Category: Intelligence

Beyond Belief

The believer and the non-believer are both caught in their beliefs. The believer believes. The non-believer also believes, in the opposite. Essentially, they are trapped in their own beliefs and echo chambers to the extent that there is no space to explore ‘truth’ objectively. If we observe our thoughts – We will realise that our conditioned mind, coloured by a lifetime of experiences, produces both belief and non-belief.  One can’t un-condition the conditioned mind. But one can observe the conditioned mind.  That observation can lead to – -Understanding. -Wisdom: Beyond beliefs and non-belief. 

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Hero & Villain

Sound is – Sound & Silence Light is – Light & Dark Happiness is – Happiness & Sorrow Calm is – Calm & Anxiety Beauty is – Beauty & Ugly Achievement is – Achievement & Failure Life is – Life & Death and so on… We can have two different goals: Win – Where we take sides. One over the other. Play – Where we ride the adventure of crests & troughs, realising they come in pairs. Probably, in the long run, play wins. Wonder – How many of us will watch a ‘drama’ with a hero and no villain?

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No.

NO. —> is perhaps the shortest complete sentence. It’s also one of the most complex sentences to use. Many of us can’t say No because we fear – Fear that we will be rejected and hence become fragile. Many of us can’t say No because we care – Care so much that we experience a sense of guilt saying No. Some of us can’t say No because we bow to power – A power that we feel obligated to bend to. Not all No.s are rebellious and unkind responses.  Some are acts of pure clarity. The more self-aware we are,

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Hero / Worship

We all have heroes. They play a unique role in our lives. The essential truth is – Every time we look up to a hero, we stare at our incomplete selves. I am referring to human heroes here, not fictional ones. Each human hero, in her and his ways, shows us the gap – Between who we are and who we want to be. But it also shows up the gap – Between who we are and who we could become. We can relate to our heroes in two ways – I worship her – but I can never be like her.

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Money / Wealth

Money is not wealth. Money is a measure of wealth. It is like a ledger that keeps track of one’s wealth. Wealth – is rooted in the concepts of Power & Freedom. Power and control over one’s time. Freedom to choose how and where to live. Freedom to engage with pursuits and passions. Freedom to take a break when one needs to. Power to impact lives and causes. Power and resources to overcome crises. Power of access to scarce resources. Freedom to make some unconstrained choices. Collecting money is like collecting seconds on a watch or inches on a scale. We should also know

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Goal-Less

Philosopher Kieran Setiya argues that midlife or any such existential crises can arise because, as we complete our projects, they lose their meaning for us. These projects are telic: they have a goal, and our commitment to this goal makes them meaningful to us. Once we’ve achieved that goal, it loses meaning. We should have goals, as they drive our motivation. But we should also find value in the atelic: activities that don’t have a purpose beyond themselves –going for a run for the sake of it, rather than to win a marathon. Goal works. Goal-Less also works.

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The Shortest Story

You must tell your story. But you have limited real estate. You have been given 140 characters. Yet your story must make sense. Worth an exercise to explore – What’s the shortest set of words that can tell your story? Shorter, Crisper, Clearer. Fewer words. More clarity.

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The Long Game

We overestimate what can happen in one year. We underestimate what can happen in ten years. Yet, the only game worth playing is the long game. The power of compound interest doesn’t just apply to the growth of money. Worth committing to the long game –  Long term practice Long term friendships Long term investments Long term path to mastery Long term investment in health Once we commit to the long game, we calibrate and fine-tune in the shorter run. The earliest we start, the better.  The longer we play, the better. 

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2 Inches Above Ground

Are you aware of your awareness? Do you understand the technology of technology? Do you connect to the seer who sees? Do you think about your thoughts? Can you be a witness to the person that you are? Just one level above.  Perhaps this is the beginning of wisdom.  When Dr D.T Suzuki was asked how enlightenment felt – He said – “Enlightenment is like everyday consciousness but  two inches above the ground.” Observation is Wisdom. Wisdom needs a 2-inch gap.

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Forgot We Were Playing

While playing chess – In the middle of the game, stop and tell yourself It is a just game I am playing While watching a movie – In the middle of the movie, stop and tell yourself It is a just movie I am watching While at work – In the middle of it all, step back and tell yourself It is just work that I signed up to do We entered the theatre to play. But somewhere down the line, it got so immersive, that we forgot we were playing. While living life…

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