Life is Doing (Hinduism, Islam, Life Coaching, Psychotherapy and Fighting Poverty)
The goal of a life coach, it could be said, is to help other people to grow towards their potentials, and they often achieve wonderful results in helping others. Some life coaches are trained on special courses where they learn more about helping others. In one such course, a group of about eight trainees were asked by their instructor to sit around a table. In the centre of the table the instructor placed a small cake with a candle on it and she lit the candle.
“Now then everyone,” she said, “I want you all to try an experiment. I want you to close your eyes and think hard about the candle. I want you to imagine the flame there in front of you. Now I want you all together to imagine the candle going out. Focus really hard and put that candle out in your mind. Keep focusing, and keep your eyes shut. Put that candle out with your thoughts.” She waited a while. “Well done! Now open your eyes.”
The group opened their eyes and looked at the candle on the table. And there it was, still burning! The instructor added “to get the candle to go out, you have to actually reach over and put it out yourself.” And so she did.
The point the coach was making was that life coaching, and indeed life itself, is not about thinking, it is about doing. People who need life coaches are often stuck in the thinking stage, but are fearful of actually doing what it takes to take their lives forward. The lesson of life-is-doing crosses a wide range of belief systems.
The Koran has much to offer people who are not of the Muslim faith. It too talks of doing. There is a verse from the prophet Mohammed which goes “Trust in God, but tie your camel first.” In other words, yes we can have faith and some kind of spiritual relationship with God, or the Universe, but if we neglect our physical world for the world of thoughts and prayers, we put ourselves at risk. We could pray that our camel doesn’t wander off, but to be on the safe side, it is more sensible to simply reach out and tie it up.
During the Indian struggle for independence from British rule, there was much violence between Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi spent much energy trying to show these two factions that their differences were illusions - they were in fact one people. The notion of life-is-doing unites Islam and Hinduism. The Hindu’s most Holy of scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita teaches through its verses the way to live, and for the follower of Hinduism is told that the spiritual message is to live a correct life, in this life.
Another example. David goes to consult a therapist. Now David is a nice guy who wants the best for everyone; he has spent much of his life as a Christian, giving money to the poor, trying to give
“Now then everyone,” she said, “I want you all to try an experiment. I want you to close your eyes and think hard about the candle. I want you to imagine the flame there in front of you. Now I want you all together to imagine the candle going out. Focus really hard and put that candle out in your mind. Keep focusing, and keep your eyes shut. Put that candle out with your thoughts.” She waited a while. “Well done! Now open your eyes.”
The group opened their eyes and looked at the candle on the table. And there it was, still burning! The instructor added “to get the candle to go out, you have to actually reach over and put it out yourself.” And so she did.
The point the coach was making was that life coaching, and indeed life itself, is not about thinking, it is about doing. People who need life coaches are often stuck in the thinking stage, but are fearful of actually doing what it takes to take their lives forward. The lesson of life-
The Koran has much to offer people who are not of the Muslim faith. It too talks of doing. There is a verse from the prophet Mohammed which goes “Trust in God, but tie your camel first.” In other words, yes we can have faith and some kind of spiritual relationship with God, or the Universe, but if we neglect our physical world for the world of thoughts and prayers, we put ourselves at risk. We could pray that our camel doesn’t wander off, but to be on the safe side, it is more sensible to simply reach out and tie it up.
During the Indian struggle for independence from British rule, there was much violence between Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi spent much energy trying to show these two factions that their differences were illusions -
Another example. David goes to consult a therapist. Now David is a nice guy who wants the best for everyone; he has spent much of his life as a Christian, giving money to the poor, trying to give