30 Odd and Bizarre Questions: Well, 10 normal and 20 odd

Icebreaker Questions:

1. What is the best part of your day?
2. What is the worst part of your day?
3. What is your preferred time to get up?
4. What is your favorite nighttime activity?
5. If you could change one thing about humanity what would it be?
6. What is the last movie you watched?
7. What is the last song you heard?
8. What is the last book you read? (How was it?)
9. Can you describe the ideal sandwich?
10. Where is one place in the world that you want to visit?

Slightly More Intense

11. When was the last time you almost cried?
12. Should humans be allowed to own pets? Why/why not?
13. Do humans have a responsibility to protect the environment Why/why not?
14. Can something be both pro-ecology and anti-science at the same time?
15. What is the worst thing a person can do for the Earth?
16. What is the difference between liberal and conservative?
17. How much do you believe psychological traits of personality affect one's political leanings?
18. Does the government lie and deceive to get a desired result from the people? Why/ Why not?
19. What reasonable limits should be placed on freedom?
20. Who is one politician or political thinker you admire?

Just a bit more Intense

21. If aliens exist, would they care about our arts and humanities? Make a prediction.
22. How would you respond if you were the last person on Earth?
23. Who is a beautiful person that despises you?
24. What is one of your largest regrets?
25. If you could have a one night stand with any non-famous person, who would you choose?
26. If  you could make any non-famous person love you, who would you choose?
27. Is love real? or is it a fiction that we tell ourselves about? Why / why not?
28. What is one action in the world you would define as evil? Why / why not?
29. What is the difference between hearing your moral compass and schizophrenic delusions?
30. Is it possible for everyone to learn to love?

10 Historical Conversation Starters and Icebreakers.

Historical Conversation Starters and Icebreakers:
One must reply in detail.
Please, answer anyway you choose.

1. Abraham Lincoln: Hero, Genius, or Tyrant?
2. Thomas Jefferson: Brilliant and enlightened champion of freedom or anti-military coward only concerned with his sex life and the plantations?
3. Henry Kissinger: Hero or War Criminal?
4. Chairman Mao Zedong: Horrible Mass-Murderer or CIA Plant?
5. The invention of the firearm: Evil Weapon or Life-saving tool?
6. What is the true definition of civilization?
7. What race were the ancient Egyptians?
8. What was the worst event in human history?
9. What was the greatest accomplishment of any civilization?
10. What event in human history changed the course of human development the most?

41 New Icebreaker Questions:

A new list of icebreaker questions:
Conversation Starters.
Or just breaking the ice.


1. What is the most used app on your phone?
2. Who do you text message the most?
3. What subject do you spend the most time talking about?
4. What is the longest you've gone without speaking to a member of  your family?
5. Where is the last place you visited walking to only by foot?
6. What is one place you visited that left you feeling disappointed?
7. What is one place you visited that left you feeling pleasantly surprised?
8. When was the last time you had a daydream?
9. What is the most creative thing you do?
10. When you read fiction do you imagine how you could have made the story better?
11. What is the last book you read?
12. What is the last book you read without skipping anything?
13. Which is more entertaining: a novel or a non-fiction book? (and why?)
14. You have to choose one: would you rather spend a week visiting the arctic or the antarctic, which one would you choose and why?
15. Who was your best friend growing up?
16. Who was one classmate from your past that you did not get along with?
17. What is your definition of success?
18. What is your definition of love?
19. Which musical artist (band/solo performer/ensemble etc.) do you spend the most time listening to?
20. Do you care when people end sentences in prepositions?
21. What do you think about Sigmund Freud?
22. When was the last time you had a debate on a major academic topic with someone?
23. What was the name of  your first grade teacher?
24. Which form of candy did you like to eat when you were a kid?
25. You have to choose one: would you rather spend a week in a Mountain Cabin isolated from all humanity or a week on an ocean-faring boat-like vessel isolated from all humanity?
26. Which is more treacherous, the rain-forest or the desert?
27. How do you feel about love poetry?
28. If you created a new website, what would it be about?
29. What are your thoughts on Podcasting?
30. What was the last movie you watched?
31. Where did you watch it, and was anyone watching it with you?
32. Who is the most knowledgeable person in the world?
33. What is one song you always sing to yourself?
34. Is it normal to shower three times a day, why or why not?
35. Is it better to brush your teeth in the morning or at night? and why?
36. What is the most bizarre thought you've ever had that you are willing to admit in public?
37. Do you remember your dreams?
38. If so, what is the best dream you have ever had?
39. If you do not remember your dreams, what is one you wish you had?
40. What would you do if you did not own a smartphone?
41. If you got a free scholarship to go back to any school, any program, any subject, any time, full-paid, where would you study?

35 Conversation Starters and Challenge Questions about Good and Evil

Conversation Starters and Challenge Questions about Good and Evil

There are many conversations that have taken place about the nature of ethics, morality, and the nature of Good and Evil themselves. Here is a list that will hopefully lead to constructive debates and discussions on the issues.

These questions are meant to be challenged and explored. They do not come from the omniscient or a place of absolute knowledge. They are waiting for  your answers.


1. What is the difference between Morality and Ethics?
2. How do you define Sin?
3. How do you define Love?
4. Was morality created by humans or by another metaphysical source? (Why/why not?)
5. Is Morality relative? why or why not?
6. Is there a single definition of goodness that most major religions strive toward?
7. Do secularists have belief systems?
8. If someone asks the question, can we have....without God? Are they trying to play the part of God?
9. How do you define Mysticism?
10. Does the devil exist?
11. How does one obtain certainty that something exists or does not exist?
12. Can one use rules of logic to explain good and evil? (why or why not?)
13. Is "Peace" a good thing? Why or why not?
14. Should we all try to become Utopians? (why or why not?)
15. Should one evangelize one's own belief system? (why or why not?)
16. What is an example of a time when someone should employ civil disobedience? (e.g.If you believe that a law is morally wrong, it should not be followed).
17. Are there bad people in the world?
18. If possible, what does it take for someone to be good?
19. Is cruelty something that is universally condemned? Why or why not?
20. How do you respond to the following statement, "drinking battery acid corrodes your organs and destroys your body. Therefore, drinking battery acid is bad for you. Thus, we have proven the existence of good and bad as a solid fact."
21. Even if someone is not spiritual, should someone still follow the ten commandments in their daily life because society would function better that way?
22. Is happiness the end goal of all belief systems? (why or why not?)
23. How do you respond to the following statement: "There is no good and evil. There is no right and wrong. There might be things in life that I choose not to do, but I cannot say that they are evil. I can only say that I want or do not want something."
24. Is romantic love only emotions, attachment, and shared experiences? Why or why not?
25. Do men and women view the concept of "trust" differently? (Why or why not?)
26. Should those who are ignorant receive different standards than those who should know better? Why or why not?
27. If someone believes in Good and Evil, can they demonstrate it using empiricism?
28. Are things such as child abuse, torture, pedophilia, the holocaust, and the September 11th attacks instantly wrong?
29. What is the difference between moral, immoral, and amoral?
30. Can science provide absolute certainty as to why humans refer to things as Good and Evil?
31. True or False: "Destructive people will do destructive things no matter what influence they have received in life." Why or why not?
32. Is "peace" a realistic goal for humanity? Why or why not?
33. Is the current worldly definition of evil synonymous with "destruction without warrant?" Why or why not?
34. How do you respond to the following statement: "There are 100 people in the city. 99 of the residents want person #100 executed. Person #100 has not committed any crimes of any kind. The 99 other residents have simply chosen that they want to execute person #100 because they no longer like person #100, and killing this person will improve the collective happiness of their society and allow it to function better"  ? Do you agree why or why not?
35. If not love, then what?

51 Conversation Starters and Icebreaker Questions

A list of starter questions to assist with conversations, icebreakers, or just for fun:

Many people do not have favorites, so frequency is another way to pose the question.

Icebreaker Questions:

1. What color do you wear the most?

2. When you were younger, what color was your first backpack?

3. What is your birthstone?

4. When you imagine a beautiful piece of jewelry, what does it look like? 

5. What is more beautiful? Gold or Platinum? 

6. Which would you rather do with a friend: stay at home and watch a movie or go out for  a restaurant for pizza?

7. Are all humans created equal? 

8. Which TV show do you watch the most?

9. What is one television network or streaming site/service that you recommend to other people?

10. What was the last movie you watched?

11. How did you feel about the last movie you watched? 

12. Where was one memorable vacation you had once?

13. What was a movie you watched that made you feel disappointed?

14. What was one vacation you had that was disappointing?

15. If you had up $65,000 to spend, but had to spend it on a new car in one single purchase/transaction and wouldn't get the remainder of the funds you didn't spend, which car would you buy? 

16. Where is a part of the world you want to know more about?

17. What new language do you want to study in the future? 

18. What was the last book you read? 

19. Do you read more fiction or non-fiction?

20. Do you like documentaries? Why / why not? 

Deep Thought Icebreaker Questions:

21. Do you believe in God? 

22. What are 3 commonalities that all humans share? 

23. How does the definition of love differ from culture to culture?

24. How do you know if you like or love something?

25. Is hatred immoral? Why or why not?

26. Are premarital relations morally right or wrong? 

27. Were there things in the past that were morally wrong that are now considered moral because of the development of humanity? (Why?  / Why not?)

28. What's the difference between prayer and superstition?

29. Do meditation and prayer have the same practical function? 

30. What is the origin of  your values?

31. How do you define "peace?"

32. Are peace and love the ultimate and most pure values for humanity? Why?/Why not?

33. Is happiness the end goal of philosophy?

34. Would you rather be rich and unhappy or poor and happy?

35. Is morality relative?

36. What is your definition of the word "truth?"

37. How do you know for certain that someone loves you? 

38. Does science have limitations? If yes, what are they? If no, why not?

39. Is science greater than philosophy? Why/why not?

40. Is it possible for science to explain all common beliefs of morality? Why? Why not?

Super Deep Thought Icebreaker Questions:

41. If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, do the animals hear the sound?

42. In terms of quantum physics, would the planets exist if no humans were present in our solar system?

43. Are non-familial relations existential and proven by science? (Non-familial defined as He is my best friend or She is like a sister to me.etc.)

44. What is the difference between a fact and truth?

45. (Is the following statement true or false?) If the truth can change from person to person, then the fact that the truth can change from person to person becomes the constant truth; then there must be one truth that is always constant. 

46. If you drank from the fountain of youth, how do you imagine you would feel in 20 years?

47. What is the difference between magic and supernatural? 

48. What is the difference between metaphysics and ontology? 

49. Can ideas exist without the human brain? Why or why not?

50. Are standards of human decency universal? Why or why not? 

51. Can you prove love as a factual claim? 

For Those Who Dream of Autumn

-For Those Who Dream of Autumn 

As the days move toward the end of August, there is a certain lust for September's air. The Summer will come to a close. The heat of Summer can be a prison, and the changes in Autumn's leaves and the overwhelming smell of pumpkin can be a gift. Autumn is a comfort, and as the leaves fall one can only meditate on the value of these months until the late sunrises of Winter shall come.

Sometimes it's enjoyable to dream about the older times; the days when a harvest was the key to the community and to most of civilization. As the fruit falls from the tree, and the pumpkins grow in the patch, the celebration of nature's cadeaux was once a miracle, and let us do our best not to take it for granted.

The warmth of hot apple cider with a touch of cinnamon. The smell of apples baking in the oven and roasting pumpkin seeds. The orange, red, yellow and light brown fill the trees, but it is always overjoying to find a fall tree decked out in all red leaves. As the leaves fall to the Earth they spread their scent like aroma therapy. The morning air in October is crisp and inviting. Walking outside is welcome at any time of day. The dawn rises not too early and not too late.

In our older times, they entertained the notion that at the end of October the spirits would run through the air at night, and as November came in all of them would settle...it is easy to see why as the bright colors of Autumn fill the trees. The nights begin to turn cold, and once November has arrived, the scent of Autumn has left the air, and Winter is on the mind of us all.

One Night in Mid-Summer: A Poem

One Night in Mid-Summer: A Poem

The rain came once, and the air was fresh.
The night began to fall, and he didn't want to leave the park.
The winds began to blow.
But they were the warm winds of Summer, and...
He felt them like nature's kiss.
Or perhaps a Christmas in July Present for the Early morning.
It was a chance to enjoy a single moment in the mid-Summer heat.
It was a chance to contemplate about the next ice cream treat.
The days turn into one, and the Summer becomes a blur.
No sound. No Sight. No Motion.
Yet he would give anything to be that ship upon the ocean.
Oh, how the desires have changed.
Each day, there is one less thing to want,
and Each day there is one less thing to need.
Moving onward from the mid-Summer heat,
One Day he will walk the Forest Floor in his elder years.
One Day he will gaze upon the sunlight peeking through the canopy.
The worms and the insects will roam the floor.
The sound of birds hidden behind the branches and leaves...
Will become a daily exercise.
At that moment, the elder years will come to an end.
Why does one wait until eternity?
For what does one have to wait for?
Why doesn't the cold hand of the old tyrant reach down and take us now?
The process of turning old and cold has nothing bold.
There is no glory in one's decay,
and there is no joy in one's demise.
It is now time to forge a duty. To create and to disperse.
To share a message with the world.
One must believe.
One must work.
If faith without works is dead, so where does one choose to live?
How does one make the forest feel far?
How does one find meaning in each footstep toward the city?
Every meal should be honored.
Every rainstorm with clothing should be treasured.
For there are those who lack even the most essential.
There are those who never even smile when they feel the rain.
Life is about sharing. Life is about generosity.
Yet intentions only take us so far.
Kind feelings and warm emotions are strong,
But they are not strong enough to cure the hungry.
There comes a point.
There comes a line.
One must create solutions.
If a problem exists, it is only waiting for its solution.
If a problem persists, try looking at in the other way.
Thanks to Gottfried Leibniz and James and the Giant Peach.
Let us learn to love outer space and have no fear of rhinos.

The clouds roll onward.
The summer sky has turned to darkness.
The heat swells across the landscapes.
Even in the dark of night, there is not a single cooling moment.
Passion and excitement fill one for three more months.
Come winter, we all know we won't leave the house.
We spend the summers dreaming and the winters waiting.
Where is the solution?
Where is the answer to all the problems?
One will only know if the equation is balanced.
One will only know if the horizon is the ending point.
It is not enough to try.
It is not enough to walk toward the horizon.
Sometimes one must run.
Sometimes one must change the perspective.
Sometimes one must extrapolate the knowledge from
A lifetime of school classrooms.
Sometimes must divest
The knowledge of yesteryear.
Sometimes one must learn to walk and run with no fear.

The winds rage onward.
The storm comes inward.
The dark clouds block the moonlight.
The stars were long taken from us for the time.
The summer night has its beauty.
The summer night has its imperfections.
Yet with each passing day,
There is one less chance for success and glory.
There is one less chance for aid and comfort.
There is one less chance to help.
Thousands leave the Earth each day from starvation.
Every time one blinks a person somewhere on Earth passes.
The present is before us, and one does not have time to hesitate.
When the dawn rises, let us go.

The Invitation to Dreamland.

What comes to mind when you hear the word "dreams" ? Perhaps, there is an image with a dark blue or even purple background. On the background there are many stars symbolizing the night. Maybe you can see yourself dancing among the stars. Then, you can take a rest on the moon and use it as a banana chair.

Macau

Close your eyes for a moment.
Walk on the stars.
Sit on the moon.

In our world, the moon and the stars are far apart, but in the dreamworld they are like other sides of the pond.

Dreams do not have limits, nor are they only at night. If dreams have no limits, they can reach an infinite point. Even if you cannot count to infinity, it is still moving onward in dreamland.

Dreams of the night or daydreams both lead us toward higher standards in life. They bring us closer to both our imagination and self-reflection. There are those who try to dig deeply into what our dreams mean, but before one interprets the significance of seeing a certain object while we sleep...let us first marvel at its beauty.

Where would the world be without dreams? Would we toil away each day and then drop into the darkness of night without seeing anything? Would we spend each waking hour without a concern for the future or even reflecting on how the past could be?

A world without dreams is bleak and bland.

Close your eyes once more when you conclude this short note.
This time there is no purple or blue. There are no stars or moon. There is only the chance for you to create your world. What do you see on your own infinite landscape?

What color are the surroundings? What magic shall be created? Who is there for you to love?
The power that is within your dream is greater than anything in the material world.

In a dream, creativity turns to magic, and all the wizardry you can muster is within your grasp.
Create. Compose. Compile. Exert. Extrapolate, and explore. Let the colors fly. Bend the boundaries and the fundamentals of the universe. Challenge the laws of physics and the course of nature, for you are the creator, and for a single moment every day.......you have powers.

See you in Dreamland.

Hong Kong Basic Law: Raise Awareness

Article 158 of the Hong Kong Basic Law reminds us that the law can be interpreted by a standing committee. The heart of the issue surrounding promotion of the Hong Kong Basic Law should rest in the fact laws are not only words written on a document, but they are ideas that are subject to human interpretation.

1) The first step to the promotion is to the promotion of the Basic Law is to educate the entirety of the Hong Kong youth on the need for raising international awareness.

When a person interprets the law, it can be subject to outside influence. This is the entire reason why so many groups and activists devote their time to raising awareness for causes. They want to use their energy to try and influence the political, legal, or social situation and make a specific change. Some international case examples of this are Martin Luther King Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement and Mahatma Gandhi and the overthrow of the British Government. Raising awareness is critical to positive changes in the social and legal settings.

This does not require any additional resources, and it does not require any curriculum change.

When discussing how to make political, social, and legal changes in the world. Someone once challenged by saying "I'll believe it when I see it," or to paraphrase, "how do you guarantee that this plan will work?" The response to such criticisms (and justifiable criticisms they are) is to demonstrate methodologies in the past and present that have achieved success at promoting ideas and changing the political and social climate.

2)  Applying the method of Haim Saban to the Youth of Hong Kong.

There are two previously mentioned movements from Martin Luther King and Mohandis Gandhi, but let's look at a strategy put forth by Israeli-American political activist, Haim Saban.
To create political and social change, Saban employs a three-step action plan:
1. Contribute to Political Campaigns
2. Establish Political Think Tanks
3. Obtaining Control of Media Networks

How to apply this method to the promotion of Hong Kong Basic Law?
1. Educate the Hong Kong youth on the benefits of promoting the Hong Kong Basic Law to the International community. (The Contribution)
2. Allow for students to share ideas freely in the classroom related to politics, social causes, and of course legal awareness and understanding. (Think Tanking)
3. Encourage the Hong Kong residents to share content via social media, the internet, and local news (i.e. contact local radio and tv stations). (Media Networking)
There are millions of people in Hong Kong. They must become the force by which awareness of the Basic Law is distributed.

Oligarchs function by a mantra line:
If you control how people think, you can control everything.

The only way to resist tyranny and oligarchy is to use a movement from the ground up where individuals from all walks of life promote a cause that benefits all the the citizens of all classes, not only governing elites and not only influences from outside to Hong Kong.

The youth of Hong Kong are the future of the the HK SAR. They need to become the most active force in the promotion of the Hong Kong Basic Law. Students and Young People should become the cornerstone of the movement.

The Earth is Rich

The world contains endless places where one can find envy. Other people have so much; it has hard to stop and even notice all the riches that stand at your feet. Riches come in many kinds. There are some that are in valuables: dollar bills, precious metals, gems and diamonds, and ancient works of art. Then, there are other riches such as the chance to seize an opportunity or the possibility of achieving something greater than what you currently have.

Beijing, China

In the 21st Century finances mean nothing. Money is often not even held in cash. As time moves onward even plastic is becoming less frequent. The contents of one's bank account and investment portfolio exist only as numbers on an electronic screen. Where does the richness reside?

The richness of the Earth is worth more than the all the wealth of any individual. Many would like to make a profit from the natural wonders and creations of time; however, the greatest richness of all is that the Earth is for all humans and has a home for all humans regardless of anyone's walk of life.

One of the greatest challenges for us all is how to live on the Earth without damaging it. How to eat from Earth without destroying. How to build one's home without chaos. There are many challenges that rival the magnificence of the richness of the Earth, but none shall overcome the strength and magnitude of nature's capabilities.

Humans are imperfect, and we will all leave our marks on the Earth's crust and in the atmosphere, yet the power of nature can heal any wound. If we, humans, love the Earth, can we not live without creating the wound at all?

A world where no harm comes the ground, the soil, the treelines, and the prairies. If we love the Earth, let us embrace the riches of the Earth and not bring the smallest amount of harm to the living or to the natural wonders.

A new challenge will await. We, humans, can find new ways to share all the richness. Food, clothing, and shelter for everyone. A life without harm, chaos, and destruction...but one of admiration for nature and honor for the ground on which your home was built.

The Earth is rich. No amount of wealth can ever equal the powers of nature; therefore, humanity must find a new calling. Embrace and entertain a love for the Earth, for in this love, there is something more valuable than ever. There is a chance to strive toward a dream.

Love the Earth, and we shall see the reciprocal. Love the Earth, and all of humanity will find the basic necessities of life. Let us come together in this dream. Strive toward the ideal because we have to try, and we shall not falter when it's difficult, not shall we collapse under pressure. Instead, we will unite and bond with our mutual love for the green and blue. 

Your Plan for Greatness

Sometimes it feels like no one believes in you. There might be something in you heart that you wish to accomplish, but you don't tell anyone. Why not? Because in the past, when you shared things of that nature, no one believed in you. You might even have a plan for greatness, detailed or simplistic, but you don't tell anyone because it feels like no one believes in you.

Huairou, Beijing, China

The hard fact of life that all people need to accept is...if your plan is grounded in sharing peace with the world, you can succeed, and you should succeed. If your plan removes destruction and brings a benefit to humanity, you deserve all the success in the world and beyond. If anyone does not understand that, you can only move on and find those who support you on your journey to greatness.

There are many things in life that we seek...some are good for us, and some have the potential to kills us, or perhaps even worse. There is a certain value in having our viewpoints, life plans, goals, and ideas come under scrutiny and evaluation; however, that by no means excuses someone from disbelieving in you when you try to offer a plan to bring extraordinary things to the world.

There are many ways that one can go about the sharing of ideas, but first and foremost, one can always evaluate the forum in which they are choosing to present them. If we want others to take our ideas seriously, we can find the best way to convey our message to them using the same courtesy that we wish had been applied to us.

There are those who wish to benefit mankind, and there are those who choose to fall behind in a mass cloud of pessimism. The benefits of the sardonic are few, but somehow they have convinced themselves that resting in a lame state of disarray is more beneficial than trying to go out into the world and help another human being.

Where has culture gone? Why does the thought of two politicians insulting each other bring more contentment to one's life than the idea of removing contaminants from the soil?

Why do people prefer to look downward on new ideas that are designed to better the course of human life as oppose to those which remain in the same ordinary state, which lacks forms of progress?

The benefits of our security have changed us. We no longer fear for our lives on the homeland; therefore, the minds of many have forgotten that there are many on the Planet Earth...our brothers and sisters...who do not have the security that we do. Let us not forget our brethren, for we are all one humanity.

Once his life is not in danger, his concern for the rest of the world, and for any idea of greatness has become obsolete to him. You cannot let this happen to you, for the brilliance in your mind and heart is too much to sacrifice for the docile state of being.

Every human deserves the best in life. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Medicine. Education.
How all humans achieve these things is a matter of solution and practicality. The only way to achieve such things is to share ideas with the world.

You can form your plan for greatness in the world, but do not shy away when it must be presented. You will only get stronger. Find those that are willing to listen, and also find those who are willing to help you improve your thought. It begins now.

Prosperity. Honor. Progress.

You are Powerful

Macau

In one single moment, emotions can either rage or settle. Ideas can either race or dissipate. Desire can be absolved or turn into destruction. Throughout one's life there are so many pathways that one can choose, but there are even more that one can encounter when it comes to emotions and sentiments.

In a single second, the dark feelings of depression can fall into one's heart, and a feeling of a heavy shadow can rest in place. You look around the room almost wondering if something in your environment caused it, but you know in both your heart and mind that it was the work of a sad memory that entered in an unwanted manner.

Where does one go from here? How does one take the darkness out? How does one absolve any element which can lead to destruction?

There are those who say that you are supposed to smile when you feel down...that is not enough. Soon this simple child's trick will lose its value, for the forces of depression are strong and all-encompassing. There are those who say that you are supposed to write down your feelings in a notebook. That is also not enough, for it can often force a person to dwell on the unwanted memories.

No process or method can remove feelings of sadness, anger, unhappiness, or dissatisfaction, yet the end result is not hopeless.

Be futuristic. Find something in the world that comes to mind. An accomplishment you would like to obtain. A goal you would like to achieve. A new field of study you would like to enter. A new food you would like to try. A new instrument you would like to try playing for the first time. Even in three or four lifetimes there is more to do than one person can manage.

Be passionate. Passion is not only limited to someone's creative choices, their career, their educational decisions, or favorite sports teams. Be passionate in every single moment of your life. For each interaction with the Earth is beautiful, whether it is the changes in the colors of the leaves due to the seasons or the flowing waters in the nearby brook. The world is beautiful, and it is capable of caring for you.

Be careful. When it comes to life, there are many difficult moments that one will face. It will be so much easier for you to face your demons if you have a strong network of individuals who will stand by you and support you in every aspect of your day. There are also those who do not care for your well-being, but only for their own interests, yet they remained connected to your circle. Find those who show true compassion for you, true interest in helping you when you are in need, those who listen to you when you need to speak, and those will not ask you to talk when you need to remain silent. Friendship and kindness take many forms. Be careful who enters your circle.

Be optimistic. Success is the only option for you.

There is so much in the world that will allow a person to achieve all the goals they set before them, but the first and foremost step for all of us human beings is to conquer our own demons and accept all of the challenges of life with an open heart.

Stand tall in the face of sadness and unhappiness and laugh, for those attributes are weak, and you are strong. No matter who you are, you are strong. You hold the most powerful brain of any species to ever walk the Earth. You hold the gateway to creativity inside of you. You hold the keys of achieving any goal of success known to man.

Decide what  you choose to seek and find a way to accomplish your goal. All the tools you require are resting inside of you. Now it's time for you to accept the challenges of the world. With the powers of optimism, loving the Earth, and seeking those who also want to bring peace to the world, you will find all the successes life could ever have to offer.

Prosperity. Honor. Progress.

Revising the Way We Think

Zhuhai, Guangdong China 

Have you ever made a terrible mistake and the hard rains started to fall? It is almost as if the forces of nature wanted to add an insult to injury. Unless you're a person that loves getting drenched in the hard rainfall.

Have you ever thought of something with passion and near certainty, but when you started saying your idea out loud you noticed a critical error? That might lead some people to humiliation. Unless you are the kind of person who talks to yourself. Then, perhaps you made your discovery in private.

We all have a need for revision. There is nothing wrong with that. We also have a responsibility and a duty to be accurate with facts and information. It is very easy to find things that we would like to be true and find facts that only support that argument. This is the basis of confirmation bias. We can overcome it...and we can enjoy it in the process.

All people hold onto something that they believe it is true. For some it is a belief in their long-lasting relationship or friendship. They force themselves to believe that the relationship is good for them, or that it can get better...or sometimes they know that it won't get better, and they don't have any feeling for the other person at all...the only reason they stay is because they believe it will bring too much conflict into their lives if they try to leave.

The same principle of revision can be applied to relationships and friendships. While we may not be able to predict the motivations, actions, and thoughts of other people, we can predict them and control them for ourselves. You can know when your relationship is getting into trouble, and sometimes you might even have to make that vital choice to leave someone. An honest decision can bring less destruction to the world than one that is not sincere.

One can share ideas and views on belief and get challenged. However, one of the most beneficial ways to go about this is to find a forum which welcomes the exchange of thought. So many insist that they have the right to share views on politics and religion whenever they want...it is their freedom....and they are right to believe so.

However, if we want to convey a message to someone...if the intention is genuine and pure...then, why not choose a forum where people are actually listening and making an effort to comprehend the message you are choosing to share? And in return, you can listen to what someone else has to say and make an effort to at least hear their words and exchange ideas and even criticisms with fairness, politeness, and of course honor.

During our lifetime, we will make mistakes. This is certain, for we, as humans, are all imperfect. As beings of imperfection, we do not have the luxury of a faultless lifestyle. We will make mistakes in both facts and in the relationships that we choose...friendship or romantic....However, the only way to move forward is simple:

Believe in your principles. Always keep a strong heart. Love yourself, but accept responsibility for your mistakes. Be honest and sincere with your friendships and relations. Challenge yourself, but only in the honest attempt of getting stronger and helping others to get stronger. Know that at some point you might have errors in your judgment and in  your words...but so does every other single person that can speak.

Errors are not the end of life, nor are they any meaning of importance. The only thing that is important is that you try to succeed, master your own thought, and try to help others do the same. Strength is only of importance if it is applied both to the body and to the mind. A strong body without integrity is a villain. It is time for you to become the hero.

Learn. Study. Practice. Revise. Challenge. Love.

Prosperity. Honor. Progress.

Earth-Love: Gaze Upon the Clouds

Zhuhai, China. Bus to Doumen

Watch the rain fall down. Watch the trees in the wind, but always in this collage of life, let us also watch the clouds. The clouds and sky share much, and their very nature will allow for us to learn more about ourselves.

One of the largest challenges in the world is to find beauty in that which others have dismissed. When someone says the words beauty or beautiful, it is rare for one to conjure an image of a dark gray rain cloud. Yet anyone who has sat on the porch and felt the cool air at that perfect temperature, the gentle breeze blowing on by, and the dark thunderheads approaching knows that there is a certain beauty in all parts of nature. The frozen waterfall might have its own kind of beauty in the reflecting sunlight, but the dark rain cloud allows the air to feel so nice.

During the sunsets when the clouds block the sun's glowing rays, the outline of the powerful cumulus clouds looks french vanilla ice cream, a more conventional form of beauty. The light of the setting sun spreads across the landscape, and the colors of all it touches become so vivid. Gazing upon the lands one might think they are living in a painting or a high resolution photograph, but no matter how strong the editing software is, it does not compare to the power of nature.

When the snowstorm barrels across the continent dropping heaps of white powder, the clouds form together into a strong and tenacious force. As the clouds unify, they combine into a mass of gray across the entire snowscape. Not a single separation can be seen, and the flakes of snow and ice fall from what appears to be an endless span of strength. Beauty is found in many shades.

Of course on a clear day when the sky is blue, the clouds can find a way to form into a beautiful pose, yet most people might imagine a glowing yellow sun and a few white puffs,but instead, one can also think of a cirrus cloud like the stroke of a paintbrush across the blue daylight sky, a poem by nature.

As the sun sets once again, the clouds also form together. After the setting sun is almost in its resting place, the clouds capture a glow across the entire evening sky. It almost appears as if the sky is swarmed with a lakes of fire and molten lava. The orange and red light up the clouds like the celebrations for Chinese New Year.

Let us look upon the clouds with fascination, no matter what color we see in the sky, we should know that there is a way to find beauty in nature. Each moment in the clouds has the possibility for a new poem or song. Learn from the clouds, and let us love the Earth.

Political Energy: Value of Humanity, Haven for Ideas, Excellence of Character

Jack of Zhuhai, China 

A small ray of sunshine poured in today. It had been many days since we had our last day of what other people would call a pleasant Summer. When William Shakespeare wrote "Shall I compare these to a Summer's day?" I doubt he was referring to the rainstorms at the end of July.

The energy filled the room, and the scent of black coffee filled the kitchen. Perhaps the two best forms of energy combined. At that moment, the ideas for getting political were racing, but they were not racing in the most productive way.

Do you ever feel as if there is so much to say, but when the words come out, they are not as you imagined? Do you ever feel as if the political world seems so easy to predict and understand, and anyone could do the job of a politician if you could only lie without feelings or remorse?

That kind of energy is destructive and has brought havoc upon our world for the longest of times. We trust those who claim to be experts on leadership, as opposed to those who are experts on ideas. We trust those who are excellent speakers, as opposed to those who are excellent in character and honesty.

The same only situations have turned into a giant mess, and there seems to be only sign for a cure. To begin, we must first call for the creation of a new political climate. One that is not forged in sensationalism and eye-catching wordplay, but one that is founded in ideas that benefit those in all walks of life. Quality of life is not something that should be reserved for a single social group. Every single human deserves the highest quality of life possible.

The energy of humanity should come together and at least find agreement upon that one point. As the ideas that support the benefit of humanity come together, we will form a new way of thought. You will find a new platform and forum in which you can share your voice, and those who have a message of peace and hope will be taken seriously.

Let us not accept this energy of destruction that has been given to us by the darkness, the liars, the cheats, and the intolerable. Let us envision a world where the voices of those in need are the clearest, and the voices of those with plenty are the most generous. Not by any governmental law. Not by any ordinance. Not by any mandate. People sharing only because they want to help. People offering because they want to improve the situations for the world around them. Proffering of not only wealth, but also kindness and good deeds.

Let this become the energy that we must seek out. All the old spiritual books tell us that the energy to make massive social change lives within you. Whether you refer to your body as a temple or your being as a pathway to paradise on Earth.

The sunlight and the grains of coffee make comfort in the morning, but we must never forget all of those on the planet Earth who do not have such wonders. All humans who have not been entranced by the smokescreens of political deception should come together at once and watch the dawn rise upon a new era in which there is love for humanity and solutions replace broken systems.

On Charity and Generosity

Seoul, South Korea

The hand is coming out to help. There are multiple stories and parables about biting the hand that feeds, but where is the story about biting the hand that helps?

There are also those who say that when their life is in danger, they do not care who is coming to help them, regardless of race, color, religion, orientation, gender, or anything in between. Yet for a brief moment when the helping hand comes near, there is a brief hesitation.

The person with the outstretched arm offering guidance, advice, or counsel retracts their hand. They ponder the meaning of it all. They question if there is any real benefit. Will the person waiting for their assistance use it for something productive, or will they use it to continue their own destructive behaviors and make poor usage of others' time and energy?

This is a question that can only be answered by trying. Once we turn pessimistic about aid and assistance, we lose track of the ideal and the goal that we set out to achieve from the beginning. Our goal is not only to give one person a hand out. Our goal is to live in a world where handouts will be unnecessary, but before we achieve the ideal we must confront the situations of daily reality. 

There comes a moment when we must combine compassion with cleverness and wisdom. We must use our intelligence and our sense of human decency to bring aid and comfort to those around us. Giving money to someone who begs can often lead to catastrophic consequences. Aiding someone's destructive habits are by no means part of the ideal.

Giving kind words to someone who is not seeking them can often lead to someone becoming uncomfortable and irritated with what was meant to be a gesture of warmth and divine love.

There comes a point in life when the person with the outstretched arm must realize that their intentions might not always come with open and welcome arms. Even if someone is in need of something they will not always accept it or even know they are in need of it.

Let us use our intelligence to determine who will value our actions the most, and who will ignore our kindness? Who will use an act of gratitude as a tool to achieve something greater and more productive for the Earth, and who will use it to only enhance their own selfishness or troll-like behavior.

Let our charity become a combination of the mind and the heart. Try our best to make the strongest decisions possible. For if both the mind and the heart are not strong, they cannot achieve their mission. They cannot contribute to the removal of destruction and the promotion of peace in the world.

Let us use our generosity for the productivity of human society and the protection of the Earth. Let us use our resources to help those in need without bringing a single unwanted emotion to another. Let us find ways to solve conflicts in the most peaceful means possible and not trample a single living thing if we can do so.

Whether one shares a token of fortune or a token of wisdom with someone, they are sharing productivity all the same. They are sharing kindness, but in different forms. They are attempting to contribute to a greater form of goodness for the planet Earth, and it can be done by every single human being.

Ask yourself, where is your charity going? Ask yourself, who is going to benefit the most from this action? Ask yourself, before sending this message, how will the other person react?

Let us use our creativity, social understanding, and passion for helping humanity to spread the most pure messages of charity and generosity the human mind can conjure. Let us begin now.

Where is Right and Wrong?

Seoul, South Korea,

Where is the line between right and wrong? Should we listen to those who tell us that it doesn't exist at all? or should we walk forward and try to find the answers that are much more satisfying than a simple No or an easy I don't want to think about that?

There comes a time in everyone's life when they will have to answer for their fundamentals. You will be challenged, and sometimes you will lose. Furthermore, your illusions will shatter. The ideas and the abstractions that once gave you comfort will be nothing more than a toy you used to play with, but can't currently remember where it rests your closet.

There is no debate over right or wrong, for there exists a fundamental boundary. The world knows it. The world understands it, and that understanding is manifested in you. One might say that ethical truths are acceptable without scientific proof, and another might say that certain actions are destructive to humanity, living things, and the entirety of the Earth and are a hindrance to all life as we know it. These two statements are identical. 

We do not want the Earth to die. We want the Earth to live. We do not want the Cosmos to shatter. We find the unbreakable aspect of nature and come as close as we can during this lifetime, for the closer we get to the unbreakable the less destruction. If it cannot be broken, it cannot be destroyed. This is the foundation of the movement for world peace. 

As the debates lead to the rage and the comments lead to confusion and cantankerous ramblings that are fueled by drivel with an occasional supporting fact, how do we convey the message that right and wrong exist? 

They exist in the fundamental. They exist as an understanding. The same way when a child chooses to avoid stepping on a worm or a human quickly puts out a fire before it can spread. Their existence is beyond that of any words. 

Let us not ask what is right and what is wrong, for it will only allow the debate to compound. Let us ask ourselves, where is the construction, and where is the destruction? Which actions allow for production, constructive behavior, kindness, generosity, love, optimism, glory, excellence, sharing, unity, and magnificence...and which actions lead to destruction?

If Einstein can gaze upon the cosmos with a spiritual sense of awe, we can gaze upon a blade of grass with the same brilliance,  for if we were to gaze upon the night sky, the far off glare of the starlight is no larger than the flower petal under the moon. 

Each step we take is on a single Earth in a single universe, and each action we take is a choice. It can lead to construction and productivity, or it can lead to the bitterness of evil. The way we shall achieve peace in this world is to first begin by showing love to that single blade of grass, and when that grass has turned dark brown and died, know that it is still under the same sky as the stars above. 

The unity and connection of all humans and all things within the cosmos, including ideas is the magnificence we should honor. The love and kindness that exist from the stars and the moon all the way to the deep roots of the Earth is one that can only be expressed in the actions of human beings, and the debate about right and wrong will be forgotten. 

Earth-Love: Where are the Signs of Progress?

Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

How does one measure progress? You do the same actions every day, and you wait to see if there are any improvements in the results...how do you know if you are improving or just staying in the same old constant flat-lined barely even admissible level?

This can affect us in many parts of life, whether it comes to exercise and reaching our plateau, or when it comes to exploring new ideas and always reiterating the same old points and repeating them in our minds over and over. The thirst for improvement must continue.

There is a possibility that our lives need adventure and excitement. They bring much joy, and they can also allow us to share great moments with other people here on Earth. However, what limits does one need to employ in our quest for adventure?

It can come to the point where the thrill of your own quest can drown out every single other motivation in life...yet if one reaches that level of excitement on this adventure, one will lose awareness of consciousness. At that point in time, one will no longer able to be aware of whether or not they are causing harm to any living thing. Harm or prosperity will turn into a giant blur.

Therefore, as we continue onward each day through the changing of the sun and stars, we must remember that we can find contentment in the even the simplest moments in life. Adventure is one thing, but it is fueled by the trampling of untamed lands. This can lead to destruction. Excitement is one thing, but it is fueled by losing awareness of how other people feel. As someone once said, there is nothing wrong with being excited as long as you don't hurt anyone. Once again, the end goal is the same...remove the destruction.

Yet if one is to continue every day, how will we see progress? How will one know if all the choices in life are making a beneficial difference to humanity and the Earth or not? Some say that one must put all of their power into faith. They must believe that their pathway and plan for peace and prosperity is the only one and to never stray from the path.

There is a certain degree of value in this, and it needs to be partnered with an empirical understanding. One must not perceive any form of destruction with the five senses. One must also believe that this plan will bring less destruction in the future, and one must have faith the pathway that rids the world of destruction and replaces it with peace is good, ethical, moral, and pure.

All of human thought must converge upon this point. The combination of ideas and the journey to peace on Earth is the most profound adventure of all. The elimination of material desires is greater than any form of excitement, for it leads to a life of calm nerves, clear neurological processes, and a lack of lust for things which only bring conflict into your life and those around you.

Try your best to share this message of peace with the world. Look for the signs of progress not only in your daily life, but also within you as well. Await the challenges of the day-to-day struggles and respond with purity. Expect a reduction in conflict, but also an increase in kindness.

These are the signs of progress we must use in our daily life.

Prosperity. Honor. Progress.

Respond to Challenges: Strength and Education

Fangcao Lu, Shanghai, China

Each day often begins with the opening of your eyes. Unless you've gone 24 hours without sleep, and let's hope you enjoyed those 24 hours. The beginning of the morning can lead to a day filled with challenges, problems, and there is always a possibility that each day could be your last.

A person walking down the street could be hit by a car. A person who reaches down to pick something up might touch an electrical wire by mistake, and those in the office buildings on September 11th, 2001 went to work on a normal day only to become famous participants in the worst terror attack and mass murder on American soil in history.

Danger can arise at any moment, and there are challenges waiting for your in each day. Some big and some small. Some physical and some in the mind. As an ordinary citizen, one cannot predict changes such as a terrorist attack or a car crash, but you can prepare yourself for the mental challenges in life.

The way is to begin with strength of education. There is a famous saying that people only believe what they hear. If a person hears the same thing over and over again, they will start to believe it eventually. You must anticipate that this is always a possibility, so the need to verify facts and information is paramount.

Mental clarity can only come when deception has been eliminated, the same way illumination can only come when the light has been brought to the dark. Even on the darkest of nights,  you must become the moonlight. Then, you must always remember the moon produces no light of its own. Moonlight is a just a reflection of light from the sun. You must become the moonlight and the sunlight.

Then, remember that the sun is a star itself, and the sunlight is actually starlight. You are the moonlight, the sunlight, and the starlight all in one.

Education has many layers and many interlocking features. You must study them as much as possible, but factoids alone are idle without precise self-reflection and evaluation.

Argumentation and debate cannot take place if one side is not being factual or using deception and misleading information. Therefore, there is a large necessity on the strength of education.

Challenges will take many shapes and forms during your days. The only way to know to find a true acceptance for the challenge is to know your material and believe in a pathway toward goodness.

For Love of Determination

Great Wall, Huairou, Beijing China 

The feeling of warm sheets against a human body is close to the divine. That moment in between opening your eyes and getting out of bed contains ecstasy. Whether there is sunlight beaming through the frosted glass on your windowpane or the clouds have created overcast and the day is gray, your warmth is wrapped all around you.

Yet at moments like that...moments in the glory of your own warm bed sheets...one must rise. One must get pry oneself from the bed on the dark gloomy morning. For if possible, it is time to exercise. For if favorable, it is time to the pour the coffee. For if ready, it is time to walk out of the bedroom door and help someone else.

One can learn only so much from sitting inside all day, and one can learn even less from staying in bed. The feeling of warm bed sheets might force you to come back, but the power of your own determination is stronger.

Somewhere inside of you, inside of your mind is an idea that is life-changing. Perhaps some people are more creative than others, and perhaps some people are better natural born leaders than others, but if you had the neuro-cognitive functions able to read these words here, you have the potential to create the solution to any problem you must face.

The powers to achieve are all vested in you. There is not always a single answer on how to build personal relationships, how to impress people, how to persuade, how to conquer. With all the billions of people in the world, there are so many ways for someone to look at your brilliantly-crafted persuasion tactics and walk away without a second thought.

It is not about studying any method to achieve a problem. Solutions are not only obtained from methods. The solution you need to solve the problem in front of you is found in your ideas. Someway somehow, you have the ability and the thought process to compose the answer, to balance the equation, to remove the destructive element. The possibilities are waiting for you.

The power begins with your determination.

A New Definition of Trust

Arlington, VA, USA

Where do our ideas go when we cast them into the world? You can share your idea with someone, as if you were tossing a stone into the pond and hoping for a splash, but you might be disappointed that you threw your stone too far, and it landed only on the other side of the pond's marshy soil. Just like sharing an idea with someone else, where does it all end?

Trust has become a pillar and a cornerstone for so many in their building of life. People live in a world where trust is treated like a spectrum. Some trust too easily, and others like Dave Navarro tell us to Trust No One. Where do you find your place in all of this? Can you trust a stranger? Can you trust someone you've known for one year or ten years?

To begin, why don't we look at the way trust is presented in the world. Some view trust as feeling comfortable around someone. Others view trust as someone upholding their agreements and always being able to protect someone. Perhaps there are those who view trust as someone whom they can confide in and their secrets will be protected, the essence of feeling safe.

The words, "I trust you," can be viewed as someone telling another person, "I believe you will make choices in the name of peace," and with this mindset, we can learn when we can share our ideas and whom can become a cornerstone in our lives.

We all must face the truth that not every person is trustworthy in their present form. Perhaps at the moment of birth everyone is born with a sense of innocence, and there is the possibility of being able to help someone find a pathway toward trustworthiness...however, many humans will fall of this path, and many more will waver to and fro from the pathway and into the untamed chaos for a short time here and there.

When you want to share your secrets with someone, do they have a message of peace in their mind? Do they have a message of love in their hearts? Or are they only concerned with their own material selfishness and the dopamine surges that come from chemicals in their daily neurological activities?
To survive in life, especially in the early phases of adulthood, one must surround oneself with those who want to bring peace.

Those who laugh at you for trying do not want this of you. Those who condemn you for your outward differences do you want this for you. Those who criticize you for having dreams do not want this for you. Let us use trust to find the hearts of those who want peace for their own friendships, relationships, and the for the entire world, and let us unite into a stronger force that can share this influence everywhere.

Remember the stone in the marshy soil near the pond. Instead of walking over, picking it up, and throwing it again into the water, let it remain where it landed. Ask another human to come and join you by the side of the pond, and gaze into the water. Share stories. Share ideas. Let the daylight change into night, and try to see the stars reflecting in the pond's water.

Someone who will listen to you without conflict. Engage with you in the sharing of thought, and watch the stars begin to the night sky together is the beginning of trust.

Earth Love and Using Ideas for Change

New Haven, CT, USA

There is an age-old statement: is the glass half full or half empty? It is meant to be a challenge for optimism and pessimism. If  the person sees the glass as half full they are promoting a worldview of positivism and hopeful thinking. If the glass is half empty, the person's worldview must be the opposite, yes?

Challenges like this are nothing than old sayings. Did anyone ever wonder why some philosopher a hundred and so many years ago spent all that time looking at glass with its contents?
What is a more appropriate response to this age-old challenge?
"I don't have time for that. I am working on something."

Let us not give all of our mental energy into small sayings that are not proof or convincing evidence of anything, nor are they even axiomatic. Old sayings from years ago might appear to contain thoughtful ideas and revealing brilliance, but they often lead to superficial thinking.

Instead of asking, is the glass half full or half empty, Where is the plan to eradicate world poverty and provide the necessities of life to every single human on the face of the loving Green Earth?

These are the challenges that we face every day, and for some there is no half full or half empty, for they live in drought and dehydration. Let us not spend the entirety of our days chalking up lines from the philosophers and viewing that a lifelong accomplishment, for if we are to continue to advance in this world, we will need more.

We need to use our mental energy to compose methods of action that can be used to make changes in the world. During the course of these actions, we must always be aware of how our behavior, attitude, choices, words, and decisions can affect the Planet Earth and everything in it.

Let us not throw our energy into some long philosophical realm where the icon of our life is composing ideas that are obsolete in action and circular in thought. One of the oldest tricks in the world is talk about nothing as long as you can before someone silences you. If there are still any brick and mortar bookstores left, one can walk through the philosophy section and see titles that promote "The Meaning of Nothingness," "Being and Nothingness," "Nothingness Therapy."

So many pages of writing devoted to talk of nothing, and they charge money for it. Let us create our methods of action, and share them willingly with the world. Examine whatever problem we choose to conquer first, and formulate an idea on how to remove that problem from the world and absolve all of its destructive consequences.

Poverty, child labor, abuses, and injustice can all be cured, but first it will take the courage and ingenuity of a brilliant mind such as yourself to plant the first seed in the fertile Earth. It is time for us to use our mental energy to stand up to the titans of the world who exploit the Earth and all of its people for profit and selfishness.

Let us not forget the philosophers of the past, for their work still has value...but we must also not turn the discussion of ideas into the end game. Philosophy can teach us much, but we cannot allow it to take the place of comprehensive plans of action. It is time for us to use the powers of our minds to bring the change in the world. Full or empty. Glass or no glass at all. Let humanity experience a new dawn rise with the coming of your next idea.

Home in the 21st Century

Guomao, Beijing, China

Home is a place where someone either feels safe or where they were raised. What about those who have no home? There are true nomads still among us. Some walk the literal streets of different places of different locations, moving from one settlement to another. Others are only nomads in the mind.

No home to remember, only to look back and see an index of different places they had once been.
For those who have no home, where do they turn?
When the hard rains fall and when the dark clouds cover, what memory does the nomad of the mind turn to?

At this point it must be one of futurism, kindness, gentleness, but always in strength. The nomad of the mind must find an optimistic way to persevere into the future. They must share kindness with humanity the world. They must treat the Earth and living things with gentleness.

Through the sharing of kindness and gentle treatment, the nomad of the mind can find a way to bring home to oneself. The only way to improve one's life is to go out and share kindness with another human being or living creature.

When it comes to the concept of home, I am always reminded of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Home does not come from a piece of land or property, nor does it come from exerting power of a particular entity. Home comes from having those around you that support you, and those whom you want to support in return.

In this day of futurism and onward anticipation, one can look to the new world that is unfolding before us. Even a voice from the television or the radio can sometimes seem more homely than one from our own bloodline. The powers of technology can allow us to find someone in any corner of the world that might not have the same experiences, might not have the exact same personality, but someone who just might be able to share a moment's comfort to you.

In the 21st Century, our home has no walls, nor does it have limitations. Our home exists in ideas. Ideas we wish to share and connect with other humans, whether it is a personal experience or enjoying the same favorite song or even watching a dark wolf in the snow. The nomad of the mind seeks to connect with the mind of another.

Anger Management = Optimistic Kindness

Seoul, South Korea

Sometimes words can flow faster than one can think. Adrenaline can change the mind. Adrenaline is one of the most powerful tools in the world. Whether it is done physically such as a boxer or mixed martial artist in the arena, or emotionally a coach giving a football team a pep talk at half time. There is part of our brain and chemicals in our system that can lead us to aggression, violence, negativity, and the most dreaded of all destruction.

The Buddhists and the Jains put forth a plan to conquer this conundrum. They propose eliminating desires, and they both have their pathways on how to do so, yet in a world so evolving and so material, is that possible in the 21st Century?

What great thinkers and composers over the last two thousand years have battled upon (battling in the mind of course) is whether or not we can control our own destiny, fortune, and the end results. All the minds from Niccolo Machiavelli to Kim Il Sung have discussed this.

How do we put an end to anger, rage, and surges of adrenaline that lead us to destructive behavior?
To begin, we must choose a path of optimism. Anger can be alleviated, and the calmness of the mind can prevail. Next, we must choose a path of intelligence, for the ideas that are necessary to accomplish this must come from learning material and understanding humanity.

Optimism. Education. Understanding. These are ways to begin the process of eliminating anger and absolving destruction from the world. The last and most vital parts are ones that the material world has forgotten so much. Love, Kindness, Compassion, and Care.

Showing care for the the Earth, the Plants, the Animals, and other humans can all be done and is a foundation to absolving anger. It has been said before from many across different periods in time, if you want to bring happiness into your life, go out and do kind deeds for someone else. Before you can obtain the ideal emotional state you need, you must also go out into the world and help others who are less fortunate than you. No matter who you are if you are reading this, there are many who have less than what you do now, and need what you have to give them.

The solution always exists.
Optimism. Education. Understanding.
Let the journey to the elimination of anger and destruction emotions begin.

Powers of the Heart and Mind: Find Your True Strength

Seoul, South Korea

Strength. It is time for you to find ways to make yourself stronger. Persevere through the challenges that life throws at you, and not only never give up, but also stand tall as the victor. As it was once said, by someone not so long ago, when we enter into the adult world, many do not care how hard we tried, they care about the success that we have to show.

However, how hard you try is of importance to you alone.

Try your best. Put your heart and energy into all each task that is given to you, and compose a strategy for success. There is a parable: the man from the East met the man from the West. The man from the East asked, "How do you learn the truth?" The man from the West replied, "I open my eyes. How do you learn the truth?" The man from the East replied, "I close my eyes."

One is about education, knowledge, rational thinking, logic, and lessons from life.
The other is about self-reflection, intrapersonal understanding, and being aware of more than the material world.

To find strength in life, you can use both. To achieve success, learn as much as you can. Study your subject of choice at an intense rate. Use knowledge and facts as tools for you to build a strategy for achievement.

At the same time, always be aware of how your actions can affect other humans and the Earth on which we live. Be honest with yourself, and you will find reasons to be honest with everyone. For it through the honesty of self-reflection that allows us to recognize the origin of problems that have held us back from achieving success.

One must always use the heart, and one must always use the mind at the same time. These two should never be separated, for if they are, the heart will become nothing more than an organ that is used to pump blood, and the mind will be forgotten, and only the brain shall remain.

Use your cleverness for achievement. Use your knowledge to create a foundation. Use your ideas to find creative ways to make positive change in the world, for when the heart and the mind are working together, one will want to help one another. One will recognize that true strength does not come from physicality or from cleverness and manipulation, but from a united humanity all working together for the same cause of loving and protecting the planet Earth and the life among us.

From our Ancestors: Eliminating Desires

Beijing, China 

Desire: the force that so many wish to either control or repress, the characteristic of humans that religions, politicians, oligarchs, and even your parents have all tried to eradicate from your state of mind.

The fact of the matter is that desire can lead to power, but power is not always a controlled and calculated attempt to rise to the top of dominance hierarchy. Power can also lead to taking something, or sadly someone, by force. Desire can lead to destruction.

With each single breath is there the possibility to remove desire from your life. Is it possible to put the mind toward something much greater than human material desires.

A breath of fresh air. The colors of the sunset. Focusing on the wind rustling the leaves. Closing one's eyes and seeing the mountain ranges. Remembering the scent of walking by the lakeside.

These are not desires, for the love of nature has already been obtained, and this love goes beyond any corner of the green and brown Earth. For what color does one give to the entirety of the cosmos?

For one small moment, recognize that the stars are not so far away and perceive the far side of the universe as much closer. Let every fiber and molecule of the human mind remember that the burning fires of the stars and the united clusters of galaxies share the same experience of existence as every thought you have ever had.

This love is more powerful than any material desire, for our desires can lead to destruction. This thought is more honest than any material accomplishment, for dishonesty can lead internal calamity, and for one brief moment, gaze upon the night sky looking toward the dark spaces in between the stars and contemplate.

Once the universe reaches its final ending place, the human mind can still imagine beyond it. There is a great power in both your mind, and in your heart. Let us become one with the Earth, and the universe, but let us never forget that ideas can move us to the infinite, the absolute, and the eternal.

One does not desire what one has already obtained.
Breathe the air. Look to the Sunset. Listen to the Wind.
There is no desire. There is only an idea that connects every mind that every existed to the idea that extends beyond the cosmos and beyond the material world. This love will never be broken.