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Paradigm Shift Toward Universal Compassion | Ivette Vargas-O’Bryan | TEDxAustinCollege


[Music]

[Music] on August 20th 2017 paramedic Hassan

on August 20th 2017 paramedic Hassan

on August 20th 2017 paramedic Hassan subir said the following after the

subir said the following after the

subir said the following after the terrorist attacks in Turku Finland and I

terrorist attacks in Turku Finland and I

terrorist attacks in Turku Finland and I quote the world is such a dark place and

quote the world is such a dark place and

quote the world is such a dark place and if we don’t help each other who’s going

if we don’t help each other who’s going

if we don’t help each other who’s going to help us it’s your world like the

to help us it’s your world like the

to help us it’s your world like the screen is it a colorless world full of

screen is it a colorless world full of

screen is it a colorless world full of conditions stamping out creativity or

conditions stamping out creativity or

conditions stamping out creativity or difference or is this black blank screen

difference or is this black blank screen

difference or is this black blank screen a metaphor of our disconnect it selves

a metaphor of our disconnect it selves

a metaphor of our disconnect it selves alienated from others at this moment in

alienated from others at this moment in

alienated from others at this moment in your lives do you feel that you’re no

your lives do you feel that you’re no

your lives do you feel that you’re no longer secure about your futures about

longer secure about your futures about

longer secure about your futures about your world or your planet even with

your world or your planet even with

your world or your planet even with these trepidations we tell our young

these trepidations we tell our young

these trepidations we tell our young people who are at the peak of their

people who are at the peak of their

people who are at the peak of their sense of immortality to develop that

sense of immortality to develop that

sense of immortality to develop that stiff upper lip and to imagine a world

stiff upper lip and to imagine a world

stiff upper lip and to imagine a world where they can succeed perhaps even to

where they can succeed perhaps even to

where they can succeed perhaps even to follow the American dreams rather than

follow the American dreams rather than

follow the American dreams rather than to face a world full of expectations and

to face a world full of expectations and

to face a world full of expectations and all the hard emotions like love hate

all the hard emotions like love hate

all the hard emotions like love hate anger greed or jealousy ready to

anger greed or jealousy ready to

anger greed or jealousy ready to challenge them we don’t prepare them to

challenge them we don’t prepare them to

challenge them we don’t prepare them to prevent world hunger and racism we don’t

prevent world hunger and racism we don’t

prevent world hunger and racism we don’t train them to face life the way it is a

train them to face life the way it is a

train them to face life the way it is a double-edged sword our union a yang and

double-edged sword our union a yang and

double-edged sword our union a yang and to handle it together with others you

to handle it together with others you

to handle it together with others you remember that Al Green song we can never

remember that Al Green song we can never

remember that Al Green song we can never see tomorrow no one told us about the

see tomorrow no one told us about the

see tomorrow no one told us about the sorrow do we instead construct a future

sorrow do we instead construct a future

sorrow do we instead construct a future for our children based on our own

for our children based on our own

for our children based on our own sanitized perceptions of what it means

sanitized perceptions of what it means

sanitized perceptions of what it means to succeed as an individual rather than

to succeed as an individual rather than

to succeed as an individual rather than as a citizen of a community of sin

as a citizen of a community of sin

as a citizen of a community of sin ten beams now I am here to say that we

ten beams now I am here to say that we

ten beams now I am here to say that we can no longer afford to continue to

can no longer afford to continue to

can no longer afford to continue to develop human beings without a sense of

develop human beings without a sense of

develop human beings without a sense of responsibility or accountability without

responsibility or accountability without

responsibility or accountability without compassion for others because our world

compassion for others because our world

compassion for others because our world our planet demands our attention now in

our planet demands our attention now in

our planet demands our attention now in order for us to realize how dynamic we

order for us to realize how dynamic we

order for us to realize how dynamic we are meaning that we are changeable and

are meaning that we are changeable and

are meaning that we are changeable and can enact change we just need a change

can enact change we just need a change

can enact change we just need a change of perspective much of my training is in

of perspective much of my training is in

of perspective much of my training is in Buddhist studies I’m and I’m here today

Buddhist studies I’m and I’m here today

Buddhist studies I’m and I’m here today to help you to engage in contemplative

to help you to engage in contemplative

to help you to engage in contemplative exercises what I’m calling applied

exercises what I’m calling applied

exercises what I’m calling applied Buddhism for the single purpose of

Buddhism for the single purpose of

Buddhism for the single purpose of eliciting a perspective paradigm shift

eliciting a perspective paradigm shift

eliciting a perspective paradigm shift the Buddhist tradition is all about mind

the Buddhist tradition is all about mind

the Buddhist tradition is all about mind training I think with effective measures

training I think with effective measures

training I think with effective measures we can empower our future generations

we can empower our future generations

we can empower our future generations now to end the cycle of selfishness

now to end the cycle of selfishness

now to end the cycle of selfishness inequality and greed later so let’s

inequality and greed later so let’s

inequality and greed later so let’s begin with having you reflect on three

begin with having you reflect on three

begin with having you reflect on three things that I hope will help you develop

things that I hope will help you develop

things that I hope will help you develop this perspective paradigm shift to

this perspective paradigm shift to

this perspective paradigm shift to elicit responses for the greater good

elicit responses for the greater good

elicit responses for the greater good one it’s not all about you two you are a

one it’s not all about you two you are a

one it’s not all about you two you are a cat three we are a dynamic community one

cat three we are a dynamic community one

cat three we are a dynamic community one it’s not a lot about you or in Spanish

it’s not a lot about you or in Spanish

it’s not a lot about you or in Spanish nikka fuera la ultima coca-cola del

nikka fuera la ultima coca-cola del

nikka fuera la ultima coca-cola del desierto

let’s begin let’s begin with a tale

let’s begin let’s begin with a tale about a man who as he walked through a

about a man who as he walked through a

about a man who as he walked through a village witness all sorts of ailments an

village witness all sorts of ailments an

village witness all sorts of ailments an elderly man barely able to see a wok

elderly man barely able to see a wok

elderly man barely able to see a wok bursting boils on a moaning woman’s face

bursting boils on a moaning woman’s face

bursting boils on a moaning woman’s face a decomposing corpse on a funeral pyre

a decomposing corpse on a funeral pyre

a decomposing corpse on a funeral pyre what is this he asked his charioteer as

what is this he asked his charioteer as

what is this he asked his charioteer as he faced his person the chariots here

he faced his person the chariots here

he faced his person the chariots here answered this is old age or this is

answered this is old age or this is

answered this is old age or this is sickness or this is death ending with

sickness or this is death ending with

sickness or this is death ending with this will happen to you the young man in

this will happen to you the young man in

this will happen to you the young man in the prime of his life was no longer

the prime of his life was no longer

the prime of his life was no longer satisfied or secure about his

satisfied or secure about his

satisfied or secure about his surroundings pleasures or future in

surroundings pleasures or future in

surroundings pleasures or future in facing others ephemerality he faced his

facing others ephemerality he faced his

facing others ephemerality he faced his own he no longer felt attached to a

own he no longer felt attached to a

own he no longer felt attached to a limited life of self gratification and

limited life of self gratification and

limited life of self gratification and became aware of the interdependence of

became aware of the interdependence of

became aware of the interdependence of all existence he became known as the

all existence he became known as the

all existence he became known as the Buddha the enlightened one fueled with

Buddha the enlightened one fueled with

Buddha the enlightened one fueled with compassion it’s a great story one that

compassion it’s a great story one that

compassion it’s a great story one that many of my students remember even after

many of my students remember even after

many of my students remember even after they graduate now let’s think about

they graduate now let’s think about

they graduate now let’s think about things a little bit throughout our lives

things a little bit throughout our lives

things a little bit throughout our lives we are so obsessed about our identity in

we are so obsessed about our identity in

we are so obsessed about our identity in our own situations we may ask the

our own situations we may ask the

our own situations we may ask the question Who am I what will I be what

question Who am I what will I be what

question Who am I what will I be what will I gain what will I lose who loves

will I gain what will I lose who loves

will I gain what will I lose who loves me now and we think that if we answer

me now and we think that if we answer

me now and we think that if we answer these questions we will be happy we are

these questions we will be happy we are

these questions we will be happy we are trained to be such a self-absorbed world

trained to be such a self-absorbed world

trained to be such a self-absorbed world let’s be honest when somebody considers

let’s be honest when somebody considers

let’s be honest when somebody considers to pursue a career and let’s say

to pursue a career and let’s say

to pursue a career and let’s say medicine for example is it completely

medicine for example is it completely

medicine for example is it completely for altruistic reasons in order to help

for altruistic reasons in order to help

for altruistic reasons in order to help humanity or is it for her own security

humanity or is it for her own security

humanity or is it for her own security is there no inkling of the pleasures

is there no inkling of the pleasures

is there no inkling of the pleasures gained from getting a good salary or

gained from getting a good salary or

gained from getting a good salary or prestige you remember how the film

prestige you remember how the film

prestige you remember how the film Doctor Strange began we may experience

Doctor Strange began we may experience

Doctor Strange began we may experience humbling moments when we witness

humbling moments when we witness

humbling moments when we witness debilitating disease or death

debilitating disease or death

debilitating disease or death but how often do we take those moments

but how often do we take those moments

but how often do we take those moments as turning points in our lives rather

as turning points in our lives rather

as turning points in our lives rather than turning away from those conditions

than turning away from those conditions

than turning away from those conditions and those with the conditions as if they

and those with the conditions as if they

and those with the conditions as if they are contagious according to the Buddhist

are contagious according to the Buddhist

are contagious according to the Buddhist tradition we are all selfish beings

tradition we are all selfish beings

tradition we are all selfish beings trapped dissatisfied in our own cycles

trapped dissatisfied in our own cycles

trapped dissatisfied in our own cycles of self created habitual behavior

of self created habitual behavior

of self created habitual behavior dictated by our changeable emotions ouch

dictated by our changeable emotions ouch

dictated by our changeable emotions ouch selfishness is the cause of our drives

selfishness is the cause of our drives

selfishness is the cause of our drives in anguish throughout our lives we cling

in anguish throughout our lives we cling

in anguish throughout our lives we cling to things that are changeable one of the

to things that are changeable one of the

to things that are changeable one of the major strategies used to overcome

major strategies used to overcome

major strategies used to overcome perspectival limitations is to focus on

perspectival limitations is to focus on

perspectival limitations is to focus on opportunities not in terms of material

opportunities not in terms of material

opportunities not in terms of material gain or prestige but those potentially

gain or prestige but those potentially

gain or prestige but those potentially life-changing experiences one of the

life-changing experiences one of the

life-changing experiences one of the most powerful stories in the Buddhist

most powerful stories in the Buddhist

most powerful stories in the Buddhist tradition is the story of a woman who

tradition is the story of a woman who

tradition is the story of a woman who lost everything her husband children

lost everything her husband children

lost everything her husband children home and she appeared before the Buddha

home and she appeared before the Buddha

home and she appeared before the Buddha carrying her dead baby and pleading to

carrying her dead baby and pleading to

carrying her dead baby and pleading to him to regain his life the Buddhist

him to regain his life the Buddhist

him to regain his life the Buddhist response to her was to go find a home

response to her was to go find a home

response to her was to go find a home they had not experienced death and

they had not experienced death and

they had not experienced death and report back to him as we could all guess

report back to him as we could all guess

report back to him as we could all guess she never found that home she realized

she never found that home she realized

she never found that home she realized that it was no longer possible to

that it was no longer possible to

that it was no longer possible to continue living a life in which she was

continue living a life in which she was

continue living a life in which she was the only thing that mattered she was

the only thing that mattered she was

the only thing that mattered she was living in a community of fellow

living in a community of fellow

living in a community of fellow sufferers she served others thereafter

sufferers she served others thereafter

sufferers she served others thereafter as the Buddha did death is a great

as the Buddha did death is a great

as the Buddha did death is a great equalizer shaking our alienated sense of

equalizer shaking our alienated sense of

equalizer shaking our alienated sense of reality and reminding us of the greater

reality and reminding us of the greater

reality and reminding us of the greater good we are capable of beyond ourselves

good we are capable of beyond ourselves

good we are capable of beyond ourselves I remember when I had a car accident a

I remember when I had a car accident a

I remember when I had a car accident a few years ago I distinctly remember when

few years ago I distinctly remember when

few years ago I distinctly remember when the two cars collided the force put me

the two cars collided the force put me

the two cars collided the force put me in a dreamlike state

in a dreamlike state

in a dreamlike state as if an eternity but likely lasting

as if an eternity but likely lasting

as if an eternity but likely lasting only a few seconds my car and I were

only a few seconds my car and I were

only a few seconds my car and I were flung onto uncoming traffic and then to

flung onto uncoming traffic and then to

flung onto uncoming traffic and then to a fields when I suddenly realized where

a fields when I suddenly realized where

a fields when I suddenly realized where I was and I forcibly

I was and I forcibly

I was and I forcibly hit the brake all of a sudden I felt

hit the brake all of a sudden I felt

hit the brake all of a sudden I felt excruciating pain in my pelvis from the

excruciating pain in my pelvis from the

excruciating pain in my pelvis from the impact of the seatbelt

impact of the seatbelt

impact of the seatbelt I remember thinking it was no longer

I remember thinking it was no longer

I remember thinking it was no longer possible to have children now and I

possible to have children now and I

possible to have children now and I remember asking how the other person was

remember asking how the other person was

remember asking how the other person was if he was okay at that moment I realized

if he was okay at that moment I realized

if he was okay at that moment I realized that life can change so quickly life can

that life can change so quickly life can

that life can change so quickly life can end so quickly but I was given the

end so quickly but I was given the

end so quickly but I was given the opportunity to change my perspectives

opportunity to change my perspectives

opportunity to change my perspectives about my limitations and regrets to

about my limitations and regrets to

about my limitations and regrets to appreciate the gifts that I had been

appreciate the gifts that I had been

appreciate the gifts that I had been given and to consider that perhaps I can

given and to consider that perhaps I can

given and to consider that perhaps I can make a difference in the life of a child

make a difference in the life of a child

make a difference in the life of a child out there however we experienced our

out there however we experienced our

out there however we experienced our pain the Buddhist tradition notes that

pain the Buddhist tradition notes that

pain the Buddhist tradition notes that it is not until we put ourselves in

it is not until we put ourselves in

it is not until we put ourselves in other people’s shoes literally that we

other people’s shoes literally that we

other people’s shoes literally that we can begin to understand others and make

can begin to understand others and make

can begin to understand others and make responsible decisions – you are a cat

william blake in his marriage of heaven

william blake in his marriage of heaven and hell roads how do you know but every

and hell roads how do you know but every

and hell roads how do you know but every bird that cuts the airy way is an

bird that cuts the airy way is an

bird that cuts the airy way is an immense world of delight closed by her

immense world of delight closed by her

immense world of delight closed by her senses five this striking poem makes us

senses five this striking poem makes us

senses five this striking poem makes us aware that we as human beings cannot see

aware that we as human beings cannot see

aware that we as human beings cannot see past our limitations what impact does

past our limitations what impact does

past our limitations what impact does awareness of others perspectives humans

awareness of others perspectives humans

awareness of others perspectives humans and other species have on our own sense

and other species have on our own sense

and other species have on our own sense of reality about our interdependence

of reality about our interdependence

of reality about our interdependence well this begin with the statement you

well this begin with the statement you

well this begin with the statement you are a cat I begin with a cat’s because

are a cat I begin with a cat’s because

are a cat I begin with a cat’s because if you have an extraordinary one like I

if you have an extraordinary one like I

if you have an extraordinary one like I do then you know what I mean

do then you know what I mean

do then you know what I mean I see a cat as the embodiment of

I see a cat as the embodiment of

I see a cat as the embodiment of interdependence and independence and

interdependence and independence and

interdependence and independence and nearly perfect harmony in his gentle and

nearly perfect harmony in his gentle and

nearly perfect harmony in his gentle and wrathful nature my cat bubu immerses

wrathful nature my cat bubu immerses

wrathful nature my cat bubu immerses himself in physical affection with me on

himself in physical affection with me on

himself in physical affection with me on a daily basis and he also retreats in

a daily basis and he also retreats in

a daily basis and he also retreats in meditative calmness he can be gentle and

meditative calmness he can be gentle and

meditative calmness he can be gentle and very sensual as he purrs near my ear as

very sensual as he purrs near my ear as

very sensual as he purrs near my ear as they fall asleep at night and rather

they fall asleep at night and rather

they fall asleep at night and rather aggressive when he has caught and

aggressive when he has caught and

aggressive when he has caught and decapitated a small defenseless bunny

decapitated a small defenseless bunny

decapitated a small defenseless bunny one day I was surprised by his reaction

one day I was surprised by his reaction

one day I was surprised by his reaction my elderly mother was staying in our

my elderly mother was staying in our

my elderly mother was staying in our guest bedroom in Texas when all of a

guest bedroom in Texas when all of a

guest bedroom in Texas when all of a sudden she experienced what seems like

sudden she experienced what seems like

sudden she experienced what seems like an angina attack no one heard her gasp

an angina attack no one heard her gasp

an angina attack no one heard her gasp except for boo boo who flung from where

except for boo boo who flung from where

except for boo boo who flung from where he was napping on the other side of the

he was napping on the other side of the

he was napping on the other side of the house a good forty three feet of walking

house a good forty three feet of walking

house a good forty three feet of walking distance jumped on her bed and put his

distance jumped on her bed and put his

distance jumped on her bed and put his paw on her chest

paw on her chest

paw on her chest then he’d lie down next to her which

then he’d lie down next to her which

then he’d lie down next to her which seemed to calm my surprise mother at

seemed to calm my surprise mother at

seemed to calm my surprise mother at that moment I didn’t know who my cat was

that moment I didn’t know who my cat was

that moment I didn’t know who my cat was was he a cat and I are human or was it

was he a cat and I are human or was it

was he a cat and I are human or was it the other way around

the other way around

the other way around what do I call my cat’s reaction

what do I call my cat’s reaction

what do I call my cat’s reaction heightened feline senses when my cat

heightened feline senses when my cat

heightened feline senses when my cat jumped on my mother’s bed and put his

jumped on my mother’s bed and put his

jumped on my mother’s bed and put his paw on her chest he didn’t seem to want

paw on her chest he didn’t seem to want

paw on her chest he didn’t seem to want to be fed or petted especially from my

to be fed or petted especially from my

to be fed or petted especially from my mom who feared cats unknown to us my cat

mom who feared cats unknown to us my cat

mom who feared cats unknown to us my cat boo boo experiences his world of delight

boo boo experiences his world of delight

boo boo experiences his world of delight in perfect equanimity according to his

in perfect equanimity according to his

in perfect equanimity according to his own rules and then gives unconditionally

own rules and then gives unconditionally

own rules and then gives unconditionally an image called cat’s eye

an image called cat’s eye

an image called cat’s eye painted by the Japanese Buddhist

painted by the Japanese Buddhist

painted by the Japanese Buddhist research biologist he was Saki so nail

research biologist he was Saki so nail

research biologist he was Saki so nail drives the message home upon seeing

drives the message home upon seeing

drives the message home upon seeing himself reflected in the eyes of a stray

himself reflected in the eyes of a stray

himself reflected in the eyes of a stray cats he had been feeding in with Saki

cats he had been feeding in with Saki

cats he had been feeding in with Saki instantly saw himself there was no

instantly saw himself there was no

instantly saw himself there was no separation when one sees reality as it

separation when one sees reality as it

separation when one sees reality as it is undistorted by emotions

is undistorted by emotions

is undistorted by emotions one can see oneself in everything but

one can see oneself in everything but

one can see oneself in everything but how do we see ourselves in others who

how do we see ourselves in others who

how do we see ourselves in others who cause us pain whom we feel do not

cause us pain whom we feel do not

cause us pain whom we feel do not deserve compassion for a perspective

deserve compassion for a perspective

deserve compassion for a perspective paradigm shift we need to first begin to

paradigm shift we need to first begin to

paradigm shift we need to first begin to break the barriers between ourselves and

break the barriers between ourselves and

break the barriers between ourselves and others before we can make a difference

others before we can make a difference

others before we can make a difference in the world

in the world

in the world one of my favorite visualization

one of my favorite visualization

one of my favorite visualization exercises is made above and a

exercises is made above and a

exercises is made above and a loving-kindness meditation aimed at

loving-kindness meditation aimed at

loving-kindness meditation aimed at developing equanimity and compassion it

developing equanimity and compassion it

developing equanimity and compassion it begins with a meditation developing

begins with a meditation developing

begins with a meditation developing loving acceptance of yourself and then a

loving acceptance of yourself and then a

loving acceptance of yourself and then a systematically works at developing

systematically works at developing

systematically works at developing loving-kindness toward others by

loving-kindness toward others by

loving-kindness toward others by visualizing four types of persons one at

visualizing four types of persons one at

visualizing four types of persons one at a time until they all surround you one a

a time until they all surround you one a

a time until they all surround you one a respected beloved person like a teacher

respected beloved person like a teacher

respected beloved person like a teacher or mother – a loving person like a

or mother – a loving person like a

or mother – a loving person like a friend 3 a neutral person someone you

friend 3 a neutral person someone you

friend 3 a neutral person someone you know but have no special feeling towards

know but have no special feeling towards

know but have no special feeling towards and for a hostile person or enemy I

and for a hostile person or enemy I

and for a hostile person or enemy I often had other strategies like

often had other strategies like

often had other strategies like imagining these individuals being ill

imagining these individuals being ill

imagining these individuals being ill and breathing in their illnesses and

and breathing in their illnesses and

and breathing in their illnesses and thinking that perhaps they may have been

thinking that perhaps they may have been

thinking that perhaps they may have been your mother in another lifetime how

your mother in another lifetime how

your mother in another lifetime how willing are we to face and feel

willing are we to face and feel

willing are we to face and feel compassion towards and trade places with

compassion towards and trade places with

compassion towards and trade places with perhaps a terrorist who has just hurt

perhaps a terrorist who has just hurt

perhaps a terrorist who has just hurt innocent people

innocent people

innocent people meditations like these allow us to

meditations like these allow us to

meditations like these allow us to experience our feelings in a safe space

experience our feelings in a safe space

experience our feelings in a safe space without physically confronting others

without physically confronting others

without physically confronting others they shared suffering and provide for

they shared suffering and provide for

they shared suffering and provide for sites foresight and how we can

sites foresight and how we can

sites foresight and how we can potentially react in exchanging

potentially react in exchanging

potentially react in exchanging ourselves it also tests our capacity for

ourselves it also tests our capacity for

ourselves it also tests our capacity for unconditional love I will always

unconditional love I will always

unconditional love I will always remember how a student reacted when she

remember how a student reacted when she

remember how a student reacted when she struggled trying to visualize who her

struggled trying to visualize who her

struggled trying to visualize who her grandmother who she considered to be her

grandmother who she considered to be her

grandmother who she considered to be her greatest enemy in her life in our self

greatest enemy in her life in our self

greatest enemy in her life in our self consumption of hurt feelings

consumption of hurt feelings

consumption of hurt feelings we fail to realize the inevitability of

we fail to realize the inevitability of

we fail to realize the inevitability of change 3 we are a dynamic community in

change 3 we are a dynamic community in

change 3 we are a dynamic community in 1977 a model community community

1977 a model community community

1977 a model community community adjacent to a canal fed by Niagara Falls

adjacent to a canal fed by Niagara Falls

adjacent to a canal fed by Niagara Falls was revealed to be a toxic waste dump

was revealed to be a toxic waste dump

was revealed to be a toxic waste dump including at least 21,000 tons of toxic

including at least 21,000 tons of toxic

including at least 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals this was ironically Love Canal

chemicals this was ironically Love Canal

chemicals this was ironically Love Canal the New York state health commissioner

the New York state health commissioner

the New York state health commissioner at the time David Axelrod called the

at the time David Axelrod called the

at the time David Axelrod called the incident a quilt a national symbol of a

incident a quilt a national symbol of a

incident a quilt a national symbol of a failure to exercise concern for future

failure to exercise concern for future

failure to exercise concern for future generations

generations

generations close quote those of us as educators and

close quote those of us as educators and

close quote those of us as educators and parents are concerned about our young

parents are concerned about our young

parents are concerned about our young people’s future about their security I

people’s future about their security I

people’s future about their security I am asking here to encourage them to make

am asking here to encourage them to make

am asking here to encourage them to make a difference for the sake of the planet

a difference for the sake of the planet

a difference for the sake of the planet because the security of all impacts the

because the security of all impacts the

because the security of all impacts the security of one as an academic I’m

security of one as an academic I’m

security of one as an academic I’m concerned about the corporatization of

concerned about the corporatization of

concerned about the corporatization of our educational institutions we are

our educational institutions we are

our educational institutions we are graduating students many who are highly

graduating students many who are highly

graduating students many who are highly medicated who target what they think of

medicated who target what they think of

medicated who target what they think of as practical majors in order to land a

as practical majors in order to land a

as practical majors in order to land a job or career rather than focusing on

job or career rather than focusing on

job or career rather than focusing on those other courses and those other

those other courses and those other

those other courses and those other experiences that may expand their minds

experiences that may expand their minds

experiences that may expand their minds and perhaps develop the empathy in an

and perhaps develop the empathy in an

and perhaps develop the empathy in an increasingly alienating world while I

increasingly alienating world while I

increasingly alienating world while I was living in China for a couple of

was living in China for a couple of

was living in China for a couple of years I remember encountering Chinese

years I remember encountering Chinese

years I remember encountering Chinese academics who were concerned about

academics who were concerned about

academics who were concerned about producing graduates who were linear and

producing graduates who were linear and

producing graduates who were linear and they’re thinking targeted in their

they’re thinking targeted in their

they’re thinking targeted in their skills and poor in their communication

skills and poor in their communication

skills and poor in their communication they had the tech skills to land a job

they had the tech skills to land a job

they had the tech skills to land a job but lack the people skills to keep them

but lack the people skills to keep them

but lack the people skills to keep them and succeed they identified the reason

and succeed they identified the reason

and succeed they identified the reason for this as a lack of a liberal arts

for this as a lack of a liberal arts

for this as a lack of a liberal arts education in China I think we should

education in China I think we should

education in China I think we should equip our young people with a broad

equip our young people with a broad

equip our young people with a broad range of knowledge reflections and

range of knowledge reflections and

range of knowledge reflections and experiences with others unlike

experiences with others unlike

experiences with others unlike themselves they especially need

themselves they especially need

themselves they especially need strategies to face

strategies to face

strategies to face challenges rather than developing

challenges rather than developing

challenges rather than developing students with a one-track perspective

students with a one-track perspective

students with a one-track perspective let’s develop the whole human being who

let’s develop the whole human being who

let’s develop the whole human being who looks to the other side as he or she

looks to the other side as he or she

looks to the other side as he or she plans for his future so that he does not

plans for his future so that he does not

plans for his future so that he does not become simply a company head who

become simply a company head who

become simply a company head who ambitious to build a model community

ambitious to build a model community

ambitious to build a model community without thinking about the future

without thinking about the future

without thinking about the future ramifications on the environment so that

ramifications on the environment so that

ramifications on the environment so that she does not drive toward a medical

she does not drive toward a medical

she does not drive toward a medical career without including reaching out to

career without including reaching out to

career without including reaching out to local communities and to third world

local communities and to third world

local communities and to third world countries

countries

countries rather than limiting themselves to the

rather than limiting themselves to the

rather than limiting themselves to the bottom line on a spreadsheet they should

bottom line on a spreadsheet they should

bottom line on a spreadsheet they should reach out to seek collaborative ventures

reach out to seek collaborative ventures

reach out to seek collaborative ventures for the sake of others I think we should

for the sake of others I think we should

for the sake of others I think we should develop human beings who think first of

develop human beings who think first of

develop human beings who think first of others rather than their own security

others rather than their own security

others rather than their own security unlike so many did in North Dallas after

unlike so many did in North Dallas after

unlike so many did in North Dallas after the Houston flood disaster hoarding

the Houston flood disaster hoarding

the Houston flood disaster hoarding gallons of gasoline and leaving others

gallons of gasoline and leaving others

gallons of gasoline and leaving others like me without any because whatever we

like me without any because whatever we

like me without any because whatever we do as individuals has an impact on

do as individuals has an impact on

do as individuals has an impact on everyone including the whole universe as

everyone including the whole universe as

everyone including the whole universe as astrophysicist Pete Hutt stated life is

astrophysicist Pete Hutt stated life is

astrophysicist Pete Hutt stated life is a laboratory I think that if we work

a laboratory I think that if we work

a laboratory I think that if we work together as a dynamic community we can

together as a dynamic community we can

together as a dynamic community we can make a difference to end the cycle of

make a difference to end the cycle of

make a difference to end the cycle of selfishness inequality and greed later

selfishness inequality and greed later

selfishness inequality and greed later thank you

”

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