Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:33 PM CST
The Positive Revolution
I've been reading this book called Handbook for The Positive Revolution by Edward De Bono, that I randomly picked up in a charity shop the other week.
The ideas presented in it are simple and using the symbol of the hand as a symbol of the "positive revolution" the handbook provides a framework for making life better without the violence and negativity of a traditional revolution.
The hand symbol is actually kind of cool, so I thought I'd share a bit more about that with you here. The thumb represents effectiveness, index finger to point the constructive way forward, middle finger for human values(respect), ring finger for self-improvement and little finger for contribution.
Effectiveness is the thumb because it is very difficult to do anything without your thumb. Effectiveness is a vital part of the positive revolution because effectiveness is what gets things done. I particularly like this one, because I feel that when people(including myself) are very involved with spirituality, it can be easy to distance yourself from the material-3D- world and not actually get anything done.
"The greatest dreams in the world stay as dreams if there is no effectiveness".
Constructiveness is the index finger- moving forward and doing something instead of tuimewasting. When you do something..ask yourself what is left at the end. Is your task worthy of your time? Watching TV is an example of a timewasting task, as it doesn't do anything positive(although I think that perhaps if you were watching something educational maybe that would count as constructive).
Respect, or human values, is the longest-middle finger, to remind us that this is the most important aspect. We should always aim to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves and in treating others well, it creates a civilsed society.
Self improvement, the ring finger, is about your own attitude and the ability to grow and change in a positive manner every day. We can cultivate positive attitudes and habits, reduce the negative behaviours and educate ourselves.
The little finger represents contribution to remind us that however small our contribution it is still relevant and important. Contribution comes in three main levels- personal- making your life better, educating yourself- local community and family- sharing knowledge, helping each other and country/world- things like voting.
And by the way- the suggested greeting used in the book is "Today is a better day", which I thought was kinda cool.
I'd love to hear peoples feedback if they have read the book, or how they feel about the ideas presented.
peace-
Purity x
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:40 PM CST
Butterflies
Some wise stories and quotes that I'd like to share-
Once Chuang Chou dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Chuang Chou. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Chuang Chou. But he didn't know if he was Chuang Chou who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Chuang Chou. Between Chuang Chou and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things.
From the Taoist book, Zhuangzi.
The butterfly counts not months, but moments, and yet has time enough."
Rabinhranath Tagore, Indian poet
Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
Nathaniel Hawthorne