Sentir

El sentir es un instinto que nos indica cómo algo nos afecta. ¿Puede el sentir ser un indicador erróneo? Mi respuesta es: ¿por qué no? Si está basado en criterios erróneos, en lógica defectuosa, en modelos mentales equivocados, claro que puede indicarnos algo falso.

El sentir básico de lo bueno —el amor— puede ser un indicador esencial, la última referencia a la que acudir cuando todo lo demás falla. Si la información que recibimos es difusa y contradictoria, y nos hace sentir que algo está mal, ese instinto merece atención.

Pero cuando vemos que hay quien no confía en el relato oficial porque no cree en sus fuentes, y sin embargo sí cree en el relato del opresor, ¿qué está pasando? Su sentir parece indicarles que deben rechazar todo aquello que va en contra de lo que ya creen. Aunque se encuentren contra la pared por inconsistencias e incoherencias, el instinto es defenderse: sienten que están siendo atacados porque se identifican con esa postura y, por ende, perciben cualquier cuestionamiento como un ataque a sí mismos.

Por eso debemos aprender a hablar de la verdad partiendo de la verdad que hay en el argumento del otro, y evitar señalar sus errores de forma directa. Aunque también —y esto es igualmente importante— debemos aprender a reflexionar cuando alguien nos señala los nuestros, y no tomarlo como un ataque a nuestro ser. Tenemos que aprender a desligar el ser de las ideas. ¿No es así?

Unlawful

What the Israeli Parliament did is unlawful. They approved the death penalty exclusively for Palestinians. That is equivalent to Spain approving the death penalty only for foreigners, only for Buddhists, or only for people from Andalusia. It is a violation of International Law. It is an example of a law that, under any broader frame of reference, is unlawful — but above all, it is immoral.

Part of Israeli society appears to have been deeply affected by decades of conflict and trauma — shaped by narratives of destruction and dehumanization that feed hubris and hatred. Some use the name of God to justify what can only be described as evil. In doing so, they shame the memory of their own ancestors — people who suffered persecution — by becoming the persecutors. They kill brothers and sisters, the elderly, children, pregnant women. They kill those who are not Palestinian simply for helping Palestinians. They act with apparent impunity.

How can people carry out acts of such cruelty while believing they are doing good? It suggests a deep disconnection from conscience and moral feeling. And why do I believe I am right to say this? Because I hold that every being capable of moral choice is a brother — and every brother must be treated as an equal.

Clavel

Sé que un clavel es una flor, pero no recuerdo cómo es. Hay tantas cosas que conozco de manera superficial, y hay tantas cosas por conocer que me parece innecesario tratar de memorizarlo todo, porque me perdería en los detalles. Prefiero los modelos mentales que me ayuden a discernir.

Y es que una cosa es la memoria, que nos permite acceder a información al instante, y otra es la inteligencia, que consiste en saber utilizar ese conocimiento de forma eficaz y eficiente. Pero la sabiduría va más allá de la inteligencia, pues no se trata solo de eficacia y eficiencia: se trata de moralidad. Se trata de hacer las cosas con bondad, y de encontrar en eso la belleza divina que nutre el alma y nos hace felices.

Un clavel puede parecernos bello por su forma física, pero más bello aún puede ser cuando representa una conexión de amor entre dos seres. Un amor verdadero y bello. Hay belleza física, pero la belleza divina es la que nos toca el alma: aquello que es eterno, puro, y que permanece inocente en nuestro interior.

Y como dijo el Principito sobre su flor: de entre todas las flores que son iguales, la suya es la más hermosa porque es a la que le dedicó tiempo, con la que compartió su experiencia.

Environment

 

What do we need in order to build an ethical, philosophical, and brotherly society? We need to nourish the right environments. Specifically, we need to fulfill four conditions: 1) Health, 2) Security, 3) Justice, 4) Education.

1. Health. The instinct of any animal or plant is to obtain nutrients in order to survive. The first humans simply wanted to gather food. Before private property, before cities or villages, people needed to cover the most basic need: nourishment — to be healthy, to have energy for working, fighting, defending, and learning. Without health, nothing else is possible.

2. Security. Once people satisfy their basic well-being, they can look for a place to rest and to trade. This is the origin of villages, which in turn need protection — both from internal conflict and from external threats. Without these two forms of security, the next conditions cannot exist.

3. Justice. People need to cover their material needs in order to live comfortably. But a society also needs rules to live together and resolve conflicts peacefully. Without justice, there is no stable structure — and without structure, society cannot grow.

4. Education. When the minimum conditions of the previous three are met, a society can turn its attention to education. That allows it to search for knowledge, and through knowledge, to search for wisdom — a natural next step. That wisdom leads people toward ethics and moral life, and gives them a purpose: to love, to serve, and to seek truth. Then, and only then, will humankind live in an era of true brotherhood.

Pioneer

 

What do we need to be pioneers?

We need imagination, creativity, and necessity — three things that, combined, make us innovative. And once we are truly innovative, we are already pioneers.

a) Imagination. This skill allows us to build different universes in our minds, based on what we already know. With the help of analogies and metaphors, we can conceive what does not yet exist. First we visualise it — then we make it real.

b) Creativity. This skill helps us try different approaches. We mix ideas together, and inspiration finds us while we are working. We must keep trying, again and again. Taking a break also helps — it lets our subconscious work in the background — and then we return and try again. Passion and even obsession are often found in this process.

c) Necessity. When we are in need, that is precisely when imagination and creativity activate to find solutions. We test those solutions one by one, and eventually we choose the one that works.

But should we be pioneers of destruction? Should we be pioneers in the making of war? We must remember our purpose: to love, to serve, and to search for truth — and to follow the Golden Rule as our highest value. We can be pioneers of war — or pioneers of brotherhood. History will remember both. The question is which one we choose to build.

Meadow

I like green meadows in spring. They are so beautiful. They show life and transmit peace and calm. That peace can be felt in the body, in the mind, and in the spirit.

That spring came after winter, and winter came after autumn. It is a cycle. This serves as a reminder that if we are going through a difficult time, it will pass — and we must remain calm, imagining the spring that will come. That hope keeps us going. And if we are going through a good time, we must enjoy it and remain calm too, knowing that spring will end. That is not meant to depress us, but to keep us humble. Understanding this is part of becoming wiser.

We must also avoid always judging things as simply good or bad. Using the example of seasons: spring is not necessarily good, and autumn is not necessarily bad. We must find joy in all seasons. There is beauty in autumn too, when we see meadows covered in leaves — those reds, yellows, and browns are beautiful. As is the white of winter or the golden light of summer.

The search for wisdom will help us understand that there is beauty in all seasons. And we can see it if we prepare our mind and spirit to look for it. How? By seeking wisdom and following the Golden Rule.

Next time you stand in a meadow, whatever the season, ask yourself: can I find the beauty here? If you can, you are on the right path.