My old audio site 'Shems Abode' has now closed down - somehow,
without me knowing, it disappeared from the Web!
A new audio site has been set-up: this is the new 'Shems Abode'
Also, some of the audio posts can be accessed from the lists
of links here on BT on the right side of this page.
I hope in the future to be adding some new material... once I gain some time...
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
THE FIVE MONKEYS
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not?
Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.
Is that how things will always be done - without change!?
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not?
Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.
Is that how things will always be done - without change!?
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Be The Change
God decided to come down to Earth for a quick look at
how his creation was coming along.
He approached Earth and happened to look at a big tree
full of howling monkeys. As He looked down, one of the
monkeys happened to look up and saw him.
The monkey became excited and started to shout:
"I see God.....I see God!"
None of the other monkeys paid any attention. Some thought
the monkey was crazy or perhaps just a religious fanatic.
They went on about their daily lives of collecting food, taking
care of their young, fighting with each other, etc., etc. Not getting
any attention, our monkey decided to try to get attention from God, and said:
"God, Almighty, You are the Beneficent, the Merciful, please help me!"
In an instant, the monkey was transformed into a man living in
his own human community.
Everything changed, except for one thing: the monkey's mind.
The monkey immediately realized *that* could be a problem.
"Well, thank you God, but what about my mind?"
"That, said God, you will have to change yourself."
how his creation was coming along.
He approached Earth and happened to look at a big tree
full of howling monkeys. As He looked down, one of the
monkeys happened to look up and saw him.
The monkey became excited and started to shout:
"I see God.....I see God!"
None of the other monkeys paid any attention. Some thought
the monkey was crazy or perhaps just a religious fanatic.
They went on about their daily lives of collecting food, taking
care of their young, fighting with each other, etc., etc. Not getting
any attention, our monkey decided to try to get attention from God, and said:
"God, Almighty, You are the Beneficent, the Merciful, please help me!"
In an instant, the monkey was transformed into a man living in
his own human community.
Everything changed, except for one thing: the monkey's mind.
The monkey immediately realized *that* could be a problem.
"Well, thank you God, but what about my mind?"
"That, said God, you will have to change yourself."
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