Every year, we come to the holiday season, it has become my tradition to write a sentimental story to share with the world. I must admit, I state very hard trying to write something meaningful this year, but until recently was coming up completely empty. With all the disorders present happening around us on a daily basis, I have been unable to focus on a positive theme for this piece... so far.
Recently I was aware of a project by one of the TED Prize winners for 2008. The TED Prize is a philanthropic grant awarded each year to three thinkers original, in a variety of creative disciplines. Each of the recipients were asked to the desire "to" something for the world and then, given a sum of money to help them make it happen. Religious scholar Karen Armstrong, was one of the beneficiaries of last year. (She has written more than 20 books about the ideas of what Christianity, Judaism and Islam have in common). His desire is that "must act to help the religion a force for harmony." "She asks the TED community to help her build a Charter for compassion - to help restore the rule of gold as the central global religious doctrine."
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THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION
"The Charter of compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community." It brings together the voices of people of all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all religions are not equal, they all share the basic principle of compassion and the golden rule. The letter will change the tenor of the conversation around religion. "It will be a clarion call to the world."
"The letter will show the voice of negativity and violence so often associated with religion is the minority, and that the voice of compassion is the most".
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As result of his "desire", a large number of most important intellectuals of the world from a variety of religious disciplines, are trying to find common ground for our Global society address this new millennium... together. Instead of searching all the differences of minutiae in our individual upbringings, it is expanding its thinking to embrace the basic desires common to all mankind.
Unfortunately, for a long time we have all suffered interpretations paranoically fearful of extremists of the historical religious text. The narrow, negative voices of some people (that long ago have forgotten the reason why were to seek God in the first place), have sought to us herds in the corners smaller and smaller of mistrust and doubt from around the world. As a result of this useless exclusivity, our stocks have been drained of the infinite creative energy that we are capable of, and that the same energy has been directed increasingly destructive paths of human behavior. Allowing these few negative voices speak on behalf of the religious beliefs of most of us, it has brought our global society as a whole on the edge of the financial, environmental and spiritual collapse. The time has obviously a comedy and recover the true spiritual intention behind all words... no matter the text you are reading.
I was raised in a Christian home, so my religious education of the 'golden rule' was taught as "Do to others." as they would have that you as an example of this concept, usually told the story of the good Samaritan. (A traveler on the path, helps other traveler in need.) (Not because he wanted something to change, but simply because he feels that it is right thing to do and what he wants for someone do for him, if you ever met in this traveller trouble.) Urged to take into account more than just his own personal vision of the world. To put in the shoes of the other boy and treat them as you would like to be treated. A simple story of compassion, which serves to illustrate a world of understanding between two human beings. The key word here is... "simple".
Too many years of history and works of power by certain too many human beings with their own personal agendas, have twisted a simple concept in an unrecognizable jumble. Too many strange comments and biased interpretations, have only served to obscure the crystal-clear waters of the original message of the words. It is that kind of game for children, "Phone". A group of people sit in a circle and one person starts by lean more to the person next to them and whispered a story. (Usually something that is rather long, with several key points.) Then that person goes to the next person and re-tells the same story to them (still whispering). This continues around the circle until the last person then tells the story heard aloud. It's amazing how changes of a story in a few stories (information is abbreviated, changed or forgotten) and more people has in his circle, most original story seems to disappear from sight altogether. As a result of these multiple misunderstandings, we ended up with an empty shadow of the original truth.
So this year, I decided to send along a holiday story that is both uplifting relevant for us all in these trying times. (And not intended to whisper, either). There are still people who believe in the compassionate life of their lives, and are now trying to take the first steps towards a common goal of understanding and peace among all people. To help achieve this 'worldwide attitude adjustment', all simply we need to return to the original intention of this very simple lesson, and incorporate on a personal level in our own daily lives. If we put ourselves in the other person's position and treat them with the respect that we want from them, it may be the beginning of a much better understanding within our global community currently divided.
My own party "desire", is joining along in their quest for understanding among human beings, conscious and intelligent. We analyse each one get that old "golden rule" and the Polish a bit for the new year! (With the challenges we currently face, we will need all the help we can get in the near future.) Find this simple common ground, will serve as a starting point for all humanity to start together a new millennium of peace and compassion. With the help of each individual, we can actually create a legacy worthy of passing along and a strong creative force of harmony... for all generations.
** Note: Several citations and excerpts from the Basic Charter of http://charterforcompassion.com.
© 2008
B. MacNichol is the poet Prize winning, premier of the line "frameable greeting card" - N other words, whose background includes Senior, master of drafting, Journeyman engineering blacksmithing and farriery (Kennel). To spend their formative years in Missouri, he currently resides in the mountains of the North of Georgia and it is carrying out a professional career. To see more samples of his work, please link to http://www.notherwords.com