Guest guest Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 ONS I must say after much thought I agree with most of Ravi Chivukula's response to the article...thank you Ravi for your insights I found that I feel the similar as you 'only present is real'... Ravi Chivukula <ravichivukula wrote: I'm totally stumped as what is so special about this article. All revolutions are same regardless of the names - conservatism, liberalism, communism, fascism. Revolution says change the society, change the future and individuals change or lets change for a positive future and society. Spirituality is that society is a myth, future is a myth - only individuals exist, only present is real. Nothing is wrong with the world rather our perception of it. Once you change the world follows. My daily struggle is to change myself not in order for some better FUTURE but for a better PRESENT. The difference may seem subtle but is very different. Ammachi , Stacee Kramer <stacee.kramer wrote: > > ONS > > Here is the link again and the article mentioned in > the last post. > > > > http://www.charlotte.com/409/story/467521.html > > The serious work of creating a better future > To be agents of change, we must find courage to fight > our own cynicism > > MIKE WHITEHEAD > I have had some meaningful conversations lately. Not > about politics, strategy or economics, but > gut-wrenchingly honest discussions about the current > direction of our community, our nation and our world. > > Some of these talks have been with CEOs, politicians, > surgeons and attorneys, others with students, > ministers, community leaders and journalists. These > chats have educated me and given me great hope. > Because despite the appearance of insurmountable > differences of opinion and ideas, when it comes to > what's important to us, we have a lot in common. > > For example, these conversations have made it clear > that there's a lot of frustration and discouragement > about the direction of our society. The angry > exchanges we hear in the news and the silent > resignation of the people who choose to ignore it are > both symptoms of helplessness. > > Many of us also say that if we could, we would put an > immediate halt to the things we disagree with, and get > down to the serious business of creating a better > future for ourselves, our families and the world. But > would we, really? > > Because to get there takes some sacrifice. We have to > turn off the autopilot. Wake up. Flip the switch and > take the controls. We have to drive rather than be > driven -- by the next meeting or the next mortgage > payment. We have to be willing to look at our habits, > assumptions and perceptions to determine what we want > for our future and how to get there. > > The human race has a tendency to rely on what has > already happened as being the rule for the way things > should go. Sayings like " business as usual, " > " conventional wisdom " and " part of the system " > demonstrate why we feel helpless -- we are operating > under old rules but expecting different results. > > We cling to doubt, fear > > I found myself nodding in agreement when a > presidential candidate recently said " we are not just > up against the ingrained and destructive habits of > Washington, we are also struggling against our own > doubts, our own fears and our own cynicism. " While > doubt, fear and cynicism don't seem like enviable > qualities, we sometimes cling to them ferociously. > Otherwise we are compelled to look beyond our ticket, > our race, our income level or any other fragmented way > to look at the world. > > To do this, we must be willing to take the time to > look closely at ourselves. This way we can begin to > accept the possibility that we can be guilty of the > same behaviors that frustrate us about others. When we > can see this about ourselves, we can fully contribute > to the powerful conversation about improving our > community. > > However it can be awfully tempting to focus on trivial > matters -- to check on the score of the ball game, > think about what's for dinner or what's on TV, or > check our e-mail. This way we can avoid the whole > uncomfortable conversation -- both what frustrates us > about the world, and how we are avoiding it. > > This is why being intentional and living purposefully > takes a lot of courage. It can be uncomfortable and > messy. Sometimes we get stung by disappointment. But > to move toward a future worth hoping for, we have to > become capable of recognizing and embracing it when it > shows up. This means giving up the anger and judgment > of pessimism -- even for a moment -- so that we can > detect the subtle shifts that make real change > possible. > > Marsicano offers vision > > Sometimes a large shift occurs. Take, for example, the > announcement that the Foundation for the Carolinas, > one of the largest community foundations in the > country, with over $800 million in assets, is turning > its sights to civic leadership. CEO Michael Marsicano > has walked out on a ledge with a bold new vision for > improving the fabric of the community. > > This, like any new path, will be full of challenges -- > because that is the landscape of reality-making. New > ideas and social innovation only emerge when we are > willing to step out of the safety of the status quo > and risk becoming uncomfortable. > > Becoming larger than our own small desires and > preoccupations is a critical and recurring commitment, > and one that we are all eligible to make. Leaders > cannot create positive change on their own effort. > Engaged voices and committed people are soul of the > vision. > > As Gandhi said, " There go my people; I must run to > catch up with them for I am their leader. " > > We are the agents of change, in every choice we make > today. Living today toward a purpose gives us the > opportunity to be everything that we want to see in > the world. > > Community columnist Mike Whitehead is principal of > Whitehead Associates Inc., a leadership and culture > development consulting firm. Write him c/o The > Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230, or at > mike > > > -------------------------\ -------- > Semira E. Rose A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. " Just as food nourishes our body, selfless actions nourish our soul " - Sri Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) " The optimist sees the rose and not it's thorns, the pessimist stares at the thorns , oblivious of the rose " - Kahlil Gibran Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 1, 2008 Report Share Posted February 1, 2008 ONS, When I read this, I see that this writer is talking about the same thing that you feel is important. Masters such Ammachi put great emphasis on working to help all of humanity and society. It is only a step to focus on one's own spiritual growth..and it is usually through selfless service (Karma Yoga) that we can achieve this. Many masters sought only to serve others and did not at all pay attention to their own personal path. It seems the point being made by the person who sent the article to me is that this was found in a small local newspaper. (Love consciousness reaching the masses). This she felt inspiring because of the spiritual quality of the article. There are many great saints who were very pro-active in their day and even political. Writing letters to heads of state and country as well as other spiritual leaders who they felt were out of line and not following truth. Hildegard of Bingen is one such saint. And if I am not mistaken, Christ and Saint Francis had a bit of an edge to their persona's, even though they were shining examples of Love and Compassion. We are all One and should pray and work for world peace, regardless of whether or not we shall see it in this lifetime. (as Amma has said in the Movie Darshan) --- S Rose <enchantedserose wrote: > ONS I must say after much thought I agree with most > of Ravi Chivukula's response to the article...thank > you Ravi for your insights I found that I feel the > similar as you 'only present is real'... > > Ravi Chivukula <ravichivukula wrote: > I'm totally stumped as > what is so special about this article. > > All revolutions are same regardless of the names - > conservatism, > liberalism, communism, fascism. Revolution says > change the society, > change the future and individuals change or lets > change for a positive > future and society. > > Spirituality is that society is a myth, future is a > myth - only > individuals exist, only present is real. Nothing is > wrong with the world > rather our perception of it. Once you change the > world follows. My daily > struggle is to change myself not in order for some > better FUTURE but for > a better PRESENT. > > The difference may seem subtle but is very > different. > > Ammachi , Stacee Kramer > <stacee.kramer wrote: > > > > ONS > > > > Here is the link again and the article mentioned > in > > the last post. > > > > > > > > http://www.charlotte.com/409/story/467521.html > > > > The serious work of creating a better future > > To be agents of change, we must find courage to > fight > > our own cynicism > > > > MIKE WHITEHEAD > > I have had some meaningful conversations lately. > Not > > about politics, strategy or economics, but > > gut-wrenchingly honest discussions about the > current > > direction of our community, our nation and our > world. > > > > Some of these talks have been with CEOs, > politicians, > > surgeons and attorneys, others with students, > > ministers, community leaders and journalists. > These > > chats have educated me and given me great hope. > > Because despite the appearance of insurmountable > > differences of opinion and ideas, when it comes > to > > what's important to us, we have a lot in common. > > > > For example, these conversations have made it > clear > > that there's a lot of frustration and > discouragement > > about the direction of our society. The angry > > exchanges we hear in the news and the silent > > resignation of the people who choose to ignore it > are > > both symptoms of helplessness. > > > > Many of us also say that if we could, we would > put an > > immediate halt to the things we disagree with, > and get > > down to the serious business of creating a better > > future for ourselves, our families and the world. > But > > would we, really? > > > > Because to get there takes some sacrifice. We > have to > > turn off the autopilot. Wake up. Flip the switch > and > > take the controls. We have to drive rather than > be > > driven -- by the next meeting or the next > mortgage > > payment. We have to be willing to look at our > habits, > > assumptions and perceptions to determine what we > want > > for our future and how to get there. > > > > The human race has a tendency to rely on what has > > already happened as being the rule for the way > things > > should go. Sayings like " business as usual, " > > " conventional wisdom " and " part of the system " > > demonstrate why we feel helpless -- we are > operating > > under old rules but expecting different results. > > > > We cling to doubt, fear > > > > I found myself nodding in agreement when a > > presidential candidate recently said " we are not > just > > up against the ingrained and destructive habits > of > > Washington, we are also struggling against our > own > > doubts, our own fears and our own cynicism. " While > > doubt, fear and cynicism don't seem like enviable > > qualities, we sometimes cling to them > ferociously. > > Otherwise we are compelled to look beyond our > ticket, > > our race, our income level or any other > fragmented way > > to look at the world. > > > > To do this, we must be willing to take the time > to > > look closely at ourselves. This way we can begin > to > > accept the possibility that we can be guilty of > the > > same behaviors that frustrate us about others. > When we > > can see this about ourselves, we can fully > contribute > > to the powerful conversation about improving our > > community. > > > > However it can be awfully tempting to focus on > trivial > > matters -- to check on the score of the ball > game, > > think about what's for dinner or what's on TV, or > > check our e-mail. This way we can avoid the whole > > uncomfortable conversation -- both what > frustrates us > > about the world, and how we are avoiding it. > > > > This is why being intentional and living > purposefully > > takes a lot of courage. It can be uncomfortable > and > > messy. Sometimes we get stung by disappointment. > But > > to move toward a future worth hoping for, we have > to > > become capable of recognizing and embracing it > when it > > shows up. This means giving up the anger and > judgment > > of pessimism -- even for a moment -- so that we > can > > detect the subtle shifts that make real change > > possible. > > > > Marsicano offers vision > > > > Sometimes a large shift occurs. Take, for > example, the > > announcement that the Foundation for the > Carolinas, > > one of the largest community foundations in the > > country, with over $800 million in assets, is > turning > > its sights to civic leadership. CEO Michael > Marsicano > > has walked out on a ledge with a bold new vision > for > > improving the fabric of the community. > > > > This, like any new path, will be full of > challenges -- > > because that is the landscape of reality-making. > New > > ideas and social innovation only emerge when we > are > > willing to step out of the safety of the status > quo > > and risk becoming uncomfortable. > > > > Becoming larger than our own small desires and > > preoccupations is a critical and recurring > commitment, > > and one that we are all eligible to make. Leaders > > cannot create positive change on their own > effort. > > Engaged voices and committed people are soul of > the > === message truncated === Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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