Hi John,
At 11:36 28/05/01 +0100, you wrote:
> Dear good friends, all,
> Ten-year old Jordan tells me that he wants world peace.
> I can't recall if I shared the following with the world.
> If not, I do so now, in the hope that it might help bring about this wish.
>
> Why We Are Here
>
> 'To help every one we meet survive the experience'
>
> (Note: not do the surviving for them, but to *help* them survive the
>experience)
Why are we here? I have no idea myself. I suspect, however, that there's a
reason for the universe to exist, and for us to be conscious of our
relationship with it. I suspect that our role is to be as honest as we are
capable of and that each of us has some significance, small and mystifying
though it may be in the total scheme of things.
(JC)
> So How Do We Do That?
>
> 1) 'Treat other people the way you'd like to be treated by them'
>
> 2) 'Treat the place where you live (your room, your home, your town and
>locality, the planet) as though your mother were coming to visit tomorrow'
>
> (OK: if that's too scary: as though your grandmother were coming to visit
>tomorrow)
I agree, but withdraw your good treatment if they don't reciprocate. Try
again occasionally to test the water, but don't wear yourself our with good
deeds if they're not returned.
(JC)
> 3) 'Always aim to do more than your fair share'
>
> (In that case, there will always be plenty left over, for any in need of
>that surplus)
Not at all. How do you know that any excess zeal is useful to others? Look
after yourself. Look after others if they ask and you can help them
comfortably. But you needn't feel under any compunction to do more than
your fair share.
(JC)
> Incidentally, the last part requires the revolution:
>
> - first in our own heads,
>
> - then in the wider world,
>
> - away from an 'ethic' (ha!) of getting and accumulating
>
> - towards an ethic (yesss!) of giving and de-accumulating.
>
> (Own less, be more)
I'd generally agree that accumulation is a hassle. In my life I've been
through a period when I lost everything except a few changes of clothes and
about a hundred books. Since then I've re-accumulated the usual houseful of
stuff. I'm quite looking forward to de-accumulating it all when I snuff it.
Keith H
___________________________________________________________________
Keith Hudson, General Editor, Calus <http://www.calus.org>
6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England
Tel: +44 1225 312622; Fax: +44 1225 447727;
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