So much of what was discussed bore on one profound experience in my life. As a university student in 1983, I contemplated fasting to protest a widely unpopular new government policy. Initially, my intention was to fast until they yielded to the protest. But then, I started reflecting on the gravity of my action: am I prepared to put my life at risk for this cause? Would I be able to pull it off? I realized that I could only succeed if my intentions were clear.
I spent the next three months in profound reflection, questioning my motivation. Was I doing this to impress my brother, who had looked down on me all my life? Did I want to appear noble and strong to my friends? Did I want to demonstrate to my father the depth of my convictions? There was too much at play and I needed to question each and every one of these motives with painful honesty.
One after the other, I peeled the layers of these false motives, staying with every one until it was resolved. By resolved, I mean that I confronted them and cleansed myself of them. In the end, I was able to be very clear about the reasons for this fast: I wanted to impress forcefully upon the government that they were wrong with their decision. I also decided that it was morally wrong to fast until they yielded because it would put the fate of my life in their hands. I decided to fast for 40 days.
The outcome of this reflection was that I achieved complete clarity over my motives. Unexpectedly, this clarity gave me an enormous sense of power. I was prepared to confront any development during the fast with utter certainty and resolve.
On December 18, 1983, I started a 40-day fast. There were a few difficult days, but I can honestly say that the fast was much easier than my previous reflection, with its necessary depth of honesty. I think that I gained an incredible sense of power from the clarity of my mind, a clarity that any founder should ideally strive for, as Gena described in this conversation.
Wow- what an incredible distillation of the work involved in getting clear and honest about our motives, and of the rewards that follow. Thanks so much for sharing, Andre!
So much of what was discussed bore on one profound experience in my life. As a university student in 1983, I contemplated fasting to protest a widely unpopular new government policy. Initially, my intention was to fast until they yielded to the protest. But then, I started reflecting on the gravity of my action: am I prepared to put my life at risk for this cause? Would I be able to pull it off? I realized that I could only succeed if my intentions were clear.
I spent the next three months in profound reflection, questioning my motivation. Was I doing this to impress my brother, who had looked down on me all my life? Did I want to appear noble and strong to my friends? Did I want to demonstrate to my father the depth of my convictions? There was too much at play and I needed to question each and every one of these motives with painful honesty.
One after the other, I peeled the layers of these false motives, staying with every one until it was resolved. By resolved, I mean that I confronted them and cleansed myself of them. In the end, I was able to be very clear about the reasons for this fast: I wanted to impress forcefully upon the government that they were wrong with their decision. I also decided that it was morally wrong to fast until they yielded because it would put the fate of my life in their hands. I decided to fast for 40 days.
The outcome of this reflection was that I achieved complete clarity over my motives. Unexpectedly, this clarity gave me an enormous sense of power. I was prepared to confront any development during the fast with utter certainty and resolve.
On December 18, 1983, I started a 40-day fast. There were a few difficult days, but I can honestly say that the fast was much easier than my previous reflection, with its necessary depth of honesty. I think that I gained an incredible sense of power from the clarity of my mind, a clarity that any founder should ideally strive for, as Gena described in this conversation.
Wow- what an incredible distillation of the work involved in getting clear and honest about our motives, and of the rewards that follow. Thanks so much for sharing, Andre!
What a story! I was only born in 83 :) Thank you for sharing, Andre!