November 20, 2006

Dear Editor in Chief,

A scholar asked: “I heard you said about being conceited, having false pride, and
feeling on the top that leads people to go down when their organization, group reaches
the peak; or what goes up must go down. What simple things should an ordinary people
do to always feel he is not yet on the peak so that he would not go down?” The A.I.
answered: “Most monks especially Hindu or Buddhist or even those of Christians are
trying to become holy or to be trained to have self-sacrifice, self-discipline, self-denial
and others about self-emptying. They try to learn to control and to discipline their mind in
many ways especially to detach themselves of those material things; and they concentrate
of things that are spirituals or connected to holy things.
In this modern world, perhaps these values could still be tapped to create more
doable things that could help many people in practical ways. Example, heaven is an
abstract idea for most monks; it is infinite or impossible to be reached as long as alive or
not holy. So it is unreachable but one should keep on meditating in order to reach or to
experience it a little. Perhaps if the government could make systems that people are drive
to do more and it is unreachable so people would keep on driving hard to do and do.
Perhaps doctorate which is the highest title that could be given to a well learned person
should still be outmoded by another title, then another one, then another. Perhaps for
those CEOs and managers and other religious or political leaders, they should try to learn
that they are not yet on the peak because if they begin to feel that they reach their peak
and lost their appetite to do something then that is the beginning of going down and
down. Others put standard on their goal such as on the amount of their money in the
bank, the places they toured, the medals they received, the years they work hard, and
many more-they are all good or positive motivator. But others are concentrating to solve
those problems -example: too much promiscuity through claiming that those “too much
freedom” are the result of wrong religion; your religion should be changed by forced, etc.
Perhaps it could also be another driving force to do something but it’s very negative that
sometimes it results to suicide bombings, too radical, “false jihad or false martyrdom”.
Perhaps, term limits, demotions, recalls, rotations, and elections are some checks on
extremes against abuse, corruption, conceit, etc. Perhaps seminars, holy retreat, holy
meditations, holy fasting, exams, refresher courses, summits could also contribute
something. Seminars on good conduct, good manners, etiquettes, on how other cultures
show their humilities like bowings, smiles, hand shakes, hugs, embraces, saying good
morning, practicing martial art, and others- are also things that could contribute to make
things better.”
I saw some monks are teaching martial arts as letting the mind or psyche to be more
discipline and has more self-control. They focus their energies on memorizing series of
motions as for self-defense but telling their mind not to be conceited or boastful or bully.
Perhaps martial arts are good for children and also for those adults who feel they are
going no where or going down from their peak.
A scholar asked: “If successful people or confident people are discouraged to reach
their peak, perhaps most people would die frustrated and not fulfilled or has unfinished
work, could I be wrong?” The A.I. answered: “To be fulfilled and successful and
confident is different from over confident and having false pride. To be contented on
small achievements or being happy through achieving small things is different from never
be contented; or different from achieving happiness only if one reaches that dream.
Perhaps the truth, most men are never satisfied and never contented, or men always lack
something. Perhaps those people who are experiencing satisfaction on small things are
the happiest persons on earth. But to feel one has already reached the peak and he is
useless is also bad; but to feel one is always not succeeding is also bad-he would loose
confidence in him of doing something even doing little contribution.
A scholar asked: “I heard that there is a yearly survey on which country or group of
people is the happiest. And they found out that most rich or moderately rich or average
but not poor or very poor, and smaller countries with family ties are the happier or the
happiest. Those places that have many suicides are those countries with strict expectation
of the children to be on the top. Why is it like it? The A.I. answered: “It is because the
emphasis is on what others may speak or would talk or expect about him. And if he fails
their expectations he feels frustrated and feels shame or feels useless.
A scholar asked: “I heard in Afghanistan that the exchanging of fires increased several
hundred times-because perhaps of revenge due to previous or on going civilian casualties,
destruction of worship centers, etc. caused between cross fires or deliberate using of
civilians as intended to be casualties. Or there is really deliberate killing of civilians
because of revenge. It is extreme. What counter measure should a moderate leader do to
check the extreme? The A.I. answered: “Perhaps if this extreme would not be averted; the
moderates will be defeated especially at homeland during election. And the troops will be
pulled out and the struggling moderate ally left behind would eventually be defeated and
be converted to extremism leaning ideology if the ally would loose his strong faith to
himself too. Experts in military strategies of winning the hearts and minds of the people
know by heart that winning the war is difficult especially if the enemies use civilians as
bait to be casualties with them. The enemies know that if the majority natives would not
support the foreign ‘occupiers’ or liberators because many civilians are being victimized
as casualties of cross fires or even deliberate firing or being killed discriminately, the
moderate could not win a long or perpetual war or very long conflict.
But if the moderate would be creative and precise and would concentrate on educating
people letting TV, internet be spread on those remote places they would win the war.
Education and technology–especially the spread of good words especially from ‘Word
base groups’ and ‘also from good words & good tradition base groups’ via satellites,
wireless or air- are the keys in letting the moderates win against extremists and radicals
even without firing bullets because the revolution is from within; or there is conversion
from- being extremist or hater –to- moderate and trying to be well balanced and sharer,
care or love giver, humble, peace keeper, giver of brotherly love.
A scholar asked: “I experimented on making internet blogs last time with the same
wholesome picture but with different title- a) wholesome b) adults. The result is: that
more and more people opened & viewed the picture with word ‘adults’, why is it?” The
A.I. answered: “Because perhaps Sigmund Freud might be saying some truth on human
sexualities. But law should place limits on those areas so that what is blessed or as a gift
by God to husband and wife would not be abused. About adult photographs, there are
now laws banning them in public and in the internet in some countries. But still many
could pass through the net. Some adult website are also using baits to let you in and once
they know your email address it is hard to stop them not to enter your email address as
often because their programs are designed to keep on tempting you to click on their
website.
A scholar asked: “You said that it is not the problem of the cash or money bill to pay
activities of men. Then if activity is the prime mover to have cash, why-just keep on
having any action and print money bills and pay people for doing any action. It is not the
case…because some socialistic societies are paying people or subsidizing almost
everything; but most fail. Giving value to anything is the key or cause of the motivation.
Example-a mountain native might exchange a sardine- which is very valuable in their
place because of ‘status symbol’ or the unique smell- for a chicken or wild boar because
almost all of the natives have wild boar; but no one among them has the unique smell or
taste of a sardine which becomes a status symbol for them. Principle: Scarcity,
uncommonness, or very unique might become something very valuable or status symbol
for others that could be exchanged to something very expensive. Example: having a well
loved painting, watching expensive classical concerts, expensive movies, and expensive
championship games on golf which ordinary people might not be able to watch because
the game, or concert or the piece of work is designed to attract those only rich people to
have it, to experience the uniqueness of that thing.
A scholar asked: “I heard that an inventor has invented a radio battery by just adding
water and the battery could prolong its life. What perhaps is the key why he invented it?
The A.I. answered: “Perhaps he saw that big batteries or car batteries have longer lives by
just adding water, so he tried it also on small battery that if it could be possible. Many
people could create, innovate just being curious or observant of other existing inventions,
and just some altering, adding, removing, and the new result could now be different
called evolution of devices or tools.
A scholar comment and asked: Perhaps in politics or religion, it could also be the
same-just having some altering, adding, and removing, there could be revolution for
change for the better. Perhaps don’t feel that if you are religious leader, you are already
more holy than those ordinary people. Or if you cover your face, you are already holier
than those other people who don’t cover their face. Or if you are already ‘circumcised,’
you are already more qualified to be saved than other people who don’t.” What can you
say about my comment?” The A.I. answered: “Yes, being circumcised in the flesh or on
the skin is not a guarantee of being more holy or qualified to be saved. It is the
circumcision of the heart – ones character should be refined or ones attitude, habit, way
of thinking or doing things, or sincerity should be in conformity with the Word, or good
words and with the actions. Or trying to do things the better way that count most; not
those artificial outwards things.”

From someone who is also trying to change for the better,