :o%

A lot of yo $ill thin# that there is nothin4 hi4her in life than hol!in4!o$n a :o%/ o$nin4 yor o$n hose/ ha6in4 a family/ an! 4i6in4 yorchil!ren the %est start in life

Bt $e<re here to tal# a%ot free!om The free!om to :st %e/ freefrom restrictions/ free from the %r!en of &ossessions 8hether yo see it

is & to yo 8hether yo n%r!en yorself is & to yo Bt remem%erthat yo can<t ta#e the &ossessions $ith yo @as the ancient e4y&tiansfon! ot

Oh !i! I tell yo or &erson lost his :o% last $ee# Then his $orl!came crashin4 !o$n E6erythin4 has a cost

54




If I ac#no$le!4e that I am a creator of all $hich I &ercei6e an!e7&erience/ there can %e no circmstance There is al$ays a creator of thecircmstance

Let s &t asi!e so-calle! acts of 4o!5 for a moment/ an! concentrate onthe hman e7&erience sch as 6ictims of $ar/ &eo&le $ho col! %e sai! to%e in the $ron4 &lace at the $ron4 time It $asn<t their falt that theyha&&ene! to %e $al#in4 !o$n the roa! $hen the %om% $ent off/ all they

$ere !oin4 $as min!in4 their o$n %siness/ they !i!n<t !eser6e to !ie 8hilst it is sa! $hen anyone !ies/ this $as no acci!ent/ this $as!eli%erate

Another !efinition of circmstance is a fact or con!ition connecte! $ith or rele6ant to an e6ent or action5 so let s concentrate on the $or!connecte!5

In Ne$ton<s thir! la$/ it states that all forces e7ist in &airs/ an! thsthere is no sch thin4 as a ni!irectional force or a force that acts on onlyone %o!y It is also #no$n as the action-reaction la$

Let s thin# a%ot ho$ this a&&lies to or 6ictim of circmstance Inor!er for him to %e ro%%e!/ he ha! to %e &resent/ the %alancin4 force ofthe ro%%er In or!er for him to %e e:ecte! from the &%lic %ar he ha! to %e&resent He $as the %alancin4 force of the e:ector

This may all seem a little stran4e for yo to rea!/ %ecase on thesrface/ it seems as if he !i! nothin4 $ron4 He $as $al#in4 alon4 theroa! min!in4 his o$n %siness A hoo!e! man :m&e! ot of the %shes/threatene! him $ith a #nife/ an! force! him to han! o6er his $allet

The &olice an! e6eryone else rea!in4 the case $ol! see him as the 6ictim/ an! $ol! &ress for the &er&etrator to %e arreste!/ an! sent to :ailBt remem%er/ $e are !ealin4 $ith or hman eyes an! %rain/ $hich $ealrea!y #no$ cannot %e trste!

8e nee! to n!erstan! that e6erythin4 $e thin# an! !o is inrelationshi& $ith somethin4 else E6erythin4 is connecte!

"o ho$ is or 6ictim of ro%%ery relate! to the #nife $iel!in4 hoo!e!ro%%er He !oes not #no$ him/ an! %efore that !ay ha! ne6er %eenro%%e! %efore He ha! $al#e! that same &ath many times $ithotinci!ent

56




He $as :st in the $ron4 &lace at the $ron4 time5 sai! the &olicemancalle! to assist him

Bt is there sch a thin4 as $ron45 &lace/ an! $ron45 time; As far as

I #no$ there is only &lace an! time/ altho4h $e may &ercei6e that it isthe $ron45 &lace an! time if somethin4 ha&&ens $hich $e !o not li#e/an! the ri4ht5 &lace an! time if somethin4 ha&&ens $hich $e li#e

At a !ee&er le6el/ $hat $e call a ro%%ery is :st the comin4 to4ether oft$o forces in the same &lace an! time The ro%%ery may seem li#e aterri%le thin4 to ha&&en %t if $e col! see the ener4y forces at $or#/

$hat $ol! $e see; 8e nee! to start loo#in4 %eyon! the 6isi%le/ har! as it

may %e A ro%%er<s story

8e ha6e tal#e! at len4th a%ot or 6ictim of ro%%ery/ the man $ho $as $al#in4 alon4 the roa! min!in4 his o$n %siness/ an! han! o6er to theman $ho !i! the ro%%in4 Remem%er e6erythin4 in relationshi&/ nothin4in isolation

Kro$in4 &/ $e !i!n<t ha6e 6ery mch/ my mm $or#e! as a nrse/ an!my !a! $asn<t aron! mch/ an! $hen he $as/ he $as al$ays !rn#/!i!n<t $or#/ an! se! to %eat me re4larly I<m not sin4 that as an e7csefor $hat ha&&ene! to the 4y I ro%%e!/ it<s :st a fact

I ne6er !i! $ell at school/ the 4ro& I hn4 aron! $ith $ere al$aysmessin4 aron! in class/ an! shotin4 at the teacher/ it $as &retty fnny

I faile! all my e7ams/ $hich $asn<t a sr&rise/ an! ne6er ha! any !esire

to $or# I col!n<t see the &oint of it 8e li6e! in a concil flat/ an! Ine6er ha! to &ay any %ills/ so life $as &retty easy The 4ys I hn4aron! $ith seeme! to ma#e a fe$ Ci! %rea#in4 into cars an! hoses/an! they al$ays ha! eno4h money for cool clothes/ an! alcohol so I 4otin6ol6e! $ith them It $as &retty e7citin4/ $on!erin4 if $e $ere 4oin4 to4et ca4ht

Any$ay/ one !ay/ one of the 4an4 sai! $e col! ma#e more cash if $e

starte! ro%%in4 &eo&le in the street= all $e ha! to !o $as 4ra% a han!%a4an! rn off I !i! a fe$ of these/ %t one !ay a la!y I trie! to ro% hn4 onto her han!%a4 an! $as shotin4 hel& 8hat col! I !o; I !i!n<t $ant to

57




4et ca4ht I &nche! her/ 4ra%%e! her %a4 an! ran off I $as &retty lc#yI $as a fast rnner

8e all la4he! a%ot that st&i! $oman hol!in4 on to her %a4= if she

ha! :st let 4o/ I $ol!n<t ha6e ha! to &nch her $ol! I;I only came close to 4ettin4 ca4ht once/ %efore/ %t the %FF of

4ra%%in4 %a4s #e&t me 4oin4 8ell ntil I 4ot ca4ht for ro%%in4 thatst&i! %lo#e

I !on<t feel sorry for the %lo#e I ro%%e!/ he col! affor! it I<6e 4otnothin4/ I ha6en<t 4ot a :o%/ my !a! %eat me/ an! I 4ot in6ol6e! $ith a %a!cro$! In a $ay/ yo col! say I<m a 6ictim of circmstance5

Nothin4 in Isolation

A father<s story

I $as the son of &oor immi4rants My father $or#e! har! %t !i!n<t %rin4

in mch money He $as also a har! !rin#er Yo col! say I ha! a &rettyharsh &%rin4in4 There $asn<t any lo6e in my hose/ that<s for sre My&oor ol! mm trie! har! to #ee& the family to4ether/ %t my father $as acrel %astar! an! se! to %eat her re4larly I se! to see my mm cryin4re4larly/ %t any time I as#e! her if she $as all ri4ht/ she al$ays $i&e!the tears a$ay/ an! sai! <!on<t $orry it<s nothin4</ %t I #ne$

I left school as soon as I col! an! en!e! & in a factory !oin4 a menial

:o%/ an! the only &leasre I 4ot $as 4oin4 to the &% e6ery ni4ht It ma!emy shit life tolera%le

That<s $here I met my $ife "he $as a nrse an! se! to come in $ithher frien!s after $or# sometimes One ni4ht I &lc#e! & the cora4e to%y her a !rin#/ an! one thin4 lea! to another T$o years later $e

$ere shac#e! & in a concil flat/ $ith a %a%y I !on<t #no$/ I :st col!n<than!le it I col!n<t stan! the %loo!y cryin4 all the time/ then the $ife $asal$ays moanin4 that I $as s&en!in4 all my money at the &% "he<! ha! to4i6e her $or# & so it $as :st me %rin4in4 in the money "he !i!n<t #no$ho$ har! I ha! to $or#/ I !on<t thin# she a&&reciate! anythin4 I $as!oin4 I nee!e! a !rin# $hen I finishe! $or# I nee!e! to let off steam

58




Any$ay/ one ni4ht I staye! ot all ni4ht/ an! $hen I 4ot home the ne7tmornin4/ she $as screamin4 at me that I $as slee&in4 $ith another

$oman/ $ell/ I :st sna&&e!/ an! smac#e! her I thin# I ct her li& %t

nothin4 too %a!/ %t she tol! me to 4et ot I tol! her it $as my hosean! I col! !o $hat I li#e!

8hen the #i! starte! 4ro$in4 & he $as al$ays tal#in4 %ac# to me Heha! no %loo!y res&ect for his el!ers/ so I ta4ht him a lesson or t$o He!eser6e! it

By this time the $ife ha! 4one %ac# to her :o% as a nrse %t I $as onthe sic# "ometimes I staye! ron! the flat/ %t my $ife !i!n<t li#e me

$hen I<! %een !rin#in4 so I staye! ron! a frien!<sMy son $as al$ays a laFy %astar! ne6er $ante! to $or#/ al$ays

han4in4 ron! $ith those no 4oo! frien!s of his/ 4ettin4 into tro%le/ I!on<t #no$ $hat ha&&ene! to him

8ol! I say I en:oye! my life; No I $ol! not I ha! a !rn# father/ a!eman!in4 $ife/ a laFy 4oo! for nothin4 son Yo col! say I<m a 6ictim ofcircmstance5

"o !o yo $ant to hear the mother<s story/ the $ife<s story/ the4ran!father<s story/ the laFy 4oo! for nothin4 son<s frien!s stories/ or are

yo startin4 to see; E6eryone sees themsel6es as a 6ictim of circmstanceNo one realises that they ha6e the &o$er to create their o$n life/ no one isa 6ictim/ altho4h it may a&&ear so

Altho4h it is easy to a&&ortion %lame for $hat ha&&ens to yo to

someone else/ it is yo creatin4 the circmstance $hich ena%le an e6ent tota#e &lace

8hat a%solte r%%ish/5 says yo/ the man $ho $as ro%%e! $as the 6ictim/ yor i!eas are st&i!5 Are they; Let<s as# the man $ho $as ro%%e!a4ain shall $e;

ictim

A &erson harme!/ in:re!/ or #ille! as a reslt of a crime/ acci!ent/ or

other e6ent or action5

59




Me) "orry to hear yo $ere ro%%e! I ha6e :st one thin4 to as# yoDo yo see yorself as the 6ictim in this;

Him) Of corse I<m the 6ictim in this/ $hat a st&i! Cestion He

:m&e! ot at me $ith a #nifeMe) Do yo thin# he col! ha6e ro%%e! yo if yo $eren<t there;

Him) 8hat sort of Cestion is that; No he col!n<t %t I $as

Me) 8ol! yo ha6e %een ha&&ier if he ha! ro%%e! the &erson $ho $as $al#in4 in front of yo less than a minte %efore yo or the&erson $ho $al#e! one minte after yo;

Him) 8hat; No I $ol!n<tMe) "o $hat yo<re sayin4 is/ yo are ha&&y that this e6ent ha&&ene!

to yo an! not someone else

Him) No That<s not $hat I<m sayin4 It shol!n<t ha6e ha&&ene! at all

Me) Bt the man $ho ro%%e! yo $as intent on ro%%in4/ he ha! noi!ea yo $ol! $al# thro4h there !i! he;

Him) 8ell/ $hy !i! he &ic# on me;

Me) Yo ha6e sai! that yo are 4la! that he !i! not ro% the &erson infront/ or %ehin! yo Do yo acce&t that yo may ha6e ha! ahan! consciosly or nconsciosly in creatin4 the e6ent $hichen!e! $ith yo an! he %ein4 entan4le! in a &articlar s&ace an!time;

Him) No$ yo<re :st tryin4 to t$ist my $or!s No I ha6e no i!ea if Ihel&e! create the circmstance of that ni4ht I can<t %e

res&onsi%le for another<s actions That is :st st&i!

Me) Is it;

Thin4s !on<t :st ha&&en5 they are create!/ an! :st %ecase $e seeorself as a 6ictim/ that isn<t necessarily either tre/ or ho$ others see sThe $or! 6ictim may %e se! in le4al terminolo4y %t it !oesn<t mean that

the $or! e7ists in the $orl! $e cannot !irectly see or &ercei6e 8e ha6ea&&lie! it to e6ents to remo6e or res&onsi%ility in hel&in4 sha&e thee6ent 8hen $e all see that $e are not 6ictims @ro%%erGro%%e! an! ta#e

60




res&onsi%ility for the creation of or li6es from moment to moment or $orl! $ill chan4e

As for acts of 4o!5 $e are assmin4 there is a s&ernatral %ein4 in

control $ho creates ran!om catastro&hic e6ents for their &leasre E6en if $e %elie6e that to %e so/ notice the $or! create5

Ro%%erGro%%e!/ terroristGterrorise!/ ra&istGra&e! They are all elementsof the same $or!/ entan4le! in a relationshi& that lea6es nothin4 tochance

"et free the 6ictim/ an! em&o$er him as a creator That means yo An!

me An! in case yo are $on!erin4 $hat $e are 4oin4 to !o a%ot thero%%er; If they rea! this/ an! reco4nise that they are a creator ofcircmstance/ an! !eci!e to chan4e/ they $on<t %e there $hen the man

$al#s &ast

61




62




Day T$el6e

To!ay I $ill start to notice an intense !issatisfaction %il!in4insi!e me at the &ain sfferin4 case! to the inha%itants of

&lanet Earth thro4h my %eliefs actions5

If yo<! as#e! me se6eral years a4o a%ot $hat I $as !issatisfie! $ith/ I<!ha6e tol! yo that I !i!n<t ha6e eno4h money/ I $ante! to o$n my o$nhose/ an! I $ante! a %etter car/ a more attracti6e 4irlfrien!/ I !i!n<t ha6eeno4h holi!ays/ an! I $ante! a %i44er tele6ision Ho$ times chan4e

Dissatisfaction

The con!ition or feelin4 of %ein4 !is&lease! or nsatisfie!= !iscontent5

Bein4 !issatisfie! is sally somethin4 that can %e attri%te! to a lac# ofsomethin4/ somethin4 tan4i%le li#e a car or intan4i%le li#e lo6e= %t one

thin4<s for sre/ it<s al$ays a%ot me5"o $hat are yo !issatisfie! $ith; I $on<t haFar! a 4ess/ %t ta#e a

moment to reflect/ or e6en $rite a list

Ri4ht/ I assme yo are rea!y to contine; 8as yor list similar to mineor !i! it ha6e no%le thin4s on it li#e $ar/ &o6erty or hn4er; It !i!; Koo!for yo

Man) I am !issatisfie! that there is still &o6erty an! hn4er all o6er the $orl! an! I $ant to !o somethin4 a%ot it5

Me) Ho$ $ill yo sto& $orl! &o6erty an! hn4er;5

63




Man) >or starters I s&onsor a chil! in in!ia/ an! I !onate money too7fam/ I am also thin#in4 a%ot ta#in4 a year ot of my :o% an!

6olnteerin4 $ith a charity in africa or in!ia5

Me) 8ell/ that is 4oo! to hear 8hat is it yo !o;5Man) I $or# for a %an# An! %efore yo say anythin4 $e !onate a lotof money to charity e6ery year5

Me) Koo! for yo I<m sre the chil!ren of the $orl! $ill than# yo5

"o is that it for this to⁣ Is !onatin4 to charity or 6olnteerin4 the $ay

$e !eal $ith or !issatisfaction; Of corse notRemem%er the title for this to&ic is To!ay I $ill start to notice an

intense !issatisfaction %il!in4 insi!e me at the &ain sfferin4 case! tothe inha%itants of &lanet Earth thro4h my %eliefs actions5 "o $hat is itI am !oin4 that is casin4 &ain an! sfferin4 to the inha%itants of the

$orl!;

Altho4h $e are tal#in4 a%ot the $orl!5 remem%er the $orl! starts

$ith me/ an! ra!iates ot$ar! It %e4ins $ith a tho4ht %t may en! in $ar/ hn4er an! &o6erty My choices can ha6e an effect that can %e felt the $orl! o6er

Belief

"omethin4 one acce&ts as tre or real= a firmly hel! o&inion orcon6iction5

8hen $e tal# a%ot %elief/ I<m sre many of yo are thin#in4 $e aretal#in4 a%ot %elief in 4o!5/ %t %elief can %e a%ot anythin4 that $ethin# is tre or ri4ht

I %elie6e that sen!in4 in the troo&s to o6erthro$ !ictator 7 is ri4ht5

I %elie6e that the state is ri4ht to e7ecte the criminal5I %elie6e smac#in4 my chil! to teach them $hat they are !oin4 is $ron4is ri4ht5

64




I %elie6e I $as :stifie! sac#in4 that em&loyee has %enefite! thecom&any5

I %elie6e commnismGca&italismGsocialism is the %est form of

4o6ernment5I %elie6e $e nee! to #ee& secrets from the 4eneral &%lic if it is in thenational interest/5

I %elie6e cttin4 !o$n the trees is fine/ as &eo&le nee! $oo! an! it&ro6i!es :o%s5

I %elie6e that I $as ri4ht in that ar4ment an! my $ife $as $ron45

I %elie6e climate chan4e is not affectin4 the &lanet5I %elie6e the ri4ht to %ear arms is my hman ri4ht5

I %elie6e that &olltion is a necessary %y-&ro!ct of in!strialisation5

I %elie6e the arme! forces are nee!e! to &rotect me5

I %elie6e #illin4 animals is ri4ht as man is a meat eater5

I %elie6e $e shol! han4 &ae!o&hiles5

"o/ %elief is mch mch more than :st a%ot 4o! Hol!in4 a %elief is &artof or e6ery !ay li6es/ %t $e ne6er thin# a%ot or %elief ha6in4 ane7ternal effect/ an! if $e !o/ $e can easily :stify it/ after all it<s or firmlyhel! o&inion

"earch yor min!s ri4ht no$ for any firmly hel! %eliefs/ an! $ritethem !o$n No$ no one is sayin4 yo can<t hol! these %eliefs/ after all/ I

res&ect yor ri4ht to hol! these o&inions

The Earth "&ea#s To Hmanity

As yo may or may not %e a$are I am the or4anism that sstains all lifeon this &lanet I ha6e %een Cietly !oin4 my :o% for many years/ an! ha6e

o%ser6e! yo thro4hot yor short history I ha6e &ro6i!e! o7y4en for%reathin4/ ha6e filtere! the sn<s rays to allo$ yo to sr6i6e $ithot%ein4 %rnt to !eath/ I ha6e &ro6i!e! $ater for yo to !rin#/ an!&ro6i!e! the materials from $hich yo ma#e fel/ cars/ tele6isions/ an!

65




4ns/ an! cities I ha6e &ro6i!e! animals/ fish/ insects/ an! %acteria to#ee& the $orl! in %alance/ I ha6e &ro6i!e! &lants for yo to eat/ an! lan!for yo to stan! &on

This is my role >or !oin4 this I as# nothin4 in retrn I &ro6i!emana4ement ser6ices at no e7tra cost to yo I see# ot im%alance an!rectify it/ an! altho4h I ha6e stoo! silently all this time/ I ha6e !eci!e! tocome to yo to tell yo that yo are ma#in4 my life increasin4ly !ifficlt

Yo are &shin4 me to my limits an! I thin# it<s time I tol! yo all $hat Ithin# of yo

I %reathe! life into yo/ an! nrtre! yo as yo 4re$ I 4a6e yo a min!ca&a%le of 4reat n!erstan!in4/ an! a %o!y ca&a%le of 4reat creation I fe!

yo an! clothe! yo/ %t yo $eren<t ha&&y $ith $hat I 4a6e yo Yo!eci!e! yo $ante! more than yo alrea!y ha!/ e6en tho4h :st %y%ein4 a%le to e7&erience the %eaty $hich I create! is more than anyother &lanet I #no$ has 4i6en to its inha%itants

They all tho4ht I $as st&i! 4i6in4 yo all this &o$er %t I tol! them that yo $ol! !eal $ith it res&onsi%ly Little !i! I #no$ that yo $ol! letme !o$n so %a!ly I ha6e no$ %ecome the la4hin4 stoc# of the ni6erse

All yo ha! to !o $as li6e $ell an! en:oy yorsel6es I &ro6i!e! yo $ith &lenty to eat an! &lenty to !rin#/ %t the lar4e %rain I 4a6e yo mstha6e %een fla$e!/ for as soon as yo col! $al# yo se! yor %rain tothin# !e6iosly Yo se! the %eatifl han!s I 4a6e yo to create

$ea&ons= $ea&ons yo se! to #ill my animals/ an! my fish Yo se! theamaFin4 %rain I 4a6e yo to &lot a4ainst each other/ an! !e6elo&e! traits

ne6er seen %efore in the ni6erse

Yo &lanne! mr!ers of &eo&le $ho !i!n<t a4ree $ith yo/ yo too#lan! that $asn<t yors to ta#e/ yo ro%%e! my soil of all its ntrients/ an!minerals $hich yo se! to ma#e yorsel6es more &o$erfl Yo &ollte!my ri6ers/ an! my oceans/ %t e6en that $as not eno4h for yo Yocreate! $ea&ons ca&a%le of sch !estrction that yo $ol! en! my

$orl! fore6er

8hat am I to !o $ith yo; Yo ha6e reache! the &oint $here yo canno lon4er %e allo$e! to contine The &lanet I create! an! mana4e is not

yor &lay4ron! altho4h yo treat it so/ an! in my role as estatemana4er/ I ha6e to ma#e a !ecision

66




Yo ha6e %een 4i6en nmeros o&&ortnities to chan4e %t yo $ill notIn the en! I $ill not %e a%le to mana4e yo any more/ yo $ill !estroy my

$orl!/ an! yorsel6es Bt yo #no$ this !on<t yo;

Yo #no$ yo hol! the 6ery same &o$er of creation in each of yorin!i6i!al min!s %t choose instea! the $ay of 4ree! an! !estrction

I come to yo no$/ as yor frien! to &lea! $ith yo to chan4e yor $ays/ to n!erstan! yor min!s an! transcen! the 6iolence $ithin yoThis is the last time I $ill come to yo5

Yor frien!/

The Earth

8hat a loa! of r%%ish no one<s 4oin4 to sto& me ta#in4 $hat I $ant/ I!on<t care a%ot the st&i! &lanet I can !o $hat I li#e5

"o may%e The Earth $as ri4ht/ may%e hmanity is &ast the &oint of noretrn 8hat a shame

Yes %t I s&onsor a chil! in in!ia an! I 4i6e money to o7fam5

"orry/ too late5

Yo see/ %ein4 !issatisfie! $ith hn4er/ &o6erty an! $ar isn<t 4oin4 to sa6es An! !on<t thin# I am a merchant of !oom $hen I tell yo this I tell

yo this %ecase $e ha6e !estroye! so mch so Cic#ly/ an! %ecome sonmeros that $hen The Earth itself says it can<t #ee& 4oin4 on li#e this/

yo ha6e to sit & an! listen Don<t yo;

8ell if someone ha! han!e! this to&ic to me t$el6e years a4o/ I $ol!ha6e tho4ht $hat a loa! of nonsense/ I<m too %sy to thin# a%ot thisan! I $ol!n<t ha6e listene! I $as %sy thin#in4 a%ot salary increases/ne$ tele6isions/ 4irlfrien!s an! holi!ays

"o $hat ha&&ene!; 8ell/ I $o#e & I starte! to notice thin4s aron!me that ha! ne6er %een on my ra!ar I starte! to notice the ftility of myacCisiti6e life/ I starte! to notice that &eo&le close to me $ere sfferin4

thro4h the $ay I %eha6e! to$ar!s them I notice! ho$ mch I $aste!an! $on!ere! $here it all en!e! & I realise! that thin4s I $as %yin4ha! a h4e hman an! en6ironmental cost attache! to them 3 in short/ Istarte! to care a%ot the im&act I $as ha6in4 as o&&ose! to my s&erficial

67




!esires I starte! to realise $hat a 4reat o&&ortnity I ha! %een 4i6en :stto %reathe the air on this &lanet

I realise! that my %eliefs a%ot $hat $as ri4ht an! $ron4 ha! no trth

in them/ that I only sa$ $hat I $ante! to see/ that my eyes $ere not trlyo&en to $hat $as ha&&enin4 in the $orl!

I $as aslee&

Of corse/ I tho4ht that s&onsorin4 a chil! in in!ia or 4i6in4 money too7fam $as the $ay I $as 4oin4 to o6ercome my !issatisfaction/ %t I soonrealise! that I ha! to %ecome !issatisfie! $ith myself/ for hel&in4 to create

this $orl! of &ain an! sfferin4 thro4h my %eliefs an! actions "o Ifn!amentally chan4e! the $ay I tho4ht an! acte!/ an! here I am t$el6e

years later/ $ritin4 for yo fine &eo&le

An! %efore yo thin# it<s 4oin4 to ta#e t$el6e years for yo to chan4e/!on<t $orry/ I<6e !one a lot of the har! $or# for yo here alrea!y Bt yomst o&en yor min! an! yor heart to the conseCences of all that yocreate Once yo start/ it $on<t ta#e lon4 for the !issatisfaction to %e4in

An! if it !oesn<t $ell/ that<s & to yo

68




Day Thirteen

To!ay I $ill start to in6esti4ate my min!/ %e4in to realisethat the tho4hts o&inions I ha6e may not %e my o$n/ %t

are a reslt of con!itionin4 %y those closest to me5

I !on<t #no$ if yo remem%er the !ay yo $ere %orn; I !o It $as a $intry A&ril as I e7ite! my mother<s $om%/ I remem%er remar#in4 that there $asa sli4ht chill in the air/ e6en in the maternity $ar!

8hat a loa! of ol! nonsense says yo/ ho$ !i! yo notice all those

thin4s/ yo col!n<t s&ea#/ let alone n!erstan! the en4lish lan4a4e an!ha! no i!ea ho$ to e7&ress com&le7 o%ser6ations5

An! yo<! %e a%soltely ri4ht I !on<t remem%er my %irth/ an!altho4h I<m sre some ne$ a4e healer col! offer me re4ression thera&yso that I col! e7&erience comin4 ot of the $om% a4ain/ I thin# I<!rather lea6e that e6ent in the &ast

I $as %orn on the si7th of a&ril 1*.* at ele6en mintes &ast mi!ni4ht/

so my %irth certificate tells me/ an! I !on<t ha6e any recollection of life%efore the a4e of at least fi6e That &art of my life is a com&lete mystery tome

A short !ialo4e $ith my mother

Me) erha&s I $as a%!cte! %y aliens for the first for years/5 I tol!my mm recently $hilst !iscssin4 this to&ic

69




Mm) No/ yo $eren<t a%!cte! I $as here/ fee!in4 yo/ loo#in4 after yo/ clothin4 yo/ teachin4 yo/ an! comfortin4 yo $hen yo $ere scare!5

Me) "o $hat !i! yo teach me !rin4 these years that I !on<t recall;5Mm) I ta4ht yo to rea!/ $rite/ cont/ !ra$ yo #no$/ the sal

thin4s I also &laye! my 4itar an! &laye! yo lots of msic 8e!i!n<t ha6e a t6/ %t I rea! to yo e6ery ni4ht 8e se! to 4o onotin4s all the time/ an! yo s&ent a lot of time $ith yor4ran!ma

Me) 8hat $as or home life li#e; Di! yo an! !a! ha6e lots of

ar4ments;5Mm) 8e ha! a ha&&y home life/ altho4h yor !a! $as $or#in4 har!

most of the time an! $asn<t really a &art of yor early &%rin4in4Bt I !on<t thin# yor !a! an! I ar4e! a lot5

Me) O# mm than#s for the information5

"o $hat !i! I learn a%ot my early life from that con6ersation; Nothin4 Iha!n<t e7&ecte! It seems she %ro4ht me & the %est she col!/ loo#in4after my nee!s/ an! teachin4 me all the %asics I nee!e! to #no$ I $asn<te7&ose! to any 6iolence or an4er in the home A&&arently I $as a ha&&ychil! so that<s 4oo! to #no$

>ifteen years later I remem%er a 6ery !ifferent &erson from that ha&&ychil! I remem%er a hi4hly an7ios/ an4ry/ t$enty one year ol! / $ith ali#in4 for too mch alcohol/ a!!icte! to ci4arettes/ s#ille! in the art of

lyin4 an! cheatin4/ fille! $ith o&inions on $hy it $as e6eryone else<s faltI $asn<t ma#in4 eno4h money/ an! $hy I $as so nha&&y

"omethin4 chan4e! Bt I am not here to %lame any%o!y I :st $ish toe7&lore my min! to n!erstan! myself

Natre 6s Nrtre

This is &erha&s one of the %i44est Cestions as#e! "o !i! natre @theni6erse or 4o! if yo %elie6e or natre is &re-or!aine! %y as&ernatral force or nrtre @the $ay my mother an! father %ro4ht me

70




& !rin4 my early years ma!e me an7ios/ an4ry/ an! $antin4 to 4et!rn# at e6ery o&&ortnity to calm my o6er-acti6e min!

8hat !o yo thin#; 8ho is res&onsi%le;

I<m sre yo all ha6e yor o$n o&inions %t o&inions !o not lea! totrth/ an! that is $hat $e are searchin4 for here "o let s !iscar! the i!eathat it $as either/ or/ an! loo# !ee&er

8e are tol! that altho4h $e only ha6e one %rain/ in reality/ there are t$oThe ol! %rain5 controls the &rimiti6e mechanisms sch as the !ri6e tore&ro!ce/ control an! !ominance/ fear/ refle7/ motor control/ re&etiti6e

learne! rotines/ an! %reathin4/ $hereas the ne$ hi4her5 %rain is orconsciosness/ that $hich 4i6es s conscios tho4ht/ ethics/ morality/ the&o$er of reason/ of a&&reciation of art/ an! %eaty/ lo4ic/ creati6ity an!in4enity/ com&assion/ an! em&athy

It a&&ears that or s&ecies/ homo sa&iens/ ori4inate! $ith the ol!%rain/ $hich li#e all animal %rains is there to hel& the in!i6i!al an! thsthe s&ecies sr6i6e at all costs The ne$ %rain then a&&ears to ha6e

!e6elo&e! o6er a &erio! of time an! hey &resto here $e are in 2'1( $ithmo!ern thin#in4 %ein4s nshac#le! from the !omain of the ol! %rain/li6in4 in &eace an! harmony $ith each other/ $ith each of s in search ofenli4htenment for the %enefit of all

If only

Here $e are in 2'1( $ith mo!ern thin#in4 %ein4s ca&a%le of li6in4 in&eace an! harmony/ ca&a%le of searchin4 for enli4htenment !oin4 some

or all of the follo$in4 $ith their ne$ %rainLyin4/ !ecei6in4/ tortrin4/ cheatin4/ stealin4/ %rain$ashin4/

mr!erin4/ !estroyin4/ &olltin4/ corr&tin4 Oh/ a fe$ &eo&le are also&aintin4 some nice art/ &hiloso&hisin4/ ma#in4 films/ an! creatin4 msic

"o/ it seems not only !o $e ha6e t$o/ not one %rain/ $e also seem toha6e some !o!4y $irin4 %et$een the t$o The t$o %rains are com&etin4to %e the !ominant force/ an! the &oor ol! hman !oesn<t #no$ $here

the information he is actin4 on is comin4 from He is in a most !ifficlt&osition in!ee!

His ol! %rain $ants to ha6e se7 $ith the $oman ri4ht a$ay to &reser6ethe s&ecies/ an! his ne$ %rain $ants to clti6ate a relationshi& 8hat !oes

71




he !o; Does he a !ra4 her to an alley an! force her to ha6e se7/ or % as#for her &hone nm%er;

"ociety5 or the rlin4 ne$ %rains ha6e tho4ht a%ot this Cestion

an! ha6e !eci!e! that not only is it $ron4 to force a $oman to ha6e se7/an! 4i6en it a name @ra&e/ if yo are fon! 4ilty %y the society yo mst%e &nishe!/ either %y ha6in4 yor li%erty ta#en a$ay/ or &erha&s e6en

yor life

Here/ e6en those $ho ha6e se! their hi4her @conscios %rain tosho$ com&assion for a $oman<s sfferin4/ they ha6e se! their lo$er@nconscios %rain to inflict a &nishment sch as is !one in some

animal societies @as a $ay of sho$in4 !ominance or to #ee& a!olescentsin line amon4st other thin4s

>ast Brain "lo$ Brain

He<s a really Cic# thin#er5

In this mo!ern fast mo6in4 $orl! $e ha6e create!/ ha6in4 a Cic#thin#in4 %rain is seen as an asset/ an! a slo$ mo6in4 %rain a hin!rance to&ro4ress Bt $hich %rain is $or#in4 at $hich s&ee!;

The ne$ %rain is !oin4 the Cic# thin#in4 as it<s more a!6ance!/ an!the ol! %rain is slo$er as it<s ol!er5 says yo

On the srface that $ol! seem to ma#e &erfect sense/ %t it may

sr&rise yo to #no$ that it is the other $ay ron! 8hy; 8ell/ remem%erthe ol! %rain is the %rain of refle7/ of learne! rotines/ an! the ne$ %rainis the one $hich 4i6es s the &o$er of reason Let<s &lay a 4ame shall $e;"hot ot as soon as yo #no$ the ans$er 8hich %rain is controllin4

$hich tho4ht;

All &ae!o&hiles shol! %e han4e!5

8e shol! lo6e e6ery%o!y in the $orl!5

Anyone !emonstratin4 a4ainst the 4o6ernment shol! %e im&risone!5

?reatin4 art an! msic is the &rest e7&ression of %ein4 hman5

72




It is 4oo! to earn as mch money as yo can5

Bein4 charita%le sho$s yo care5

Ri4ht Di! yo mana4e it; Ho$ lon4 !i! it ta#e yo; One secon!/ fi6esecon!s; Di! yo 4et each one ri4ht; Of corse yo !i!/ it $as too easy

The lo$er %rain/ $hich !oesn<t thin#/ sai! that anyone !emonstratin4a4ainst the 4o6ernment shol! %e im&risone!/ as it is the %rain of controlan! !ominance/ %t it may sr&rise yo to #no$ that it $as actally theol! %rain ans$erin4 each time/ e6en for thin4s $hich seem to %e&rocesse! in the ne$ %rain li#e creation/ art an! charity

Remem%er/ the ol! %rain is res&onsi%le for atomatic res&onses/ an!ta#in4 care of re&etiti6e tas#s Yo may ha6e a4ree! $ith the statement itis 4oo! to %e charita%le5 %t yo col!n<t ha6e really tho4ht a%ot theCestion in yor conscios/ lo4ic oriente! %rain/ if yo ans$ere! in t$osecon!s It ta#es mch mch lon4er to &rocess com&le7 Cestions

"o here yo are %ac# at the %e4innin4 Yo ha6e no i!ea $hy yoans$ere! the $ay yo !i! This can only mean one thin4/ yor thin#in4

has %een inflence! an! may actally %e n!er the control of others@!ea! or ali6e

As my !a! sai! to me yester!ay/ yo<re forty three years ol!/ !on<t yothin# it<s time yo %ecame in!e&en!ent an! starte! earnin4 a li6in45

No matter ho$ many times I tell him I thin# that one of the &ro%lemsin hman society/ is that $e are tol! that or hi4hest &r&ose is to earnmoney/ %y a hose/ an! li6e in!e&en!ently from e6eryone/ $hen I

%elie6e that n!erstan!in4 $hat it means to %e hman an! %ein4 of%enefit to all others for the mtal %enefit of all the inha%itants of &lanetEarth/ is/ in my o&inion/ the hi4hest &r&ose $hich one can see#/ he stilltries to con6ince me that the i!eas of in!e&en!ence5 :o%5 an! money5are $hat I shol!5 %e stri6in4 for

"o $here !i! he 4et these i!eas from; 8here !i! these i!eas ori4inate; He

certainly !i! not thin# as soon as I am a%le I mst st!y har!/ 4et a 4oo! :o%/ an! %orro$ money to %y a hose/ as he e7ite! the $om% Di! he;That $ol! assme that the hman %rain @ol! an! ne$ $ere &re-&ro4ramme! to thin# li#e this

73




He $as inflence! %y the i!eas of his &arents/ teachers/ &eer 4ro&/4o6ernment/ $ho in trn $ere inflence! %y their ancestors/ an! theirancestors an! %ac# %ac# %ac# to the ori4inal tho4ht %y someone<s 4reat

4reat 4reat 4reat 4reat 4reat 4reat 4reat 4ran!father"o here he is li6in4 in 2'1(/ $ith i!eas $hich $ere &ossi%ly &lante! in

someone<s min! a thosan! years a4o

I !on<t #no$ a%ot yo/ %t I $ant to fin! ot $hat my min! loo#s li#e/free from i!eas an! o&inions that are not my o$n/ no matter ho$ realthey seem to %e I $ant to fin! my o$n &ath I $ant to %ri!4e the

connection %et$een ol! an! ne$ %rain/ so that I am thin#in4 as the $hole- n!i6i!e! Is that not a no%le &r&ose;

74




Day >orteen

To!ay I $ill start to realise that I/ an! the &lanet I inha%it/ li6ein fra4ile %alance That I $ol! !estroy it $ith my callos

actions/ %ecomes nthin#a%le to me5

Ecosystem

a commnity of li6in4 or4anisms @&lants/ animals an! micro%es incon:nction $ith the non-li6in4 com&onents of their en6ironment @thin4s

li#e air/ $ater an! mineral soil/ interactin4 as a system5

I thin# it<s fair to thin# of the $orl! ha6in4 at least t$o se&arateecosystems - the hman ecosystem/ an! the natral $orl! ecosystem

Or ecosystem is com&rise! of hmans $or#in4 in %an#in4/a4ricltre/ !esi4n/ technolo4y/ constrction/ me!icine/ trans&ortation/forestry/ minin4/ %siness/ criminality/ 4o6ernment/ secrity/ me!icine/

$aste !is&osal/ in!strial &ro!ction/ the arts/ mana4ement/ !ata&rocessin4/ hos&itality/ an! cstomer ser6ice to name %t a fe$ Thenatral $orl! ecosystem !oes other nrelate! stff

"o no$ $e n!erstan! 8e !o or thin4/ they !o theirs/ an! as lon4 as $hat the natral $orl! lot !o !oesn<t affect s/ then the $orl! $ill remainin %alance The en!

Balance

A harmonios or satisfyin4 arran4ement or &ro&ortion of &arts orelements5

An inflence or force ten!in4 to &ro!ce eCili%rim= conter&oise5

75




Me) 8hat !o yo n!erstan! the $or! %alance to mean;5

Yo) 8ell/ for me/ it<s all a%ot ha6in4 a %alance! lifestyle I $or#har!/ %t I also eat healthily/ !rin# mo!erate amonts of alcohol/

4o to the 4ym re4larly/ an! I al$ays ma#e sre I ha6e &lenty oftime for my family5

Me) "on!s 6ery %alance!/ than# yo for yor in&t5

8hat I Do 3 The Earth

I am the Earth/ I ha6e an a7ial tilt of a&&ro7imately 2( !e4rees an! itta#es me (.9 !ays to or%it the sn 8hen my northern &ole is tilte!to$ar!s the sn it is $armer/ an! $hen tilte! a$ay it is col!er This !earrea!ers reslts in $hat yo #no$ as seasons If I !i! not ha6e this s&ecific!e4ree of tilt/ yor $orl! $ol! loo# 6ery !ifferent 8ho #no$s $hat yo

$ol! 4et I mi4ht ha6e h4e areas of ice @$here yor office an! 4ym se!to %e or h4e areas of %arren !esert @$here yo se! to holi!ay in thetro&ics

My frien! the sn is a&&ro7imately 19' million miles a$ay !e&en!in4on $hat time of year it is/ $hich mi4ht seem li#e a lon4 $ay a$ay/ %ttrst me/ yo $ol!n<t $ant him to 4et mch closer/ as he has atem&eratre of a%ot ./''' !e4rees ?elsis That %ein4 sai!/ if he $as anyfrther a$ay &hotosynthesis col!n<t ha&&en/ an! there $ol!n<t %e anylife on this &lanet/ so %an4 4oes yor healthy !iet an! %alance! lifestyle

I #ee& yo all safe from harm from my o6erheatin4 frien! %y sto&&in4

the nasty ltra6iolet ra!iation/ $armin4 the srface thro4h heatretention/ an! re!cin4 tem&eratre e7tremes %et$een !ay an! ni4ht/ so

yo can 4et on $ith ma#in4 money

If yo ha6en<t alrea!y notice!/ I ha6e Cite a lot of $ater in $hat yocall oceans/ %t not too mch If I $as co6ere! in $ater $ith no lan! ho$

$ol! yo conCer other contries;

Than#s to my frien! the rain there is eno4h $ater for e6ery li6in4

or4anism on the &lanet/ an! for yor %ottle! $ater yo ta#e to the 4ym

"orry/ $hat $as the &oint I $as tryin4 to ma#e;

76




Oh yes E6erythin4 $as fine ntil yo lot trne! &/ an! if I son! a little!is4rntle! yo<ll ha6e to for4i6e me

I #no$ yor :o% in the army/ or the office/ or $hate6er yo !o is

im&ortant/ %t I<m startin4 not to en:oy my :o% Yo are ma#in4 itincreasin4ly !ifficlt

Yo see the natral $orl! ecosystem as somethin4 e7ternal to yo/ %tfor me/ the one $ith the :o% of #ee&in4 the $hole sho$ on the roa!/ it<sall one

8hen I starte! this &ro:ect I ha! :st the ri4ht amont of animals/insects/ fish/ trees/ &lants/ oceans/ lan!/ an! e6en allo$e! for lar4e

6ariations in each of these o6er time E6erythin4 $as &erfect Bloo!yHmans

I thin# $e<6e hear! eno4h from the Earth/ !on<t yo; There<s al$ayssomeone com&lainin4 a%ot s hmans Hasn<t the Earth 4ot anythin4%etter to !o

Bt at least one of the thin4s he sai! ma!e a %it sense to me/ it<s all

one5 That<s stran4e/ %ecase most &eo&le al$ays !i6i!e the Earth intohmans on one si!e/ e6erythin4 else on the other/ $hen actally $e li6ein a ti4htly connecte! $orl! E6ery action has a reaction

I nee! to $al# a &ath from one si!e to the fiel! to the other/ %t acrossthe $hole fiel! are tiny flo$ers They $on<t #no$ I<m $al#in4 on them

They !on<t ha6e a consciosness It<s only a fe$ flo$ers after all5

Ho$ $ill I #no$ if I am #ee&in4 the $orl! in %alance or !estroyin4 the%alance; 8hat :o% $ill I !o that #ee&s the $orl! in %alance; Ho$ !o I li6ea life that #ee&s the $orl! in %alance; I li#e my lifestyle/ I li#e my :o% Infact/ stff the $orl!/the I<m 4oin4 to #ee& !oin4 $hat I<m !oin4 I %et noone else is ha6in4 to thin# a%ot this I<m not 4oin4 to rea! any more5

8hether yo rea! on or not/ the Earth is still tryin4 to %alance a sim&leeCation/ ma!e com&le7 $ith the 6aria%le no s&er %ein4 col! e6er ha6e!reame! of) Mo!ern Man5

77




$ere consmin4 so mch an! lea6in4 nothin4 for yo 8hat $ol! yo!o; 8ol! yo ar4e that all hman life is sacre! an! mst %e &reser6e!;

It !oesn<t seem to sto& &eo&le from #illin4 each other "o let<s not fool

orsel6es that $e 6ale all hman life 8e !on<t In fact/ $e only 6ale life $hen it sits s

8e #ill %illions of animals an! fish so $e can 4or4e orsel6es on theirflesh 8e tear & millions of trees an! millions of acres of forests 8e&ollte or ri6ers an! oceans/ an! $e !i4 an! !rill to fel or a!orn or%alance! lifestyles

Let<s face it/ $hether $e assi4n orsel6es a 4o! 4i6en ri4ht to %e here/

as the most !ominant s&ecies/ $e are in fact a &arasite on this Earth/ an! $e $on<t %e content ntil $e ha6e se! or !estroye! e6ery last &iece of it

"e6eral years a4o I %e4an to thin# that &erha&s Mo!ern Man !oesn<t%elon4 on this Earth at all An! $hen I say Mo!ern Man/ I am tal#in4a%ot the s&ecies homo sa&iens of $hich I am a &art I %e4an to realisethat all I ha6e contri%te! to the Earth $as to ta#e/ $hich is not a

contri%tion at allNo other s&ecies has %een aron! for sch a short time/ yet/ has a

!eath $ish to !estroy himself an! his fello$ man an! !estroy his homeNot mch of a lifestyle choice is it;

Yo may not thin# yo are &art of the &arasitic s&ecies homo sa&iens/an! if yo are !is4ste! %y yor actions as mch as I $as/ then &erha&sit<s time for those $ho $ant to hel& the Earth in its :o% of #ee&in4

e6erythin4 in %alance to stan! a&art from those $ho are content to letthemsel6es/ an! their fello$ man/ self-!estrct= to stan! a&art from those

$hose actions are !estroyin4 the only #no$n &lanet $hich 4i6es s life/ $ithot as#in4 for one thin4 in retrn= to stan! a&art from those $ho $ol! #ill e6ery animal an! fish in the name of %ein4 a flesh eater= tostan! a&art from those $ho &lace their o$n !esires a%o6e all else

To those &eo&le I say that yo are $ell on the $ay to sho$in4 thatthere is a s&ecies of hman that is &re&are! to stan! & for or onlyhomeEarth

I loo# for$ar! to meetin4 yo one !ay

79




80




Day >ifteen

To!ay I $ill start to realise that all I am !oes not !e&en! onho$ mch I ha6e/ that I ha6e infinite &otential for creation an!

n!erstan!in4 the tre natre of e7istence5

Me) ?ol! yo tell s a little %it a%ot yorself &lease;5

Yo) Hi/ my name<s alan/ I<m forty three/ I $or# in %an#in4/ I o$n my

o$n hose/ an! I !ri6e a BM8 an! I ha6e a holi!ay 6illa on a 4olfcom&le7 I ha6e a $ife an! t$o chil!ren

Me) Than# yo alan for tellin4 s $hat yo ha6e/ %t col! yoela%orate on $ho yo are5

Yo) 8ell/ I $as %ro4ht & in Lon!on/ an! $ent to Eton colle4e/ an!then ?am%ri!4e My father is an in!strialist/ an! %oth my%rothers $or# in %siness5

Me) Than# yo alan/ %t that<s not $hat I meant ?ol! yo tell me $ho yo are; 8ho are yo $hen $e stri& a$ay e6erythin4 yoha6e;5

Yo) I !on<t n!erstan! the Cestion I alrea!y tol! yo e6erythin4a%ot myself5

Ima4ine yorself on a !esert islan! Yo are sittin4 there na#e! Yo ha6e

eno4h $ater to !rin# an! eno4h to eat 8ho are yo;

81




Ima4ine yorself on yor !eath %e! Yo ha6e mintes %efore yo %reathe yor last %reath Yo are alone 8ho are yo;

Ima4ine yorself in an office srron!e! %y &eo&le yo $or# $ith Yoha6e $or#e! there for t$enty years Yo are smmone! into yor %oss<s

office an! tol! yo are %ein4 let 4o 8ho are yo;

Ima4ine yorself sittin4 on a clo!/ loo#in4 &on the life yo create!8ho $ere yo;

"tran4e Cestions; "t&i! Cestions; 8ho am I; 8hat<s he tal#in4 a%ot;I #no$ $ho I am5 Or !o yo;

The 4reat thin4 a%ot the Cestion/ $ho am I5 is that it can ne6er %eans$ere! The %rain is limite! %y itself/ an! the Cestion $ill ha6e yornnin4 aron! in circles for the rest of yor life Yo $ill %e stc# in aloo&

The 4reat thin4 a%ot hmans/ is that n!erneath the ol!/ I am a%an#er/ I ha6e a BM8/ I ha6e a $ife scenarios/ they #no$ it<s all a loa! ofs&erficial nonsense/ %t still they contine $ith the &retence/ as it<s 4oo!to fit in

If there<s a terri%le storm that floo!s e6ery%o!y<s hoses an! caseschaos to the city/ the %an#er #no$s that no%o!y nee!s a %an#er/ %t theymi4ht nee! someone to &t & san!%a4s/ hel& ol! &eo&le ot of theirhome/ hel& coor!inate resces/ an! the %an#er may rise to the challen4ean! %e the hero On the other han! he may %ecome the 6ictim/ an! hi!ein his hose li#e a fri4htene! mose

Bt let<s 4i6e him the %enefit of the !o%t/ an! ma#e him a hero An!or hero !i! $ell Here he is inter6ie$e! for tele6ision ne$s

Inter6ie$er) I<m stan!in4 here $ith local %an#er alan macmillan orr/

$ho has %een assistin4 the emer4ency ser6ices hel&in4&eo&le ot of their homes to safety Alan/ $hat ma!e yo

$ant to hel&;

82




Alan) I !on<t #no$ really My o$n home $as com&letelyfloo!e!/ an! e6erythin4 $as rine!

Inter6ie$er) That mst ha6e %een shoc#in4 for yo;

Alan) It $as at first/ #no$in4 that most of the &ossessions $eha! $or#e! har! for $ere lost/ %t then I sa$ one of myel!erly nei4h%ors ot in the street hel&in4 someoneThis $as someone $ho I ha! !ismisse! as %ein4 :st anol! man/ %t he ins&ire! me to 4et ot there Theemer4ency ser6ices are !oin4 a 4reat :o%/ %t I ams&&ortin4 them in any $ay I can

Inter6ie$er) Than# yo alan/ #ee& & the 4oo! $or#

"o $hat ha&&ene! to or $ealthy %an#er; Di! he instantaneosly chan4ean! %ecome a !ecent &erson $hen !isaster strc#; Or $as it in him the

$hole time; 8hate6er the trth of it may %e/ his :o% is not the sm of him/e6en tho4h he $ol! li#e to thin# it $as

Bt $hy !oes it ta#e a natral or man ma!e !isaster to nco6er some

trth a%ot orsel6es; 8hy is it $hen the or!er of society %rea#s !o$n fore6en a fe$ !ays/ that some &eo&le reach ot to hel& others/ some stealfrom natten!e! !e&artment stores/ an! others hi!e an! !o nothin4;

8hat $e are seein4 is &eo&le %e4innin4 to sho$/ not their trecolors5 %t a si!e that may ha6e %een hi!!en n!er the controlle!society $e li6e in

As $e 4o !ee&er into or min!s $e fin! $or!s li#e %an#er/ hero/ thief/

co$ar!/ start to !issol6e an! $e start to nco6er %eatifl colors/&ath$ays $e ha6e ne6er $al#e!/ an! a le6el of n!erstan!in4 that has%een close! to s since soon after $e $ere %orn

>i6e years after the floo!/ I $ent %ac# to tal# to 6arios &eo&le $ho ha!%een affecte! %y it

83




The Ban#er

"oon after the floo! $aters rece!e! I $ent %ac# to $or# E6erythin4!o$nstairs $as rine! %t the insrance com&any $as 6ery hel&fl 8e4ot %ran! ne$ e6erythin4/ an! altho4h the hose smelle! terri%ly !am&/

$e $ere so %sy or4anisin4 all the contractors $ho $ere re-&aintin4 etcthat $e !i!n<t notice it

8e also too# the #i!s on a holi!ay to the mal!i6es for three $ee#s to4et a$ay from it all I !i!n<t $ant them ha6in4 to sffer $hile the %il!in4

$or# $as 4oin4 on They $ere really &set as all their toys 4ot rine!

Yes it $as &settin4 for e6eryone in the floo!s %t $e<6e all 4ot to 4et%ac# to $or#

The Thief

Do yo #no$ $hat/ $hen my mates tol! me they<! seen me on t6 rnnin4

ot of a store $ith a flat screen t6/ I col!n<t %elie6e it I #ne$ I $as 4oin4to 4et nic#e! %y the &olice/ %t yo<6e 4ot to ta#e $hat yo can There

$as no one in the sho&/ an! it $asn<t !oin4 anyone any harm

I 4ot fine! a lot more than the telly $as $orth/ that<s for sre

8ol! I !o it a4ain; I !on<t #no$ ro%a%ly As lon4 as I $asn<t 4oin4 to4et ca4ht on ??T

The ?o$ar!

I $as so 4la! $hen it $as all o6er I $as scare! half to !eath I #no$ there $ere &eo&le tra&&e! in their hoses alon4 my street/ es&ecially an ol!%lo#e I #ne$ %t yo<6e 4ot to loo# after yorself ha6en<t yo;

I hear! he !ie! soon after$ar!s/ %t I !on<t thin# there $as anythin4 I

col! ha6e !one I mean/ my hose $as n!er $ater too I ha! to stay&stairs for t$o !ays %efore anyone came to resce me It<s ri!iclos I!on<t #no$ $hy $e &ay so mch in ta7es if they can<t 4et or4anise! in a!isaster

84




Three stories All !ifferent I %et yo tho4ht they $ol! ha6e chan4e!their $ays after the natral !isaster !i!n<t yo; I $ol! ha6e tho4ht sotoo

I $ol! ha6e ima4ine! the %an#er n!erstan!in4 the natre of hiss&erficial &ossession le! life/ an! 4i6en it & to hel& &eo&le/ after all/ hesho$e! that he care! in the floo!s !i!n<t he;

I $ol! ha6e ima4ine! the thief/ after %ein4 &%licly hmiliate! on t6/an! fine!/ $ol! ha6e realise! the errors of his $ay @an! the irony of hiscrime/ 4i6en that he stole an electrical a&&liance $hen the electricity $asct off an! realise! that stealin4 $as a &ointless $ay for hmans to li6e

I $ol! ha6e ima4ine! the co$ar! $ol! ha6e realise! that sittin4 in yor hose $aitin4 to %e resce! is no $ay for someone to li6e/ that he $ol! ha6e chan4e! the $ay he tho4ht/ an! create! &ersonal &o$er/ta#en res&onsi%ility/ an! starte! li6in4 as o&&ose! to :st li6in4 in fear

Bt none of these &eo&le ha! ma!e the chan4es I tho4ht they $ol!I tho4ht &eo&le chan4e! $hen lar4e scale e6ents li#e this too# &laceO%6iosly not

8hy col! they not chan4e; 8hy $ol! they not chan4e;The floo! col! %e inter&rete! as a &attern interr&tion/ not a &attern

chan4er They $ere a$are in the &resent moment :st for a moment Theye7&erience! a chan4e in ho$ they &ercei6e! the $orl!/ %t only for amoment/ then allo$e! the &attern to resme

8or# ?harity >ear Ban#er Thief ?han4e ?rime Hel& Natre Tre

8or!s

Only $or!s

85




I stare !o$n from my clo!

I am a$are that I am o%ser6in4

I am loo#in4 thro4h time

I see myself

I see thro4h myself

I see my min! an! %o!y/ tho4h they are not soli!

I see for the first time/ the %eaty an! sim&licity of myself

My trth

My li4ht My %ein4

I am &resent %t I am timeless/ for time %ears no %on!aries on $ho I amLon4 &ast is my conce&t of $ho I am I am no lon4er %an#er/ thief/co$ar!/ I am all of them an! I am none of them I am the creator of all I&ercei6e I e7&erience my life thro4h that $hich I choose to &ercei6e I

am no lon4er constraine! %y this %o!y yet I choose to stay $ithin it

Moment to moment I e7&erience $hat I choose to e7&erience I amnot limite! %y $or!s/ nor e6ents I am not limite! %y anythin4 in any timeor s&ace I am the %an#er/ the thief an! the co$ar!/ an! to!ay I let 4o ofthem

I am

86




Day "i7teen

To!ay I $ill start to realise/ that the only $ay to free my min!is to stan! alone/ free from the limitations of 4ro& tho4ht/

free from fi7e! i!eas an! national i!entity5

I am a mslim/ I am a %!!hist/ I am %lac#/ I am scottish/ I am chinese/ Iam a catholic/ I am a mana4er/ I am a $or#er/ I am a conser6ati6e/ I am asocialist/ I am a commnist/ I am $or#in4 class/ I am mi!!le class/ I am athin#er/ I am a !rin#er/ I am an in!ian/ I am a !r4 a!!ict/ I am a foot%all

s&&orter/ I am a r4%y s&&orter

Let me as# yo a Cic# Cestion/ $hat !o all these &eo&le ha6e incommon; 8ell/ the I am5 shol! 4i6e yo a cle

Is the ans$er that they are all s&ea#in4 in the first &erson= that they areall mem%ers of !ifferent 4ro&s= that they are all in!i6i!als !escri%in4their &lace in society= that they are s&ea#in4 en4lish; Ho$ a%ot that they

are all mem%ers of the 4ro& homo sa&iens/ hmans

Bt that<s not eno4h for s is it; 8e all $ant to s%!i6i!e orsel6esinto smaller 4ro&s/ no matter ho$ many &eo&le li6e on the &lanet

Ri4ht/ there<s ten of s on Earth/ $ho $ants to %e in the hntin44ro& an! $ho $ants to %e in the 4atherin4 4ro&;5

8e ha6e a stron4 sense of nee!in4 to %elon4/ an! $hilst family ties canremain stron4 thro4hot or li6es/ in!i6i!als sharin4 the same reli4ion/color/ class/ interest/ or :o%/ army/ %on! Cic#ly/ thro4h some share!herita4e5 or &r&ose/ or %t only $hen it sits them

87




Let<s ha6e a Cic# loo# at ho$ 4ro&s $or# shall $e;

In the ne$s to!ay/ there is fi4htin4 in an african contry calle! maliMali $as forme! first as the mali fe!eration after the s!anese re&%lic

an! sene4al 4aine! in!e&en!ence from france in 1*.'/ an! rename! malifrom $hat remaine! of the s!anese re&%lic after the $ith!ra$al ofsene4al

As of 1th anary 2'12/ france is in the mi!!le of a militaryinter6ention as an attem&t to halt the a!6ance of islamist re%els to$ar!sBama#o @the ca&ital from %ases in the north an! east

"o $hat ha&&ene!; 8ell/ nee!less to say/ 4ro&s are in6ol6e!

I ha6e se! mali as an e7am&le %ecase the fi4htin4 there is crrent/%t it col! %e any contry $e are tal#in4 a%ot

Accor!in4 to the ?IA $orl! fact%oo#/ the ethnic 4ro&s are man!e9' @%am%ara/ malin#e/ sonin#e/ &el 1+/ 6oltaic 12/ son4hai ./tare4 an! moor 1'/ other 9 The reli4ions follo$e! are mslim *'/christian 1/ in!i4enos %eliefs *

?rrently one of the 4ro&s a%o6e is marchin4 on the ca&ital $ith

some intention or other 8hich 4ro& is it; 8hy are they !oin4 $hat theyare !oin4; It !oesn<t really matter

8hat is im&ortant is that this $ol! ne6er occr if &eo&le !i! not4ro& to4ether n!er any %anner An! $hate6er &eo&le tell yo a%otshare! ethnicity/ reli4ion/ &olitical %eliefs/ e6ery hman %ein4 is a%le tostan! alone An! $hen &eo&le stan! alone thin4s start to chan4e

There<s an ol! e7&ression $hich says it ta#es t$o to tan4o5 $hich is

fairly self e7&lanatory If one &erson trie! to tan4o/ it $ol!n<t %e tan4o

Mslim 6s christian ?ommnist 6s fascist Blac# 6s $hite Ko6ernment 6s re%el 8hene6er one thin4 e7ists its conter&art e7ists As soon as $efi7 an o&inion e6eryone $ho hol!s an o&&osin4 o&inion mst %e orenemy

Of corse not e6eryone $ho hol!s an o&&osin4 o&inion $ill %e #ille!%y s 8e may %e ha&&y :st to hol! these o&inions/ an! that<s at least a

ste& in the ri4ht !irection/ %t $hat $ol! it ta#e for s to ta#e & arms;

If yo stron4ly feel that yor5 contry is %ein4 o6errn $ithimmi4rants an! yor5 4o6ernment is not listenin4 to yo/ $hat $ill yo

88




Do yo thin# there has e6er %een sch a thin4 as 4ro& enli4htenment;5No; 8hy !o yo thin# that is; 8hy is it that 4ro&s of &eo&le $ho %elie6ein the same thin4 cannot %e enli4htene! to4ether;

Let me as# yo this Cestion 8here !oes enli4htenment come from; 8hat is it; 8hat !oes it feel li#e; 8hat !oes it smell li#e; 8hat !oes it loo#li#e;5

I<ll tell yo It comes from a &rofon! connection to e6erythin4 thatcan e7ist/ has e7iste! or e6er $ill e7ist Yo can see the strctre ofe6erythin4/ yo can feel the connection to e6erythin4 It smells &re li#ethe air/ earth/ $ater/ an! fire com%ine! It is the most incre!i%le

n!erstan!in4 of ho$ this $orl! &ieces to4etherHo$ !o I #no$; Becase I ha6e fon! it

Yo %elie6e me that I ha6e fon! it !on<t yo; It ma#es sense to yo Itfits yor %elief system &erfectly Yo %elie6e yo are enli4htene! too Yo

$ant me to share in it $ith yo/ an! yo $ant to :oin me in creatin4 a4ro& calle! the enli4htene! ones5

8hene6er $e come across someone $ho is enli4htene!/ $e $ill 4et

them to :oin s/ an! to4ether $e $ill ta#e or enli4htenment across e6eryocean to e6ery corner of the 4lo%e 8e $ill fi4ht st&i!ity/ %lin! %elief/!o4ma/ in:stice/ e6ery$here

"on! familiar;

8e are the enli4htene! ones5 an! $e come to yo in &eace 8e come to%rin4 yo #no$le!4e an! or $is!om of the ni6erse5

Bt $hat ha&&ens if yo !o not $ant or #no$le!4e an! $is!om; 8hat if yo !o not li#e the $ay $e thin#/ $hat $ill $e !o $ith yo; 8ill $e lea6e yo alone an! say that<s fine yo can %elie6e anythin4 yo $ant/5 or $ill $e start to %ecome more !o4matic/ $ill $e try an! enforce or#no$le!4e on yo for yor o$n 4oo!/ for the 4reater 4oo!/ for the%enefit of all man#in!;

8hat $ill $e !o $ith all those $ho o&&ose s; >or there $ill %e ano&&osition

90




Ho$ $ill $e &rotect those $ho $ant to stay in or 4ro& $hen &eo&lefrom the o&&osin4 4ro& the nenli4htene! ones5 $ant to try to %rin4their #no$le!4e an! $is!om to or &eo&le

There is only one thin4 for it 8e mst %e &re&are! to fi4ht for $hat $e %elie6e in 8e mst %e &re&are! to ta#e & arms/ al%eit n$illin4ly/ to&rotect the enli4htene! ones 8e mst fi4ht to o6ercome those $ho !onot $ish to li6e in &eace an! enli4htenment 8e ha6e trth 8e ha6e ri4hton or si!e @son! of &eo&le cheerin4 an! cla&&in4

8e ha6e seen this %efore/ $e ha6e seen $hat ha&&ens $hen &eo&le 4ro&

to4ether n!er a common i!ea an! &r&ose/ ho$e6er no%le an! ri4ht5 itseems to s 8e #no$ thro4h the e7&erience of or forefathers thathmans %on!e! in 4ro&s of any #in! cannot see farther than the 4ro&

They cannot ha6e in!i6i!al tho4ht/ lest it come into conflict $ith the4ro& i!ea/ so $e em%race the 4ro&/ e6en if or hi4her self is tellin4 sto stan! a&art Bt stan! a&art $e mst

8e mst challen4e or o$n min!s not the min!s of others/ challen4e

or %elief systems/ challen4e or i!eas of $ho $e are/ an! $hat $e stan!for= not to create ne$ i!eas for &eo&le to follo$/ %t to free orsel6esfrom the shac#les of &rimiti6e Mo!ern Man/ an! em%race or tre natre/

$hate6er $e fin! it to %e

This is a :orney yo can only ta#e alone so thin# careflly %efore yoem%ar# on it Are yo rea!y to nco6er the secrets of the hman min!an! %eyon!; Are yo rea!y to let 4o of the &ast an! create a ne$%e4innin4 ri4ht no$ an! e6ery moment henceforth; Yo choose to stan!alone %t #no$ that yo are al$ays connecte! to e6erythin4 an!e6eryone There is nothin4 to fear

I $ish yo $ell on yor :orney

91




92




Day "e6enteen

To!ay/ I %e4in to realise that $hat I &ro:ect to the $orl! maynot %e a tre reflection of ho$ I trly feel To!ay/ I $ill %e4in to

allo$ the otsi!e to match the insi!e5

st %ecase I smile !oes not mean I am ha&&y

>rom a yon4 a4e $e are ta4ht to mas# or tre emotions/ those $hich $e are actally e7&eriencin4 8hy; 8ell it hel&s in the constrction of acontrolle! ci6ilisation5

Bi4 Boys Don<t ?ry An! Other Nonsense

8here6er these e7&ressions starte! from/ yo can %e sre that it $as &artof the ori4inal control &rocess/ a &rocess !esi4ne! to assi4n roles to menan! $omen/ to com&artmentalise the s&ecies into easily i!entifia%le traits

sycholo4ists may note that $omen are more natrally in toch $iththeir emotions5/ an! men com&artmentalise an! intellectalise more=5an! $hilst it may or may not %e tre/ it !oes not tell s that it has al$ays%een li#e this since Man first e7iste! on Earth/ or $hether %oys arecltrally con!itione! from the moment they are %orn to e7&ress

themsel6es in a com&artmentalise! an! intellectalise! $ay All $e #no$is/ $e e7&ect $omen to cry an! 4et &set/ an! $e e7&ect men not to

93




Bt let s ste& otsi!e of or assi4ne! emotional roles ri4ht no$/ an! %ehonest $ith orsel6es Let s e7&ress somethin4 a%ot ho$ $e really feel

8e all #no$ that $e &t on a 4oo! sho$ for orsel6es an! e6eryone else/

%t no one really #no$s $hen $e are str44lin4 emotionally @men an! $omen

8e constantly lie/ $hich if yo thin# a%ot it/ is the com&lete o&&ositeof ho$ a com&le7 system shol! %eha6e It cases feelin4s of 4iltamon4st other thin4s/ $hich eats a$ay at s e6ery minte of the !ay e6enif $e are not consciosly a$are of it

In or!er to &rotect the ci6ilise!5 $orl! $e are ta4ht ho$ to %eha6e/

an! tol! to a%i!e %y the rles of or society/ $hich ha6e %een &t in &laceo6er centries an! are the !efiniti6e instrctions on $hat it means to %ehman

Bt they<re not are they; They are rles to &rotect the 4o6ernin4&o$erfl elite from ci6ilisation5

?i6ilisation

The most a!6ance! sta4e of hman social !e6elo&ment an!or4aniFation5

Ki6en the nm%er of hmans acti6ely in6ol6e! in the o&&ression an!mr!er of other hmans/ the mr!er of animals an! fish/ the !estrctionof the natral en6ironment/ lyin4/ cheatin4/ &olltin4/ controllin4/!ominatin4/ an! tortrin4 in 2'1(/ I thin# it<s fair to say that $e are not at

the most a!6ance! sta4e of hman social !e6elo&ment an! or4anisation

E6ery !ay $e 4o to school or $or#/ an! $hilst $e o&enly tell &eo&lethat $e en:oy or $or# is that ho$ $e trly feel; Are $e sho$in4 the

$orl! or tre sel6es or are $e :st conformin4 to an i!ea; An i!eaforme! e7ternally to orsel6es

Ho$ !oes this i!ea relate to or emotional sel6es;

If/ li#e me/ yo %elie6e that it is or res&onsi%ility as hmans not toconform to an i!ea/ %t to n!erstan! or tre natre/ or role in thecreation of all $hich $e &ercei6e/ then matchin4 the internal an! e7ternalemotional state is also &art of that res&onsi%ility

94




"o ho$ !o $e #no$ $hat or tre emotional state is; Ho$ can $e %esre that $hat $e are feelin4 isn<t case! %y an e7ternal/ hi!!en force/sch as the i!ea of shame or honor; Ho$ can $e %e tre to orsel6es;

He $as Cite a ha&&y &erson I ha6e no i!ea $hy he $ol! $ant to #illhimself5

The &ro%lem lies not in ho$ $e &ercei6e orsel6es/ %t that $e care ho$others &ercei6e s If I alan macmillan orr $ere a ca&tain of in!stry/ Iha6e to %e stron4/ an! ne6er sho$ any $ea#ness/ no matter $hat is 4oin4

on insi!e Ho$ $ol! it %e &ercei6e! if I %ro#e !o$n into tears !rin4 a%oar! meetin4; It is nthin#a%le is it not; I cannot tell anyone/ so Isol!ier on5 ne6er sho$in4 that I am !e&resse!/ an7ios/ or !ee&lynha&&y $ith my life

I #ee& & a&&earances that e6erythin4 is fine/ ntil I cannot containmy emotions any lon4er an! in a fit of !es&eration !eci!e that I cannotli6e $ith myself any lon4er an! commit sici!e

E6eryone is shoc#e!/ $on!erin4 $hat they col! ha6e !one to hel&me/ %t e6en they #no$ that $ea#ness cannot %e tolerate!/ that if yocan<t stan! the heat/ 4et ot of the #itchen/5 so the cltre of #ee&in4 &a&&earances5 mst contine After all/ the in!i6i!al is not im&ortant/ thecom&any mst contine/ at any cost

Man 6s "ystem

The system/ $hich has %een create! for/ %y/ an! thro4h s as hmans is!ee&ly fla$e!/ %t $ithot it $e $ol! not ha6e 4reat in6entions/ money/healthcare/ commerce/ e!cation/ an! 4o6ernment/ an! $e $ol! ne6erha6e &ro4resse! as a s&ecies

"o/ la!ies an! 4entleman/ in or!er to li6e in a nice hose/ $ith a nicecar/ $ell e!cate! chil!ren/ an! en:oy t$o holi!ays e6ery year/ the cost is#ee&in4 yor tre self in the sha!o$s= to &t on a mas# e6ery !ay= a mas#

$hich has %een careflly &re&are! for yo so yo can fit in to theci6ilisation/5 an! if yo e6er ha6e any internal emotional isses &lease#ee& them to yorsel6es/ no one $ants to see them

95




Mch as yor %oss may say he li#es yo/ he tells yo to lea6e yor&ersonal &ro%lems at home/ they ha6e no &lace in the $or#&lace5 Bt!oes he not #no$ that e6ery$here yo 4o yo ta#e yorself $ith yo;

A&&arently notIf $e !o not li#e the system or cannot $ear the mas# e6ery!ay/ $e

cannot share in its %enefits an! rather than e7&osin4 orself to ri!icle/ $e are encora4e! to stay ot of it There is no &lace for &eo&le $ith&ro%lems in this $orl!/ so &ll yorself to4ether

If/ li#e me/ yo are not &re&are! to &t on the mas# e6ery !ay/ an! !onot $ant to conform to this stran4e system create! neither for me/ nor %y

me/ then yo ha6e to start to in6esti4ate $hat is 4oin4 on in yor min!It is & to s as in!i6i!al creators to ta#e res&onsi%ility for or min!s

an! %o!ies= no one else is 4oin4 to !o it for s That is the first ste&

The secon! ste& is & to yo If yo feel that there is nothin4 yo can!o to hel& yorself yo mst as# for hel&= reach ot to anyone yo trst

The thir! ste& is in reco4nisin4 that no system or or4anisation hascontrol o6er yo/ no matter $hat anyone tells yo

The forth ste& is in creatin4 a life for yorself not a life that has %een!esi4ne! for yo The hman race is the most &o$erfl/ a!a&ta%le s&ecieson Earth/ an! has sr6i6e! than#s to in!i6i!al creators/ li#e yo/ $ho

$ere not afrai! to e7&ress their tre sel6es

The fifth ste& is in lettin4 4o of anythin4 $hich 4oes a4ainst yor %etternatre

The si7th ste& is easy Li6e An! en:oy yor life Those $ho ha6e

so4ht to control yo thro4h cltre an! fi7e! i!eas of ho$ yo shol!li6e are :st :ealos that yo %ro#e free

It is hi4h time $e all %rea# free of the false i!ea of %ein4 ci6ilise!/5 an!see# n!erstan!in4 of or tre sel6es Only then shol! $e %e ha&&y tocall orsel6es a ci6ilisation

96




Day Ei4hteen

To!ay/ I start to acce&t that tho4h there may %e manychoices/ many &aths/ an! many &ossi%le otcomes/ there is one

ri4ht $ay to con!ct my life5

?hoice

An act of selectin4 or ma#in4 a !ecision $hen face! $ith t$o or more &ossi%ilities5

I lie here in the hos&ital $aitin4 to !ie The !octors ha6e tol! me that I!o not ha6e lon4 to li6e My family is all aron! me/ some are cryin4 someare silent/ $atchin4/ $aitin4 for the moment I !ie I am not afrai! of!eath/ I ha6e seen mch o6er my life/ an! the act of !yin4 seems 6ery

sim&leI lie here $ith t%es in my arms/ chaine! to the %e! thro4h an illness

$hich is consmin4 e6ery &art of my %ein4/ yet stran4ely I feel at &eaceerha&s it is the mor&hine corsin4 thro4h my 6eins

My name is not im&ortant an! neither is $here I come from I am + years ol!/ an! for a lar4e &art of my a!lt life I $as the &resi!ent of acontry $hose name is also nim&ortant 8here shall I %e4in;

I ha! a &ri6ile4e! &%rin4in4= I ne6er $ante! for anythin4/ $hich ismore than col! %e sai! for the &eo&le I rle! o6er for (' years Mychil!hoo! $as fille! $ith 4ames/ an! toys/ an! I $as loo#e! after %yser6ants $ho too# care of my e6ery $ant/ an! !esire I $as e!cate! in a

97




&ri6ate en4lish %oar!in4 school/ an! $ent to ni6ersity $here I st!ie!economics

I retrne! home at the a4e of 2(/ $here my father tho4ht I $ol! 4o

into %siness/ %t I #ne$ $hat I $ante! to !o I #ne$ I $ante! to $or# in&olitics/ to ma#e se of my &ri6ile4e! &%rin4in4/ to hel& the &oor &eo&leof my contry

These &eo&le ha! nothin4 an! I ha! e6erythin4/ I $ol! ma#e theirli6es %etter I $ol! $or# for the 4o6ernment I $ol! hel& im&ro6esanitation/ e!cation/ em&loyment

I rose Cic#ly thro4h the &arty/ an! %y the a4e of forty three I $as

stan!in4 for &resi!ent I $as electe! %y the &eo&le/ an! loo#e! for$ar! tofinally %rea#in4 the years of &o6erty in my contry Bt it $as not to %e

I realise! ho$ !ifficlt it $as to 4et anythin4 !one There $as so mchcorr&tion/ e6ery%o!y $ho $or#e! for the 4o6ernment s&&ose!lyhel&in4 the &eo&le $ho $ere &ayin4 ta7es they col! %arely affor! $erelinin4 their o$n &oc#ets

I soon realise! that no one $ante! eCality/ no one $ante! &o6erty

era!icate!/ they $ere mch too comforta%le $ith their hoses/4o6ernment cars/ an! %anCets I realise! that $e $ere rnnin4 thecontry for orsel6es 8e !i!n<t care a%ot or5 &eo&le/ $e care! a%otorsel6es

I ha! my &resi!ential &alace/ an! anythin4 I $ante! I starte! to noticeI col! ta#e riches for myself/ an! I !i! It $as so easy It $asn<t4o6ernment money/ it $asn<t the &eo&le<s money/ %t no one seeme! tocare/ an! neither !i! I

o6erty an! !isease $ere still rife in the contry/ %t the &eo&le lo6e!me They seeme! to %e com&licit in my !eceit They #ne$ $hat $asha&&enin4 yet they !i! nothin4 a%ot it These $ere sim&le 6illa4ers/ an!farmers/ they %elie6e! in me They !i!n<t #no$ or !i!n<t care that I $asta#in4 their money n!er false &romises/ %t I col! sometimes see it intheir eyes= the ns&o#en sa!ness that sai! I #no$ yo are stealin4 fromme/ %t I $ill s&&ort yo

More fool them I tho4ht If they are too st&i! to notice that theirmoney $as %ein4 se! to line or &oc#ets/ $ell/ that<s their o$n falt

98




Bt they col!n<t stan! & to me an! they #ne$ it E6ery$here I $ent I $as &rotecte! %y the army/ $ho $e ma!e sre $ere $ell &ai! Any !issent $as Cic#ly crshe! An! $e $ent a%ot or %siness

I $as electe! for fi6e years/ at $hich &oint there $ere s&&ose! to %eelections/ %t I col!n<t let 4o of &o$er 8hy $ol! I; I li#e! my &alace Ili#e! the money I li#e! the &o$er

"o $e ri44e! the elections/ an! I $as 6ote! in a4ain

Another fi6e years &ast/ %t this time there $as more o&&osition to my re-election "omeone $as stirrin4 the &eo&le &/ so he ha! to 4o

Yo #no$ $hat &o$er is/ it<s %ein4 a%le to 4i6e an or!er/ an! &eo&le

%lin!ly follo$ it I isse! a $arrant for his arrest an! he $as fon! 4iltyof treason an! e7ecte! 8e col! not ha6e !issent I $as in char4e of thecontry/ not the &eo&le/ not the o&&osition

A!mitte!ly it 4ot ot of han! eo&le $ere &rotestin4 a4ainst my rle/sayin4 that I $as corr&t/ that I $as a !ictator/ $hich I !enie! at the time/%t no$ I mst acce&t it

Of corse I $as a !ictator/ s&&orte! %y a $ell &ai! army that $ol!

!o $hate6er I sai! I amen!e! the constittion 4i6in4 myself e7ecti6e&o$er o6er 4o6ernment/ I raise! ta7es/ I mo6e! money offshore/ I %iltne$ &alaces/ an! ha! monments to myself constrcte!

The &eo&le smile! an! $a6e! as I &ara!e! thro4h the streets/ an!altho4h I sa$ the smiles/ I #ne$ that it $as only %ecase I #e&t them infear

They col! ha6e o6erthro$n me an! the 4o6ernment an! the army in

an instant %t they !i! nothin4/ an! that stren4thene! my 4ri& on &o$erThey 4a6e me the &o$er to o&&ress them/ they $ere com&licit Theycol! ha6e sto&&e! &ayin4 ta7es/ starte! a 4eneral stri#e/ %t none ofthem $ere &re&are! to lay their li6es !o$n for the case

If they ha! sto&&e! &ayin4 ta7 there $ol! ha6e %een no money to &ayfor my army There $ol! ha6e %een no money to &ay for the mr!er of!issenters They $ol! ha6e $on Yet they !i! nothin4 That al$ays

amaFe! me>ear It is man<s $orst enemy an! his %est frien! If yo feel afrai! of

me/ then I ha6e &o$er o6er yo If I feel afrai! of yo/ yo ha6e &o$ero6er me/ %t the former $as al$ays tre I $as %t one man/ s&&orte! %y

99




&eo&le $ho %enefite! from the fear I e7erte! o6er them/ an! the fear theye7erte! o6er others

Of corse it all came to an en! one !ay/ an! I #ne$ that !ay $as

comin4 It $as so sim&le The money !i! rn ot/ an! the army trne! onits &aymaster They too# char4e of the contry/ an! I $as !eclare! acriminal an! $ent into hi!in4

If they ha! ca4ht me/ they $ol! ha6e han4e! me for sre/ %t in as!!en t$ist of e6ents/ the &eo&le finally rose & an! attac#e! the army Icol!n<t %elie6e my lc# ?i6il $ar

Of corse it $asn<t lon4 %efore the $ar $as %rother a4ainst %rother/

nei4h%or 6s nei4h%or/ sect 6s sect/ reli4ion 6s reli4ion/ north 6ssoth/ east 6s $est/ rich 6s &oor

They loote! the &alaces/ &lle! !o$n my monments/ %t I $as safeMy family ha! %een escorte! ot of the contry an! $ere safe My money

$as hi!!en in forei4n %an# acconts an! $as safe All I ha! to !o $as rallymy s&&orters to hel& me lea6e

Bt I !i!n<t ha6e to "oon/ the 8estern &o$ers !eci!e! to inter6ene/

an! altho4h $e #ne$ it $as to &rotect their financial an! commercialinterests/ I mana4e! to %ro#er a !eal $hich sa$ me 4o into e7ile

Ha I col!n<t %elie6e my lc#

Here $as I/ the man res&onsi%le for creatin4 the &ro%lems in thecontry/ safe/ $ell an! rich/ $atchin4 the !eath an! !estrction in mycontry from a hotel room thosan!s of miles a$ay

There $as tal# of &ttin4 me on trial for $ar crimes a4ainst hmanity/ %t

fortnately !e to !e6elo&in4 a terminal illness/ $as !eeme! to %e too illto stan! trial A stro#e of lc#

Unfortnately here I am/ !ays a$ay from !eath/ %t in a $ay I seemyself as 4ettin4 off li4htly/ I col! ha6e %een &t on trial an! han4e!/ %tinstea! I am in a comforta%le hos&ital %e!/ srron!e! %y those I lo6e/ha6in4 the %est me!ical care in the $orl!

I ha6e %een thin#in4 a%ot my life o6er the last fe$ months/

$on!erin4 if I $ol! !o anythin4 !ifferently= $on!erin4 if I col! ha6e%een a %etter &erson/ %t I ha! a 4oo! time I ha6e a %eatifl $ife/ an!three !a4hters/ I ha6e ha! riches most men col!n<t !ream of= I ha! theres&ect of an entire contry eo&le loo#e! & to me

100




8ol! I !o it all a4ain; Of corse I $ol! It $asn<t an acci!ent that thisha&&ene! an! it $asn<t &re-or!aine! %y 4o!/ it $as all my o$n !oin4/an! I ta#e res&onsi%ility for $hat ha&&ene!

"o/ &eo&le sffere!/ %t I $as the &resi!ent of the contry I col!n<t 6ery $ell let &eo&le 4o aron! !oin4 an! sayin4 $hat they $ante!/other$ise no one $ol! ha6e res&ecte! me

This $as my life/ these $ere the choices I ma!e I ha6e no re4ret

No$ if yo<ll e7cse me/ I $ol! li#e a fe$ moments $ith my family

?on!ctTo !irect the corse of= mana4e or control5

8hat is the ri4ht $ay to con!ct yor life; Is it to lea! a life of com&assionan! lo6e for the $hole $orl!/ or to !e!icate yorself to 4o! or tocharita%le $or#s;

No/ the only ri4ht $ay to con!ct yor life is the $ay yo choose to

con!ct it Yo are res&onsi%le for yor life/ no one else

An! if yo fin! this man<s actions a%horrent/ then yo ha6e the a%ilityto choose to con!ct yor life !ifferently I cannot tell yo ho$ tocon!ct it tho4h

Ho$e6er/ if %ecomin4 a !ictator an! mr!erin4 &eo&le $ho !isa4ree $ith yo is the $ay yo $ol! li#e to con!ct yor life then that issomethin4 yo mst !o

101




102




$hat my 4irlfrien! e7&ecte! of me/ then I col! not tell her the trth/ notif I $ante! her to still %e my 4irlfrien! that is

8hy !i! I lie to &eo&le a%ot ho$ mch money I earne!; 8hy col! I

not %e honest $ith them; 8ell/ I $ante! to a&&ear %etter than them/ I $ante! to %e loo#e! & to; After all/ the society I li6e in e7&ects &eo&le to!o $ell !on<t they;

All of these are :st e7cses I !i! not ha6e to slee& $ith that 4irl/ I !i! notha6e to lie a%ot my income= %t nothin4 in either of those lies s44eststhat it is my tre natre5 to lie

Lies are :st a metho! of co6erin4 $hat $e !o not $ant others to#no$/ %t they case chaos

E6eryone is lyin4 to e6eryone/ ma#in4 it almost im&ossi%le to #no$ $hatothers are thin#in4/ creatin4 a !eceitfl $orl!/ Cite nli#e any others&ecies on the &lanet

"o $hy !o $e lie; 8ell/ I am sre there ha6e %een st!ies !onethro4hot the $orl!/ %y scientists an! &sycholo4ists/ %t for or

con6ersation here/ let s acce&t that o6er thosan!s of years/ than#s tohmans %ecomin4 so controlle!/ that to act in a $ay contrary to society<srles is consi!ere! a heinos crime= that $e ha6e also %een ta4ht to%elie6e that nless $e earn a lot of money/ or are 6ery $ell e!cate!/ $eare consi!ere! a failre

Bt these are more e7cses aren<t they; This !oes not hel& sn!erstan! or tre natre/ or for that matter/ the natre of trth

I ha6e fon! ot o6er the last fe$ years that trth is a 6ery &ersonalthin4= yor trth is !ifferent from my trth 8e %en! the trth to ora!6anta4e/ some may e6en see it as an e6oltionary a!a&tation/ a sr6i6almechanism

"o $hy !o $e lie;

8hy !o I act in a $ay I #no$ $ill &set others/ $hen I #no$ I $illha6e to tell an ntrth to co6er it &;

8ell/ I act in the $ay I !eci!e to act/ ma#in4 it ri4ht action5 in that it $asri4ht for me @at the time It is only $hen other &eo&le are in6ol6e! $homay !eci!e that it is $ron4 action5 that I see# to co6er it &

104




If no one $as e6er 4oin4 to fin! ot/ I $ol!n<t feel 4ilty/ an! I $ol!n<tha6e to lie "o lies are actally nothin4 to !o $ith me/ it<s e6eryone else<se7&ectations of ho$ I shol! %eha6e that are casin4 me to lie

erha&s I ha6e &resente! myself falsely/ #no$in4 that I col! not li6e& to their e7&ectations %t ha6e let them &lace their trst in me all thesame

It seems to me that hmans $ol!n<t nee! to lie if they $ere on theiro$n/ if they !i! not mi7 $ith other hmans/ %t that<s not 4oin4 toha&&en is it; 8e li6e in a social society an! $e mst learn to %eha6eaccor!in4ly e6en $hen $e !on<t $ant to

Ha6e yo e6er met anyone yo !i! not nee! to lie to; Ha6e yo metsomeone $ith $hom yo can share e6erythin4 $ithot :!4ement; If yoha6e yo are the lc#iest &erson ali6e 8hen yo can :st %e yorself $ithsomeone/ that is $orth more than all the money in the $orl!

8e are al$ays %ein4 tre to orsel6es tho4h/ $e #no$ trth fromfiction/ $e #no$ $hen $e tell a lie/ $hat the trth of it really is/ e6en if $e

mana4e to hi!e it from others"o let s not $orry a%ot orsel6es No matter $hat anyone tells yo/

yo can ne6er trly lie to yorself

"o ho$ !o $e li6e in a $orl! !ominate! %y ntrths; Ho$ !o $e#no$ trth from fiction; "hol! $e !e6elo& min! rea!in4 techniCes;No/ that $ol! :st !isa&&oint s $hen $e !isco6er that the &erson $etrste! $as actally lyin4 to s

There mst %e another $ay for$ar!

There mst %e a $ay of li6in4 $ith trths an! ntrths/ $ithotresortin4 to !istrstin4 e6ery%o!y "o ho$ !o $e !o it;

Yo #no$ yo are alrea!y %ein4 trthfl to yorself/ so that ta#es careof one &erson/ %t $hat are $e 4oin4 to !o a%ot the others; 8hat a%otall those &eo&le $ho lie to s an! $e to them;

It is sim&le It is all a%ot choices It is a%ot choosin4 $ho yocommnicate $ith/ $ho yo are in a relationshi& $ith/ $ho yo arefrien!s $ith/ $ho yo $or# $ith/ $ho yo s&en! time $ith

105




Remem%er $hen I as#e! yo if yo ha6e e6er met anyone yo !i! notnee! to lie to; If yo ha6en<t/ no$ is the time to see# them ot

Only thro4h choosin4 to %e $ith &eo&le yo !o not nee! or $ant to

lie to/ $ill $e %e4in to create connections/ an! net$or#s of &eo&le $hoare %on!e! in trth

Does this son! li#e a loa! of r%%ish; Do yo $ant to say no one e6ertells the trth5 or ho$ can I only mi7 $ith &eo&le I !on<t nee! to lie to/I<m %sy/ I !on<t ha6e time for this/ I $or# in an office/ I ha6e lots offrien!s/ ho$ can I e6er #no$ if those are the &eo&le I shol! s&en! time

$ith5 or $hat a ri!iclos i!ea/ there<s %illions of &eo&le on the &lanet/this col! ne6er $or#5

?ol!n<t it;

Remem%er/ it is & to yo an! the choices yo ma#e= yor tho4hts/ yor actions/ an! the conseCences $hich arise from them 8hen yo%e4in to realise that it<s all a%ot yo/ then e6erythin4 %ecomes a lotsim&ler

106




8ho $ol! clean or streets an! or toilets; 8ho $ol! 4ro$ the foo! $eeat/ $ho $ol! ser6e s meals at restarants/ or !o all the $or#n%ecomin4 of %ein4 the 4reatest; It<s :st not &ractical an! yo #no$ it

"o yo li6e yor life accor!in4 to $hat others &ercei6e yor a%ilities to %e Yo Cietly ta#e the :o% on the factory assem%ly line/ yo follo$

or!ers/ yo !o as yor tol!/ an! then tell e6eryone that yo en:oy it

Yo faile! yor e7ams or !i! 6ery %a!ly at them/ or yo !i! o#/ %t not4oo! eno4h to %e the 4reatest Yo #no$ there can only %e 6ery fe$trly 4reat &eo&le Yo #no$ that e6eryone mst ta#e their !e!icate!&lace $aitin4 for them on the $heel of life

Yo are a co4 in the $heel an! yo #no$ it Yor only &r&ose is to %ethat co4 >or that yo $ill %e &ai! a $a4e $hich $ill allo$ yo to hose/clothe an! fee! yorself That is yor role

If yo try to %rea# free of the $heel or fin! it too har! to stay on/ yo $ill fin! yorself in a &osition of %ein4 on yor o$n If yo cannot hose/clothe an! fee! yorself an! yor family yo $ill %e seen as a failre Yo

$ill %e ostracise! from the other co4s $ho cannot n!erstan! $hy yo!on<t :st #ee& Ciet an! !o yor :o% Yor self-esteem $ill !eteriorate/an! altho4h &eo&le may ta#e &ity on yo/ that is all they $ill feel for yo

Yo ha6e faile! at yor tas# of %ein4 hman

"o $ho !efines $hat yor :o% on the $heel is; 8ho is !irectin4 yor life; 8ho says that the most im&ortant thin4 for a hman to %e is as a co4 inthe $heel of life; I<m sre that most chil!ren $hen as#e! $hat they $ol!li#e to %e $ol! not say co4 in the $heel/ or feel &itie!/ they $ant to %e a&ilot/ a !octor/ or a sin4er

Bt $e ha6e to as# orsel6es $hy any chil! $ol! come & $ith these:o%5 titles/ for they are still :o%s $hich mean they are still co4s on the

$heel E6en :o%s li#e %oss5 or &resi!ent5 are merely %i44er co4s

"o $hy !o $e as# chil!ren $hat they $ol! li#e to %e5 $hen they4ro$ &; "rely $hat $e are as#in4 them is/ $hat tas# $ol! yo &referto &erform as a co4 in the $heel $hen yo are ol! eno4h to %econsi!ere! rea!y to earn money an! &ay ta7es

>or me/ 4reatness is somethin4 more than %ein4 e7ce&tional at a :o%/ it isa state of min!/ so let<s for4et a%ot $hat :o%s $e $ol! li#e to !o Let s

108




for4et ho$ $e !i! at or e7ams Let s let 4o of the i!ea that $e aremerely a co4 in the $heel of life/ for that i!ea is srely not or o$n Let sstart to e7&lore or 4reatness to4ether

If 4reatness is !efine! as the Cality of %ein4 4reat/ then %y :st %ein4/ $eare 4reat

Do yo #no$ $hat s&ecies yo %elon4 to; 8ell/ I<ll tell yo any$ay Yo are a mem%er of homo sa&iens/ the most a!6ance! s&ecies on the&lanet/ characterise! accor!in4 to $i#i&e!ia/ %y a lar4e %rain/ a

&articlarly $ell !e6elo&e! neocorte7/ &re frontal corte7 an! tem&oral

lo%es ma#in4 them ca&a%le of a%stract reasonin4/ lan4a4e/ intros&ection/ &ro%lem sol6in4 an! cltre thro4h social learnin4 This mentalca&a%ility/ com%ine! $ith an a!a&tation to %i&e!al locomotion that freesthe han!s for mani&latin4 o%:ects/ has allo$e! hmans to ma#e far

4reater se of tools than any other li6in4 s&ecies on Earth Hmans arethe only e7tant s&ecies #no$n to %il! fires an! coo# their foo!/ as $ellas the only #no$n s&ecies to clothe themsel6es an! create an! senmeros other technolo4ies an! arts 5

"o that<s yo/ an! me/ an! se6en %illion other mem%ers of the sames&ecies Di! yo rea! any$here that says $e are limite! %y ho$ $ell $e!o in or e7ams/ or limite! in $hat $e !o in or li6es; No/ I !i!n<t either

"ome$here alon4 the line la!ies an! 4entleman/ $e ha6e %een tric#e!%y a &o$erfl con:rer/ someone $ho has ma!e the ma:ority of s %elie6ethat $e are limite!/ that there is a s&ecific role $hich $ill fit or le6el ofe!cation This role $ill in6ol6e $or#in4 at least fi6e !ays a $ee# !oin4 are&etiti6e tas# $hich cannot at this time %e com&lete! %y a ro%ot >or this

yo $ill %e a%le to call yorself a %ona fi!e mem%er of society Yo $illrecei6e money for yor la%or/ %t :st eno4h to sto& yo from sta4in4 are6oltion Entertainment $ill %e &ro6i!e! for yo in the form of msic/art/ theatre/ cinema to %e en:oye! $hen yo are on official rest &erio!sfrom $or#5

Yo $ill also %e allo$e! to !rin# alcohol to hel& yo rela7 from thestress yo are n!er from the $or# yo mst n!erta#e

109




Yo are encora4e! to %y5 yor o$n hose/ 4et marrie! an! ha6echil!ren as soon as &ossi%le as this sho$s yo ha6e conforme! to the&lan

If yo !o anythin4 $hich interr&ts the &lan sch as not &ayin4 yorta7es yo $ill %e &nishe!/ as $ill yo if yo %rea# any of the la$s of thesystem for $hich yo $or#

Jee& Ciet an! conform an! all $ill %e $ell5

Of corse it $ill %e The system re$ar!s all those $ho &lay their &art $ithot com&laint

Are yo startin4 to n!erstan!; There is no other s&ecies in the #no$nni6erse as 4reat as yo/ yet yo are limite!/ not %y yorself/ %t %ye7ternal forces intent on rnnin4 the $heel to their o$n a!6anta4e

Bt yo<re still not con6ince! that yo are 4reat are yo;

Isn<t it stran4e to #no$ that &hysically yor %rain is e7actly the same assome of the 4reatest min!s in history; Yo ha6e the same %rain asEinstein/ Kalileo/ Ne$ton/ lato/ Michelan4elo Actally $hy !on<t yothin# of one of yor 4reatest heroes; Ha6e yo 4ot it; Ri4ht No$ #no$that yor %rain is ma!e of the same stff

"o $hat ma#es yor hero 4reater than yo;

I<m sre yo are startin4 to com&are their achie6ements 3 he &ainte!

the sistine cha&el/ I &aint &eo&le<s hoses He !isco6ere! the tele&hone Ise a tele&hone He !esi4ne! the flshin4 toilet/ I clean toilets etc

"o they may %e silly e7am&les %t $hy are yo com&arin4 yorself toanyone; 8hy are yo com&arin4 $hat &eo&le ha6e !one that yo a!mire

$ith $hat yo !o; Yo alrea!y #no$ that yo ha6e the same %rain as&eo&le $ho earn a million !ollars a year/ an! those $ho sr6i6e %y%e44in4 for &ennies

"o $hat is sto&&in4 s from 4reatness; 8hat is hol!in4 s %ac#; I<ll tell yo It<s s 8e are limitin4 orsel6es %ase! on an e7ternal i!ea that onlye7ce&tional &eo&le $ill %e 4reat Bt !oes the fact $e are here as &art ofthe 4reat s&ecies homo sa&iens the only s&ecies ca&a%le of a%stract

110




reasonin4/ %i-&e!al locomotion/ an! intros&ection not start to ma#e yothin# that &erha&s yo are ca&a%le of nlimite! 4reatness;

It !oesn<t; 8hy not;

Becase/ yo see/ I !i!n<t !o 6ery $ell at school/ I come from acontry $ith no e!cation/ I $as %eaten as a chil!/ I ha6e to $or# in thefiel!s to hel& my &arents

Remem%er/ $e are not tal#in4 a%ot 4reatness as !efine! %y $hat yo!o to earn money "o tell me/ $hat is hol!in4 yo %ac# from nlimite!4reatness;

I<ll tell yo E6erythin4 yo thin# an! feel is hol!in4 yo %ac# E6ery

ne4ati6e tho4ht an! emotion is hol!in4 yo %ac# from &otential4reatness E6erythin4 e6eryone has e6er tol! yo a%ot yo is hol!in4 yo%ac#

To!ay is a ne$ !ay Ri4ht no$/ it is time to let 4o of the &ast/ an! 4o ona :orney to fin! ot $hat tre 4reatness is Don<t $orry yo !on<t ha6e totra6el any$here "tay ri4ht $here yo are

"o $hat $ill yo !o $hen yo fin! yo are so mch more than :st a

co4 in the $heel= that yo ha6e infinite &otential; 8ell/ as lon4 as yo!on<t ta#e a :o% o&&ressin4 e6eryone else/ thin#in4 yo are someho$s&erior/ yo can !o $hate6er it is yo choose to Yo are an incre!i%lehman %ein4/ an! $hen e6eryone else realises their 4reatness/ the $orl!

$ill in!ee! %e a 4reat &lace to li6e/ for all its inha%itants

111




112




114




Other %oo#s in the series

The Natral Min! 3 8a#in4 U& olmes 1/2 /( @har!%ac#Ge%oo#

The Natral Min! 3 8a#in4 U& - A!io%oo#

Li6in4 8ith The Natral Min! @e%oo#G&a&er%ac#

Also %y alan macmillan orr

My story/ %y 4o!

"o/ yo $ant to chan4e the $orl!;

$$$alanmacmillanorrcom

116




117

Beyond the Natural Mind

Documents

Transcript of Beyond the Natural Mind