The Middle East and the media

The Middle East ?

Before you read this please note

(a) My ideas are subject to change. (I heard it said that any conclusion you get to about anything is just a sign that you have decided to stop thinking about it)

(b) I am fully aware that there is virtually nothing I can write here which someone equally as intelligent as me or more so vehemently disagrees with. Because of this, I invite you to relate to this piece in a different way. Turn of the ‘right/wrong’ brain and just ‘be with’ what is written. If it touches you then let it nourish your soul. Otherwise, either check within yourself why it bothers you, or spit it out like poison. The last thing anyone needs is someone else trying to convince them to think like me. And the last thing I need is to do that to anyone.

These suggestions come from my heart. They are not the truth.

I suggest that if you want peace in your life, the best thing you could do is to stop reading newspapers and watching the news.

Why ?

At speakers’ corner, I have a sign which offers opinions for sale. I sell THREE for 50p and ONE for £1 !!! The obvious message being that the listeners are better off with one opinion than three. By watching TV and reading papers you pay for other peoples opinions in several ways.

(1) your TV license fee (in the uk)

(2) the cost of the paper

(3) Your very SELF as you constantly subject yourself to others trying to convince you to think like THEM ! Why would you subject yourself to more of that when you KNOW deep down that this is the last thing you need !

(4) You pay a massive price by allowing yourself to be exposed to what the MEDIA say is ‘news’ Take a look at the next newspaper you read and chart out how much is ‘negative’ Do you know that every day, millions of people are doing amazing kindness but you are allowing yourself to be fed with negativity which colours your world and experience of life.

(5) You are exposing yourself to a whole lo of assumptions and ways of looking at the world that are actually quite violent in nature and deeply lacking in compassion. The ‘right/wrong’ blame way of seeing life is the great example of this which is rampant in the press as opposed to seeing both sides and having compassion for all.

(6) You pay a VERY big price by exposing yourself to the advertisements even if you don’t buy one of the products. The MESSAGES behind them are bound to affect you and they are based on the most destructive mistaken thought of all - you are not enough (see other post under this title)

Question: Who do you think creates Eastenders (British TV soap opera)? The viewers or the Directors and Writers ? What do you think would happen if the viewers lost interest ? So consider the same with regards the Middle East ? Who is creating and sustaining it ? Perhaps you and I by giving it so much attention.

What if what is going there is actually a distraction, removing our focus which could be on relevant things. If you feel you must focus on the worlds problems, then global warming is surely far more serious. If you are bothered by the death of hundreds of ‘civilians,’ it may be that this is nothing compared to what is going to happen as a result of man made global warming. We have already seen New Orleans which was affected by the warming sees (Hurricanes apparently increase in intensity over warm seas) and this is just the start. This distraction allows all of us, including our leaders to keep our heads buried in the sand about this massive issue.

But also distracts us from the other crucial issue. Self awareness. As long as we are glued to our screens and newspapers, we can continue avoiding looking inside at our own inner chaos. (Many spiritual teachers talk about the outside world being a reflection of our inner world) Perhaps our problem today is that we are being lead by men who have little self awareness and then end up projecting and inflicting their pain onto others.

Finally, I had an insight this week. My wife and I spent just 24 hours at the most luxurious hotel I have ever been to. Its called ‘the Grove’ in Hertfordshire. The spa is absolutely magnificent. I was directed to the ‘relaxation room’ before my massage. This room is virtually perfect – low lighting, atmospheric new age music, soft beds separated by silk partitions, healthy light snacks. And then I spoted a pile of newspapers. How very bizarre, that most people relax by reading the paper. Imagine – lying down in this sanctuary of heaven on earth to relax to the pictures and stories about murder, rape and war ! And what’s even more bizarre is that most people think its not bizarre.

So what is going on there is a distraction. And if someone says ‘ I need to know what is going on’ I would ask them ‘Why and for what ?’ Are you going to do something about it ? If not, then why do you watch ? If Yes, then you already know enough. What you really need to investigate is HOW am I going to help ? The best way I know is to BE the change you wish to see – i.e BE more peaceful and loving and the best way I know to to start that process is to stop letting the media into your space. (If anyone chooses to do this or has done so in the past, i would love to hear about the experience)

A final word - it is sometimes hard to see how we can get out of this apparent mess we are in. Perhaps one of the ways is to start disempoweringthe media. With the interne, we can now chose much more freely what we let into our space.

As one example, instead of watching the news, try http://www.big-picture.tv/

I am aware that thee people are in lline with my particular brand of information but they are much more positive and nourishing than most of what you see on popular TV

Speakers corner - contd

What is going on in Speakers corner for me and for some who gather around is difficult to put into words. I will try and say something about it but really its all in the experience and so I invite you down to experience it for yourself. I have finally found a place of utter freedom. Freedom to express whatever needs to be exprressed from within me, and those listening (or not) have the freedom to move away or hang around. Today (30/7) i was there from 12-7 pm without a break. I have never done public speaking before but this experience feels so natural for me. It has created a space for me to BE the change i want to see in the world (Ghandi) i.e. i experience myself as being loving and giving. I am nourished by the experience which i believe is nourishing others (I have received several beautiful emails and several people return to be a part of the experience again) The space is interesting. The general 'energy' around the place is one of anger and pain with people shouting at each other and very little true listening going on. Instead=, the speakers are trying to force their beliefs on the listeners and the hecklers and doing a great job at pulling the speakers to pieces. However in our little oasis of peace, in the 7 hours i was there, at least 6 and 1/2 of them were without any conflict or argument. The highlights were many but a couple i remember were these. A 13 year old boy got up on the steps in front of the crowd in response to a question and declared 'Life is all about your perception' I didnt even know what the word meant at 13 years old. The young people of today have the wisdom beyond their age - I experience this regularly at SC. Another wonderful moment is when i heckler came and started shouting his stuff at me and us and then we had a wonderful hug in response ! It was really such a privilege for me to be sharing in this way and to see the affect for some. Thank you to those who came and shared in the experience.