Archive for September, 2011

Whole man is complex – we must work on ourselves

Monday, September 26th, 2011

The concept of a whole or holistic human being is a daunting idea. Thinking about it and starting some positive action will do good. Factors to consider are:

  • Physical body – try to keep your body fit: fitness of circulation, breath, strength, agility, coordination, touch, sight, hearing…The list is very long.
  • Food – what do we eat, how do we prepare it, what does it do to us, do we know enough to eat well through all stages of our life…Present knowledge of nourishment is lacking, and obvious changes should be made to improve what we do.
  • Inner work – the coordination of your brain or mind, your feelings, your physical body so that is serves you well, your sex-life is all right, you become attentive and awake, use your will positively, you are harmonious both related to your self and to others, the sacrifices and suffering in your life accounted for, self-observation as a foundation for transformation, the work needed…
  • Knowledge – what do we know and how do we use it, how do we gain new knowledge, having an open, innovative mind, be logical, use our intelligence, always learn new things…. School systems, continued development of knowledge are ripe fields for changes.
  • Social work –  our participation in the development of society, the work we do among others, helping, improving, being a volunteer…
  • Moneymaking – paid activity is required by all, choose what you love to do, do not let moneymaking dominate your life, adequate income does it, greed is not good…
  • Cosmology – how do we contribute to the maintenance of the larger system around us, the “all” that we are part of. Building new consciousness and practice in this area is sorely needed.
  • Creative work by using your abilities in field of your choice, be it handicrafts, music, play, theater, art…This will stimulate your mind, help you become a whole person.
  • The recreation we have and participate in, music, games, handicraft, sports…

As this short list shows – life is a challenge, and one that we should take. This is really quite an undertaking and not at all easy to pull off – developing and using your abilities, find your consciousness, be what you will be, do what you will do, contribute to turning society into what you want it to be.

So establish a wish for being – then you can become harmonious, attentive, part of a wholeness, what you want – if you work hard. Many people should try this kind of work for a thrilling future.

The future of work, our future

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

In the last centuries we have built a deep divide between work and the rest of our life. We get a job, we make money and that is what we do. Work dominates life totally for most of us. Work is also becoming increasingly boring for most of us – we are just tools in a well designed system where costs must be kept down. And as company size and efficiency grows the boredom increases, and there is less and less need for manpower, that is you and me.

The idea of self employment has largely disappeared as this is deemed unsafe, tough, difficult. The idea of small scale business is slowly disappearing, we shall soon all work for the mighty global corporations. Some of them now have several million employees. You are just an ant in the system, and they do all they can to get rid of you so that costs are kept low.

Large scale joblessness is looming, especially youth unemployment, and especially people with no skills or newly educated people with no experience. Youth unemployment in many countries is high long term. We all wait for the politicians to do something.

The need to change is obvious, and the solution is obvious. We must go back to basics, become self employed, or start small companies with some few people. This was how it was done long ago, it worked well and it will work well again. The starting point is the need for work in your own town, place, community, that is the local needs.

There are in fact many opportunities. A new area is coming up in the culture sector where many countries have shown a remarkable increase in the number of one man companies. These are mostly strong, creative persons working in their local communities, artists and support functions creating a new arena for work and making the money we all need.

Historically there were lots of small companies that needed a new hand or more, that could give you an apprenticeship, teach you a trade.. This is no longer so as huge factories are the norm, chains, big corporations run everything. As efficiency and systems thinking develop relatively speaking less and less manpower is needed. Fundamental uncertainty about the future is the result.

But there is renewed and increasing interest in the crafts and trades, small scale production, handicrafts for local users, small scale agriculture and fisheries, new products, innovative products.

Sucking up to big companies doing slave like work is not the way out of joblessness. We must all do it ourselves. Making shoes for people as they want them, be a tailor with a small collection maybe, build 4 boats a year, start a blacksmiths shop, be a carpenter, a gardener, do some software that the locals need…Surely somebody needs you where you live.

The jobs of the future are clearly there, but the overly dependence upon big greedy investors for everything must go. The result is large scale dehumanising, we become non creative servants and the result is massive joblessness, destruction of local communities, unhappy people moving about. The social consequences of what we now do is emerging, and large scale work, large scale production must be reduced. Money must be more evenly distributed so that people can finance their own – with some help from friends – businesses, money concentrations are not good for society.

So try to create your own little safe job based on local needs, be creative, live reasonably well and be happy, take part in the activities of your local community, have time for some interesting hobbies. The future is self employment or small scale employment in a place of your own choice. It is a bit back to basics  as you will be working in a small company in your local community producing what your local customers need. That story is also about us and how we can shape our own lives.

The solution therefore is to go personal, take charge yourself, go local, go small scale, to do your own jobmaking. Build independence and do not wait for others as it is all your own thing. It sure is hard, but you may be well rewarded.

The genes’ favourite food

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

A third of each – fat, carbohydrates, protein – in all your meals will do wonders for you. The genes like that as this is what the genes are built for : balance. If you can achieve this sort of balance your life style related illnesses will be reduced or may even disappear.

The researchers at the Norwegian university NTNU have found that this should be our aim. The truth is finally emerging they say, and they keep working to give it an even firmer footing.

In the West we are presently eating about 65% carbohydrates which makes our metabolism work very hard and we risk infections in our body – followed by circulation trouble, dementia, cancer, diabetes2. We risk having a metabolic inflammation and become slightly sick, hot and uncomfortable, and the long term consequences are awful.

It is all about reducing the need for making insulin which is what the body makes to defend itself against too much glucose in the blood.

So all meals should be balanced with a third each of fat, carbo, protein. You should also eat small meals 5-6 times a day so the body can keep the glucose level stable and right.

This should do the trick: Your health will improve. And if everybody does it we should have healthy communities, countries etc…And surprise – less illness leads to better lives, lower health expenditures.

So simple really and let us hope it is true – it is surely worth a try. Keep up the good work, you folks in Trondheim, Norway.

Freedom for me and all of us.

Monday, September 12th, 2011

The ideas of personal freedom must from time to time be reconsidered and viewed in light of what is happening around us. The old books of philosophy are gradually becoming outdated, the terms used do not fit any more. But that is as it should be.

In a free society we see no random use of power or extended use of power, or surprising use of power or powers used outside the law. We know what happens and we basically consent to it. This concept of freedom is vital, the transparent and accepted role of the community or state likewise. The concept of freedom is important: no dominance, no dependencies, random use of power must not be allowed. This also goes for economic power. Among countries the same should apply: Equality, balanced treaties of all kinds.

The pressures on individual freedom are increasing: rules and regulations are growing, security is increasing, economic concentration is huge, the influence of the state seems to be growing. From time to time there are outlets of frustration, real or imagined, that also add to the tightening.

Traditionally we say that people tend to maximize their rights. We need a state for many purposes: as a check on individual activity, to handle day to day business, law and order, to deal with common practicalities like school, health, infrastructure etc.

Historically this is also a power game –  how many people can you manage to push under your rule. There are many words for this: republic, liberal, libertarian, socialist, fascist. We have also had city states, republics, kingdoms, empires.

So if we go back to basics: We need individual freedom and we need a common function. The term state should perhaps be changed altogether so as to help new thinking. We need an expression of community that is widely accepted, preferably fully accepted by all. May be we should simply call it the Commons. The state need not do it all as many functions can be set up outside a state: e.g. road administration, health, education.

In most countries now the state function is growing all the time. The number of laws are increasing, the bureaucrats and officials are everywhere, new areas of activity is added. People are starting to complain about interference with basic principles of individual freedom.

Ideally you should be able to do freely what you want. But the obvious golden rule is there – do unto others what you would want others to do unto you. We can imagine that this is possible and we can all have a good society. You restrain yourself, you know what to expect, you feel safe, and you can then do what you want. This is the principle of anarchism.

The state is historically a power instrument in local, national and international terms. We have never thought of the common function otherwise – as a handler of practicalities only. States handle the power game, the foreign policy, the wars.

Now the size, power and influence of the state is an important element in a society. Some say that a big state reduces freedom. This is not necessarily so if you like and accept what is going on. It is more about having an open society where personal freedom is more important than security. We are now in troubled waters with the perceived increase of terrorism, global coordination, increased surveillance.

If the dealings of state or community becomes contrary to what we like and think, processes of change or conflict may follow. We may lose our sense of community and develop a resistance to the state. This may be temporary or it may develop into a more critical situation. The state must not become an external agent robbing or restricting you. If many people feel an alienation, there is a problem and stability may be in danger.

We can not use the old phrases of politics forever, we need new thinking. A major challenge is how to allow for great diversity and at the same time have consensus. A modern man must balance his own needs and that of society – there is a common good that we must all help build. We must also leave out the old thinking and create a modern world based on what we deeply know to be right. New concepts and new thinking are needed, and the theories need not be detailed or rigid as we work our way to a realization of full freedom and a proper sustainable common function. And as we do at home we should also do abroad.

There will be changes and variations and people will commit shameful deeds, but the big picture of freedom must be upheld and practiced. And surely this is what we all want?