The World Isn't Ending, Now What? (Deepak Chopra)

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

by Deepak Chopra

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/the-world-isnt-ending-n_b_24808.html

<snip>

Without being religious, many liberals and progressives act as if their world has come to an end. That is, they see no solutions to a world sunk into chaos, reactionary religious backlash, and overwhelming difficulties.

There is an alternative to this sort of gloom and doom. We need to reshape our expectations by holding them higher, not lower. Certain points come to mind.

In the past, people accepted disease, poverty, political corruption, war, and even urban pollution on a vaster scale than we do now. They were still able to conquer disease and find a way out of the other problems, if not perfectly, then progressively. That same impulse is alive today.

What blocks a solution to such things as poverty and pandemic disease in the Third World isn't lack of knowledge but lack of will. We have the money and know-how to solve almost every challenge we face. Reactionaries may stand in the way, but if one looks deeper, even the most liberal thinkers are clinging to nationalism, post-colonial values, and other outmoded ideas, such as the inevitability of a world divided into haves and have-nots...

[Warren Stupidity]

1. I've always liked what he has to say.

Sometimes it seems it is just the usual feel good new age nonsense, but if you listen he has a very progressive, even radical message.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. I like him. He helps me step back...

...from the self defeating nationalism that's so deeply ingrained in our culture, and drilled into us from early childhood, and look at the bigger global picture.

[dweller]

3. ...

:kick:


dp

[blue sky at night]

4. we all need to heed deepak's advice.......

and there are many other sages in the world that are offering the same wisdom. For a starter, forgiveness works wonders on opening the mind.......do some research, and remember: when the student is ready, the teacher appears.
Great Post, nominated.

[Sapere aude]

5. This is most important to us here I think ................

"Since the world isn't coming to an end, the realistic alternative is a personal choice--reactionary isolation or progressive cooperation."

"Just to align yourself with the progressive impulse in life brings its own reward. And there is huge hope of success, because the dominant trend in the world is progressive, despite how things look in the U.S. right now."


I am constantly being told here at DU that being progressive is not the way to go since the country as a whole is not thinking progressive. Well just light one little candle and see the effect it has on the darkness!

[Uncle Joe]

6. I like the way Deepak thinks, and have tried to some extent

to incorporate his ideas in to mine, I still have a long way to go.

:kick:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. It's a process for me too...

...Most of us have been indoctrinated since childhood into the nationalistic mindset. We must give ourselves time to absorb, deliberate, and reflect. It's a radical change.

[blue sky at night]

8. He would tell you we need to stop thinking.....

a quiet mind connects with it's source, then you can't help but change your outlook.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Yes the empty space between the thoughts.

I just need to be more disciplined in making a time of the day to meditate and reach that space. Peace to you blue sky at night.