Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

"The first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one’s self wise;
the second to profess it;
the third to despise Counsel."
- Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanak)

The very thought of finding modern truth in ancient wisdom came alive in my mind after I read Jonathan Haidt's 'Happiness Hypothesis'.
In the book, Mr Haidt examines ten ancient ideas which have been tested and qualified by modern science. He then extracts lessons that still apply in our modern lives.

The author states that the overwhelming availability and abundance of wisdom undermines the quality of our engagement in life.
This book is worth reading, and has been highlighted in The Walkabout in a previous post. The introduction and several chapter summaries are available for free download.

One of my favorite bloggers at Diasporadical recently wrote that the reason we cannot understand tradition is that we invariably look at it through modern eyes.

Whenever I spend an hour or two with senior citizens in my neighborhood, I usually consider that time precious. Their take on life and its attendant issues may seem at first glance a bit out of fashion.
They however have had the advantage of time, having lived through it all and seen times change. They may not have adapted their thinking, but their opinion surely does count.

That said, we may want to look back at the truths that still hold true regardless of how much has changed. Having an attitude that acknowledges and accommodates the notion that change does not necessarily invalidate the past puts us in a position of advantage - living in modern times, with history according us valuable life lessons.

Traditional practices, ancient sayings... even old people may well be representative of a past we feel we no longer need. They however have a place in our lives , giving us insights we can reflect on and wisdom that still holds true.

These are the things that define our heritage, that help us cherish the days gone by,  ancient wisdom that we can invariably rely on in our daily lives.

Chasing Happiness: Why not Wait and Let Happiness Follow You?

Power Up

It's interesting how we rediscover some things.

I have previously shared some stories I used to listen to on Family FM's (now Radio 316) 'Power Up', in both my [now defunct] Facebook Notes and past blog posts on The Walkabout.



Fable

 

The other day, I was reading the Sunday Nation and in Mutahi Ngunyi's article, I saw the full text of yet another story that was once shared on Power Up. It is from a fable by C. L. James.

Following is 'Chasing Happiness' for you. Be edified:

CHASING HAPPINESS

An old dog saw a puppy chasing its tail and asked, “why are you chasing your tail?” The young puppy replied, “I have mastered philosophy; I have solved the problems of the universe which no dog before me has solved; I have learnt that the best thing for a dog is happiness, and that happiness is in my tail. Therefore, I am chasing it, and when I catch it, I shall be happy.”

The old and seasoned dog stared at the little puppy and responded, “My son, I, too, have paid attention to the problems of the universe in my weak ways and I have formed some opinions.

I have realized that happiness is a fine thing for a dog. And that happiness is in my tail. However, I have also noticed that when I chase after it, it keeps running away from me, but when I go about my business as usual, it follows me.”

 

Precious Illusions

So, are you still chasing happiness?
Chances are, it'll still elude you just as the tail eluded the puppy.
Now is the time to get on with life, doing what is required of us, and purposing to add value both in our lives and those of others.

Only then will happiness follow us. It surely will.

Beyond Knowledge and Comfort Zones. Going the Extra Mile

[caption id="attachment_449" align="aligncenter" width="337" caption="Comfort Zones diminish our Potential"][/caption]

Real Heroes Go The Extra Mile

Over a decade ago when I was in Form Two, Ezra (my desk-mate) wrote a small list of attributes that make one a Real Hero. One of these things was that a real hero goes the extra mile.

This weekend, I met this lady who at one time, was the housekeeper in a Hall I resided in during my internal attachment at JKUAT. Looking back, we both remembered how she had then gone out of her way and assisted some of my classmates. She did go the extra mile at that time of crisis. We continually acknowledge her kindness, and are invariably indebted.

That extra effort to do something that is not a core part of our duty, something we cannot be compensated for, is what makes some people do extra-ordinary things.

And as we all know, the difference between extraordinary and ordinary is that 'little' extra.

Knowledge and Enlightenment

To know is to be aware. To be aware is good. But we all know that good is the enemy of great.

As mentioned in my earlier (comeback) post, I was inspired by Eric Ng'eno's Facebook Note about Knowledge, Strength, Love and Happiness. Following is an excerpt:

I love knowledge for its irony. It does not enlighten absolutely. It does not define the speed of darkness after mastering light. Knowledge just shifts the grounds and objects of belief. I never stop believing and I never stop doubting, but knowledge enables me to do both well, and to discern more wisely.

Ultimately, knowledge reveals the completeness of of both good and evil, of light and dark, of excellence and mediocrity, and the self fulfilling globe and cycle of the universe. And it leaves me lots of space to fill in with textures, hues, lines, scents and flavors of my election, which gives me identity and personality.

If therefore knowledge fails to reveal the absoluteness of virtues and vices, of values and ideals, if it shows, against my preference, that both good and evil are the reverse and obverse of my desires, interests and ambitions, yet it does not fail to affirm me as a man, a soul, a spirit; divine, magnificent and glorious.

That said, we still realize that good just ain't enough. Knowledge is not an end in itself.

Challenge Convention. Exit the Comfort Zone

Failure to act still remains the biggest threat to our progress. This comes about due to laxity or fearing to fail. For this reason, few ever venture into the unknown. The majority still laze around in their comfort zones.

To make a different in our personal or professional lives, we need to leave our comfort zones. We need to sometimes dare to be different and challenge convention.

Going the extra mile, acting on knowledge gained... these are the hallmarks of risk-taking. Needless to say, the future belongs to the risk-takers.

A Laugh is Worth a Hundred Groans in Any Market - Lighten Up!

Many years ago when I was in High School, all was not well. I had quite many problems and was nearly depressed. I'll spare you the poignant details, let's just say it was really bad at the time.

But then I shared. And a friend wrote me the note below, that did wonders and totally changed the way I handle most things in life.
I now know this "Lighten Up" note word for word, and it always works in my life. Hope you find it useful.

R U Still Down? Well, Lighten Up.

A LAUGH IS WORTH A HUNDRED GROANS IN ANY MARKET

As we become honest with ourselves, we can begin to see that we take most things in life too seriously. We view our jobs, our status, our possessions large and small - even life's little mishaps with far more seriousness than they deserve. The heart of the matter, of course, is that we tend to take ourselves too seriously.

While it's true many things need our serious attention, that doesn't mean we have to go about straight-faced and tight-lipped in all areas of our lives. When we are excessively concerned, we limit our ability to have fun, to be relaxed and happy - in short, enjoy life.

If we find ourselves taking everything too seriously - if we see that we're trying to manage things beyond our control - it's time we reorder our priorities asking ourselves, "What is really important?"

Perhaps then we can remember that we have a choice to either burden ourselves by viewing everything as 'serious' and therefore, probably negative, or to strive for a positive outlook, with the goal of enjoying life a day at a time as it unfolds.

Lighten Up!

This is for you who is going through a hard time. At a time when the outcome of some predicaments is most in doubt, it pays to lighten up, praying and hoping that all goes well. Because it almost invariably ends well.

Learn, share, and have that smile on your face. Lighten Up!

Communicate. Build Bridges. Interact with People

"Hope is the bridge that connects you to where you want to go
Faith assures you that the bridge will hold
Love gives you a reason to cross it."

Looking back at the days I was in college, I realize that life at the time accorded us many luxuries we cannot have in adult life.

Consider communication and friends. How often do you wish that you had the time to see someone, attend social events, make courtesy calls, make amends, or meet new people? With limited free time and increasing responsibilities, we often find ourselves alone.

Those we eventually interact with are the people who are a part of our daily lives - our colleagues in the office, neighbors at the estate or the people we fellowship with every Sunday. Yet, we still yearn to communicate.

Having listened to the Gospel album "Bridges: Songs of Unity and Purpose", about five years ago, I now realize how important it is to interact with like minded people and seek purpose in our unity. This album was released in July 1999. Its deep and inspired message however still lingers on. Get more details of this great collaborative music on eBay. This is music worth listening to.

BRIDGES

Some people believe bridges are designed to span chasms and to make possible passage over the impossible. They do span chasms, but more importantly, they encourage communication, making what is inaccessible accessible and what is foreign familiar.

Steel, concrete and wood are materials for bridge building of one kind. But introduction, familiarity and co-operation are building blocks for the human bridge.

Make familiar the foreign and encourage communication.

Remember if I were you and you were me, and if I am not afraid to touch your hand, you will reach for mine, we can stand together, stay together and even soar together as the raven and the dove.

And where there is desire, prayer and belief, all things are possible.

- PAUL WRIGHT (The Album 'Bridges' by various Gospel artists)

Now, go out there and start communicating. You may be surprised to find that those you need to communicate and bridge gaps with the most are the ones closest to you.
Communicate, and share the above words with your friends. You now believe and are inspired. Then do something about it.

Let us learn, share and grow together, in unity and purpose.

The Exorcist: The Mystery of Faith, and Our take on Inexplicable events

"I think that most people, take out of The Exorcist what they bring to it.
If you believe that the world is a dark and evil place, then the Exorcist will reinforce that.
But if you believe that there is a force for good..."- William Friedkin, Director of ‘The Exorcist’.

An Open Mind

In my last post on Movies to Watch, we focused on House of 9, where nine strangers are faced with very tough choices and insurmountable odds, all in a bid to survive. I emphasized the need to approach issues in life with an open mind, a mind ready to learn. If you watch Jonathan Haidt's TED talk about the moral mind, he talks about the same need to leave the moral matrix that usually makes us lose sight of objectivity in life. But I digress.

The Exorcist

The Exorcist is a horror film that was released in 1973. It's about the demonic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism conducted by two priests.

Both critically and commercially successful, The Exorcist has spawned Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Exorcist III, Exorcist: The Beginning, Possessed and The Ninth Configuration.

According to William Friedkin, the director of The Exorcist:

The Exorcist is a film about the mystery of faith, and I think the fact that it's endured for more than 25 years now, is due in large part, to what it leaves you with, after you've seen the film.

It starts with a brilliant screen play from an equally powerful novel by William Peter Blatty. And it's a story that can perhaps make you question your own value system, even your own sanity, because it strongly and realistically tries to make the case for spiritual forces in the universe - both good and evil.
But what you may not be aware of, is the fact that The Exorcist is based on a true story...

It took place in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1949, and was widely reported by the American press. When I saw the files at George Town University, pertaining to the actual case, I knew that this was going to be, or needed to be something more than just another horror film. This had to be a realistic film, about inexplicable events.

I've always thought that a film should first of all be an emotional experience. It should make you laugh, or cry or be scared. But it should also inspire and provoke you, and make you reflect.

Over the years, I think that most people, take out of The Exorcist what they bring to it. If you believe that the world is a dark and evil place, then The Exorcist will reinforce that. But if you believe that there is a force for good, that combats and eventually triumphs over evil, then you'll be taking out of the film, what we tried to put into it.

In any case, turn down the lights, turn up the sound, and enjoy the digitally remastered version of The Exorcist.

What more can I say? Unless you are really faint-hearted, watching this movie may prove to be an interesting, albeit very unconventional learning experience.
The onus is upon you, should you decide to watch this terrifying film. The ball is now in your court.

Choice: The blue pill, or the red pill?

So, you either take the blue pill, the story ends and we forget all about The Exorcist as you continue to believe whatever you want to believe. Otherwise, you can take the  red pill, and you get a chance to see just how deep this rabbit hole of faith, belief, inexplicable events, and spiritual forces really goes.

Let us all learn, share and get enlightened.

Beyond the Window: 'Seeing' the best for Others

The Human Condition

[caption id="attachment_43" align="alignright" width="280" caption="People walking on a Sandy Beach"][/caption]

The human condition is such that we have the innate ability to do whatever it takes to protect ourselves from harm. It is the self-preservation instinct. The instinct that ensures that a species does not become extinct.

Taken to another level, this is what made the marine iguanas of the Galapagos islands learn how to swim... and that is why they can actually change their body size to adapt to varying food conditions, with some reducing their length by as much as 20% when food is scarce... [read more].

Selfishness vs Self-preservation

With human beings however, there is usually a gray line when you try to separate selfishness from  self preservation. Many times, we are guided by the "each man for himself and God for us all mantra."

Way back in 1999, I listened to a story on Family FM's 'Power Up', about the need for selflessness and unconditional kindness in our lives. This story forever changed the way I interact with others, and it made me realize that a candle indeed loses none of its light by lighting up for others.

Following is the 'Beyond the Window' story. Be edified:

Beyond the Window

Two men shared a room in a hospital. One was an elderly man who was terminally ill. Cancer had destroyed most of his internal organs. This room was his final abode. He was counting down the days...

The other man was a fairly younger person. His was not a life threatening disease, bu the was bed-ridden all the same. He was in much pain though, and often screamed and wailed as pain got the better of him. The older man usually calmed him down.

These two men often talked. At the beginning, they engaged in small talk, as they got to know each other. As the days turned into weeks, they became really good friends. And when their stay in hospital extended into months, they became family.

[caption id="attachment_44" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="People enjoying themselves on the beach"][/caption]

The hospital room they were in was such that only the old man could look out the window. The younger man could not. The old man therefore used to narrate to his friend, what the view outside was. He would tell him how beautiful the beach outside was (this hospital was in a coastal town). He often said how he saw people walking on the sandy beach, how children were playing in the shallow waters and how birds flew in the blue sky. This would really pacify the younger man who was in debilitating pain most of the time.

These stories continued for several months, until one day, the old man gave a rather interesting story. He said that he saw a marching band on the beach. The children passed near enough for him to look at them, and they were waving at him. Unfortunately, he couldn't wave back because he was so weak. This particular description of the goings-on outside made the younger patient feel especially good.

The following morning, nurses came over to move the body of the old man. He had died in his sleep. The younger man was shocked, realizing how calm and collected his friend looked as he told him what was happening outside. It was then that he requested the duty nurse to move him to that bed, so that he could enjoy the view outside.

When his wish was granted, he was shocked beyond words. The sunny beach was nowhere to be seen. There were no people walking on the beach. No birds flying is the clear blue sky. The window in this room only opened into a hospital corridor. The window in this room only opened into an ordinary hospital corridor.

[caption id="attachment_45" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A Hospital Corridor"][/caption]

"So why did he lie to him all this time?" he asked the nurse. "He told me of things which I cannot see. Why would he do that?"

"Mr Jones," replied the nurse. "Your friend was blind. He could not even see that hospital corridor you are now looking at. He lost his eyesight a while back. And yes, his previous room provided such a view. I guess he was narrating all that to ease your pain. You should be thanking him, Mr Jones."

Mr Jones could not hold back the tears in his eyes. He quickly realized that his old friend had been 'seeing' all these wonderful things for him.

The blind can 'see' too

Go out, and 'see' the best for others. Try and do for others what may even be beyond your ability.

And contrary to popular belief, the blind can indeed lead those who can see.

Let us learn, share and grow.