READING FOR THE SOUL

Here are just a couple of short impressions on books which I have read over the last two months.

The Essential Gnostic Gospels inclusive of the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary – Alan Jacobs

For early Christianity salvation was gained through self-knowledge but the Orthodox Church has labelled this as heresy. Alan has brought forward again some of the most important renditions with simplicity. Gnosticism was about experiencing God directly within oneself. The Nag Hammadi papyrus rolls were discovered in 1945 and this brought much of the early knowledge and original interpretations back – the latter often quite different from that presented by the New Testament.
Wisdom is gained by studying more than just one interpretation of a particular subject matter and in terms of the Bible is wise to refer back to the above, the Nag Hammadi, the Dead Sea scroll and original Hebrew texts. It is often quite enlightening to experience first-hand how the today’s text has been altered from the original. No wonder then that we have this plethora of different religious interpretations which, in my opinion, does nothing more than to illustrate a perfect example of the “divide and conquer” principal.
This is truly inspiring read.

The Path by Maharaj Singh

The author is an enlightened master which presents the reader with a glimpse of the transcendental realms within oneself. Each of us has to follow our own path – part of this, is not to follow the herd – part of this is that not a single one of us can in fact advise someone else as to what is truly their purpose etc etc. All paths are correct. This is absolutely not something what the world out there will agree with, but so be it. All our efforts must be directed towards subjugating the mind and withdrawing to the Source (God). He writes about fear and control of the mind which really, in more sense than one is uncontrollable. The more one wants to control it, the more uncontrollable it becomes. The mind and the soul is two different things and has become subservient to the mind which is caught up between the ego and the illusion of this world.
I think this saying by Swami Ji says it all: “By thy self, realise the Self – be not led away by what others may say”

The Path of the Masters – Julian Johnson – M.A., B.D., M.D.

This book is about the Audible Life Stream. It offers a fascinating journey into the philosophy and practical benefits of being taught and guided by a living master. Living Master is an interesting suggesting and I found synergy with this in that some year ago I was reading – and with great intention and attention, the writings of the Essenes. In their Gospel of Peace, it is suggested that “the written word is dead” and that we should take our lesson from nature because she is alive.
Julian, a medical doctor, pastor, scientist and much more made a serious study of the many different paths, religions and writings by many, now deceased masters. He discusses the good in a whole host of popular religions – he refers to many ancient writings and philosophical schools of thought – he advise as to how to recognise a genuine master – the difficulty in finding one and their function.
He discusses God and the grand hierarchy of the Universe – the various perversions of the mind – reincarnation, Karma, the existence of higher worlds (something which is denied by most religions simply because they follow a deceased master), the principals of man being a microcosm of the macrocosm, a Christ attitude and the dreaded results of us humans not being able to kill “the desire” for things.
He refers to the many rituals (almost all completely useless) within religion and other schools of thought – most of them operating without a living master and following only the umpteenth interpretation of other interpretations of the various scared writings – the implicit and fanatical following of deceased masters and the chaos this is causing in the world. He refers to meditation, even that practised by a number of prominent Christians of ancient times and even today.
He refers to the partial good in all of these – negated of course by the fact that there is no living master in all of these practices. Thus preventing the student to connect with and access all knowledge and the real truth about the truth – and, so much more capacity to live life to the fullest and true to your purpose.
Our infinite capacity – something which I have always innately believed in, read about, investigated, explored through various meditation and breathing techniques – is infinite but we have lost our ability to access this worlds of wonder and wisdom.
I will continue to investigate and explore because I agree that there is still much that we know nothing about and as a result we cannot conclude and accept that which we are being spoon fed by media, government, religion. I will decide for myself. The answers are inside. The external will and do provide us with leads and stimulation, but if we don't go inside - we go without the truth. Call me whatever you want – believe in whatever and whoever you want – that is perfect – I respect that.
One other element of this book which I found fascinating is that although the author refers to many ancient masters – the Veda’s – Indian philosophies and more – he substantiate and quote verses from the Bible – he refers to the disciples and their incomplete training.
You might say - well, this is just another interpretation of interpretations supported by much and true practical experiences. The long and the short is this though – if you are an avid reader or student of this subject matter and these philosophies and, you have some practical experience – at some point you gain the ability to separate yourself from the deception that is so rife in this world with its divide and conquer religions, policies and governments.
Mental and academic superiority, refined tastes in ethics and aesthetics does not produce civilisation and civil behaviour – LOVE and love alone makes civilisation because it is the essence of pure spirit.
This is not an easy read, in fact none of these books are – but it certainly is inspiring and most enlightening.                    

Mount Sheba Lodge - where the silence responds to silence ..

Life and wisdom are the collective results of authentic experiences rather than the collection of things. And, more often than not, bucket lists reflect those many wanted experiences. It may be that your wanted experiences include adventure activities, or perhaps just reading a good book next to a crackling fireplace with a glass of red wine - a walking meditation in a rain forest - the rush of panning for gold or perhaps you'd like to be transported into the intoxicating history of the environment.

This is Daniel Sibiya. Daniel is an old hand at panning for gold and has participated in the World Championship in America but has, alas "not won anything as yet."

The 1st gold rush took place in 1873 when gold was discovered on Geelhoutboom farm near Sabie and was referred to as New Caledonian Gold Fields by President Burgers. Alec "Wheelbarrow" Patterson was one of the first diggers top arrive here - pushing a wheelbarrow with all his belongings around. He struck it rich near Pilgrims Rest. Although quiet by nature and not sharing his findings, another digger , William Trafford also found gold in the same stream, registered his claim and this triggered the biggest gold rush of the time. The result - Pilgrims Rest was proclaimed a gold field. 

Life was tough and many diggers died because of illness. At one time some 1500 diggers were working on about 4000 claims. Initially, they found what is called alluvial gold - gold dust recovered from washing gravel from the banks of streams but they did find nuggets as well. The biggest one at the time was called the "Breda" nugget which weighed in at about 6kg. 

In its heyday, these mines were the first to use electricity and Pilgrim's also had the first hydro-electric power plant.

It is said that the famous "Jock of the Bushveld" slept on the site of the Mount Sheba with his master Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. The rain forest which is part of the Mount Sheba Reserve with its natural hiking trails is home to trees that are more than 1500 years old. Now can you imagine walking among these giants while listening to the calls of the Nightjar, the Knysna Loerie and more?    

If the kids absolutely have to be indoors - there is this playroom - and yes, there are play stations also.

The recent revamping of the three-star Mount Sheba, a Forever Lodge, near Pilgrim’s Rest did not remove any of its authentic old-world charm and warmth. Whether you stay indoors when the fog hugs the outside world or go for a walk in the rain forest - the place offers an enchanting warm welcoming supported by service levels way beyond the star rating. This is a place where the "what is your room number?" question does not exist because the staff knows your number. Where "what did you think of the desert?" is an authentic non-commercial inquiry to wow at every occasion and with every dish.

The Lodge was built in 1968. A slow drive down from the highway and through part of the rain forest to the lodge uses part of the old wagon trail which formed the alternative route from Lydenburg to Pilgrim's Rest. The Lodge offers 14 King Suites and ten exceptionally spacious family rooms each featuring its own fireplace.

Mount Sheba also offers two conference rooms. For a truly magical wedding inside a rain forest (and now I do have your attention), there is a suitable and prepared spot just 200 meters from the Lodge. Mount Sheba's other secret is its authentic cooking and please do the Digger's evening - Ryk en lekker soos moedersmelk!

Whether you visit the "Grand Old Lady" as a couple, family or group, activities have been designed to involve everybody outdoors in nature. The Mount Sheba Nature Reserve offers wonderful views, excellent fauna and flora and bird-watching for those so inclined and is also home to the endangered Samango Monkey. Mount Sheba offers no less than 11 walks ranging from one to 10 kilometres and these will take you to a number of waterfalls.

We did not, on this trip explored any of the hikes. We have however booked for the last weekend in August during which we will definitely explore (at least) the Waterfall route and I will add some comments about it then.

And, there is more. Visit their website and book your stay, conference or wedding. I have a feeling that rush-hour is about to arrive at Mount Sheba – a lodge where 3 is higher than 5…

And when the fog sets in - magic whispers are abound for those willing to listen. 

BE THE CHANGE ...

I attended a performance booster business breakfast recently where attendees were reminded that society and business is moving from a mechanistic management approach to a more humanistic and conscious business model. It's not just about loyalty anymore. The buzz words are engagement - commitment - cash flow meltdowns - incompetent leadership - managers versus leaders - and the disengaged attitude of managers and staff alike.

And then this question arrived in my mind: What are the most important lessons that I have learned during my varied and often completely different working environments and, different roles within these environments?

Do you want to make a difference? To make a difference you first have to make a conscious decision to do so and then apply discipline to persist with this despite all the challenges involved.

Do you want to add value over and beyond the norm? If yes, it will present a constant challenge to your creativity to come up with new ideas and approaches to the what, why and how you do things.

People do business with people not with companies. Market yourself - be authenticity - be the change.

Performance Booster (www.performancebooster.co.za) teaches and present employees and managers alike with the skills and tools to effect change in within their own lives first and then to apply the emotional intelligence gained from this, also in their work environments.

Many who completed the program, shared - and with great enthusiasm - how they and their companies have benefited from this program.

I have always maintained that the initial benefits from most sales conferences and team building events lasts for a about two weeks after the event. Then everything is back to "normal". The reason for this is that without a fundamental mind shift about self and individual purpose, most behavioural changes don't last long. Permanent changes require, first and foremost, an unconditional acceptance of the fact that each and everyone has a divine purpose.

Employers, managers and leaders need to create environments where employees will be allowed to excel within their divine purpose. If you identify talent and capacity, apply the "manage without managing" principle - guide, teach, allow - don't terrorise or police but of course - when staff step out of line, one has to be firm, fair, reasonable and above all else, respectful. Many managers management style is motivated by the power of the position rather than their emotional intelligence capacity. Terrorise and police and you will kill the human spirit and eventually your company.

Create "growth mindsets" - engage in "growth conversations" (PB) - be more everyday - apply a different approach to at least one of the many daily, and often mundane/routine tasks. Take time to engage your mind, and staff in strategic planning - allow them to set the mini goals within the big picture and vision for the company. Allow them to set their own goals within the company.

It is important to rid oneself and the company from the constant survival mode philosophies and methodologies and the negativity dictated by the external world - colleagues, politicians, the economy and the rest.

Visualise, formulate, believe, do and trust. Even if you do not understand or know your divine purpose, do the work and trust the process.

What lessons have you learnt?

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Racism and disrespect - two sides of the same coin

When one consult the dictionary, the definition of racism and or disrespect will always synchronise to some extent with these definitions. Racism is defined as the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Disrespect is defined as Rude - impolite and or offensive behaviour. The latter is often motivated by a sense of superiority.

The constant bickering in the public space about the above is leaving all of us a tad frustrated and gatvol. And, I am not about to add to your frustration with an academic or political discussion on the issue.

I am of the opinion that both words address exactly the same issue or behaviour.  The word racism is, for political purposes, a powerful baton to beat each other up with. It is in-humane and aggressive. I wonder what will happen if we were to replace it with the word disrespect whenever we are about to use it.

Each word carries a totally different energy and intention. Shout at someone that they are a racist. Then repeat it but replace racist with disrespectful and feel the difference.

I look at nature and how all her processes and methodologies synchronise - seemingly by themselves.

I consider the design and workings of my body and how much we, despite all the advances in science and technology, still do not understand. Thus I have to acknowledge the superiority of the architect/creator and I choose to refer to him/her/it as God.

We have been created in the image and likeness of God. This by implication means that each and every one is a holy and divine being and needs to be treated with respect despite any visual, physical, culture, age or intellectual differences.

It is quite simple actually – don’t you think?

Serious disrespect and verbal abuse can probably and legally be considered Crimen Injuria and so too can racism – we don’t need any more laws to manage it. We need for all involved to step up to the challenge of providing and applying ourselves to decent and quality education and upbringing of our children and well, disrespectful adults.

Then we will respect everyone. And the opposite of respect is not racism – it is disrespect.

BOOK REVIEWS 

The Sign by Thomas De Wessellow

THE SHROUD OF THE TURIN AND THE SECRET OF THE RESURRECTION

Christianity was born more than 2000 years ago but the controversy about many issues and the efforts to put them to bed continues. Was Christ resurrected – literally - or is it a myth? The Shroud of the Turin which can and do offer many authentic clues has been subjected to many a scientific test but sometimes even science of today cannot always prove many mysteries. Then again, it often cannot explain or disprove, with conviction either.

In this book Thomas, who is an art historian and widely recognised for his ability to prove the “unsolvable”, approach the authenticity issues surrounding the Shroud and Christianity from a different angle and prove the authenticity of the Shroud, and thus the resurrection, without any doubt. His findings are also illustrated with maps and pictures.

The book offers a comfortable but enticing read also referencing many Bible verses should you want to cross-refer.

Faith is to accept the possibilities of what is or can be even though one cannot necessarily see it at the time. Be that as it may, it is still fascinating to read and study various viewpoints about those elements which make up life – it creates wisdom and insight.


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Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

“A lifetime’s worth of wisdom”

This is an extremely demanding and engaging book to read – it requires total focus as it works with two concepts or as Kahneman calls it systems. It is about being a good diagnostician – it is about how these two systems function – I will call them the conscious and the sub-conscious -  it is about how it evaluate everything which is observed to make decisions or create impressions and at which point the one will be stronger and more accurate than the other.

Everything we do, or not, are based on or is as a result of judgement – the latter is again based on love or fear. This book is about that which we are aware - what is going on in the mind but then takes one further into that which the mind is busy with that we are not aware of while we are focussing on the stuff that we think we are aware of but is not! It offers one a better understanding of the biases of intuition and the awareness of how we can be confidently in error without realising it. Are people statistically good intuitive? Many scientific studies often lack adequate evidence and observation which result in subjective decision making.

The long and the short, I think, of this book is that it illustrate the flaws within our thinking and direct us towards insight as to how we should modify our thinking by being aware of the benefits or not, of the two systems. Once one understands the methodologies of the latter, we can apply our minds and thinking methodologies to eliminate those perceptions which we identify as not being real or applicable at any one time thus improving our thought success rate.

Sometimes thinking fast is better than thinking slow, but the vice verse also offers many benefits.

I am not complete done with this book – have decided to sleep on it for a couple of weeks – 2013 to be exact! If you are “lazy” or seriously casual reader, you will not enjoy this book – so be warned! It will most certainly change the way you think about things.

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The elephant whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

A truly apt title for a book which keeps its reader spellbound from the first chapter.

This is a true story of how Lawrence, who owns a game park in Zululand, was, out of the blue, presented with a herd of “rogue” elephants. The park’s name - Thula Thula.

Spellbound because the matriarch got shot during capture, the herd broke out of the holding pen shortly after its arrival at Thula Thula! They found a way to short-circuit the electric fence, were threatened to get killed by the Parks Board but faith and a superhuman effort brought them back to Thula Thula where Lawrence and one of his staff stayed with them for days. During this time Lawrence would walk around the boma and talk to them by name – carefully observing every member of the herd’s behaviour.

Suffice to say that in time he gained the herds trusts and he describes the subtle mannerisms of these elephants through which he recognised their acknowledgement of him and what he was trying to do for them. Despite the latter, he found himself in a spot of bother with this herd on more than one, and every time, unexpected occasions whilst also having to manage and combat poaching in the park. There were also those times when the matriarch Nana and her somewhat rebel sister Frankie taught him valuable lessons in compassion and caring for family.

This is a book for animal lovers and adventurous souls alike – it touches and speaks to the heart.

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Inspired action

All people will at some point wonder and ask about their purpose in this life. I believe it is to illustrate God or godliness. Not an easy task - agree.

Here's another interesting observation - "our job is to take inspired action". Awesome!

What does this means? It means that we should, in the first place be grateful for what we have - even that which we don't have. Then we should declare, without any attachment, what we would like to have and create that feeling which we will have, when we have the aforementioned, as if we already have it.

Come again?

Once this is done, we should act on all the nudges and opportunities which present itself. It may just be the next step to where we want to be.

Let's go...

THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER

We all know and have read the verse: Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Hereto have ye ask nothing in my name … ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

Then we say: but we have asked and we are not receiving!

When one studies the original Aramaic text, it says: All things that you ask, directly … from inside of my name, you will be given. So far you have not done this. Ask without hidden motive and be surrounded by your answer. Be envelope by what you desire, that your gladness be full … 

I am studying the “technology of prayer” as left to us by the Essene people of Qumran and other ancient masters. The long and the short is that emotion and feeling linked to absolute faith in the manifestation of your request and desire, plays a significant role in the success of prayer.  

What say you?