09-09-2010, 03:06 PM
Hi Ali,
Wonderful topic, as always. I would suggest that the best approach is a dialogue, rather than a speech or a presentation. I like the process of letting things unfold as they will based upon the free will choices that occur in the room at the time.
I might start things off with the following:
"I have spent many years of my life reading, exploring, observing, learning and pondering the underlying meaning of life. I will not say that I have the answers for any of you, but I will say that I have cobbled together a very satisfactory understanding for myself. I am here tonight to share that understanding with you, in whatever detail you wish. First however, I would ask each of you to enter into this exercise with the commitment to yourselves not to accept anything I say, based upon my saying it. If something does not feel right, then simply set it aside. If nothing that I say resonates with you, then please feel free to leave at any time. Even if something makes perfect sense to you, I still implore you to examine it fully. Try it on. Wear it around a little, before you adopt it as your own."
"I will start with a statement that in its essence summarizes my understanding:
'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, because in reality we are all one and the same'.
I will now entertain questions from anyone on any topic you may have related to my understanding."
I would then let the conversation go wherever it wants. Depending on the audience, there a few questions you can pretty much expect:
- Why are we here?
- Is there a God?
- Why is there good/evil?
- Is there one (more or mostly) correct religion?
- Is there reincarnation?
- Is there magic?
- What is the significance of 2012?
By having it as a dialog, you avoid it being a monologue. You also place yourself in the role of teach/learner rather than "presenter" and them in the role of learn/teacher rather than "audience".
Just my two cents,
3D Sunset
Wonderful topic, as always. I would suggest that the best approach is a dialogue, rather than a speech or a presentation. I like the process of letting things unfold as they will based upon the free will choices that occur in the room at the time.
I might start things off with the following:
"I have spent many years of my life reading, exploring, observing, learning and pondering the underlying meaning of life. I will not say that I have the answers for any of you, but I will say that I have cobbled together a very satisfactory understanding for myself. I am here tonight to share that understanding with you, in whatever detail you wish. First however, I would ask each of you to enter into this exercise with the commitment to yourselves not to accept anything I say, based upon my saying it. If something does not feel right, then simply set it aside. If nothing that I say resonates with you, then please feel free to leave at any time. Even if something makes perfect sense to you, I still implore you to examine it fully. Try it on. Wear it around a little, before you adopt it as your own."
"I will start with a statement that in its essence summarizes my understanding:
'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, because in reality we are all one and the same'.
I will now entertain questions from anyone on any topic you may have related to my understanding."
I would then let the conversation go wherever it wants. Depending on the audience, there a few questions you can pretty much expect:
- Why are we here?
- Is there a God?
- Why is there good/evil?
- Is there one (more or mostly) correct religion?
- Is there reincarnation?
- Is there magic?
- What is the significance of 2012?
By having it as a dialog, you avoid it being a monologue. You also place yourself in the role of teach/learner rather than "presenter" and them in the role of learn/teacher rather than "audience".
Just my two cents,
3D Sunset