Pierre Pradervand 458 words, 16K views, 7 comments
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On Aug 13, 2009Pancho wrote :
My family calls me Pancho and I love you all...
More than three thoughts/feelings came to mind/heart after reading the passage and listening to some of our siblings at the Mehta Kindness temple, but I'd love to share with you only 3:
1. Slow down, slow food, slow science.
2. A misconception about slowing down.
3. Beyond slowing down...
1. Slow down, slow food, slow science.
No one likes to be rushed, to be treated rudely or belittled or ignored or disrespected. Everyone appreciates patience, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, courage and respect.
No one likes to be rushed... neither Nature, our food nor true science. Now is the time to slow down, to take a pause, to rethink the purpose of science (Genetically Modified Organisms for profit and the destruction of our magnificent biodiversity? Atomic Bombs?) and education (for the corporatization of our society?) and to cultivate our critical thinking—and our critical feeling. It is time to combine science with the soul: science as the sustainable, collective and critical development of knowledge; soul as the individual (and collective) capacity to make wise use of that knowledge; ultimately, the ability to rejoice in the welfare of all living beings. Bertrand Russell echoed this postulation when he wrote:
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”
As a scientist, I am not against science. I am against the unethical applications of science. I represent a new generation that rescues the best of previous generations. Formed by millions of citizens of the World, this generation wants to be part of the mass that weighs on the positive side of the balance of the survival of our species. It’s a generation that cares about our planet; a generation that cares about the future of humankind; a generation that sees the big picture and the interconnectedness of our magnificent cultural and biological diversity; a generation that takes its time; a generation that doesn't have time to rush.
To move into the next step of (R)evolution, it is imperative to slow down, to nourish our bodies on slow food and our minds on slow science.
Tonight, we will be nourished in body and spirit with this delicious vegetarian Indian dinner cooked with unconditional love by the Mehta family. Mom Harshida has been cooking for almost 12 years, every single Wednesday, feeding close to 20,000 people, with no strings attached, in a superb still flow of love.
2. A misconception about slowing down.
It is essential not to confuse slowing down with sloth, which breeds procrastination and general inefficiency. In slowing down, we attend meticulously to details, giving the very best we are capable of even to the smallest undertaking. We observe every single detail with one point of attention. Eventually, this would be "faster" and more efficient than rushing and not paying attention to the wholeness of life.
3. Beyond slowing down...
Meher Baba maintained silence since he was 31 years old to the end of his life. Among his inspiring remarks are this couple of sentences: "I have come to sow the seed of Love in your hearts. I have come to give a new understanding of spiritual value and truth to everyone."
At some point in his life, he wanted to speak again but he couldn't, his vocal chords were atrophied. So, to communicate he used an alphabet board or unique hand gestures. One of his most profound messages, from my point of view, is:
A quick mind is sick.
A slow mind is sound.
A still mind is divine.
That's what we are doing here on Wednesdays. By Being In Receptive Silence, we are collectively training our minds to keep them in stillness.
Let stillness direct our words and actions.
May all become compassionate, courageous and wise.
On Aug 13, 2009 Pancho wrote :
My family calls me Pancho and I love you all...
More than three thoughts/feelings came to mind/heart after reading the passage and listening to some of our siblings at the Mehta Kindness temple, but I'd love to share with you only 3:
1. Slow down, slow food, slow science.
2. A misconception about slowing down.
3. Beyond slowing down...
1. Slow down, slow food, slow science.
No one likes to be rushed, to be treated rudely or belittled or ignored or disrespected. Everyone appreciates patience, kindness, generosity, forgiveness, courage and respect.
No one likes to be rushed... neither Nature, our food nor true science. Now is the time to slow down, to take a pause, to rethink the purpose of science (Genetically Modified Organisms for profit and the destruction of our magnificent biodiversity? Atomic Bombs?) and education (for the corporatization of our society?) and to cultivate our critical thinking—and our critical feeling. It is time to combine science with the soul: science as the sustainable, collective and critical development of knowledge; soul as the individual (and collective) capacity to make wise use of that knowledge; ultimately, the ability to rejoice in the welfare of all living beings. Bertrand Russell echoed this postulation when he wrote:
“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”As a scientist, I am not against science. I am against the unethical applications of science. I represent a new generation that rescues the best of previous generations. Formed by millions of citizens of the World, this generation wants to be part of the mass that weighs on the positive side of the balance of the survival of our species. It’s a generation that cares about our planet; a generation that cares about the future of humankind; a generation that sees the big picture and the interconnectedness of our magnificent cultural and biological diversity; a generation that takes its time; a generation that doesn't have time to rush.
To move into the next step of (R)evolution, it is imperative to slow down, to nourish our bodies on slow food and our minds on slow science.
Tonight, we will be nourished in body and spirit with this delicious vegetarian Indian dinner cooked with unconditional love by the Mehta family. Mom Harshida has been cooking for almost 12 years, every single Wednesday, feeding close to 20,000 people, with no strings attached, in a superb still flow of love.
2. A misconception about slowing down.
It is essential not to confuse slowing down with sloth, which breeds procrastination and general inefficiency. In slowing down, we attend meticulously to details, giving the very best we are capable of even to the smallest undertaking. We observe every single detail with one point of attention. Eventually, this would be "faster" and more efficient than rushing and not paying attention to the wholeness of life.
3. Beyond slowing down...
Meher Baba maintained silence since he was 31 years old to the end of his life. Among his inspiring remarks are this couple of sentences: "I have come to sow the seed of Love in your hearts. I have come to give a new understanding of spiritual value and truth to everyone."
At some point in his life, he wanted to speak again but he couldn't, his vocal chords were atrophied. So, to communicate he used an alphabet board or unique hand gestures. One of his most profound messages, from my point of view, is:
A quick mind is sick.
A slow mind is sound.
A still mind is divine.
That's what we are doing here on Wednesdays. By Being In Receptive Silence, we are collectively training our minds to keep them in stillness.
Let stillness direct our words and actions.
May all become compassionate, courageous and wise.