Filter

Once a person told Socrates, ‘Do you know what I have heard about your friend?’ The wise one said, ‘before you proceed, let’s apply the triple filter test: ‘The first filter is Truth; are you sure that what you are about to tell is true?’ ‘Well... actually I have just heard it’, the man admitted.  

Next were filters of Goodness and Usefulness: ‘Is what you are going to tell me about my friend something good?’ ‘Is it going to be useful to me?’ When both the replies were in the negative, Socrates queried, ‘if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?’ 

 

So often we are carriers of careless gossip that would never pass through the Filter-Test. We come across scandalous information that we feel compelled to pass on to others and we end up causing irrevocable damage to reputations, relationships and lives. 

 

Every time we talk about somebody or something, it would be better to use the Triple-Filter-Test.  Heed the simplified counsel by Thumper’s parents in the film ‘Bambi’: ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all!’ 

 

We must use the Triple Filter as a Test 

If not true, good or useful; lay it to rest! 

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

 

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Reform

Seven words with the prefix ‘re’ suggest the best practices to ensure that our only home – planet Earth is nurtured and sustained not just in our life time but for future generations.

 

RETHINK: we must relook and reconsider the choices we make. Are they the best for our planet?

 

REFUSE: have the courage to say ‘no’ to the things that are not good for our environment.

 

REDUCE: lower unnecessary consumption of energy, material and resources which leads to their depletion.

 

REUSE: most things be reused instead of contributing to the growing pile of single use stuff

 

REFURBISH: old stuff can be set new with innovative ideas to reinvent and repurpose what we are using now.

 

REPAIR: before you replace, go for all ways to retrieve usability by opting for necessary repairs

 

RECYCLE: collect and process materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turn them into new products. 

 

Eventually, it is all about ‘reform’ in our attitude and approach. Such reform will benefit our community, the economy and the environment. Otherwise our casual indifference will trigger a devastating storm.

 

Careless apathy stirs a dangerous storm

For sake of our Earth, we have to reform!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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V-formation

Experts have determined that the V-shaped formation that geese use when migrating serves two important functions: 

First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front, resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. They take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest. 

 

The second benefit is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group. Flying in formation assists with communication and coordination within the group. Fighter pilots use this formation for the same reason.

 

The natural unity that exists among geese illustrates the benefits of teamworking. Working together, individuals perform better due to the support system that comes along. The combined synergy is always greater than the sum of its parts.

 

Secondly, team must focus on communication and coordination within the team members. They must be able to see, listen and speak to each other. Connectivity adds to the power of the collective. After all, the V-formation empowers ‘we’.

 

Together we can, together we shall
V-formation takes to a greater call!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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ASK

Three monks practised meditation together, sitting by the side of a lake. One day, one monk said, ‘I forgot my mat.’ Instead of walking around the lake to their hut, he stepped onto the water and serenely walked across the lake!  

Upon his return, the second monk declared, ‘I forgot to put my clothes to dry.’ He too walked across the water and returned the same way.

 

The third monk rose to declare, ‘your learning cannot be greater than mine… I too can match any feat that you two can perform!’ he rushed to the water's edge to walk across it. He promptly fell into the deep water. 

 

He climbed out and tried again, only to repeatedly sink. The other two monks watched as this went on. After a while, the second monk said to the first, ‘Do you think we should tell him where the stones are?’

 

Just because something appears easy for others; it may not be so for us. Overconfidence arises from presuming that we can easily do what others do. We belittle the method and attach undue importance to our capabilities.

 

Tasks can be emulated, only by humble learners! That’s how we learnt to do many things in childhood. Let’s shun childish arrogance and embrace childlike humility and eagerness to ask and learn.

 

To learn, be humble to ask
To emulate the tough task!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

Peace Table

 Abraham Maslow developed a theory of a hierarchy of human needs, of which the highest were the need for ‘self-actualization’ through creative and productive living. He considered promoting peace, happiness and building a psychology for the peace table as his task. 

 He had a vision of a peace table, with people sitting around it, talking about human nature and hatred, war and peace, and brotherhood. He wanted to prove that humans are capable of something grander than war, prejudice and hatred.

 

The peace table is an opportunity to work out our problems by talking about them, sharing our feelings and understanding one another more deeply. It helps us to cope with conflicts and helps resolve issues. It requires one person to invite another to have a peace talk. 

 

The initiator begins to share feelings by using an “I” message. (I didn’t like the way…; I felt sad when…; I was not happy when…) The other person listens and responds. If the problem is not solved they may invite a third person (peacekeeper) to the peace table to listen to both sides fairly and then suggest a way to solve the problem

 
The problem may not be solved completely or the solution may not make them feel better. When they leave the peace table what they need to take away it the most important part of this whole process, to understand each other better in the situation.

 

Ease the conflict bubble

Choose the peace table!

 

- Pravin K. Sabnis

 

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