Last Tuesday, at the health club, I met a middle-aged woman dressed in black spandex. She was bemoaning how busy she was and how today was so rushed and she was not "being able to live in the present moment."
I picked up on the lingo. "So," I said, "did you listen to the Oprah webcast last night?"
"Oh, YES!" she exclaimed. "It was incredible. I'm a Buddhist and people always think I'm too religious but he made it so clear. I feel like there's hope for the world again. It's all about the 100th monkey."
100th monkey? I asked her about that and she explained how one good deed leads to another and you never can know how you're touching people and changing the planet. Then she raced out of the locker room because she was late for her Butt-Buster class. She never did get to the monkeys.
well, I thought. Here we go again. Another savior. Another urgent meassage to save the world by a born-again believer. Not that I'm opposed to saving the world because it does need saving. But this is not a new, radical message. It's as old as Jesus and Buddha and all those other bright lights. It's just a matter of listening.
Does anyone know what the 100th monkey is?
6 comments:
from wikipedia:
"the “hundredth monkey effect” is a supposed phenomenon in which a learned behaviour spreads instantaneously from one group of monkeys to all related monkeys once a critical number is reached. by generalisation it means the instant, paranormal spreading of an idea or ability to the remainder of a population once a certain portion of that population has heard of the new idea or learned the new ability."
apparently this idea has been discredited - see the wikipedia article
Thanks for your comment, Isabella. Another link is www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm. But I tend to lean towards the skeptics. The monkeys wouldn't have had anything to figure out were it not for human intervention to provide the sweet potatoes in the first place. Perhaps what we need is divine intervention. And that's all around us for those with eyes to see. kristen
Hello Kristin,
I was directed to your blog from someone at the Greasespot Cafe.
You are a very gifted writer. I too love to write, but have difficulties devolping it properly being a home school mom of three. But, I'll keep on trying. One day my time will come.
I do not spend much time at the Greasespot cafe. I tire of the constant negativity and bashing of The Way, those associated with it and Dr. Wierwille.
I did not know him personally. I've heard many things about him that were not very flattering, to say the least.
However, I can't deny the positive change in my life that occurred because of his teaching ministry. You are now part of the Episcopal church....I left it. However, I'm assuming we both love God and wish to know his will in our lives.
I know longer fellowship with The Way either. I left in the mid 80's. But, there were things I learned that I will forever be greatful for. At the very least, that I could pray and God would hear my hears.
Though I do not question any of your story, whatever it may be, I suppose when I consider the depth of my own sin and weakness of the flesh and that God has been merciful to me, I am willing to accept that though Dr. Wierwille may very well have done all of the things he was accused of, he did do a lot of good for a lot of people. I am one of them.
God's best to you.
Dear Kristen, just stopping in again to read. I enjoy your blog.
Regarding the Ek & Opie comments. You wrote: "well, I thought. Here we go again. Another savior. Another urgent meassage to save the world by a born-again believer." I may be reading it wrong but you sound like you don't think much of Tolle. I'd hate for you to come to this conclusion before becomming familiar with his work. "Another savior"?
One of the most important things I decided to do after leaving The Way was to stop discrediting and dismissing other's views. It is counter productive and only divides people. The central theme of fundamentalism and its core flaw is membership. You are either in or outside of the group. This starts by identifying those on the outside and this starts by pointing out flaws in their beliefs. Years ago I read The Power of Now. I would recommend it to anyone. Tolle is teaching just the opposite of what I learned in the Way. The Way was ONLY about membership.
Unfortunately, Oprah's success tends to work against her. She (and her guests) are discredited because of her celebrity. And the baby goes out with the bathwater.
Thanks for keeping the blog up.
Greg.
and thank you, Greg, for your perceptive comment. You're right. I do tend to be a little skeptical about these things but you've inspired me to write on my next blog. To clarify things. I DON'T want to throw the b. out with the b.water. My son is a great admirer of Tolle and has gotten me to read his books. My hackles just go up when someone, not Tolle, proclaims he/she has "the answer."
I am constantly skeptical when someone declares that they have the new big thing. It's usually the old repackaged thing.
I don't know if I'm alone, but I found it laughably funny that the (too religious) Buddhist woman would be hurrying to get to a class to work on her physical appearance. The irony is delicious!
Post a Comment