woah
hell yeah
Just got hit with some wisdom! And it “Hurts so good”!
HOLY SHIT I’m ecstatic right now! I wrote a letter to a man named Joh Hunter and he has a TED talk called, “The World Peace Game”. I found that talk so inspiring and influential that I had to contact him. Here is my original letter:
Hello Mr. Hunter,
I would like to start by giving you my appreciation and respect for all the teachings you have bestowed upon me and others. I am a senior at Portland State University studying Philosophy, in particular, Eastern Philosophy. I am highly influenced by Eastern thought and have made plans to travel to the East and learn more about it. My goal at first was to go there and become liberated, obtain moksha, or “wake up” from playing the game of hide and seek, as Alan Watts would put it. But as I studied more on this subject I came to learn that I already am enlightened, I just haven’t come to the realization yet. Anyway, I guess the reason I am writing to you is because of two reasons: 1. I was hoping you could share with me the process you went through when you traveled to the East and what programs you went through over there to gain your knowledge and eventually become a teacher. 2. Of late, I have come to realize how absolutely crucial education is and how out of date our current educational system is. After I watched your TED talk, I remember saying to myself, “Yes. This man is on the right track to refurbishing education and pointing it in the direction of finding a child’s full potential.” I feel a bit bashful in telling you that I hope to follow in your footsteps and become a teacher one day, a teacher that creates a curriculum that teaches children how to understand the natural balance in life, the harmony of opposites, and how to harness our innate human nature as loving, and compassionate human beings. I believe if children learn this, knowledge and intelligence of any kind would be able to flourish and they will be able to apply that knowledge into solving our world’s problems. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction to make this happen.
Thank you very much,
Keller Morrison
And here is his response:
Hello Mr. Morrison,
How wonderful to receive a letter like yours! I feel I see myself in your efforts, ideals and inspirations. I am totally honored that you feel that my work has offered you any support of inspiration. The process, I have found over many years, and from talking with many other seekers is as varied as the individuals. I have yet to find one way or method that has worked for each and every person. It seems that we really are all uniquely traveling on our own paths, which may have much in common with fellow seekers, but will ultimately be our own way. The right direction is, in my experience, only one that you will be able to discern. No one can call it for you, I don’t believe. There are many who would gladly assume that role though. That’s where we have to beware, I feel.
I joked with a friend once about following in my footsteps, and she (wisely) said, “if I did that, I’d be sure to get lost!”. Comical yes, but there is a grain of truth there, I think. Sometimes I would call what I experienced hard or difficult, or even a failure. Sometimes I deemed it a success. But looking back, it appears that each step no matter what I thought of it at the time, was actually useful in helping me become the “me” you see now. So I would not want to advise. Many of us like to give advice, but because I have realized that I am not living in your shoes, I would not dare to presume to advise you. I am certain that you will find it within yourself to become your own mentor, so to speak.
I love what you say that you would like to accomplish, too; “how to understand the natural balance in life, the harmony of opposites, and how to harness our innate human nature as loving, and compassionate human beings. ” That sounds so right-on, and I applaud you for being young and yet understanding this deep purpose and truth so early in your life. Bravo to you!
So again, thank you so much for sharing your feelings, your appreciation and ideals with me. I don’t have much time to write, but your letter struck such a chord with me, I just had to reply at length.
Best of the best of fortune in your life.
Sincerely,
John
