Posted by: randallbutisingh on: July 7, 2009
The heart beats 36 millions times every year pumping the blood through more than sixty thousand miles of veins, arteries and tubing pumping more than six hundred thousand gallons every year.
Within your five quarts of blood are twenty-two trillion blood cells. Within each are millions of molecules. Within each molecule is an atom oscillating at more than ten millions times every second.
Every second two millions of your blood cells die and are replaced by 2,000,000 more.
The brain is the most complex structure. Within its three pounds are 13, 000,000,000 nerve cells, more than three times as many people as there are on earth. Implanted in the cells are more than one thousand billion billion protein molecules.
Within you is enough energy to destroy any of the world’s great cities and rebuild it.
Comment:
Contemplate on this O man and wonder! Your body is an intricate and complex machinery designed by an Omniscient power that is beyond the comprehension of the transient mind and intellect. Within it, the spirit pervades. Seek enlightment to understand by, as Jesus said; Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be open unto you.
- Randall Butisingh
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: July 4, 2009
In one school of Philosophy, Spirit is one. In God, it is called Parmatma (Supersoul). In the individual, when it is stirred by Prakriti (Nature) it is called Jivatma (individual soul), identical with Supersoul. Just as the Ocean is one, but when ruffled by the wind, it becomes separate as waves. The waves, whatever their dimensions are identical with the Ocean. The individual soul coming in contact with Prakriti is conditioned by it and begins to feel that it is the body, and then feels whatever joy or pain are experienced by the body. When after many reincarnations, it realises that it is not this body, then liberation occurs. It gets back into its source, the Supersoul, taking with it, its individuality, and sees itself as the Supersoul, able then to become all- knowing. Like the wave, when the wind subsides, gets back into the Ocean and becomes one with it and shares what it does. There are other analogies like the Sun and its rays or like the archipelago when the illusion of the water that separates them is removed, it i s then one land.
This Philosophy equates well with the middle century poet John Donne when he said; “No man is an island entire of itself; everyman is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…………Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”. Another contemporary of his, the poet William Blake, when asked by a friend if he believed in the Divinity of Jesus said; “Yes, Jesus is God, so am I and so are you”.
How interesting; the true seeker of every religion gets his experience according to the path he diligently pursues and he arrives at the same goal After enlightenment the yogi and the sufi, though their techniques differ, arrive at he same conclusion; “I AM HE’”. Jesus said; “Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect”, which connotes that you and the Father are one as Jesus is; also “love your neighbour as yourself” which could be interpreted as “Your neighbour is your own dear self”.
Again Jesus said “You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free’”. When the intellect is enlightened, it intuits and only then, the truth which sets free is known.
- Randall Butisingh
CommentL
As for me , my role model and motivator is Jesus, the humble Nazarene who is the Incarnation of Love, who taught Love and who gave his life because of Love for all mankind. His reason for dying inspired the hymn writer to pen:
“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain, I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
This hymn was a favourite of the renowned Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, who in his humble ashram had the only portrait, one of Jesus, hanging on his wall.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: June 27, 2009
“Is there a formula—some mix of love, work, and psychological adaptation—for a good life? For 72 years, researchers at Harvard have been examining this question, following 268 men who entered college in the late 1930s through war, career, marriage and divorce, parenthood and grandparenthood, and old age. Here, for the first time, a journalist gains access to the archive of one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. Its contents, as much literature as science, offer profound insight into the human condition—and into the brilliant, complex mind of the study’s longtime director, George Vaillant. (The Atlantic – June 2009)
.Atlantic Magazine published an article in June 2009, which features the results of an interesting and comprehensive 72 year old study, that began way back to 1937 and continues up to now, of the lives of 286 Harvard university graduates. Many of the study members have passed on as the study group advances in age, but the study highlights some interesting insights on their lives that we can all learn from.
What HAPPINESS is all about is the main theme of the study. Journalist Joshua Shenk, who wrote the article in Atlantic Magazine summed up the findings as: “Herein lies the key to a good life–not rules to follow, nor problems to avoid– but an engaged humility, an earnest acceptance of life’s pains and promises.”
.You can read the whole article and also look at a very interesting video with the article by going to this link : Atlantic Magazine. or clicking on the following address:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200906/happiness
If you would like to see the video that is in the article, then click on this link:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1460906593?bctid=22804415001
I do hope that you enjoy the article and the video and that it does give you some insights as to what is really important in our life journey here on Earth.
- Cyril Bryan, Guest Contributor
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: June 19, 2009
The emphasis on grades…
In the emphasis placed on getting good grades, educators have lost sight of the the true aim of education which is “to fit the child to live and to live with”. This means after the child has passed through the system, he will be physically, mentally and morally equipped to make a decent livelihood from the vocation of his choice, have good relationships with his fellow men by being civil and courteous; always willing to give a helping hand to one in need; be able to chose a refreshing and healthful hobby, refrain from what will cause addiction, be able to keep his body clean and healthy, knowing it to be the temple of God, love the beautiful things of life: good poetry, good music, the beauties of Nature and always open to receive useful knowledge.
If any of the components mentioned above is missing, the individual will have a lopsided personality and he will become a misfit in society. In short the primary aim of Education is the the building of character. Without paying regard to Character building, Education will, like an improperly cultivated soil yield rank weeds instead of edibles.
Again, competition should not be encouraged in school. It does more harm than good to education. It encourages cheating and unhealthy rivalry. Every child should be allowed to deliver at its own rate and be commended for effort. The saddest thing that can be said of education is that the hidden talents of the child had not been discovered.
Teachers, know that you are not only teaching a subject but a child, and it is in your interest to know the child as well as the subject. I have written a paper on the “Role of the School”, which though it was written for education in the middle part of the twentieth century, you will find principles that can be applied today. Here is the link the first of the four articles on the “Role of the School”.
http://randallbutisingh.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/the-role-of-the-school/
I also have other articles on Education which can be found in this Weblog. Type in “Education” in the search and get a list of articles that mention education.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: June 18, 2009
Summer 2009
From Herbert Kohl
<<It is hard for me to understand how educators can claim that they are creating high standards when the substance and content of learning is reduced to the mechanical task of getting a correct answer on a manufactured test. In the panic over teaching students to perform well on reading tests, educators seem to have lost sight of the fact that reading is a tool, an instrument that is used for pleasure and for the acquisition of knowledge and information about the way the world works. The mastery of complex reading skills develops as students grapple with ideas, learn to understand plot and character, and develop and articulate opinions on literature. They also develop through learning history, science, and technology.>>
Dear Arne Duncan,
In a recent interview with NEA Today you said of my book 36 Children, “I read [it] in high school … [and] … wrote about his book in one of my college essays, and I talked about the tremendous hope that I feel [and] the challenges that teachers in tough communities face. The book had a big impact on me.”
When I wrote 36 Children in 1965 it was commonly believed that African American students, with a few exceptions, simply could not function on a high academic level. The book was motivated by my desire to provide a counter-example, one I had created in my classroom, to this cynical and racist view, and to let the students’ creativity and intelligence speak for itself. It was also intended to show how important it was to provide interesting and complex curriculum that integrated the arts and sciences, and utilized the students’ own culture and experiences to inspire learning. I discovered then, in my early teaching career, that learning is best driven by ideas, challenges, experiences, and activities that engage students. My experience over the past 45 years has confirmed this.
We have come far from that time in the ’60s. Now the mantra is high expectations and high standards. Yet, with all that zeal to produce measurable learning outcomes we have lost sight of the essential motivations to learn that moved my students. Recently I asked a number of elementary school students what they were learning about and the reactions were consistently, “We are learning how to do good on the tests.” They did not say they were learning to read.
It is hard for me to understand how educators can claim that they are creating high standards when the substance and content of learning is reduced to the mechanical task of getting a correct answer on a manufactured test. In the panic over teaching students to perform well on reading tests, educators seem to have lost sight of the fact that reading is a tool, an instrument that is used for pleasure and for the acquisition of knowledge and information about the way the world works. The mastery of complex reading skills develops as students grapple with ideas, learn to understand plot and character, and develop and articulate opinions on literature. They also develop through learning history, science, and technology.
Reading is not a series of isolated skills acquired in a sanitized rote-learning environment utilizing “teacher-proof” materials. It develops through interaction with a knowledgeable, active teacher—through dialogue, and critical analysis. It also develops through imaginative writing and research.
It is no wonder that the struggle to coerce all students into mastering high-stakes testing is hardest at the upper grades. The impoverishment of learning taking place in the early grades naturally leads to boredom and alienation from school-based learning. This disengagement is often stigmatized as “attention deficit disorder.” The very capacities that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is trying to achieve are undermined by the way in which the law is implemented.
This impoverishment of learning is reinforced by cutting programs in the arts. The free play of the imagination, which is so crucial for problem-solving and even for entrepreneurship, is discouraged in a basics curriculum lacking in substantial artistic and human content.
Add to this the elimination of physical education in order to clear more time to torture students with mechanical drilling and shallow questioning and it is no wonder that many American students are lethargic when it comes to ideas and actions. I’m sure that NCLB has, in many cases, a direct hand in the development of childhood obesity.
It is possible to maintain high standards for all children, to help students learn how to speak thoughtfully, think through problems, and create imaginative representations of the world as it is and as it could be, without forcing them through a regime of high-stakes testing. Attention has to be paid to the richness of the curriculum itself and time has to be allocated to thoughtful exploration and experimentation. It is easy to ignore content when the sole focus is on test scores.
Your administration has the opportunity, when NCLB comes up for re-authorization, to set the tone, aspirations, and philosophical and moral grounds for reform that develops the intelligence, creativity, and social and personal sensitivity of students. I still hold to the hope you mentioned you took away from 36 Children but I sometimes despair about how we are wasting the current opportunity to create truly effective schools where students welcome the wonderful learning that we as adults should feel privileged to provide them.
I would welcome any opportunity to discuss these and other educational issues with you.
Sincerely, Herbert Kohl
…………………………………………………………………………….
COMMENT by Cyril Bryan, Guest Contributor.
Readers would note that some of the most popular items on this Web log relate to education. This is mainly due to the fact that Randall Butisingh has written his thoughts, and novel ideas relating to education which he practiced as a teacher for over 40 years.
I have selected this article “An Open Letter to Arne Duncan”, written by Herbert Kohl for inclusion on this Blog as the ideas of Mr. Kohl , I think, mirrors those that have been advanced by Mr. Butisingh in his writings. Mr. Arne Duncan, to whom this letter is addressed is the Education Secretary in the USA Obama government. Since the elections, there has been intensive politicking in regard to education in the USA as there are vested interests, like they are in Health Care, against change…. and Change is sorely needed in both of these critical areas, where most of the country’s budgets are spent.
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education strategies have failed, and what will replace them is the center of intense debate. Many of the issues that have been raised in relation to modern education, are the same in most countries of the world, so many countries could learn from the American experience. The stress on passing exams through rote learning and the limited curriculum that excludes the arts and other creative subjects has created students who are unfit for this modern world that rewards creativity and adaptability. Education that stifles creativity also stifles the culture, economy and progress of a country, especially in these times of rapid technological change.
We do hope that the USA Education Secretary Arnie Duncan does read this letter and take note of its valuable insights. He said in the NEA Today Interview that he did read Mr Kohl’s book “36 Children”", and wrote on it in one of his College essays, and that the book did have an impact on him….. so he should understand what Mr. Kohl is talking about. Let us all hope that he does, and is capable of implementing at least some of them, for the sake of the USA and the World.
- Cyril Bryan
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: June 17, 2009
Do not be disheartened.
Every form may change, yet the essence remains the same;
Every wonderful sight will vanish, every sweet smell will fade;
But do not be disheartened.
The source they come from is eternal, growing, branching out, giving new life and new joy;.
Why do you weep?
The source is within you;
And the whole world is springing up from it.
Jalaluddin Rumi.
Posted by: randallbutisingh on: June 15, 2009
Why hope? – South Africa – June, 2009
by Brian E. Konkol)
If it were possible to record every form of communication in every corner of the globe, and if it were also possible to count and document the amount of times every word was used within those various forms of communication, I would be willing to bet the word “hope” has been utilized more often in the past year that in years previous.
Hope.
While “hope” as a message and state of mind has existed for countless generations, it has most certainly experienced a resurgence as of late. In response to current challenges facing so many around the world, various individuals have responded through hope-filled political speeches, magazine articles, books, and television programs. As a result, the declaration of “hope” is being received with passion and adopted with excitement by various global citizens. Africans, Asians, South and North Americans, Eastern and Western Europeans, and various others from booming cities to rural farmlands listen to and speak of “new beginnings”, a “fresh start”, and making the global community function to its fullest. Citizens on all continents are currently in the process of finding ways in which life can truly improve for the better, not only for a few, but for all.
While a large tide of hope is rising throughout the world, what I have long wondered is how people can possibly grasp to genuine hopefulness in the midst of such challenging social and economic conditions. Yes, speeches and books can inspire, but at the end of the day, when the discourse is finished and the final page is turned, many people are left in extremely dreadful situations. Why hope? The World Bank reported that before the current global economic crisis, there were already more than one billion people living on less than $1 per day, while another three billion (…approximately half of the world’s population) were living on less than $2 per day. In 2005, in what was considered “good times” compared to 2009, the poorest 40% of the world’s population accounted for 5% of global income, while the wealthiest 20% accounted for 75% of world income, and the wealthiest 10% accounted for 54%. Why hope?
According to the South African Regional Poverty Network, the proportion of people living in poverty in South Africa has not changed significantly over the past fifteen years, that is, until the past twelve months. Due in part to the global economic downturn, those households living in poverty have sunk deeper into economic despair, and the gap between rich and poor has widened. Over 55% of South Africans live below the poverty line (…poverty estimates are calculated according to household size. A household of four persons has a poverty income of R1 290 per month, which is roughly the equivalent of $161.25), recent estimates have shown a 25% unemployment rate (although these numbers steadily increase), a 30% HIV/AIDS infection rate has resulted in what some call “the death of a generation”, and the nation continues to struggle with crime, corruption, racism, sexism, and gross unequal distribution of land and resources.
Why hope?
A few days ago I asked a local friend this exact question, and I found his response to be quite enlightening. “Why hope?” I asked. He responded with a quote from the fifth chapter of Romans: “…because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us…” He expanded upon the biblical passage and commented that “hope does not disappoint” because “faithful hope” is not a matter of sitting around and waiting for something miraculous to happen, (which he poignantly called “stupid hope”!), but it is about taking inventory of one’s God-given capabilities, as well as the assets of the community, and doing what can and needs to be done for the welfare of all. He reminded me that the “audacity of hope” must be followed by the “boldness of action”, and those placed in positions of power and authority are especially responsible to put their beliefs into action and help provide for those who simply do not have the resources to make a significant long-term and sustainable difference on their own. He asserted that the current global economic crisis is both terrifying and exciting, for as people search for hope, it is an opportunity to redirect priorities for the greater common good. However, he added, it is also terrifying, not only because of the terrible conditions people face, but because of increased desperation, the crisis may tempt some to look for answers in all the wrong places, and instead of helping others and thinking of ways to “build up” communities for the future, people will instead worry solely about themselves, perhaps blame and point fingers at others, and in the end “tear down” communities for the worse. He concluded, “It is just a matter of ‘what message’ people are going to hear most loud and clear.”
I fully agree that the global economic crisis, and the resulting desire for global hope, brings both excitement and concern. It is worth concern, because as people so desperately yearn for solutions, they are often willing to cling to just about anyone and/or anything that promises a better life. The persistence of violence, extremism, discrimination, and intolerance in its various forms is a clear consequence of this reality. But also, the search for hope brings incredible excitement, for this moment in history is an amazing opportunity for the “Good News” message of compassion, love, care, companionship, accompaniment, forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice to be received and shared in massive ways never dreamed of before. This “crisis” is indeed an “opportunity” for better things, a space in time to re-evaluate our lives and priorities, consider what works and what does not, determine was is just or unjust, truly understand the ways we relate with others in our neighborhoods and around the world, and join together in solidarity to reshape the current day and age in which we live.
Why hope?
While the Church has its many imperfections (…I suppose I am one of them!), I am one who believes God is in the process of doing something incredible in and through this organization filled with faith-inspired people ready to act. As a result of our current day and age, and out of a Spirit-driven desire to acknowledge and understand the connections we share with people across the globe, I fully believe the Church is about to experience an amazing renewal with an increased interest in global mission, advocacy, and heartfelt service which seeks to walk alongside companions publically and courageously in various walks of life, which can result in mutual respect, empowerment, understanding, and justice. I believe this renewal is already taking place, and as it widens and deepens, it will result in increased involvement among youth and young adults, the often perceived disconnect between faith and “real life” will increasingly close, the often heard street-media message of hatred and fear will be replaced by the faith-filled proclamation that mutual empowerment and “abundant life” can be shared, and a new way of relating to one another can be learned and practiced. With each passing day, as each person recognizes the face of God in all people and takes responsibility upon themselves and the communities that surround them, small steps forward will lead to gigantic leaps, and the message of hope will be transformed into the reality of progress, and the “new beginning” which so many seek will become realized.
And this, I believe, is why we hope.
We hope, not because of our own human greatness or importance, and not because of our individual intellectual or collective technological abilities to make life easier. But rather, we hope because the same God who created us will not sit back, watch, and allow us and others to live in the midst of ongoing despair, injustice, and oppression. We hope, not because it numbs our sorrows and allows us to survive the grind of each day, but because we have a genuine belief that our common humanity will inspire us to cooperate, our shared compassion will encourage us to love, our belief in wholeness of life will motivate us to act, and through God’s grace, those inspired to strive for the common good will far outnumber those with misguided motivations. We hope, not because of rational calculation or skillful thought, but due to the unexplainable conviction that, through God’s strength and wisdom, and with the empowerment that comes through individual responsibility and collective action, that something better for all people is not a mere dream, but a beautiful reality that lies right around the corner.
We hope.
———————————————————————-.
Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Project Co-Coordinator, South Africa. Young Adults in Global Mission. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. P.O. Box 28694. Haymarket. 3200 South Africa. Phone: (Country Code 027) 033-396-5494. Cell: (Country Code 027) 074-121-7779.
E-Mail: bekonkol@yahoo.com. Web (personal): http://briankristenkonkol.blogspot.com. Web (project): http://elcamud.blogspot.com
