(This is Part 26 of a series. Go back to Part 25.)
Now let's look at some examples:
How could the world solve its ecological challenges if it wanted to?
Now we're asking the brain to crunch on an interesting problem that just happens to lead on an upward spiral. The more the brain crunches on the problem, the more it opens to possibilities and the more interesting the answers become. Let's try another one, just for fun:
How could the world solve the problem of conflict if it wanted to?
I guarantee you, that's one the brain can ponder on for a long time; it's a deep question. But that's not the point. What's more important is that the very pondering of the question brings greater and greater openings.
And if millions of us were to ponder a question like that, giving our brains a deep and mysterious food to crunch on, oh my, what a planetary transformation it would be!
Let's try another big one on, just for fun:
How could I contribute to the consciousness of the world?
Notice that we've moved from the "world" to the "I" now, because to take on an even bigger question we have to move the responsibility onto our own shoulders. What can I—this helpless little insect among six billion others—do about big planetary challenges?
How could I contribute to the consciousness of the world if I wanted to?
That's why it's so interesting, precisely because it seems so intractable and impossible. Let's see now, little old me who can barely recall which side of bed I got out of today —is going to affect the consciousness of the world?
Yup. Why not? Hang with that question and things might start bubbling up that will surprise you. Let's try another couple of fun ones:
How could the world solve global poverty and hunger if it wanted to?
How could I contribute to a solution of global poverty and hunger if I wanted to?
Aren't they fun? Our brains can come to love crunching on questions like these. They're intriguing and mysterious, and so it's not difficult for the brain to become absorbed in them. And as it does, our perception of this mystery that we call reality—and our actions in response to that, in response to ourselves—transforms.
Okay, let's take on a really good one:
If I wanted to, how could I contribute to a global solution of sustainable population, ecology, farming & business?
A beautiful variation of that one is:
How could I contribute to a sustainable solution for the challenges of humanity if I wanted to?
Another very nice one is:
How could I contribute to humanity living in peace if I wanted to?
And then there is, perhaps, the rose of the group:
How could I contribute to humanity living in great love if I wanted to?
(This is the end of Part 26. Go to Part 27.)
—jim sloman, 10.5.03 for 2.8.05
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