Hi guys. It's been awhile. Sorta stopped just at about the period I joined a few friends for a 40 day fast. Even not taken religiously, fasting often helps the mind sharpen and quieten if done properly.
We last left on the note of contemplation as a way to improve the world.
Contemplation can be very tricky though. It is easy to get stuck with a lot of thoughts and worries that eat up your mind. It is easy to get stuck with a lot of despair and self depreciation. So the question comes to what kind of contemplation is good contemplation?
Having given this some thought, and having found many answers through various sources over my own 40 days, I probably have answers of my own. But having spoken to many friends and some family, not everyone (few actually), agree with my answers or techniques. While I was sore initially that many did not want my answers, I have realised, of course they don't want my answers. They need answers of their own.
So instead of telling everyone methodology and concepts that I have come across (although I think I would love to blog about a couple of them at some point), I tried to think about see what kind of contemplation would result in people discovering their own answers.
And I believe that the first step is to not be afraid! As we dig into what lies deep inside us, we come across many many things that are scary. Sorrow, greed, insecurity, pain, fear, strict laws and concepts, desires, the loss or the protection of identity are often such large objects we feel that confronting them fully would devour us. We spend most of our time trying to move away from these things or trying to grip them as much as possible.
I guess the challenge then is to come face to face with it and only at that point do answers come. So are you running away from something? Are you holding on to something as if your life depended on it? Or how about thinking about where along the spectrum of that you are with any event in life?
I believe only when we come face to face with these issues, when we contemplate them properly would answers start to appear.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Contemplation is but the start
Yes, contemplate. But contemplation is not the be all end all. After collecting my thoughts over the last week, I think there are some ways I believe contemplation should be focused towards.
In fact, contemplation can be dangerous when done wrongly. Mostly because many of us do not focus our thoughts. It is easy to get snared by bad thoughts. It is easy to feel bad about oneself and thus never make that step to amount to anything. It is easy to see the bad side of things. We can all place blame, point out faults and give up upon everything.
What is more important about contemplation is how to draw strength from it.
Watching what some effective people do in life is ask a very important question : Is it useful? Do I like it? This is a very important tool. We need to do away with the bad parts, give them no attention and no credit. We need to focus more on the good parts! Give them a lot of attentin and a lot of credit. We need to realise the things that we really need and things that we can do without. What are our strengths, what are our crutches? And as I read in The 4-hour Work Week - Don't bother fixing all the chinks in the armour, just run with your strength and go with it.
Contemplation is also important for this thought: What do I want this to look like? Another important thing at all levels - from individuals, to society to the globe. How do we want our future to look like? If we can see it, we can get there. If we have a goal we can go for it. It's a common psychology if you are trying to lose weight - stop thinking about how fat you are, start thinking about how thin you are going to be. Then break it into manageable steps. Yes there is poverty and you want to do something about it. See where we are, see where we want to be and become part of that movement. Yes it is possible. We can eradicate it bit by bit. There is absolutely no physical law stopping us from doing so. Don't listen to the people who tell you we can't make it, because they're wrong. (:D and I rarely get more outrageous than that - but it's true!)
Actually I watched a TED tv video on featuring our simliarities and disimilarities to apes by an active environmentalist. She was the founder of the grassroots organisation called Shoots. As she explained her travels around the world and the terrible vision and plight of many environments, she also impressed upon everyone how bleak we all feel it is (especially the current Gen X beginning to take the reigns of control) However, with Shoots, as people began their small movements everywhere across, how hope is slowly returning. As people clean the rivers in their towns, and protect the wildlife near their place, there is hope that we as a humanity will be able to manage this large scale.
I think this goes for everyone and all situations. Yes you want something that appears out of reach. But everyone who has reached out for something unreachable and gotten it, has always first had the idea that they could do it. And that's what we need contemplation for. To see it, to feel it and to set out in faith we can get there.
So yes contemplation is the way! But use it wisely. The mind is like a muscle, it needs to be worked and trained. And since our entire reality is fed through to us in our mind, how important is it for us to strengthen it? "The eyes are the windows of the soul, but if the eyes are dark, how great is that darkness? But if the eyes are full of light! How great is that light?!" And you know what? Not to take the analogy to far, but it is us who choose whether to open the curtains are not. No situation holds any intrinsic value save for the perceptions and judgements we choose to ascribe it.
In fact, contemplation can be dangerous when done wrongly. Mostly because many of us do not focus our thoughts. It is easy to get snared by bad thoughts. It is easy to feel bad about oneself and thus never make that step to amount to anything. It is easy to see the bad side of things. We can all place blame, point out faults and give up upon everything.
What is more important about contemplation is how to draw strength from it.
Watching what some effective people do in life is ask a very important question : Is it useful? Do I like it? This is a very important tool. We need to do away with the bad parts, give them no attention and no credit. We need to focus more on the good parts! Give them a lot of attentin and a lot of credit. We need to realise the things that we really need and things that we can do without. What are our strengths, what are our crutches? And as I read in The 4-hour Work Week - Don't bother fixing all the chinks in the armour, just run with your strength and go with it.
Contemplation is also important for this thought: What do I want this to look like? Another important thing at all levels - from individuals, to society to the globe. How do we want our future to look like? If we can see it, we can get there. If we have a goal we can go for it. It's a common psychology if you are trying to lose weight - stop thinking about how fat you are, start thinking about how thin you are going to be. Then break it into manageable steps. Yes there is poverty and you want to do something about it. See where we are, see where we want to be and become part of that movement. Yes it is possible. We can eradicate it bit by bit. There is absolutely no physical law stopping us from doing so. Don't listen to the people who tell you we can't make it, because they're wrong. (:D and I rarely get more outrageous than that - but it's true!)
Actually I watched a TED tv video on featuring our simliarities and disimilarities to apes by an active environmentalist. She was the founder of the grassroots organisation called Shoots. As she explained her travels around the world and the terrible vision and plight of many environments, she also impressed upon everyone how bleak we all feel it is (especially the current Gen X beginning to take the reigns of control) However, with Shoots, as people began their small movements everywhere across, how hope is slowly returning. As people clean the rivers in their towns, and protect the wildlife near their place, there is hope that we as a humanity will be able to manage this large scale.
I think this goes for everyone and all situations. Yes you want something that appears out of reach. But everyone who has reached out for something unreachable and gotten it, has always first had the idea that they could do it. And that's what we need contemplation for. To see it, to feel it and to set out in faith we can get there.
So yes contemplation is the way! But use it wisely. The mind is like a muscle, it needs to be worked and trained. And since our entire reality is fed through to us in our mind, how important is it for us to strengthen it? "The eyes are the windows of the soul, but if the eyes are dark, how great is that darkness? But if the eyes are full of light! How great is that light?!" And you know what? Not to take the analogy to far, but it is us who choose whether to open the curtains are not. No situation holds any intrinsic value save for the perceptions and judgements we choose to ascribe it.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Contemplation is the way!
At first, I wanted to blog about our need for control following my blog on money. Money is but one of the big things feeding into our need for control/power. Power is the essence that we all crave for. It provides everything at once.
But!
I came across a question that I thought worth more than my ramblings on power. During the Wednesday night discussions, a friend asked, "Is contemplation the way that our world will be saved?" My answer to that is ABSOLUTELY.
All of us, should be thinking about our lives. When was the last time we stood back and asked the question - Am I happy? Am I bored? Am I thankful for what I have? Am I doing the right thing? Am I believing in the right thing? Am I living the life I dreamed of? The most common people don't make timetables is because they claim to be too busy!... Isn't it ironic? Does that spill over to other things as well? I can't think about being happy because I'm too busy being unhappy...
Then once recognising our situation - we should be asking how to solve the problems! How to lose weight, how to be happy, how to enjoy life, how to make our time worthwhile, where is the happiness in our lives coming from? So many questions for us to ask, raising even more questions and the answers taking their time to come.
I do not believe anyone is truly evil. I do not think we go out of our way to hurt ourselves or others naturally. However, growing up, our experiences and the condition of our society can breed pathological natures. It is only by thinking and forming our thoughts and natures within, gaining control over our emotions (amplifying the good ones, diminshing the nasty ones) and control over our thoughts can we grow, mature and change humanity on every level (personal, communal and global). It doesn't matter what level of intellect, income or influence you possess - contemplation is available and accessible to all of us.
The very name of this blog - the listening point is about that. It is a point that we can be quiet and listen to the world around us. To think about what it is trying to tell us and the questions we are asking of it. So, I urge everyone who chances across these words to practice them and to tell those around us to do so. To quest for those questions and those answers that are for more important than our constant scurrying around being unhappy, unfulfilled and unglorious.
But!
I came across a question that I thought worth more than my ramblings on power. During the Wednesday night discussions, a friend asked, "Is contemplation the way that our world will be saved?" My answer to that is ABSOLUTELY.
All of us, should be thinking about our lives. When was the last time we stood back and asked the question - Am I happy? Am I bored? Am I thankful for what I have? Am I doing the right thing? Am I believing in the right thing? Am I living the life I dreamed of? The most common people don't make timetables is because they claim to be too busy!... Isn't it ironic? Does that spill over to other things as well? I can't think about being happy because I'm too busy being unhappy...
Then once recognising our situation - we should be asking how to solve the problems! How to lose weight, how to be happy, how to enjoy life, how to make our time worthwhile, where is the happiness in our lives coming from? So many questions for us to ask, raising even more questions and the answers taking their time to come.
I do not believe anyone is truly evil. I do not think we go out of our way to hurt ourselves or others naturally. However, growing up, our experiences and the condition of our society can breed pathological natures. It is only by thinking and forming our thoughts and natures within, gaining control over our emotions (amplifying the good ones, diminshing the nasty ones) and control over our thoughts can we grow, mature and change humanity on every level (personal, communal and global). It doesn't matter what level of intellect, income or influence you possess - contemplation is available and accessible to all of us.
The very name of this blog - the listening point is about that. It is a point that we can be quiet and listen to the world around us. To think about what it is trying to tell us and the questions we are asking of it. So, I urge everyone who chances across these words to practice them and to tell those around us to do so. To quest for those questions and those answers that are for more important than our constant scurrying around being unhappy, unfulfilled and unglorious.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The concept of money
How much is enough? At what point does a person say they have enough money?
More and more, those living in developed nations are beginning to realise that money and the consumer lifestyle just isn’t doing it for them anymore. A kind of despair has taken over the faithful of the pursuit of wealth. Simply put, the pursuit of wealth doesn’t make them a lot happier.
As we watch the businessmen die from stress, stroke, heart disease and we wonder how they sleep at night with their consciences, followed by the celebrities dying from drug abuse, alcohol intake, psychosis as the hip hop artists ironically sing of the tragedy in their hoods – some of us begin to wonder if being ultra-rich is all it’s cut out to be.
We need to get money right. We need to know it’s place and put it there. Probably this arena needs a lot more thought and cleaning up, but here’s where I got to so far.
Money speaks to us on two levels; needs and wants.
The first one is our necessities. We need a certain amount of money to ensure that we are living healthily. This is an important aspect and much of the world is still trying to reach this level. However, many people have reached this level and are still striving for money. This is action is bred due to an insecurity concerning money brought over from the time where we had to strive to achieve that actual level of survival. This constant fear that we will lose that money and return to instability can be very hurtful to a person (just as any constant anxiety or fear can be).
Just like saving money is a good practice to teach our kids, we should also teach our kids not to fear it. Cultivating an understanding of what is enough will increase our efficiency of earning vs living. The second system that needs to be in place is in our policies and government, where if we can reduce the cost and ensure the availability of needs for everyone – the limit for essential wealth is reduced.
The second level is that of our wants. Sometimes, instead of being driven by a fear of lack of money, we can instead be driven by an overload of money. Like many things, too much or too little of a medium can be unhealthy. Many people believe that money can buy them everything. While it can buy them luxuries, it is rare that luxuries bring happiness. The centres of happiness and fulfilment are lit by (as neuroscientists are beginning to discover)from many other activities such as deserved treats (chocolate :D), adorable things, connecting with others (conversation, shared activities, similar values, similar plights and goals, sex (the kind that betters a relationship)), a sense of belonging, a sense of achievements, a sense of helping, a sense of appreciation and a sense of learning and growth. Many of these do not require too much money at all. As portrayed on the graph in the lecture by Nic Marks, some of the happiest places are not the richest. And the richest places stagnate at a certain point of happiness, regardless of wealth.
Money is one of those things we really need to get a grasp of. I suggest that all governments and people should strive to figure out a healthy idea of money and teach it to our children and introduce that concept in our lives that we no longer live in fear and in addiction to its potency.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Just about everything I would like to say - courtesy of TED tv
I am so relieved to see a video like this. It makes me hopeful that we as a humanity have indeed reached a stage where globally we can talk about changing our mindsets. I really don't have anything to add on the matter. I hope all of you will take the time to watch and digest this talk. I reckon this should be sent to every single politician and businessman on this earth.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
My Memetic Theory
Ever considered that an idea was a living organism? They replicate from mind to mind. They fight over resources (us) and form all kinds of weapons in order to survive. They are symbiotic, parasitic, territorial and predatory. In the book Genesis by Bernard Beckett, he postulates that the meme is the most advanced form of life - the most advanced form of a replicating being.
But perhaps, we won't go into that today.
I'm here to suggest that ideas can be at least analogous (that means taking close similarity) to life forms. Also, I think that ideas cluster together naturally. Certain ideas like to coexist with other ideas alongside. Some are dependent upon the other idea being there. Every person then, is an ideology (a cluster of ideas). Amongst every ideology, I have always wondered what the main ideas are - meaning, I theorise that without a particular idea(s), the ideology would not hold and be forced to change.
These core ideas (maybe more people call them prime directives?) determine what that person does in life. I also believe, that these core ideas are very wide spread. Entire nations and cultures will share similar prime directives. Our world might run on fewer than ten prime directives? This is just a shot in the dark. Unfortunately, I do not think there is a lot of research into this area.
But assuming that an idea can then turn to be the guiding principle of all humanity, what sort of world does that build?
This is where I continue from my last post (Marxism), the core principle(s) build the world around us. Looking at our current economical system there are a few motivating forces we have built this upon: our insistence upon individualism (although evolutionarily and historically we probably arose from a very small knit social states), the need and worship of money and our assumption that no other human being is to be trusted (especially with out money!)
Core principles might also have another funny criteria - I'm not sure they can coexist or morph into one another.
This came from our discussion of the world as it is today - driven by currency. One idea, is that we need to take things incrementally. That change was a slow process, through much trial and error. I think this is a very sound and practical way of seeing things. There is another method of change though, radical change: revolution.
My assumption is this, if the core principles do not change, then any gradual change that does occur is still within the boundaries of the core principle. The change might not be sufficient to achieve our ends in mind. That means, another core principle has to invade in order for the actual change to occur. What happens then is memetic warfare, that can often translate into physical warfare.
There is a theory that every nation moving from one state of development to another, often goes through a revolution of sorts. Often bloody and always painful. What I think this is, is two core principles suddenly fighting over the resources.
When trying to change a system right, everything gets overturned. Why? Simply because, no two ideologies build the same system. You can't try mimic one ideology's system while maintaining a different core principle. Everything builds out from the core.
After reading a book (this one by atheists concerning the origins of sexuality and human nature) and discussing with Christians (regarding how the Chistian faith would build the world), I realised that neither would fit in with today's world. Both though offered lifestyles and benefits to the human race that we are working very hard towards! (an end to lonliness, more sex!, (by the atheists), greater spiritual awareness, less anxiety and a greater purpose (by the Christians) and increased health and joy (by both!)
Yet as long as we work within the frame of our current ideology, neither world is going to be realised.
What is this blog about? As information transfer increases, the memes replicate faster. Our world will eventually become a global culture. Maybe 50 years from now. Maybe 1000 years from now. I do not know. But I believe a single dominating set of core principles will take over the earth (or at least in majority) as all the memetic ecosystems start to merge. The internecine war that we have witnessed again and again within communites, countries and nations of memetic dominance is going to happen in cyberspace and it will be a much larger memetic clash than any before. Our future (or more rightly our future culture) is going to be the result of this clash.
What sort of world will we build then? I would like this blog to help contribute to the memetic fight. I don't believe that our world has it right. So let us change our core principles. Easier said than done of course. Maybe the incremental way will prove the right way? But even incrementally, we needs must start changing some principles. If we can sort out what will help us and what won't perhaps we will refine our future culture.
A stronger world, a better world starts today. I urge all of you out there to think. Think hard about what makes you you. What are your core principles? Could you lead a greater life? Could you help even in the smallest to make this world a better place?
But perhaps, we won't go into that today.
I'm here to suggest that ideas can be at least analogous (that means taking close similarity) to life forms. Also, I think that ideas cluster together naturally. Certain ideas like to coexist with other ideas alongside. Some are dependent upon the other idea being there. Every person then, is an ideology (a cluster of ideas). Amongst every ideology, I have always wondered what the main ideas are - meaning, I theorise that without a particular idea(s), the ideology would not hold and be forced to change.
These core ideas (maybe more people call them prime directives?) determine what that person does in life. I also believe, that these core ideas are very wide spread. Entire nations and cultures will share similar prime directives. Our world might run on fewer than ten prime directives? This is just a shot in the dark. Unfortunately, I do not think there is a lot of research into this area.
But assuming that an idea can then turn to be the guiding principle of all humanity, what sort of world does that build?
This is where I continue from my last post (Marxism), the core principle(s) build the world around us. Looking at our current economical system there are a few motivating forces we have built this upon: our insistence upon individualism (although evolutionarily and historically we probably arose from a very small knit social states), the need and worship of money and our assumption that no other human being is to be trusted (especially with out money!)
Core principles might also have another funny criteria - I'm not sure they can coexist or morph into one another.
This came from our discussion of the world as it is today - driven by currency. One idea, is that we need to take things incrementally. That change was a slow process, through much trial and error. I think this is a very sound and practical way of seeing things. There is another method of change though, radical change: revolution.
My assumption is this, if the core principles do not change, then any gradual change that does occur is still within the boundaries of the core principle. The change might not be sufficient to achieve our ends in mind. That means, another core principle has to invade in order for the actual change to occur. What happens then is memetic warfare, that can often translate into physical warfare.
There is a theory that every nation moving from one state of development to another, often goes through a revolution of sorts. Often bloody and always painful. What I think this is, is two core principles suddenly fighting over the resources.
When trying to change a system right, everything gets overturned. Why? Simply because, no two ideologies build the same system. You can't try mimic one ideology's system while maintaining a different core principle. Everything builds out from the core.
After reading a book (this one by atheists concerning the origins of sexuality and human nature) and discussing with Christians (regarding how the Chistian faith would build the world), I realised that neither would fit in with today's world. Both though offered lifestyles and benefits to the human race that we are working very hard towards! (an end to lonliness, more sex!, (by the atheists), greater spiritual awareness, less anxiety and a greater purpose (by the Christians) and increased health and joy (by both!)
Yet as long as we work within the frame of our current ideology, neither world is going to be realised.
What is this blog about? As information transfer increases, the memes replicate faster. Our world will eventually become a global culture. Maybe 50 years from now. Maybe 1000 years from now. I do not know. But I believe a single dominating set of core principles will take over the earth (or at least in majority) as all the memetic ecosystems start to merge. The internecine war that we have witnessed again and again within communites, countries and nations of memetic dominance is going to happen in cyberspace and it will be a much larger memetic clash than any before. Our future (or more rightly our future culture) is going to be the result of this clash.
What sort of world will we build then? I would like this blog to help contribute to the memetic fight. I don't believe that our world has it right. So let us change our core principles. Easier said than done of course. Maybe the incremental way will prove the right way? But even incrementally, we needs must start changing some principles. If we can sort out what will help us and what won't perhaps we will refine our future culture.
A stronger world, a better world starts today. I urge all of you out there to think. Think hard about what makes you you. What are your core principles? Could you lead a greater life? Could you help even in the smallest to make this world a better place?
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Speaking with some dentists positively
Yesterday, I went to a little forum of dentists. Admittedly I often avoid dental gatherings. I feel uncomfortable with them (despite being one) because I don't feel that that's where I belong. My eyes begin to glaze over when they talk about further studies and specialising and treatment plans for too long a period of time.
However, for the first time I actually had a lot of fun talking to these guys! Why? Because they were unique dentists, in that they weren't doing it for the money. Don't get me wrong, these guys each are payed pretty well, but not that fabled amounts of money possibly achieved.
I'm glad to have found dentists who could say, "I don't mind spending a lot of time with a patient to get them through something - even though that means less dollar for my hour." It's so refreshing after hearing so many dentists only go on and on about time vs amount gained issues.
However, for the first time I actually had a lot of fun talking to these guys! Why? Because they were unique dentists, in that they weren't doing it for the money. Don't get me wrong, these guys each are payed pretty well, but not that fabled amounts of money possibly achieved.
I'm glad to have found dentists who could say, "I don't mind spending a lot of time with a patient to get them through something - even though that means less dollar for my hour." It's so refreshing after hearing so many dentists only go on and on about time vs amount gained issues.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Marxism (Capitalism, Communism and Socialism too!)
Through a conversation with my friend regarding the current politics in Australia (they've hung the parliament for the first time since World War 2) we fell into discussing the type of governing system we would prefer to live under. For those who are a little fuzzy over the terms, here's a review in a nutshell:
Capitalism: Everyone makes as much money as possible. The government tries to involve itself minimally. The poor have to ekk it out on their own.
Communism: The government owns everything. All businesses are controlled by the government. You are given as much as they think you deserve. (I am unsure if there any pure communist countries left)
Socialism: The more money you make, the greater your taxes. The less money you make the greater the government hand out.
Well, this is more a question for the economists than us philosophers perhaps, but what sort of system is the best? I believe there are entire schools of debate upon this matter.
However, despite the Cold War (the ideological war of Communism and Capitalism, fought largely by America and Russia on foreign soil) and America's insistence upon Capitalism being the perfect system, I believe today we can openly see how it has failed in several major aspects. One only has to do a small amount of research into its health system (try looking at the amount an average person pays over their life span in comparison to any other country in the world) and certain numbers are shocking.
What of communism? Did that work? I think it fair to say that true Communism, the type that Marx (the purported founder of communism) suggested never came to be. Perhaps, within our current economic system, cannot come to be? But Marx wasn't describing so much a system as a flow of events. He observed how riches and power became more and more decentralised as a nation became more modern. From the king to the priests, from the priests to the lords, the lords to the politicians - and he was hoping from the politicians to the people. That last step by and large has not come about (or maybe power has shifted instead to large corporations and businesses?)
Socialism goes a little bit along the way of Marxism. Not in terms of power or wealth but socialist countries try, at least, to ensure everyone has the basics. Agreed, there are myriad ways to abuse the system and so far, I don't believe it has completely irradicated crime and poverty. But here, we begin to see, what humans do when perhaps not so pressured by the need to survive (i.e. generate money). We also see interesting subcultures that only present in socialist countries. My personal favourite is the beach bum culture in Australia, who live to surf, sun, sex and have little of anything else. How would we all live if we were guaranteed all the basics of life?
Continuing this discussion with another group of friends, this time a more religious group, economic systems proved a rather trying and taxing riddle. Economists themselves are often arguing many points amongst themselves and I've heard it more than once that no one actually has a completely functioning economic theory. Maybe it is a little like physics, the extreme conditions do not conform to the general laws? So a group of people approaching it from a religious view have a difficult conundrum indeed.
Firstly, religion (save maybe in the askance of donations and funds) have not truly given any guideline to the economy. So, being unequiped to tackle the problem we are left to follow moral principles that our religion has set out and hope this to be the best.
I think this is true irregardless of which religion and still true for everyone around us who simply don't understand economy or politics (irregardless of the presence of religion!) We are often being asked to vote upon or nominate something whose complexity is deep enough to rival that of particle physics! What happens in most cases, unable to make an informed vote for the benefit of all (since no outcome is certain), we are left to vote for which party will give us the most money. (If money is considered a religion too, then this still follows above stated principle neatly: we follow the mandates of our religion - case in point: make more money!)
Further reflection with the group we came upon the interesting subject matter, that Jesus (and might I add even Buddha and Muhammad? And perhaps people could suggest other learned characters giving people meaning to life) never gave anyone an economic system to follow... But the economy is a large demanding kind of beast and affects more than just us humans on the planet. Can we actually ignore it?
I think I'll stop the post on that note. But I intend to continue that last line of thought on with a matter close to my heart, soon.
This is an extraordinarily large topic and I would love for anyone who has something to say to respond. Maybe some wise economists could enlighten us all with some insights?
Capitalism: Everyone makes as much money as possible. The government tries to involve itself minimally. The poor have to ekk it out on their own.
Communism: The government owns everything. All businesses are controlled by the government. You are given as much as they think you deserve. (I am unsure if there any pure communist countries left)
Socialism: The more money you make, the greater your taxes. The less money you make the greater the government hand out.
Well, this is more a question for the economists than us philosophers perhaps, but what sort of system is the best? I believe there are entire schools of debate upon this matter.
However, despite the Cold War (the ideological war of Communism and Capitalism, fought largely by America and Russia on foreign soil) and America's insistence upon Capitalism being the perfect system, I believe today we can openly see how it has failed in several major aspects. One only has to do a small amount of research into its health system (try looking at the amount an average person pays over their life span in comparison to any other country in the world) and certain numbers are shocking.
What of communism? Did that work? I think it fair to say that true Communism, the type that Marx (the purported founder of communism) suggested never came to be. Perhaps, within our current economic system, cannot come to be? But Marx wasn't describing so much a system as a flow of events. He observed how riches and power became more and more decentralised as a nation became more modern. From the king to the priests, from the priests to the lords, the lords to the politicians - and he was hoping from the politicians to the people. That last step by and large has not come about (or maybe power has shifted instead to large corporations and businesses?)
Socialism goes a little bit along the way of Marxism. Not in terms of power or wealth but socialist countries try, at least, to ensure everyone has the basics. Agreed, there are myriad ways to abuse the system and so far, I don't believe it has completely irradicated crime and poverty. But here, we begin to see, what humans do when perhaps not so pressured by the need to survive (i.e. generate money). We also see interesting subcultures that only present in socialist countries. My personal favourite is the beach bum culture in Australia, who live to surf, sun, sex and have little of anything else. How would we all live if we were guaranteed all the basics of life?
Continuing this discussion with another group of friends, this time a more religious group, economic systems proved a rather trying and taxing riddle. Economists themselves are often arguing many points amongst themselves and I've heard it more than once that no one actually has a completely functioning economic theory. Maybe it is a little like physics, the extreme conditions do not conform to the general laws? So a group of people approaching it from a religious view have a difficult conundrum indeed.
Firstly, religion (save maybe in the askance of donations and funds) have not truly given any guideline to the economy. So, being unequiped to tackle the problem we are left to follow moral principles that our religion has set out and hope this to be the best.
I think this is true irregardless of which religion and still true for everyone around us who simply don't understand economy or politics (irregardless of the presence of religion!) We are often being asked to vote upon or nominate something whose complexity is deep enough to rival that of particle physics! What happens in most cases, unable to make an informed vote for the benefit of all (since no outcome is certain), we are left to vote for which party will give us the most money. (If money is considered a religion too, then this still follows above stated principle neatly: we follow the mandates of our religion - case in point: make more money!)
Further reflection with the group we came upon the interesting subject matter, that Jesus (and might I add even Buddha and Muhammad? And perhaps people could suggest other learned characters giving people meaning to life) never gave anyone an economic system to follow... But the economy is a large demanding kind of beast and affects more than just us humans on the planet. Can we actually ignore it?
I think I'll stop the post on that note. But I intend to continue that last line of thought on with a matter close to my heart, soon.
This is an extraordinarily large topic and I would love for anyone who has something to say to respond. Maybe some wise economists could enlighten us all with some insights?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Fisherman and the Businessman
I like this story:
Once upon a time, not too long ago, a rich business man decided he had had enough of a particular stressful situation and took a trip to South America to enjoy the beaches. On the first day of his trip he got a call at four in the morning regarding some overseas business that was going badly. Stressed and unable to get back to sleep he decided to take a walk along the beach at dawn.
As he walked a long the beach, he happened to chance a fisherman coming back with his catch in the early hours. He walked up to the boat and saw many beautiful, large fish. He praised the fisherman for his skill and asked him how long he had been doing this. The fisherman said that he had been fishing for a long time, ever since he was a child and could follow his father out to sea.
The businessman asked what the fisherman did in his normal day. In the early mornings, the fisherman would go out to sea to fish. He would then come back and sell his catch to the lorry men to bring to the market that morning. He would then spend the afternoon napping, fixing his nets and equipment and play with his children. In the evenings, he liked to go to a small get together, sip wine and play the guitar.
The businessman asked whether with his profits the fisherman had ever wondered if he wanted to expand his business? The fisherman said, "No, what would I do to expand my business?
The businessman the drew himself up and said, "Why, you could be a very rich man. First you'd hire a few more of your friends to fish for you. Then you'd buy larger boats and fish even more fish."
The fisherman said that would be nice, but then what?
"Then," the businessman continued, "you'd start up a company and export your goods, you'd own the transport and packaging business to send your fish to markets and supermarkets all over and invest in properties and stocks."
The fisherman said and then what would I do?
"Then?" the businessman exclaimed, "Well then you'd sell the shares of the company and eventually sell the whole thing off. It'll be millions of dollars."
And then?
"And then you could nap in the afternoon, mend your nets and equipment, play with your children, sip wine and play the guitar with your friends."
Once upon a time, not too long ago, a rich business man decided he had had enough of a particular stressful situation and took a trip to South America to enjoy the beaches. On the first day of his trip he got a call at four in the morning regarding some overseas business that was going badly. Stressed and unable to get back to sleep he decided to take a walk along the beach at dawn.
As he walked a long the beach, he happened to chance a fisherman coming back with his catch in the early hours. He walked up to the boat and saw many beautiful, large fish. He praised the fisherman for his skill and asked him how long he had been doing this. The fisherman said that he had been fishing for a long time, ever since he was a child and could follow his father out to sea.
The businessman asked what the fisherman did in his normal day. In the early mornings, the fisherman would go out to sea to fish. He would then come back and sell his catch to the lorry men to bring to the market that morning. He would then spend the afternoon napping, fixing his nets and equipment and play with his children. In the evenings, he liked to go to a small get together, sip wine and play the guitar.
The businessman asked whether with his profits the fisherman had ever wondered if he wanted to expand his business? The fisherman said, "No, what would I do to expand my business?
The businessman the drew himself up and said, "Why, you could be a very rich man. First you'd hire a few more of your friends to fish for you. Then you'd buy larger boats and fish even more fish."
The fisherman said that would be nice, but then what?
"Then," the businessman continued, "you'd start up a company and export your goods, you'd own the transport and packaging business to send your fish to markets and supermarkets all over and invest in properties and stocks."
The fisherman said and then what would I do?
"Then?" the businessman exclaimed, "Well then you'd sell the shares of the company and eventually sell the whole thing off. It'll be millions of dollars."
And then?
"And then you could nap in the afternoon, mend your nets and equipment, play with your children, sip wine and play the guitar with your friends."
An interesting juxtaposition
Often, we know that there are wrong things going on in our world. From our small office politics to mass hunger and genocide in some other god forsaken land. Most of the time, we don't know what to do about it. Most of us are not cruel people, but the effort to make a difference is a large and taxing one (whether it is to let go of office politics or help solve world hunger). So, we have no choice then but to accept it.
And we return to the system that we live in. This is where I think we can make a difference. Firstly we need to recognise that we do live in a broken and hurtful system. What is this system? It is simply our economic system. And our economic system doesn't work just upon money - it works upon the potential that money promises - it works upon power and the need for it. We are all working to increase our power within society - for whatever our purposes are.
Our power/economical system then, by its definition draws up a kind of ladder of life. It polarises wealth and power exponentially into its top percentage. We work most of our lives trying to climb the ladder. The system also is hurtful because it ignores many other aspects of our lives - emotional/spiritual/relationships/moral etc.
Consider the system you live in and contribute to. What are its foci and what does it ask you to aspire to? Does it ignore or reduce the importance of any aspects of your life?
Here is an amusing excersice to try. I did this with a group of young adults as we started our discussion group (I was a participant not a coordinator). We were directed to first list a few things that were wrong with the world today.
There were many things listed as what was wrong with the world. Selfishness, greed, anxiety for material stability, sickness, the rich and poor divide etc.
Then we put up on board just below it what the idea of a great person was. A great person (someone we might be jealous of or aspire to be) was often - male, rich, influential, good looking, charismatic, powerful, intelligent, rational, etc. This great person though, is often a great person of the system.
We realized then, a great person did not actually alleviate or concern themselves with what was wrong with the world. Of course, there were and are great individuals who have done otherwise - Mother Theresa for example. But our general idea of the great person was not helping the planet. In many cases they support and contribute to the current system.
Many people strive for what the 'great' people have. Once again that is power. That is what the system promises.
Power to be free of life's constant worries. Power to divulge into any craving you might have. Power to choose as you wish without concerning yourself with others - or at least choose how much you want to concern yourself with it.
It then behooves us to contemplate the nature of power. So my question today is this:
What is the nature of power? Is it something we should be striving for? How much power do we need? How much money do you need? Does it help the world at all? Does it perpetuate the system, and thus increase what is wrong with the world? Does having a lot of power in your life make it a better life? Does it build trust, love, friendships, life? Does not by definition power mean some of us are weaker?
And we return to the system that we live in. This is where I think we can make a difference. Firstly we need to recognise that we do live in a broken and hurtful system. What is this system? It is simply our economic system. And our economic system doesn't work just upon money - it works upon the potential that money promises - it works upon power and the need for it. We are all working to increase our power within society - for whatever our purposes are.
Our power/economical system then, by its definition draws up a kind of ladder of life. It polarises wealth and power exponentially into its top percentage. We work most of our lives trying to climb the ladder. The system also is hurtful because it ignores many other aspects of our lives - emotional/spiritual/relationships/moral etc.
Consider the system you live in and contribute to. What are its foci and what does it ask you to aspire to? Does it ignore or reduce the importance of any aspects of your life?
Here is an amusing excersice to try. I did this with a group of young adults as we started our discussion group (I was a participant not a coordinator). We were directed to first list a few things that were wrong with the world today.
There were many things listed as what was wrong with the world. Selfishness, greed, anxiety for material stability, sickness, the rich and poor divide etc.
Then we put up on board just below it what the idea of a great person was. A great person (someone we might be jealous of or aspire to be) was often - male, rich, influential, good looking, charismatic, powerful, intelligent, rational, etc. This great person though, is often a great person of the system.
We realized then, a great person did not actually alleviate or concern themselves with what was wrong with the world. Of course, there were and are great individuals who have done otherwise - Mother Theresa for example. But our general idea of the great person was not helping the planet. In many cases they support and contribute to the current system.
Many people strive for what the 'great' people have. Once again that is power. That is what the system promises.
Power to be free of life's constant worries. Power to divulge into any craving you might have. Power to choose as you wish without concerning yourself with others - or at least choose how much you want to concern yourself with it.
It then behooves us to contemplate the nature of power. So my question today is this:
What is the nature of power? Is it something we should be striving for? How much power do we need? How much money do you need? Does it help the world at all? Does it perpetuate the system, and thus increase what is wrong with the world? Does having a lot of power in your life make it a better life? Does it build trust, love, friendships, life? Does not by definition power mean some of us are weaker?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
As I start...
I am sitting at my computer with a little bit of a cough.Because I didn't want to infect all my patients with whatever germ it is I've picked up, I didn't go to work today.
Since I'm stuck here at home, I thought I would make a start on this project. Let me start by saying this. I have very few answers but many many questions. But these questions I would like more and more and more people to start asking too. I do not care who you are or where you are. You should be asking these questions. Whether you have to pay the bills, feed the baby, go shopping, train in the army, build your business empire, go shopping with your friends, get drunk or whatever it is you are about to do - I want you to stop and listen. Even if for just a moment to ask yourself these questions. Let me begin.
Over the last few weeks I have been having discussions with many people from many walks of life. I would like to start with a simple question.
Is there something wrong with the world today?
Looking at it from a global point of view, the answer is a resounding YES. We have wars, poverty, hunger, destruction of the environment, child labor and prostitution, obesity, depression, astounding rates of divorce, violence in homes - the list is endless. Most of these problems are ones we have created ourselves. Some of these problems, could be completely solved tomorrow. Yes, you heard me. Tomorrow.
Isn't that curious. We have the ability to stop a problem - but we don't. What is wrong with us?
If I twisted the question slightly; is there something wrong with you(us) today? Some of us would say yes and others no. Some of us are perfectly happy individuals, who by and large do not break any laws, do not go out of our way to make people suffer, love and care for our family and friends and lead healthy productive lives. How is it, if that individually we are doing okay, that the earth is then in this condition?
Could it be we are all equally responsible for the way the world is? Is it possible that leading our law abiding lives is simply not good enough? Just maybe, are the lives we are living wrong?
Nothing is disconnected from the other. Today, decisions made in any place has ripple effects through the whole planet. The structures that support our lifestyle. The work we have to do that support these structures, perpetuate the condition of our planet. And we are all part of that economy. All of our actions and all of our lifestyles sum up to the world and what it is today. Every. Single. One.
I would like to put forward these two questions to you.
Is there something wrong with the world?
Is there something wrong with us, individually?
Please feel free to comment. Argue. Put something controversial. Put something meaningful. Put something trivial. As long as you have stopped to consider the question that is what is important. Also, go out there and discuss! Blog about this on your own blog. Tweet about it. Put it on your Facebook walls. Discuss it with your friends, your family, your colleagues, your teachers.
We as a humanity have reached a point where it is high time we stopped and listened. All of us.
Since I'm stuck here at home, I thought I would make a start on this project. Let me start by saying this. I have very few answers but many many questions. But these questions I would like more and more and more people to start asking too. I do not care who you are or where you are. You should be asking these questions. Whether you have to pay the bills, feed the baby, go shopping, train in the army, build your business empire, go shopping with your friends, get drunk or whatever it is you are about to do - I want you to stop and listen. Even if for just a moment to ask yourself these questions. Let me begin.
Over the last few weeks I have been having discussions with many people from many walks of life. I would like to start with a simple question.
Is there something wrong with the world today?
Looking at it from a global point of view, the answer is a resounding YES. We have wars, poverty, hunger, destruction of the environment, child labor and prostitution, obesity, depression, astounding rates of divorce, violence in homes - the list is endless. Most of these problems are ones we have created ourselves. Some of these problems, could be completely solved tomorrow. Yes, you heard me. Tomorrow.
Isn't that curious. We have the ability to stop a problem - but we don't. What is wrong with us?
If I twisted the question slightly; is there something wrong with you(us) today? Some of us would say yes and others no. Some of us are perfectly happy individuals, who by and large do not break any laws, do not go out of our way to make people suffer, love and care for our family and friends and lead healthy productive lives. How is it, if that individually we are doing okay, that the earth is then in this condition?
Could it be we are all equally responsible for the way the world is? Is it possible that leading our law abiding lives is simply not good enough? Just maybe, are the lives we are living wrong?
Nothing is disconnected from the other. Today, decisions made in any place has ripple effects through the whole planet. The structures that support our lifestyle. The work we have to do that support these structures, perpetuate the condition of our planet. And we are all part of that economy. All of our actions and all of our lifestyles sum up to the world and what it is today. Every. Single. One.
I would like to put forward these two questions to you.
Is there something wrong with the world?
Is there something wrong with us, individually?
Please feel free to comment. Argue. Put something controversial. Put something meaningful. Put something trivial. As long as you have stopped to consider the question that is what is important. Also, go out there and discuss! Blog about this on your own blog. Tweet about it. Put it on your Facebook walls. Discuss it with your friends, your family, your colleagues, your teachers.
We as a humanity have reached a point where it is high time we stopped and listened. All of us.
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