Although deemed controversial even before I showed up, the 1000 Libraries talk was received very well by the 40-plus members of the North Bethesda Rotary club. Yes, some of the questions were pointed but not nearly as hostile as the ones I faced in the talk I did before this one. (Won't tell you where that was!)
Many approached me at the end and commented that it made them think about things they hadn't thought about before.
If you know me well, you know that I am normally not the one to kick up controversy just for the sake of it. Yes, I consider myself an out-of-the-box thinker which gets me in trouble sometimes. But this time, I am actually proud of the "controversial" aspects of this talk. It tells me that I am onto something.
You see, what's controversial to many is actually common sense to me. The following are three of such common sense concepts that the talk was based on:
1) Prevention is better than correction. This is commonly accepted wisdom. And yet, in making the world a better place, most of the projects we take on are correction based. Stopping the killings. Preventing hunger. Eradicating a disease. We don't have many projects that prevent such things from happening in the first place.
2) The root cause of all problems of the world is our ignorance. No system - political or otherwise - in the world will fix our problems unless and until we realize that it's us, the humans, who are causing these problems. The root cause of all problems of the world, if you boil it down to it's most basic, is that we are not in touch with our Deepest Essence, our Power, our Source.
3) We can immediately do something to begin to create a world in which problems don't exist. Can you guess what the starting point is?
There are other such common sense things that are there in the slideshow. Can you spot them?
And there are a few things that I can only say and not write about or put in the presentation. For that, you will have to invite me over to speak at one of the gatherings to which you belong. This is a 20-minutes talk that's designed to inspire, empower and start some robust dialogue on how to create a better world. It could be blown out into a 1-hour workshop or a discussion session.
Please let me know if you have questions about any of this.
Happy Success,
Bhavesh.
P.S. This is the first time I used a slideshow for this talk. I have placed it at the top of this blog.
P.P.S. What does all of this have to do with 1000 Libraries? Well, 1000 Libraries' vision is to supply books, stimulus, people, platform and other resources to make this vision a reality. Check the slideshow to find out more.
1000 Libraries: One World through Inspiration
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
What's Better? Fixing Problems of the World or Creating a World without Problems?
I would like you to make a mental list of three to five charitable activities you've been involved with.
Got it? There is a good chance that the majority of those activities have something to do with fixing a problem. Removing hunger. Curing a disease. Stopping killing. Stopping some sort of injustice or another by one group of people to another group of people.
I have found that we spend 99 percent of our time and energy in our charitable projects fixing problems that have been created. Don't get me wrong, most of these projects are worthwhile projects that we desperately need to make the world a better place.
I have often wondered why we don't give some of our energies, time and efforts to creating a world in which these problems don't exist in the first place.
When we have not fixed the root cause of the problems, they keep reappearing. Over and over and over again.
Fixing the World is Simple, Really
So what's this root cause of the world being in such a bad shape?
The root cause is US. You. Me. Every human being on the planet Earth.
When you boil it all down, it all comes to this one simple thing. We allow the world to function in such a way because we FEEL POWERLESS.
When we know that we are powerful beings beyond our wildest imagination, each one of us can participate in making the world a better place. And we can reach out to other people and help them realize that they are powerful.
This Power does not come from out there somewhere. It does not come from money, or possessions or fame or connections. It comes from deep within us.
This power comes when we have truly and deeply come in touch with our deepest essence, our true nature, our spirit, our Inner Being. The part of us that's the cause of us and everything and everyone around us.
What I Do for Others, I Do for Myself
One truth that is shared by every religion and every cultural tradition of the world is "what we do for others, we do for ourselves."
When I help others come in touch with their Deepest Essence, I can't help but help myself come in touch with my deepest essence. When I help others discover that they are powerful beyond measure, I help MYSELF discover that I AM powerful beyond measure.
So in the end, 1000 Libraries is not a project about helping others. It's a project about helping myself. Helping myself come in touch with my deepest essence. Helping ME realize that I am powerful beyond measure.
Where Do I Begin?
You see, what I have discovered is that in order for us to create a world in which those problems don't exist, we have to something simple.
It’s not easy, perhaps. But it’s simple.
All we have to is reach out and make sure that each and every one of us is in touch with the deepest part of themselves – their essence, their heart and soul, their spirit. The part of us where Love is. The part of us where Joy is. The part of us where the Spirit is.
I Start With Myself
Sure, you say, but that's a big challenge. How do we bring more than six billion people in touch with their Deepest Essence?
I have a suggestion. How about we start with us? How about I start with ME and you start with YOU? How about that?
When you help 1000 Libraries, first and foremost, you are helping yourself. That's the reason for you to get involved. The world will be a better place as you begin with that simple step. Which is to help others come in touch with their Deepest Essence so that I can come in touch with my deepest essence.
Make the world a better place, sure. But ultimately to help yourself come in touch with your Deepest Essence.
1000 Libraries is a Proactive Project, Not a Reactive One
1000 Libraries is a project that gives you a vehicle to get in touch with that part of you that's powerful beyond measure. And you do that by helping others discover that they are powerful beyond measure. Because what we do for others, we do it for ourselves.
The hope is to create communities of people who are getting more and more in touch with themselves. And in these communities we demonstrate, in a small way in the beginning perhaps, that we can get over our differences...
And that we don't have to make others loose for us to win...
And that we don't have to take from others for us to have...
And that we don't have to hurt or kill others so that we can live...
And that we don't have to let people go hungry so that we can eat...
And that we don't have to abuse others for me us feel better.
And that we don't have to make others powerless for us to feel powerful.
1000 Libraries is a project to help create a world in which most problems we face today don't exist in the first place. It's a proactive approach to making the world a better place than a reactive approach.
How You Can Help?
This project is in its infancy. So there are many ways in which you can help out. But here are some suggestions:
- Participate in the Thank God It's Thursday group meeting.
- Help us compile a list of inspirational books.
- Help create the vision and mission of the project.
- Help create the criteria and guidelines for the books to be distributed.
- Help locate partners who will help us get the libraries in developing communities.
- Help create readers and leaders of the book reading clubs.
- Help us with the legalities of operating in the United States as well other parts of the world.
- Help create literacy programs for parents and guardians who will read to their children.
- Help collect and distribute books.
- Help manage money and other resources, including books.
- Help manage volunteers and their contributions.
- Help raise the money for the project from the right sources and with no strings.
- Anything else that you can think of that can be helpful.
If you would like to look into helping out, please email Bhavesh Naik at bhavesh@ambica.net.
Got it? There is a good chance that the majority of those activities have something to do with fixing a problem. Removing hunger. Curing a disease. Stopping killing. Stopping some sort of injustice or another by one group of people to another group of people.
I have found that we spend 99 percent of our time and energy in our charitable projects fixing problems that have been created. Don't get me wrong, most of these projects are worthwhile projects that we desperately need to make the world a better place.
I have often wondered why we don't give some of our energies, time and efforts to creating a world in which these problems don't exist in the first place.
When we have not fixed the root cause of the problems, they keep reappearing. Over and over and over again.
Fixing the World is Simple, Really
So what's this root cause of the world being in such a bad shape?
The root cause is US. You. Me. Every human being on the planet Earth.
When you boil it all down, it all comes to this one simple thing. We allow the world to function in such a way because we FEEL POWERLESS.
When we know that we are powerful beings beyond our wildest imagination, each one of us can participate in making the world a better place. And we can reach out to other people and help them realize that they are powerful.
This Power does not come from out there somewhere. It does not come from money, or possessions or fame or connections. It comes from deep within us.
This power comes when we have truly and deeply come in touch with our deepest essence, our true nature, our spirit, our Inner Being. The part of us that's the cause of us and everything and everyone around us.
What I Do for Others, I Do for Myself
One truth that is shared by every religion and every cultural tradition of the world is "what we do for others, we do for ourselves."
When I help others come in touch with their Deepest Essence, I can't help but help myself come in touch with my deepest essence. When I help others discover that they are powerful beyond measure, I help MYSELF discover that I AM powerful beyond measure.
So in the end, 1000 Libraries is not a project about helping others. It's a project about helping myself. Helping myself come in touch with my deepest essence. Helping ME realize that I am powerful beyond measure.
Where Do I Begin?
You see, what I have discovered is that in order for us to create a world in which those problems don't exist, we have to something simple.
It’s not easy, perhaps. But it’s simple.
All we have to is reach out and make sure that each and every one of us is in touch with the deepest part of themselves – their essence, their heart and soul, their spirit. The part of us where Love is. The part of us where Joy is. The part of us where the Spirit is.
I Start With Myself
Sure, you say, but that's a big challenge. How do we bring more than six billion people in touch with their Deepest Essence?
I have a suggestion. How about we start with us? How about I start with ME and you start with YOU? How about that?
When you help 1000 Libraries, first and foremost, you are helping yourself. That's the reason for you to get involved. The world will be a better place as you begin with that simple step. Which is to help others come in touch with their Deepest Essence so that I can come in touch with my deepest essence.
Make the world a better place, sure. But ultimately to help yourself come in touch with your Deepest Essence.
1000 Libraries is a Proactive Project, Not a Reactive One
1000 Libraries is a project that gives you a vehicle to get in touch with that part of you that's powerful beyond measure. And you do that by helping others discover that they are powerful beyond measure. Because what we do for others, we do it for ourselves.
The hope is to create communities of people who are getting more and more in touch with themselves. And in these communities we demonstrate, in a small way in the beginning perhaps, that we can get over our differences...
And that we don't have to make others loose for us to win...
And that we don't have to take from others for us to have...
And that we don't have to hurt or kill others so that we can live...
And that we don't have to let people go hungry so that we can eat...
And that we don't have to abuse others for me us feel better.
And that we don't have to make others powerless for us to feel powerful.
1000 Libraries is a project to help create a world in which most problems we face today don't exist in the first place. It's a proactive approach to making the world a better place than a reactive approach.
How You Can Help?
This project is in its infancy. So there are many ways in which you can help out. But here are some suggestions:
- Participate in the Thank God It's Thursday group meeting.
- Help us compile a list of inspirational books.
- Help create the vision and mission of the project.
- Help create the criteria and guidelines for the books to be distributed.
- Help locate partners who will help us get the libraries in developing communities.
- Help create readers and leaders of the book reading clubs.
- Help us with the legalities of operating in the United States as well other parts of the world.
- Help create literacy programs for parents and guardians who will read to their children.
- Help collect and distribute books.
- Help manage money and other resources, including books.
- Help manage volunteers and their contributions.
- Help raise the money for the project from the right sources and with no strings.
- Anything else that you can think of that can be helpful.
If you would like to look into helping out, please email Bhavesh Naik at bhavesh@ambica.net.
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