The secret to success lies in the determination to attain the goal. The key to success lies in completely understanding the necessary conditions (Hsing Yun)

Photo by Elodie Oudot on Unsplash

It's become something of a January tradition of mine to use Venerable Master Hsing Yun's wise words to kick off a new year (his goal setting advice in that post is well worth revisiting each year).

So, here's a thought for 2021:

Those who have succeeded in different professions in politics, economics, education, military and so forth have all manifested their dreams through perseverance and practise (Venerable Master Hsing Yun).

What are your dreams for 2021? What will you do to bring them about? 

Boiling a frog

The events in Washington DC's Capitol Hill have left many of us shaking our heads in disbelief.

But really, is anyone surprised (apart from security forces who are supposed to stand up to a mob wanting to violently disrupt Congress and take over the government that is)? After all Trump has been emboldened in his craziness by all of the weak and morally bankrupt Republicans since the country voted four years ago and then again four weeks ago.

This article does an excellent job outlining events leading up to this week's scenes - unprecedented in modern times. Just in case security forces want to break away from having selfies with insurrectionists/a.k.a. Trump supporters, I suggest they read it and get prepared for the next 13 days!

Meanwhile, the U.S. covid-19 death toll continues to move inexorably toward 400,000 American citizens.

Motivation

Read intellectual books. Motivate yourself to increase wisdom.

(Hsing Yun - January 2 entry)

Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice. I feel nice, like sugar and spice So nice, so nice (James Brown)

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important and you do that by being genuine and humble.

Nelson Mandala

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult (Warren Bennis)

Thinking of my wonderful colleagues at OneSchool Global New Zealand and specifically those in the Hastings and Gisborne campuses today - hope you are all enjoying a terrific family time!

The purpose of education

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

The engineer, Richard Hamming, on the purpose of education:

"Teachers should prepare the student for the student's future, not for the teacher's past."


Source: The Art of Doing Science and Engineering

Even in our deepest, most lasting friendships, we never speak as openly as when we face a blank page and address a reader we do not know (Michel Houellebecq)

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash

Like literature, music can overwhelm you with sudden emotion, can move you to absolute sorrow or ecstacy; like literature, painting has the power to astonish, and to make you see the world through fresh eyes. But only literature can put you in touch with another human spirit, as a whole, with all its weaknesses and grandeurs, its limitations, its pettinesses, its obsessions, its beliefs; with whatever it finds moving, interesting, exciting or repugnant.

Michel Houellebecq (in Submission)