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(Blog on… 006) WHO AM I TO TELL YOU ANYTHING?

“Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” (Bertrand Russell)

Joe 02

Joe 02

I began putting thoughts to paper a few days after July 2nd 1995, when my younger brother ended his life. He left a simple note, which read: Be happy for me, I will suffer no more. Until that day I genuinely believed the whole mankind shared one common desire and that was the desire to live. I was wrong. What followed was the outburst of endless monologues, about guilt, anger, disappointment, and everything. By writing thoughts to paper I found the means of release. I had to let it all out; discharge. In time I realised I wasn’t talking to myself, but some greater knowingness, which seemed to dwell at the root of all beingness[1] and possessed immense wisdom. It was impossible to define, thus I named it the Absolute. I was nobody special. Today, I am still nobody special. Not to you, not to others and not to most living beings with whom I share the beauty of this amazing planet. But to myself – I am the Universe!

I was privileged to a wholesome and engaging childhood, which was influenced by diverse cultural upbringing and numerous life-changing circumstances.My mother was born in former Yugoslavia in to a simple Christian family, struggled through poverty and illness, became a teacher of languages and later joined the communist party in order to secure best chances for survival. After my younger brother’s premature departure she lost her purpose in life and many years later found it again in spiritual awakening and charity work. My father was born in to a wealthy Muslim family in India, but of Persian descent. As a teenager he moved to London where he became a successful salesman and later a restaurant owner. I spent the best part of my childhood living between the communist Yugoslavia and the old imperial England. I was tallest in the class, very stubborn and very independent, but never a conflicting child. A star sports pupil at primary and secondary school I learned to play a guitar at the age of 13 and became seriously ill at the age of 15. Overnight my life came to an abrupt halt.

Years later I realised what a blessing I received. My illness compelled me to examine every inch of who I was and brought about an insightful sense of awareness at such an early stage of life. I developed a severely exaggerated case of eczema, whereby my skin reacted painfully to every sensation, thought, word or action. Doctors advised there was no cure and that I should turn to the power of the mind for possible solution. There was hope and I found it in endless books exploring the greatness of human wisdom. Taking illness head-on I consequently embarked on an amazing journey, researching truth, who we are and the way we interacted with inner and outer worlds. I was in severe physical pain and growth was my only salvation.

PERSONAL NOTE: Standard education was not fulfilling my thirst for knowledge, but I found salvation in an astounding book written by Napoleon Hill entitled Think & Grow Rich. The book was recommended to me at the age of 18 as essential reading by another great motivational speaker, Jim Rohn. When Earl Nightingale, another of my favourites, set out to summarise Hill’s secret of successful writing, he pointed out the following characteristics: Firstly, research your subjects with scientific vigour and pursue your goals until the truth reveals itself. Secondly, deliver information in simple language everyone can understand intellectually, and even more importantly, emotionally. Thirdly, base every detail on truth and support it by facts. The fourth characteristic was the fundamental understanding that every human achievement begins with an idea. It has been my sincere endeavour to employ these traits as the under laying thread of this unfinished book.

 

[1] The term beingness refers to the never-changing isness. It is the way it is.

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