Divine inspiration

Harry world suffering is put in the too hard basket…
How easy would it be if all the average living people of the world all donated $5
What an improvement it will make …
Myself to see this suffering would fear scare panic attack and sadden me you have a strong and big heart Harry

great article harry, you’re point about what we focus on as news stories is such an important one.

That is my sentiment exactly. So much suffering and political strife going on in the world, where does one begin? And with all of this, why is it that every single news station devotes a timeslot to relaying trivial details of various love affairs? And worse, why do we, the public, care? It’s frustrating and insulting to be force-fed this “news”.

I also think that people lose the sense of community and become self-centric. There have been pockets of brilliance displayed here when everyone comes together such as the Black Sat Bushfires, but for the most part it’s all about personal survival. Poverty in Africa is a distant problem that you see on tv. Until it’s witnessed firsthand, one will not be able to truly grasp the gravity of the situation. But what is the solution? Do you throw money at the problem in hopes that it resolves itself? That hasn’t worked. Training to allow each nation to be self sufficient (the old “teach a man to fish” adage) is probably the way to go, though the incessant corruption must be dealt with simultaneously.

*sighs*… Where to begin?

-h

Well said Harry…thought you might like this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh

“The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves “inside the skin” of the other. We “go inside” their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering. Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough to see their suffering. We must become one with the subject of our observation. When we are in contact with another’s suffering, a feeling of compassion is born in us. Compassion means, literally, “to suffer with.”

Keep the ideas flowing and am really enjoying watching your journey!

you’re absolutely right, harry. there is so much suffering in the world, but we/the media tend to focus on the superficial crap like the lives of celebrities. however, i suppose that is what the general population prefer to hear and it certainly sells newspapers.
While there will always be poverty and suffering, a general awareness as a society can partially lead to assistance to those in need.
nice work harry o.

harry, that’s an awesome blog. Have you thought of taking your thoughts to africa’s government to set up something like what you are doing here in australia?

Your words make me think, they make me think that I am so lucky to have what I have and the support of the people around me!!! Last year I had a baby I was alone 19 and so scared when I found out but with the support of my family I got through it and now I have a beautiful baby boy. Your words make me realize how lucky and blessed I truly am and also how sad it makes me to know that there are people in this world that don’t have what I am so fortunate to have. My aunty and uncle adopted a beautiful little girl from Ethiopia whose mother was forced to give her up because she was a slave but if she had the support i have she wouldn’t had to.

Our new world leader Harry,

thoughtful, of not just yourself but of the world we live in and where it is headed. The world would be a better place if it had inspirational people like you at the delgates meetings talking of these injustices and misfortunes, you maybe one person and unable to do this yourself, but you are spreading the message and i for one will do anything to assist with helping with your mission. I maybe only a nurse who also sees alot of injustice especially of those who can afford great health insurance or pay up front for surgery’s, whilst on the other hand we have to continually try to assist with helping out the bread winner get back to his job to earn an income to support his family, until he is able to have surgery. That is just in Victoria.
It is truelly sad to see so many homeless people in our wealthy country, but to see what you have over in Africa is dreadfully sad and disheartening for the world we live in and where it is headed.
Stay true to yourself Harry

Regards

Lyndell

Well said Harry. It’s a shame there aren’t more people in the world like you, who genuinely care about others. I wonder if we are becoming desensitized to the suffering of other people now that we see so much of it due to television coverage etc???

I’ve also had people make similar comments to me re saving the whole world. People just don’t understand.

there should be more people like you in the world! i’m 18 years old and traveled to Uganda last year to volunteer on my gap year. what i love most about these people is that they don’t see themselves as strugglers. One young boy got asked about being poor and his response was, “we don’t think we are poor, we have everything we need” they are so strong and the children are happy all the time. I really think that people could learn from these people that have nothing and feel that they have everything they need, especially since our society revolves so heavily on consumerism if we all stopped to smell the roses and think that no matter how bad things are for us there is always someone worse off, the world would be a better place.
keep up the good work Harry.
ash.

The Buddha tells us that life is suffering. I’m not sure I totally agree with him, but it’s hard to mount a case against it based on the evidence all around us. Sure, people like you (a successful footballer) and me (a university graduate and entertainment writer) may not experience a level of suffering anywhere near that of impoverished families in third world nations, but we do experience suffering from our perspective. We’ve all experienced personal loss, grief, ennui and existential angst.

Suffering, as you say, then, seems to be more than anything a state of mind, in that even those of us who are aware of greater suffering still fail to appreciate how well we have it one hundred percent of the time. If we were constantly worrying about others we’d never get anything done (similarly, if we were constantly thinking about our own limited time on earth we’d constantly be consumed in angst).

However, life may be suffering but it is also our responsibility to allay and assuage the suffering of others. Life is suffering balanced by compassion. However, the balance seems to be a little off. As long as we do what we can, as individuals, we are justified in finding and enjoying our own moments of happiness.

It’s simple to use money as a method to improve their lot, but the levels of bureaucracy that are in place mean that so much of the money is lost by the time it gets to the people that need it.

It’s also in the western world’s economic interest that this doesn’t change so it won’t. The tabloid rubbish you refer to is all distraction.

I’m absolutely not an advocate of socialism at all but it astounds me that people can’t see that our system of modified capitalism is just as broken and is the cause of so much misery around the world.

Harry u r a Truly Inspirational person the world needs more people like you
I can see you being President/Prime Minister of this great country one day

Harry I was in the Vatican museum last year and with the wealth they and other religious organizations have, world poverty could easily be erased.
Never going to happen sadly.

Amen Brother!

Your quote on “Instead of having an awareness on the relationship of Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle or the fine details of Tiger Wood’s infidelities we need to develop awareness on things that ‘matter” hits the nail on the head. It shows the imbalance in the world of today.

The world, unfortunately seems to be tilting to an imbalance of self indulgence and to one of honouring and helping your brother.

The bit of hope I see today is the ones that are starting the “micro managing”. What a wonderful concept. This is one that conveys true honouring to the people of suffering and ask to walk out of their suffering with a bit of dignity by starting to create a business that is them and who they have been called to be.

Unfortunately, the “rules of the world” is stopping these sorts of concepts to be created around the world. Yes, in the bible it does say live by the rules of the governments, but why do we allow such poverty and suffering to be had to our fellow men of today.

Here’s to tipping the balance back to where it should be.

Keep doing what you are doing Harry. Your voice is important in today.

Mel

wow, really interesting article Harry,

I agree with Ashlee’s comments, and think that perhaps sometimes suffering can be in the eye of the beholder.

I think there is a misconception that people living in poverty are miserable and hopeless. They suffer yes, absolutely. They are vulnerable, certainly. For too many people in this world, everyday is a struggle for clean water, safety, food, health among many other things. But hopeless they are not. Having also worked with poor communities, the most loving, generous and inspiring people I’ve ever met have come from the saddest most horrifying life experiences. We need to give these people the opportunity’s to shine! Dont let anyone tell you its too hard. Yes its overwhelming but thats even more reason to keep fighting.

Life will never be easy but I’m kind of glad that it isn’t. If you’ve never suffered you’ll never know the sweetness of happiness and success.

or so they say…

hope we all get a taste someday x

Harry great blog, u r a legend! i wish more people were like you

Some people have the view that we must take care of our own town, city, state, country, this is fine but we are all from the same planet. We are all in this together. All from the same mother (Earth). Which makes us all Brothers & Sisters. All family. Familys take care of each other.

“Yes there will always be suffering because it is natural, but there are so many people who live a life of suffering who do not need to.”

Yes this is what Bono calls “stupid poverty” and it’s something that will take more than concerts and awareness programs, but rather real political drive from key markets and economies to make happen.

Sadly, the greatest poverty comes out of wars, and dictators who rule at the point of a gun. Removing these dictators creates collateral damage, where the poor suffers more and it’s an unending depressing cycle.

Many will blame religion for a lot of the world’s problems, but I think you’ll find that without work being done by people of faith on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, and without the sturdy faith of “life is not all there is” for the sufferers also, there would be far more carnage going on.

So what can we do, right here, right now?
- Support a community, through either donation or micro loans. Do it sacrificially though, not to get something out of it.
- Volunteer on the ground. Get over there, which will stimulate their economy and help you get an appreciation of the issues. If that means you need to save to do it, tighten the belt.
- Lobby the government to give the appropriate level of foreign aid promised to UN as part of the Millennium Goals (to get rid of stupid poverty)
- Support Fairtrade business – a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Remember most of your clothes have been made in a sweat shop. If you can, buy those who support a fair wage for their staff.
- Do an OXFAM walk for charity. Build awareness and get fit not fat.

OK I’m signing off. Well done H for raising awareness, you’re a legend.

6KnKxt joaogqwzcxsb, [url=http://qitisyjpiueh.com/]qitisyjpiueh[/url], [link=http://rgqumdiorkpj.com/]rgqumdiorkpj[/link], http://eyshbowqfjsw.com/

EqxN1h vpkddrgsrmky, [url=http://iknpdebpgyor.com/]iknpdebpgyor[/url], [link=http://fhiowyujymjm.com/]fhiowyujymjm[/link], http://mezaedrqvzsg.com/

bB9EOo uvngdxzlunyu, [url=http://zhtlrabvrnnn.com/]zhtlrabvrnnn[/url], [link=http://hurknysmvisk.com/]hurknysmvisk[/link], http://jammcujisanw.com/