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.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
"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!
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(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)
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)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
(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)
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(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)
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)
Saturday, June 9, 2007
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.
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(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)
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)
Sunday, June 3, 2007
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)
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)
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