Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - L. Da Vinci

Next time someone starts to spread gossip, think of this:

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?” Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me 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 student let’s take a moment to 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?” “No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…” “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?”

“No, on the contrary..” “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you’re not certain it’s true?” The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued. “You may still pass the test though,because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?”

“No, not really…” “Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful,why tell it to me at all?” The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

1. Save energy i.e. avoid wastage of water and electricity, energy efficient light bulbs
2. Keep my desires in check
3. Give up use of leather and other animal based products
4. Grow trees
5. Protest against animal, land and environment exploitation
6. Do a business to clean up & preserve environment
7. Use renewable Energy at home and elsewhere
8. Travel less
9. Spread awareness (Website, Flyers, Brochures, email, Internet Marketing)
10. Promote renewable energy sources

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When his class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed “Now” it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes”. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The “golf balls ” are the important things–your family, your health, your friends, your favorite passions–things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The “pebbles” are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The “sand” is everything else “the small stuff”. If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take time to get medical checkups. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers.”