Others Do Not Have Our Answers

While others can certainly inspire and support us along our journeys, no one can give us the Answers. While books of knowledge are crucial in triggering "gateways" of perception in our minds, it is not the books that can "take us there".

We must find the Answers by ourselves... each one of us... along the course of our life journeys.

"There is a voice that does not use words. Listen."
- Rumi

The True Role of the Entepreneur...

... is wealth creation.

And wealth is not just about money. Far, far, far from it.

Beauty is wealth. Value is wealth. Health is wealth. Team synergy is wealth. Waking up in the morning and loving to go to work on something you believe in... that is also wealth.

The real entrepreneur - the creative force behind any world-class company - is primarily motivated by profit?

No.

That's a myth.

The real entrepreneurs, the ones who create world-class companies (no matter the size of the companies) are motivated by a vision to create something of real value to others. The real entrepreneur does not scorn money. Instead, he seeks to understand money. He studies money. And probably comes to the conclusion that money is merely a symbol of energy exchange: the exchange of give and get. That money is crucial to the ongoing fulfillment of his vision. That money is a tool.

I propose that truly meaningful entrepreneurship that fills the heart of the entrepreneur with true satisfaction, can be concerned with one thing and one thing only: something higher than the entrepreneur him/herself.

Things Come Together...

... at the crosspoint of energies we have set in motion. Thus we shape our experiences.

How would one set in motion these energies?

In my opinion, the ancient Iranians summed it up accurately and concisely: Thoughts --> Words --> Deeds.

Mind. Speech. Action.

If you are interested in further investigation into this topic, I suggest a book called As A Man/Woman Thinketh.

(the above image is merely meant to illustrate the point)

The Bridge Back to Joy

It is like a stream, sorrow itself, that sometimes visits our abode... it weighs us down, and that's the honest reality.

Sure, sorrow may not be expansive as joy is (although it can help open us up). It may limit our range of experience.

And yes, even if there be heaviness, and even if our natural state of being is peace (with sadness not a state of balance), it is nevertheless so that when there is sadness, there is sadness.

Can we fight with what is?

To fight it, in the moment that it arises, is not necessary. It wont make it go away. Fighting it is actually counterproductive.

To realize the immense power of simply observing the sensation of sorrow, and letting it be, without putting labels and an "analysis of history" on it... such a practice helps us to reconnect with the bridge back to joy. The bridge will erect itself, surely, as if out of empty space, and it will show us the way to our natural state of joy.

Our duty then is to walk. To ACT toward the direction the bridge points.

And to be patient, with an open heart that is courageous to the possibility of stumbling again, yet not getting defeated by the stumbles.

Silence, meditative silence, certainly helps us to connect with the bridge. It helps us to see it.

Re-orienting toward joy is a process... with many stumbles along the way.

Money for the sake of a life of ease?

Some people I have met in my life hold to a belief that is very peculiar to me: that the purpose of financial wealth is to provide for a life of ease and luxury.

What I find very strange and quite tragic about this belief is the following reality: the human soul, unless it is in a position of actively striving for achievement of something beautiful, meaningful and challenging, will stagnate into unhappiness.

A life of learning, opportunity, sharing, and exploration... yes, these things can be expedited through the tool of money. And money is the most important practical tool for the entrepreneurial types among us.

It is fine to enjoy the finest that one can afford (such as a beautiful house that shelters one's family, provides warmth, and the opportunity to create together a loving home). I personally believe that one should not be stingy as long as one lives within one's means, and has a plan for getting out of debt while building a saving.

But to wish for money for the sake of a life of ease, comfort, and luxury... a life of "retirement" and "not having to do anything"... is that not tantamount to wishing for a life lacking in challenge, courage, and the joy of achievement that can only come through hard work, effort, and creative intelligence?

Seems like a lot of pop culture (and the insane lottery frenzy, which I may write about later) is gearing people in the direction of "sloth as virtue".

How about a life of financial wealth where one uses one's wealth for the sake of exploring into unchartered territory of adventure, creativity, sharing, exploration of ideas... and offering a helping hand to those who need it in this world?

Some people like luxury for the sake of luxury and maybe it gives satisfaction... but is it truly the ultimate purpose of wealth?

Patience and Surrender

Patience.

The "virtue of virtues", according to many philosophers.

The modus operandi of Nature.

The primary wisdom of the master gardener.

One of the keys to the most glorious achievements of man.

Absolutely necessary in making an authentic, joyful connection with that lovely, beautiful girl.

A pillar for the generation of financial wealth.

One of the most powerful "forces" in the universe!

Yet...

... we mostly pay lip service to "patience".

We do not remember what the word represents.

I was confused too. Until I realized that patience is a far more intense event than I had understood it to be. It is far deeper than the conventional line of "just be patient". You see, it is an event that must come about through our own inner choice. Without anyone seeing the choice!

Alas! To align our heart with patience, we must find that PIVOTAL POINT, that second, where it is time to make the choice to LET GO of any expectation for that which we are trying to be patient for.

Letting go... choosing to free ourselves from the enslavement of expectation.

That is true patience, where we do not just play a role for the outer world while dying with agony inside, but truly feel peace in our hearts.

You cannot cheat in this life journey. If you lie to yourself, you will not get away with it.

Allow your painful expectations to collapse... into surrender. Openness comes about, automatically. All you have to do is allow your expectations to collapse... gently, if need be, yet with the awareness that the weight of collapsing expectations will bring temporary pain.

Leaving the Cave of Inner Dishonesty...

To love, is to truly live. To give, is to expand and grow. To share, is to become more.

However, there are in us... certain aspects... which forcefully and subtly tug us away from honestly expressing our innate, irresistible desire to love, to become more.

So we become pulled in many directions (inside of our minds), and at times, end up feeling torn apart.

These aspects express themselves through the voices of doubt, fear, blame, and manipulation (which is borne of fear). They are born in the cave of dishonesty about our own emotions, our habits, and our weaknesses. When we are dishonest about ourselves to ourselves, we dishonour ourselves.

How about if we stop listening to these aspects, stop taking them seriously, begin just watching them without acting on them... and instead, allow honesty to shine forth?

Honesty will shine forth when we realize that we are safe... that we are actually better off... if we allow it to shine forth.

And it is only through inner honesty that love has a chance to pour out.

But what does that mean?

In the previous post, I wrote: "the light that can show the way... is in you."

What does that mean?

That statement can be understood only when we learn to embrace each difficulty in our life, each painful experience, as a life lesson, instead of a hindrance. By no longer resisting our painful experiences, and instead, allowing them to be there, we can use our suffering to become free of suffering.

How?

I think that Eckhart Tolle's book The Power of Now has some very valuable ideas on how we can begin to become "students" of life instead of resenting it.

See if this excerpt from the book resonates with you:

What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to something that already is? What could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say 'yes' to life - and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.

Of course, I have deliberately not directly defined what "the light in you" means. I am not in a position to define it.

Believe... and you will find your way

This life journey is not always easy.

If the road seems dark, then may you remember... that the light that can show the way... is in you.

Believe...

... and you will find your way.

Seeking Salvation Outside of Self

Never before have relationships been as problematic and conflict ridden as they are now. As you may continue to pursue the goal of salvation through a relationship, you will be disillusioned again and again. But if you accept that the relationship is here to make you conscious instead of happy, then the relationship will offer you salvation, and you will be aligning yourself with the higher consciousness that wants to be born into this world. For those who hold to the old patterns, there will be increasing pain, violence, confusion, and madness.

- Eckhart Tolle

A Good Question During Depression

"How can I get back into the stream of life?"

Just Being Still

I will soon write part two of the entry I wrote earlier.

But right now I wish to say this: sometimes, there is nothing better than silence... and rest... and sinking into our (temporary) tiredness...

Re-Aligning With the Whisper in Your Heart

(This serves as Part II of "Life is What You Make it/Life is an Adventure"... it may seem strange yet it's hard to explain why, so this time, I wont give an explanation)

Life is What You Make it/Life is an Adventure (Part I)

How about we set goals and strive with commitment, passion, and furious boldness to achieve them...

... just for the sake of finding out if we can?

Anything is Possible...

... when one grabs the moment and hurls into the opportunity/crisis one is faced with.

Click here for an amazing lesson by mother nature.

:-)

Rejection...

... this glorious pang of pain right in the pit of the stomach, that yanks us out of the present moment and catapults us into the unhappy worlds of worry, fear, insecurity, and even hatred.

Does it really have anything to do with the other person?

Or is it self-inflicted emotional pain brought about by story-telling thoughts?

Aligning With What Is

As we open up our minds... and let go of our pre-conceived notions of "how things are"... as we let go of hazy, self-created mythologies about reality, and make our minds transparent to reality as it is... can it be true that the universe responds in kind?

Can it be true that what once agitated us (people, situations, the past, the future, ourselves), simply dissolves before our eyes (in a gradual manner), as we do the necessary work in liberating our minds from layer upon layer of CONCEPT?

I once wrote a short piece that "life is a dynamic", that life responds to our attitudes, and that it acts like a boomerang in bringing us what we send out for. This is not a new idea.

What if, our minds - the inner universe of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs - and life "out there", the arena that we perceive with our eyes and other senses, are intrinsically connected?

(P.S. Nothing that I link to should be taken as an endorsement... ultimately, we should not have to rely on anything outside ourselves for an understanding of life... all else are merely tools along the way, maybe to be discarded at some point in the journey, even though we can nevertheless cherish them in the light of gratitude.)

Life is an Ocean...

Life is an ocean.

Oceans come with furious waves and hard-hitting storms.

But without the fury of the waves and the devastation of the storms, the sailor would never become a ship master... and a skilled participant in the games the ocean throws.

For one day the true sailor will stop whining and let go of creating inner resistance about the waves and storms... and instead enjoy them as the games of growth and mastery that they truly are.

To become a master sailor is more important... to become a master sailor is more significant... than to live a life free of storms and the pain that storms bring.

Not Risking is Risky

While in London, I met a beautiful girl on the London Underground. We were sitting next to each other, and the course of events made it inevitable that we would begin talking.

After an initial intro-session, our conversation rolled to the topic of philosophy. She seemed very interested to talk about it (and philosophy is my intended major at university). So I thought I'd share something different with her than the usual academic theories of philosophy - a simple but profound philosophy of life:

To avoid risk in life is the riskiest of choices.

It is through risk that we can break through into new horizons of experience.

Vibrant Health is Not Arbitrary

One of the keys to a fulfilled life is vibrant health. Vibrancy is a matter of energy. With vibrant health (more energy), we can enjoy life more. We can be more creative and more responsive to our environments.

The enjoyment of good health is not arbitrary.

It does not come to you by good fortune or chance (strong genes may help, but are not necessarily primary). And in my perspective, it is not a matter of medicine or pharmaceutical drugs.

Good health is simply the natural result of intentionally aligning with nature's principles of good health.

Poor health is the natural result of misalignment with nature's principles of good health.

Two major reasons for misalignment are lack of knowledge (due to ignorance) and misleading information (due to special interests and shallow science). Other major reasons are doubt (lack of faith in the natural principles of good health), lack of caring for self, and lack of discipline.

Since health (on the physical, mental, emotional levels and beyond) is one of my deepest fascinations and a subject of ongoing study for me, I am going to share what I learn, on an ongoing basis, through this blog.

Where is Home? (Part II)

After my trip through England, Sweden and Iran this summer, do I feel more at peace with myself - with my past, my present, and my future?

Am I more excited about tackling the future that lies ahead, ripe with possibility and adventure?

The answer: I feel more strongly now than before my trip, that I have come from strong roots (with respect for my ancestors), have grown up in wonderful countries (with especial fondness for Sweden), that I am exactly where I am meant to be (with gratitude for Canada), and that my life path so far has traversed a path that has contained exactly the experiences I have needed for gaining a firm hand on the helm of my ship.

Yes, I feel more at peace with my past, with my multi-nation composition. By visiting and experiencing where I come from, I have gained understanding and a sense of closure on what's behind me.

And home is now where I allow my aspirations, commitments and friendships to unfold... yet, without closing any doors on anywhere else.

Kind of like a bird.

Where is Home? (Part I)

I am back from Tehran, the city I was born in (and left with my parents when I was two years old).

I am currently in London, England, where I will stay for a few days before I return to my current city of residence, Toronto, Canada. I never thought it would happen, but I actually miss Toronto (I used to hold negative attitudes to Toronto that started dissolving when I began to accept it, be curious about it, and jump into its opportunities).

Many people ask me: "how was Iran?". What a difficult question to answer!

Iran was many things to me, both lovely (such as meeting my cousins and being among an ocean of Farsi speakers) and frustrating (such as seeing the pathetic religious paternalism of the current government that shows disregard for free will and reeked of blasphemy in its forceful ways).

I wont go into details right now about my experience of Iran (maybe in a different post).

For me, the important question right now is: how do I feel about my place in the world after my trip through England, Sweden, and Iran (all these are countries that I have lived in)? Has my inner turmoil about having lived in five different countries been somewhat resolved?

Do I feel more at peace with myself - my past, my present, and my future?

Am I more excited about tackling the future that lies ahead, ripe with possibility and adventure?

The answers to the above questions are forthcoming...

"The Key to Our Inner Treasure..."

"... is our suffering."

This is a rough translation of an ancient Iranian saying. In Farsi, it goes like this: "kilide ganje adam, ranje adam-e".

Embrace your suffering. Hold it in your arms, look at it with curiousity instead of regret. It may very well be a potion for a new you. When taken into your heart without resistance, suffering can transform into something refreshing... ultimately, something glorious even...

... even though it stings at first (and maybe for a while).

American and Iranian Unite With Message for Peace

The more my vacation in Iran unfolds, the more furious I become about America's bellicose stance of "taking action" against Iran.

It seems that the rhetoric from Washington is completely devoid of any sense of the sanctity of daily life here in Iran, where the people are living as dignified lives as any American in the U.S.. Iran is a proud nation with a rich and tumultous history, struggling to give birth to a higher ideal of itself where democracy, rule of law, and civil society finally take the upper hand. A large segment of the people are themselves tired of the present theocracy, and are open to change.

But only change from within!

We do not need America to come in with soldiers to "bring us democracy" like they claim to have tried to do with Iraq, or to bomb our nuclear reactors (while America herself has thousands of nuclear bombs}, even when the Iranian government is cooperating with the IAEA (against a backdrop of utter disrespect and hubris from the current U.S. administration). American interference in Iranian affairs is to no one's benefit and the desires of the current American administration go flat against the noble principles of America's respectable Founding Fathers.

Fortunately, more and more Americans are waking up and taking action for peace with Iran.

One of them is Leslie Angeline, from the American women's peace group Codepink. She recently went on a trip to Iran and says that she "fell in love" with the people.

Iranians are also taking pro-active steps for dialogue and peace between Iran and America. One of them is Ali Nasri, from the Iranian peace group Miles for Peace, a campaign of cyclists who have ridden across Europe and the U.S. with a message of peace from the Iranian people.

I recommend to everyone who is interested in peace between the two great nations of America and Iran to watch this interview with these two courageous individuals who are working hard to form bridges of dialogue and mutual understanding between their respective nations.

Kudos to Ali and Leslie!

The Wise Esfehani Taxi Driver

(As I am writing this post fast due to limited time at a hotel Internet cafe, please forgive any spelling errors)

This morning, me and my family took off from Tehran Airport at 7am toward Esfahan.

The flight was pleasant and the pilot was very cool (before take-off he said "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, just relax, and let us fly up high into God's sky"... the prose was very poetic in Farsi, and had no intonation of religious forcefulness).

When we arrived in Esfehan, we took a taxi (an Iran Khodro Samand) toward the City Centre.

My father sat in the front passenger seat, with me, my mother and my sister sitting in the backseat. Father started talking to the driver, and they entered a conversation. It was a pleasure hearing their conversation about Esfehan and the state of Iran, not least because of the peculiar and rather sweet Esfehani accent.

I am very curious about Iran. I am especially interested in why such an ancient nation with such great wisdom borne throughout the ages and contemporary high-achieving people (at home and abroad), has chosen an autocratic regime that most Iranians themselves are not pleased with (one proof of that is President Khatami's overwhelming popularity prior to Ahmadinejad).

So I asked the driver: "I would like to ask you a very general question and I know that it may not be easy to answer: what do you think about the current Iranian regime?".

He answered (and I will highlight the main points of his response): "the current government is kind of like a mafia... especially economically... we Iranians are a wonderful people, the warmth and sense of humanity we have is unparalleled... during the Iran-Iraq war we treated our POWs with unparalleled respect (this is verified), we passed an important test as a nation... Iran is a wealthy nation... the people are most capable... but our current government is taking advantage of its own people."

Then I asked: "what do you think about Khatami?" Khatami represents a period of reform and movement away from autocracy toward democracy, rule of law and greater individual liberty.

He said: "Khatami was a great man... he brought dignity and pride to Iran, and worked at restoring our reputation within the international community... but Ahmadinejad has destroyed all the hard work that Khatami did."

I asked him a final question: "well, why do you think the autocratic mullah regime has been able to maintain power for so long?"

He answered (and his last sentence finished exactly as soon as we arrived at the hotel!): "no government can stay in power without the support of the people... so a segment of Iranians are supporting them, and that is simple why they are still in power."

Even though the time I had with him was short, I really liked this man's realistic perception of Iran. It is the people that ultimately uphold leaders in their political positions. When people are unaware of their power, then it will seem as if they have no power.

Next question I have (but didn't have time to ask him): why do the people support a theocratic government in a country where a substantial portion of the population (including many of the youth baby boomers born after the revolution) aspire toward democracy, separation of religion and state, free enterprise, the rule of law, and equal rights for men and women?

I am not yet sure about the answer to this complex question. However, my personal opinion beyond this question is that Iran is evolving... it is in process... it is moving - slowly but surely -towards its glorious destiny (where spiritually is ingrained in the fabric of society, yet not forced upon anyone). There are dark depths to move through before reaching blessed shores.

(Note to self: next time, I will get email addresses from interesting Iranians I meet on the way)

First Impressions of Tehran

I am now in Tehran, Iran.

It is my second day. I slept most of the day yesterday, and spent the evening being with my cousins whom I hadn't met in 24 years. The connections were made instantly, and I had a lot of fun.

I also met my near-90 year old former-colonel, good-looking grand father. I will write more about this interesting man in future posts.

What has struck me so far is the warmth of family, the wonderful taste of the food, the modernity of Tehran, and the heat of summer. One can also see just by looking around that this is a country under embargo, even though in general, the standard of living is quite high. Among my relatives (which are part of the upper-middle class), the standard of living is on par with middle class Western living (first-hand cars, nice condos, AC, really good food, good clothes, mobile phones with SMS, DSL Internet connections...).

However, I'm sure that for many in Tehran, life is a struggle in a way that I personally have not experienced.

Now, I am heading out for a ride on the Tehran Metro with my mum, sister, grandmother, and aunt... towards the city's grand baazaar.

Thoughts Before Visiting Iran for "First" Time

Tomorrow, on July 8th, I am flying to Tehran with my mother, father, and sister.

It is the first time that I will visit my country of birth since I was two years old.

Right now, as I write this, I do not have strong feelings for Iran herself. I have no memories of the land.

However, I do know that I have deep reverence for the finer aspects of Iranian culture. And I love those Iranian people who embody these finer aspects. The more time I spend with my Iranian friends, and with my family (immediate and extended), the more gratitude I feel for the warmth, passion, intelligence, creativity and liveliness of the Iranian people.

I am the type of person who chooses friends irregardless of ethnicity. I look upon the merit of the individual. However, this does not mean that I do not sometimes feel a special "thing" for the Iranian "vibe". I am sure people of all cultures feel the same (except maybe those with inferiority complexes). To claim otherwise is dishonest.

I will make an effort to write about my experiences in Iran (hopefully Internet access will not be a hinder). I will write about the good and the not-so-good that I encounter...

(You can subscribe to my blog by entering your email address into the box on the right)

It is when we let go... that the door can open...

While clinging to the door handle, it is impossible for the door to swing open...

Let No One Define You on Your Behalf

There are some people who think that they can "read" others.

They claim to be able to analyse people on first impressions, without any precedence. What do I mean by precedence?

I mean process.

To get to know a human being in fullness is impossible, because each human being is a massive universe (even though they themselves might have limited themselves and refuse to explore inner space). While we cannot know someone fully, we can get to know people, and in order to get to know people, we need to embark on a process of relating with them.

The process of relating with someone and getting to know them takes time. It requires mutual give-and-take. It requires mutual honesty. And more...

I had an experience with someone who claims to not need this process in order to "see" into people.

This is not the first time I meet an individual like this.

In my experience, such an individual tries to define others on their behalf (without being asked), and is often not shy about speaking his opinion out loud. He may even say a few things that are "accurate", but one should avoid becoming fascinated with them. His words can be harmful if one takes them to heart.

Many of these "types" of individuals are looking to dominate others and impress a sense of superiority over others. How? By getting you to think that they know you better than you know yourself. This is a recipe for confusion in your mind. And a confused mind is easily dominated.

Getting impressed with them is like getting impressed with a teenager who does a cool card trick in front of you (once you take the teen's arms and ask him to show you the trick behind the trick, it is no longer so cool).

One shouldn't take their words seriously. The point of this post is that we should not allow anyone else to define us. It is an infringement on our sovereignty when someone tries, especially when we have not asked for it.

Whenever someone whom we don't know tries to define us, we should protect our minds with the knowledge that those who claim to know and do not explain how they know, are sheep in wolve's clothing (fools)... and some of them are sharks in dolphin's skin.

Best strategy?

Disengagement.

"How will you know unless you jump?"

I was walking with one of my old-time buddies along the shore of Goteborg.

There were beautiful sailboats moored along the bank. The weather was calm, with sunny skies. We were walking, sometimes talking, and simply enjoying the relaxed Sunday afternoon.

Suddenly... I saw this:



I paused. I looked at it. This little pier in between the ship and me.

Oh how it beckoned to me! I told my friend that I feel called to hop unto it. My friend was a bit startled.

So I look at the pier in the eyes...

"Jump to me!" - it says.

"I'd love to." - I reply. "But I don't know if I'll make it."

"How will you know unless you jump?" - it taunts me.

"Because I don't know the extent of my jumping power. I need some practice before I take you on."

I now wish I had taken it on, right there, right then. What was the worst that could have happened?

That I might have gotten soaking wet. With a bit of a shock to my ego. Not so bad, really. Hmmm... come to think of it, had I landed in the water, my friend's car would have gotten soaking wet... so it would have been a hassle for others, not just for myself.

I am still haunted by the pier's taunt:

"How will you know unless you jump?"

So true...

Next time, I wont go near this wise, feisty little pier without a spare pair of clothes!

---
(You can receive an email notification each time this blog is updated by subscribing with your email in the box on the top-right - I suggest doing it now so you wont forget)

(Desperately) Yearning for the Future

I reside in Toronto, Canada.

When I first came to Toronto in 1999, I used to strongly dislike it. Now, I am starting to really like Toronto, because I have begun exploring it and let go of mental images about "how it should be". I'm simply enjoying it as it is.

However, right now I am not in Toronto. I am on an "epic" trip, backtracking the route I took to get to Canada. I am going through the following countries: England (where I lived for four years), Sweden (where I lived for ten years), and Iran (where I was born and lived for two years).

As I write this, I am in Göteborg, Sweden. This is the city where I grew up. I have a deep love affair with it which began from age six when my family moved here.

I have noticed something strange during my trip through England and Sweden: many people want to be where they are not!

In other words, they want to go and live somewhere other than where they currently are. As if the grass is greener on the other side.

My friends in England want to go somewhere else.

My friend in Stockholm wants to go somewhere else.

My friends in Göteborg want to go somewhere else.

My question to my friends is: visions and dreams are wonderful. And I can understand if you are tired of having lived in one place for too long.

However, how are you going to fulfill your dreams of tomorrow if you reject the realities and opportunities of the present?

(I'm not saying that you are... but it's possible that you are)

---
(You can receive an email notification each time this blog is updated by subscribing with your email in the box on the top-right - I suggest doing it now so you wont forget)

True Independent Thinking Must Be Ruthless

There are two types of "independent thinkers" - one of them is false and one of them is real:

1. Those who think that they are independent thinkers because they question one end of a spectrum of duality.

2. Those who question everything and everyone.

The first group of people are fake independent thinkers. They are arrogant and will shoot themselves in the foot.

The second group are rare. They are diamonds.

Very few people are true independent thinkers...

... and to become a true independent thinker one must embark on a long journey, which begins with the following first step:

Question everything you hold sacred. In other words: question your own thoughts, your own beliefs, your own convictions. Open your mind. Be ruthless, have no mercy on your sacred cows.

---
(You can receive an email notification each time this blog is updated by subscribing with your email in the box on the top-right - I suggest doing it now so you wont forget)

June 3, 2007: Welcome to Blog Phoenix Rising

This blog is about the expression of ancient, timeless ideas that are new to our modern (and often stagnant) frame of perspective. It shall be an intellectually adventurous venture, exploring ideas that will challenge much of conventional wisdom. I predict that at times, reading this blog may rattle your sense of comfort. Yet I strive to always share nuggets of gold, in each post, so that the rattle will be the sound of your gold pan when shaking off useless sand.

This blog is about "sahar" (which means "dawn" in Farsi) - it is about the breaking of the morning light after a long night.

Let's keep moving through the night, and let's learn from the night. This blog is about the dawn of the living... the dawn of the honest sailors on the ocean of life who are struggling to understand the winds and storms, and who are learning to sail even though the harsh winds sometimes knocks them down.

Yet they get back up again and take to the helm, each time raising their sails higher.

On this small dot of the Internet universe, I shall write with enthusiasm and passion - and sometimes, with caution. I shall hit words upon the screen by furiously tapping the keyword as the surge of energized thought rushes through me. Sometimes I will tap the keys gently... but only sometimes. Hopefully my keyboard will remain intact...

I foresee situations where I jump out of the shower and run straight for my laptop, logging in to this blog, to express a thought that hits me while rinsing the shampoo out of my hair.

Let me let out a warning right now: in here, I shall spare no one's feelings. If I hurt yours, then challenge me by leaving a comment. Speak your mind. I value few democratic principles as highly as free speech. And I may counter-challenge you, until we come to mutual understanding, clear any misunderstanding, or one of us simply gives up.

On this blog, I shall delve into myriad fascinating topics (such as health, entrepreneurship, family, self-realization, existential anguish, science, reason, faith, meditation, book reviews...), because I recognize few boundaries of life-exploration except the limitation of my own level of awareness (and thus, it is one of my greatest wishes that what I "see" in life will continuously expand, in a patient and organic process, as I do the work).

Each blog post will be summarized to respect your busy schedule (this one is an exception in terms of length).

I initiate this blog with a simple intent: as I write (an act which carries great responsibility) and share (using the multimedia capabilities of the online medium), may I be true to my self... and to the greater set of which I am part of.

Until next time,

Saeed
phoenixrising2007.blogspot.com


---
(You can receive an email notification each time this blog is updated by subscribing with your email in the box on the top-right - I suggest doing it now so you wont forget)