Sell your cleverness
image by axiniaDemocracy or Freedom?
image by axinia
The meaning of the very word democracy is power to people, not freedom.The trouble is that the people did not get much training in learning how to handle power. It seems that the relationship between democracy and freedom depends upon the tension between power and people. Must freedom in a democracy mean a free-for-all grab at power? If so, we are perecisely in these deeper troubles that Rousseau, Jefferson and oterh godfathers of modern democracy wanted to prevent.
“Demos” means the people, “kratos” means power. However, who is the real ruler when the people rule? Nobody? Everybody? Or somebody. This body may act with such familiarity that its existence is unnoticed. Its shape is ill defined and its desire and purposes are not understood. Is this hypothetical ruler of democracy now inheriting the earth?
Gregoire de Klabermatten, “The third Advent”
P.S: The word on the picture (LUXUS) means luxury in German. In my personal view the modern democracy is almost the same as materialism. I find this photo very interesting, because one can see the shabby house wall and the “rich” word on it, showing the illusory power of riches on the fading facade of democracy.
LOVE, axinia
image by axinia
This is a well-known Socrates story, but I keep meeting people who never heard of that. I love the wisdom here, because it is so simple and obvious. In fact, I also live it and every time someone comes to me, I just ask the same questions after Sokrates -Amazing, how embarassing it is then for the gossiper…
—————-
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high
esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and
said,
“Socrates, do you know what I just heard about your best friend?”
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything
I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple filter?”
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about
my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter
what you’re going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you
made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” Continue reading ‘What not to tell your friends or the gossip-killer that always works’
Basically one can meditate everywhere, but there are some places where a good mediation can happen easier. My personal favourite has always been - of course! - India. I am in meditative state in India all the time (probably due to the long spiritual traditions of India and vibrations left after the huge number of sages and yogis thoughout the history).
Another country where I can enjoy powerful meditations is Italy. Despite its easy-going and superficial image worldwide, the country has one very important quality that leads to a good mediation: the joy, the heart-opening. How does it work?
On May 9 Russia marks the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II with a military parade on Moscow’s Red Square and celebration events all over the country. Victory Day is one of the biggest national holidays and Russians commemorate the 27(!) million victims the Soviet Union suffered in the deadliest conflict in history. Interstingly, most of the Western world is normally not aware of these numbers - simply because Russian make no fuss about it. The history is the history.
The point I want to make here is that despite the horrible sufferings and the truly huge number of victims, presently Russia and Germany are probably the best friends internationally seen. Apart from the personal friendship beween H.Kohl and B.Eltzin, G.Schröder and V.Putin, the trade turnover figures achieved between Russia and Germany last year were 33 billion dollars, according to Russian estimates. Are there many examples of other countries who had been in such a deadly fight before getting close friends? Unfortunately this is a rare example in the human history if we look at the war map of today… In the international friendship survey 2000 over 60% of Russians speak of their “friendly” attitude to Germans, although almost every family has lost its beloved members in the war. And many of the war generation (like my grandmother) are still there. How could they forget so fast?
Continue reading ‘The Victory Day or the forgiving power of Russians’
Since long I wanted to have a simple, nice blog where I could share spontaneous thoughts and feelings without much work 
Something cosy and easy, a kind of 1000petals light…
Thanks to my beloved WordPress that comes up with new features pretty often, I grab the idea of the new Theme (Monotone) and started a photoblog - luckily I still have more photos to share.
And… Here it is! 1000loves. Promise to post every day (exept for holidays)
Hope you will like it!
LOVE, axinia
image by axinia
Nita got me! Normally I don’t follow these tagging games, most of the questions are either too silly or too ego-pumpering. But this bloggin tag seem to be OK. And although there is pretty much of my personal stuff here in my blog, it might be still interesting for some of you to peep deeper into my soul
I am happy to tag some bloggers who I think might like it: Arlene, Solveig , Radha, Bala, Steve , Leela, and Edword.
And here are my answers to the tag questions:
1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
I think it was The Golden Compass, and it was 5 months ago
2. What book are you reading?
None. No books any more.
3. Favorite board game?
None. Not my cup of tea.
4. Favorite magazine?
ZEIT WISSEN(in German), I love this beautifully done and captivating scientific report magazine! Continue reading ‘A blogging tag about some favourite things’
I`ll be back!
And again Italy, holidays… I guess it looks already suspicious. Not, I am not married to a Russian Mafia boss, and I am not working as a mystery shopper for hotels I have a regular manager job, rather a hard one. And I have my good right for the nice holidays!
Anyway, my dear ones, I will not be posting one week again. This time my destination is Liguria, the mountain region in the North Italy - its divine beauty and peace…
Happy to share with you the joy and vibrations of my trip soon - follow my blogging!
LOVE and see you next week!
axinia
photo by axinia
Today is the Easter in Russia, and may be that is why I can`t leave the topic of forgiving. One intresting example I just experienced last week: it fits so well the theme and may be will help one or the other to overcome this greatest hurdle of non-forgiving.
Some days ago I was accused of doing something I definitly did not do - at least not on purpose. The thought of someone accusing me of doing something what is against my principles was not a pleasant one. Obviously it was a misunderstanding, and it had to be cleared. The next day I went shopping for a friend`s birthday present and suddenly saw a lovely tie. Continue reading ‘Giving and forgiving: one case study’
photo by axinia
I wrote about my first powerful weapon several times, for example here and here. It is the power of innocence. The power of a child in a person. This power lays in the base of a human being as a “childness”, manifested through innocence, wisdom, spontaneity and living in the present. In a daily life full of competition and performance pressure I naturally use this quality to act according to my own principles and - actually - for the benevolence of everyone around. That makes my life very easy and enjoyable in every moment. But there is another trick that makes my life even more comfortable and colourful. In my way I would call it my second secret weapon - the power of forgiving.
Since the message of forgiving was given by Jesus Christ two millennia ago, not much has happened in the human awareness in that direction. Luckily recently the word “forgiving ” is getting some shape in the modern human minds. After 2000 years! Better later than never, indeed.
Amazingly, people find it extremely difficult to forgive. I remember one Christian (!) lady proudly told me ” there are things in life one CAN NOT forgive!” - interesting, isn´t it? Let`s see how it works and why forgiving is actually a very easy thing. Continue reading ‘My second secret weapon: forgiving’
axinia
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