The 4 Elements
Before positivist science, people observed nature and came to conclusions. The oldest among these (and what some people still use) was the 4 Elements method. You can find it in philosophy, medicine, and attempts to understand human nature. Even today, methods that go back hundreds of years, such as acupuncture and ayurveda, still continue to use the 4 elements.
We do not utilize such a method in the OBM, but when we look at the vertical axis and inset the the 4 elements what would emerge I wondered. After all, the vertical axis of the OBM defines the level of disorder and the 4 elements could be used to define that as well.
I guess the very bottom would be the earth element that symbolizes stability. This would be where the roots of the tree lie. The water element would be the trunk of the tree and would be the source of life and would cause its internal flow. The branches would be more flexible and be the equivalent of the fire element. The parts with most movement would be the leaves and be related to the air element.
In Taoism there is a 5th element. The wood/tree element that connects all 4.
I guess we are as strong as our roots.
We can stand as tall as our trunk.
We are as flexible as our branches.
And we can move to the capacity of our leaves.
But we are all of it at once. And we become ourselves only when it all comes together.
And nature continues to teach us.
August 31, 2016.
Optimum Balance, Again.
We sacrifice ….
today in the name of the future
truth in the name of what’s convenient
things to be done in the name of our comfort
morality in the name of religion
our conscience in the name our ego …
And then we wonder , why did our wonderful country/world become such a place, and defense mechanisms come to play (accuse, neglect, etc).
Defense mechanisms take us nowhere …
And politicians, it seems, have no desire to save us ..
The solution lies with us, and in our spheres of influence … with our families (especially with our kids) and what we form there …
Today can’t be sustained with a future goal …
Any organizing system will fall apart if it doesn’t fit reality …
You can’t setup anything without adequate labor …
Without morality at its root, religion won’t stand.
And without conscience, personality can’t develop.
And we keep returning to the same place …
Mind,
Labor,
Heart and
Balance.
August 18, 2016
After the July 15th Attempted Coup in Turkey…
Let me try to explain what we are going through in the language of OBM.
Right now the circumstances are chaotic. This is a complex and disorderly system. In situations like this, more than 2 steps ahead cannot be calculated. So strategic thinking will not work. Those who think instinctively or strategically only make things work. Analyses won’t work. What’s required is either an incredibly good understanding of the natural system, or wisdom ..
In plain speak: Right now no body really understand what happened and again no body really knows what to do …
This is a multilayered structure. At the very top is international politics. Secret services, global playmakers, NGOs and colossal multinational corporations are at play. In the mid layer exist our political, economic, religious, media and public institution dynamics. Then there is the Kurdish problem and the DEASH issue. At the very bottom lies ordinary people, in short us. In multilayered structures there are hierarchical relationships and vertical and horizontal integration problems. These can be manifest in problems in goals, coordination functionality and communication.
In plain speak: Don’t work hard at convincing anyone. We are not even pieces in this chess game. You could very well turn out to be the scape goat.
Right now, we’ve gone past the old tresholds and structures have changed. Old habits and rules will not work. New organising systems will come into play. But, for them to be formed there will be a lot of adjustments, negotiations, new coalitions, etc. These kinds of rebalanceing processes take 6 months to 2 years. Add to that opportunists and the extra large egos that are going to be involved and that time frame will be extended. The worst is the chance of out of control oscilations.
In plain speak: The waves will not settle so easy and everybody’s compass will go haywire. The Turkey we are used to does not exist anymore. Ataturkism, democracy, secularism, and the rule of law are the most trustworth anchors we know to return too. (Then, we may go back to resume where we left off and bickering at eachother, but right now is not the time for that.
-Systems are structures that have a goal, are formed of modules, and are integrated. Right now, many powers want to take over the state apparatus. Be it with terror, infiltrating the public sphere, or taking advantage of the weeknesses of the democratic system. They use horizontal and vertical alliances easily to their ends. And then there are others who want to divide and conquer. When this is the goal, modular structure attributes such as functionality, efficency, and sustainability have been moved to the background. Integration is alltogether out of the picture because there is an atmosphere of insecurity and mistrust.
In plain speak: The system is far from optimum balance. Instead of being politicized, listen to your common sense and act with your conscience.
Above I only talk about 4 of them, but as you may know there are 25 system features. Were we to go through all of them with the alacrity they deserve, this analysis would take a book. I am working hard not to get the OBM involved with politics, but we are going through such a period that we need to see our social interactions as a system.
In plain speak: The solution is a long term one and will be found through through mind-labour-heart and balance. The things to stay away from are being reactive, cunning, insatiableness, ego and laziness. The goal is to find and retain our own balance and to raise healthy kids in the long run.
Last words: I am sad about the people who passed away, particularly the policmen. We very much need to be in touch with our human side, and the humainity in eacother.
July 15th and Standing Against Societal Division
Hi to all. I follow what’s going on in the country even when I’m abroad.
When we left the country (the day of the assault on Ataturk airport) we were farewlled by bombs, and when we came back we were greeted by bombs.
I always take care not to bring politics onto these pages. Because, when tomorrow the dust settles, this civil war, the military and civil coups, this terror subsides we will still have to live together.
Not that we are really into it, but because we have no where else to go.
In ODM, we always strived not to make people feel foreign, feel like “other”. Trainings were attended by people of all sorts of beliefs and that’s the way it was meant to be …
Our only criterion were mind, labour, and heart. Not title, nor money, nor religion, nor religion, nor political preference …
Please remember this. There are only two identities that can submerge themselves into other spheres of life. Ego and spiritual indentity. Stay away from people who are attempting to use those two to manipulate your political identity …
Because these are the weakest parts of human nature …
Do not make religion your political identity and do not make the mistake of associating your political identity with your ego and looking at everything through this lense …
Those that want to do something (useful), focus on your sphere of influence. Your family and kids. Try and raise your kids as good and capable people.
Because the solution lies in the long term …
Again, thanks for not bringin divisiveness into these pages …
Love,
Tamer
July 19, 2016