Interesting juxtaposition of Tolstoy & Gandhi. After all, after renouncing his career as a good servant of the colonial "justice" system in South Africa, Gandhi did turn to his readings from Tolstoy to lead India to independence. He too once thought colonization was good. He about-faced and called British presence in India "evil".
Interesting man, that Gandhi. Pierre --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, "balaji" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello Gustl, > > I couldn't agree with you more. The ethic you advocate represents the best > of Emerson, Thoreau, Tolstoy, Gandhi and other radical pacifist anarchists. > Peace be with you ! > > Regards. > balaji > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gustl Steiner-Zehender" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Biofuel" <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 11:55 PM > Subject: [biofuel] List Discussions As Biofuels > > > > Hallo Friends, > > > > There is sometimes a comment on the list, usually from a newcomer, > > that this is a biofuel list and that we ought to be discussing > > biofuels rather than politics or religion or whatever. > > > > I would like to suggest that rational discussion of anything which can > > lead to altering ones way of thinking for the better ought to be > > considered biofuel. > > > > The mind devours, digests and lives on information and thoughts. When > > thinking stops the mind atrophies or dies. New concepts, new > > information is needed to keep the mind strong and healthy. > > > > We do not have to agree with everything we hear but we need to at > > least consider what others have to say. No matter where we are from > > or what we believe we need to turn things over in our mind as though > > it was a compost heap and let logic and reason burn out that which is > > useless or evil and leave only fertile soil remaining. > > > > It is difficult to train oneself to stand back from our preconceived > > notions and cultural and religious training and look objectively at > > anothers point of view. However when we do that we not only give them > > the courtesy and consideration they deserve but we either confirm or > > falsify our own knowledge and beliefs. If we are honest, with > > ourselves at least, we will change ourselves to bring our thought in > > line with that which is true if it is shown that we are wrong. > > > > The sustenance of this list has been the love of ones fellow human > > beings, the ethic of care and the desire to serve others. The > > underlying commonality of this list is not the desire to make biofuels > > and put more money in the pocketbook but the humanity of the > > list members. This is not a list to aid individuals but a list of > > cooperation to aid everyone, particularly those of little means. It > > also, and in no lesser manner I think, aids the planet on which we > > live remain healthier. > > > > We have just come through a difficult time and I don't know that we > > are out of the woods yet. If we are all to succeed together we must > > lay aside our differences, be open to new and sometimes painful > > information, and make our judgements based on what is true, what the > > actual situation is, what the facts are rather than our personal and > > emotionally held beliefs which may or may not be right. If we refuse > > to examine our own cherished beliefs in the light of reason and logic > > rather than from a subjective, biased and emotional viewpoint then we > > are depriving our mind of the biofuel it needs to grow and understand. > > > > I believe this is why there are no topic cops on the biofuel list. I > > believe this is why there are no sacred cows here. I see no hate but > > I have seen anger. That should not be a problem. People get angry > > about things sometimes. But friends, we need to quit using only our > > narrow vision and open up our peripheral sight. "The bottom line" is > > not what counts here. People and planet count. The welfare of both. > > Lack of peripheral vision, tunnel vision, is a good working definition > > of insanity I think. By using our peripheral vision we understand > > that there is only one race, human, and one country, our planet. We > > are one family living in one place and an offense against one is an > > offense against all. Family helps family. We are all brothers and > > sisters together. > > > > I hope this helps in understanding how and why the biofuel list > > functions and survives as it does. > > > > Happy Happy, > > > > Gustl > > -- > > Je mehr wir haben, desto mehr fordert Gott von uns. > > Mitglied-Team AMIGA > > ICQ: 22211253-Gustli > > ******** > > The safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, > > soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, > > without signposts. > > C. S. Lewis, "The Screwtape Letters" > > ******** > > Es gibt Wahrheiten, die so sehr auf der Stra§e liegen, > > da§ sie gerade deshalb von der gewšhnlichen Welt nicht > > gesehen oder wenigstens nicht erkannt werden. > > ******** > > Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't > > hear the music. > > George Carlin > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > > > Biofuels list archives: > > http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > > > > Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. > > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
