it’s been a long day this is part of the talk if that honestly was part of the
talk if that honestly was part of the
talk if that honestly was part of the talk not just for my ego but it helped
talk not just for my ego but it helped
talk not just for my ego but it helped the reason I wanted to create that
the reason I wanted to create that
the reason I wanted to create that atmosphere is because something magical
atmosphere is because something magical
atmosphere is because something magical happens when people gather together when
happens when people gather together when
happens when people gather together when we all come together in groups and share
we all come together in groups and share
we all come together in groups and share an emotional experience it can be
an emotional experience it can be
an emotional experience it can be transformative and that’s what I’ve
transformative and that’s what I’ve
transformative and that’s what I’ve spent much of my career doing in big
spent much of my career doing in big
spent much of my career doing in big ways and small I’m obsessed with
ways and small I’m obsessed with
ways and small I’m obsessed with connecting with people and helping
connecting with people and helping
connecting with people and helping people connect to each other there’s
people connect to each other there’s
people connect to each other there’s been various different projects which
been various different projects which
been various different projects which have done that for instance I am twice
have done that for instance I am twice
have done that for instance I am twice the world record holder for the world’s
the world record holder for the world’s
the world record holder for the world’s longest hug
I have also once played the Sydney Opera
I have also once played the Sydney Opera House when I was a comedian and I sold
House when I was a comedian and I sold
House when I was a comedian and I sold every single ticket to it in person and
every single ticket to it in person and
every single ticket to it in person and I now in the CEO and co-founder of
I now in the CEO and co-founder of
I now in the CEO and co-founder of Sunday assembly it is a worldwide
Sunday assembly it is a worldwide
Sunday assembly it is a worldwide network of secular congregations that
network of secular congregations that
network of secular congregations that celebrate life but what I’m here to talk
celebrate life but what I’m here to talk
celebrate life but what I’m here to talk by the way is there anyone here who has
by the way is there anyone here who has
by the way is there anyone here who has gone to Sunday assembly Brighton love
gone to Sunday assembly Brighton love
gone to Sunday assembly Brighton love you guys you’re the best
you guys you’re the best
you guys you’re the best also you other guys are good too
also you other guys are good too
also you other guys are good too and but I want to tell you about my next
and but I want to tell you about my next
and but I want to tell you about my next idea and this one is even bigger the
idea and this one is even bigger the
idea and this one is even bigger the next idea is called life fulness and by
next idea is called life fulness and by
next idea is called life fulness and by the end of this 15 minutes you will
the end of this 15 minutes you will
the end of this 15 minutes you will understand this sentence life fulness is
understand this sentence life fulness is
understand this sentence life fulness is to congregation as mindfulness is to
to congregation as mindfulness is to
to congregation as mindfulness is to meditation well before we get into that
meditation well before we get into that
meditation well before we get into that I’m gonna tell you a bit more about
I’m gonna tell you a bit more about
I’m gonna tell you a bit more about myself and I’m gonna start in this
myself and I’m gonna start in this
myself and I’m gonna start in this church this is the church that I was
church this is the church that I was
church this is the church that I was christened in it’s called Bowden Kirk in
christened in it’s called Bowden Kirk in
christened in it’s called Bowden Kirk in Scotland it’s near where my grandparents
Scotland it’s near where my grandparents
Scotland it’s near where my grandparents used to live and I was dragged there
used to live and I was dragged there
used to live and I was dragged there very reluctantly
very reluctantly
very reluctantly around my childhood it’s also the church
around my childhood it’s also the church
around my childhood it’s also the church where my mother was buried she died just
where my mother was buried she died just
where my mother was buried she died just one day after my tenth birthday and she
one day after my tenth birthday and she
one day after my tenth birthday and she was an amazing woman a barrister mother
was an amazing woman a barrister mother
was an amazing woman a barrister mother of five by the age of 42
of five by the age of 42
of five by the age of 42 she was my mum through my teenage years
she was my mum through my teenage years
she was my mum through my teenage years it meant that I had to sort of grow up
it meant that I had to sort of grow up
it meant that I had to sort of grow up and I didn’t believe in God had to grow
and I didn’t believe in God had to grow
and I didn’t believe in God had to grow up dealing with all these big questions
up dealing with all these big questions
up dealing with all these big questions about life and death and love and grief
about life and death and love and grief
about life and death and love and grief and somehow in the process it wasn’t
and somehow in the process it wasn’t
and somehow in the process it wasn’t merely sad but oh my gosh it was sad all
merely sad but oh my gosh it was sad all
merely sad but oh my gosh it was sad all those feelings transformed into
those feelings transformed into
those feelings transformed into something else they transformed into a
something else they transformed into a
something else they transformed into a transcendental love appreciation and
transcendental love appreciation and
transcendental love appreciation and gratitude for life to be an alive human
gratitude for life to be an alive human
gratitude for life to be an alive human and don’t worry they won’t last long is
and don’t worry they won’t last long is
and don’t worry they won’t last long is to win every lottery in the world every
to win every lottery in the world every
to win every lottery in the world every day of your life I find that the easiest
day of your life I find that the easiest
day of your life I find that the easiest way to go and connect to the wonder of
way to go and connect to the wonder of
way to go and connect to the wonder of being alive is to actually think about
being alive is to actually think about
being alive is to actually think about your own impending death I’ve even got
your own impending death I’ve even got
your own impending death I’ve even got my own perfect death that I like to
my own perfect death that I like to
my own perfect death that I like to think about I dream of dying peacefully
think about I dream of dying peacefully
think about I dream of dying peacefully in my sleep but next to someone I
in my sleep but next to someone I
in my sleep but next to someone I dislike who hates surprises about ten
dislike who hates surprises about ten
dislike who hates surprises about ten years ago I was in Bowden Kirk again it
years ago I was in Bowden Kirk again it
years ago I was in Bowden Kirk again it was Christmas
was Christmas
was Christmas and I found myself with a very change
and I found myself with a very change
and I found myself with a very change relation to it I was there and and I
relation to it I was there and and I
relation to it I was there and and I found myself loving it I loved the
found myself loving it I loved the
found myself loving it I loved the singing I love that community spirit I
singing I love that community spirit I
singing I love that community spirit I love being with my loved ones thinking
love being with my loved ones thinking
love being with my loved ones thinking about improving my own life and trying
about improving my own life and trying
about improving my own life and trying to help other people and I thought maybe
to help other people and I thought maybe
to help other people and I thought maybe there’s a way of doing this around
there’s a way of doing this around
there’s a way of doing this around something that everyone can celebrate
something that everyone can celebrate
something that everyone can celebrate that everyone’s getting got in common
that everyone’s getting got in common
that everyone’s getting got in common maybe we could do this around
maybe we could do this around
maybe we could do this around celebrating life and on that cliffhanger
celebrating life and on that cliffhanger
celebrating life and on that cliffhanger question we’re gonna jump into someone
question we’re gonna jump into someone
question we’re gonna jump into someone else’s life this guy here is called John
else’s life this guy here is called John
else’s life this guy here is called John kabat-zinn John kabat-zinn is the
kabat-zinn John kabat-zinn is the
kabat-zinn John kabat-zinn is the founder of modern medical mindfulness
founder of modern medical mindfulness
founder of modern medical mindfulness give me a cheer if you’ve ever done a
give me a cheer if you’ve ever done a
give me a cheer if you’ve ever done a headspace it’s because of this guy in
headspace it’s because of this guy in
headspace it’s because of this guy in 1979 he was on a Buddhist retreat and
1979 he was on a Buddhist retreat and
1979 he was on a Buddhist retreat and whilst he was doing it he had this idea
whilst he was doing it he had this idea
whilst he was doing it he had this idea he thought this is so good imagine if
he thought this is so good imagine if
he thought this is so good imagine if there was a way of doing it that
there was a way of doing it that
there was a way of doing it that everyone could join in and so he created
everyone could join in and so he created
everyone could join in and so he created this thing called the mindfulness based
this thing called the mindfulness based
this thing called the mindfulness based stress reduction course and that spread
stress reduction course and that spread
stress reduction course and that spread all over the world there’s now so many
all over the world there’s now so many
all over the world there’s now so many different books on it if you go and look
different books on it if you go and look
different books on it if you go and look online you can get mindfulness for CEOs
online you can get mindfulness for CEOs
online you can get mindfulness for CEOs students mums dads and dummies but
students mums dads and dummies but
students mums dads and dummies but enough about him let’s get back on to me
actually let’s talk about PIPA PIPA is a
actually let’s talk about PIPA PIPA is a wonderful comedian and I met her in 2011
wonderful comedian and I met her in 2011
wonderful comedian and I met her in 2011 and we were going to a gig in bath and
and we were going to a gig in bath and
and we were going to a gig in bath and it turned out that she’d had the same
it turned out that she’d had the same
it turned out that she’d had the same idea that I had paper had been an avid
idea that I had paper had been an avid
idea that I had paper had been an avid churchgoer
churchgoer
churchgoer but when she stopped believing in the
but when she stopped believing in the
but when she stopped believing in the God bit she found she really missed the
God bit she found she really missed the
God bit she found she really missed the community the fellowship and the purpose
community the fellowship and the purpose
community the fellowship and the purpose someone’s got a call and the community
someone’s got a call and the community
someone’s got a call and the community the fellowship and the purpose and so we
the fellowship and the purpose and so we
the fellowship and the purpose and so we decided that we’d collaborate together
decided that we’d collaborate together
decided that we’d collaborate together in 2013 we had the first-ever Sunday
in 2013 we had the first-ever Sunday
in 2013 we had the first-ever Sunday assembly it was in this place here in
assembly it was in this place here in
assembly it was in this place here in North London and we thought no one was
North London and we thought no one was
North London and we thought no one was going to turn up about 200 people did
going to turn up about 200 people did
going to turn up about 200 people did then people wrote to us from all over
then people wrote to us from all over
then people wrote to us from all over the world saying oh please could we have
the world saying oh please could we have
the world saying oh please could we have one too and we slightly recklessly said
one too and we slightly recklessly said
one too and we slightly recklessly said sure we’ll help you do that
sure we’ll help you do that
sure we’ll help you do that even though we didn’t know what we were
even though we didn’t know what we were
even though we didn’t know what we were doing and now there are almost
doing and now there are almost
doing and now there are almost sixty-five communities across the world
sixty-five communities across the world
sixty-five communities across the world in six different countries with
in six different countries with
in six different countries with thousands of people participating every
thousands of people participating every
thousands of people participating every month if you haven’t been to Sunday
month if you haven’t been to Sunday
month if you haven’t been to Sunday Assembly Brighton then you might be
Assembly Brighton then you might be
Assembly Brighton then you might be thinking what happens when you go along
thinking what happens when you go along
thinking what happens when you go along and while people sing songs they go and
and while people sing songs they go and
and while people sing songs they go and hear
hear
hear Ted style talks then what happens is
Ted style talks then what happens is
Ted style talks then what happens is there’s a moment of reflection and
there’s a moment of reflection and
there’s a moment of reflection and people connect and that connection leads
people connect and that connection leads
people connect and that connection leads to all manner of community activities
to all manner of community activities
to all manner of community activities afterwards there’s volunteering there’s
afterwards there’s volunteering there’s
afterwards there’s volunteering there’s peer-to-peer support there’s social
peer-to-peer support there’s social
peer-to-peer support there’s social activities it is a whole community and
activities it is a whole community and
activities it is a whole community and it was after a few light years of doing
it was after a few light years of doing
it was after a few light years of doing this I thought actually there’s a bigger
this I thought actually there’s a bigger
this I thought actually there’s a bigger idea than just Sunday assembly and that
idea than just Sunday assembly and that
idea than just Sunday assembly and that is the idea of life fulness it is the
is the idea of life fulness it is the
is the idea of life fulness it is the idea of taking secular congregations and
idea of taking secular congregations and
idea of taking secular congregations and secularizing them so that everyone can
secularizing them so that everyone can
secularizing them so that everyone can take part and I think it should quickly
take part and I think it should quickly
take part and I think it should quickly define some some of the characteristics
define some some of the characteristics
define some some of the characteristics of a Congregational community typically
of a Congregational community typically
of a Congregational community typically there’s a community it’s a big clue in
there’s a community it’s a big clue in
there’s a community it’s a big clue in the name then there’s normally a
the name then there’s normally a
the name then there’s normally a celebratory gathering regularly there’s
celebratory gathering regularly there’s
celebratory gathering regularly there’s a sort of pathway of personal growth
a sort of pathway of personal growth
a sort of pathway of personal growth there’s a emphasis on doing good works
there’s a emphasis on doing good works
there’s a emphasis on doing good works and a commitment to sharing your values
and a commitment to sharing your values
and a commitment to sharing your values with the world but if you want it in a
with the world but if you want it in a
with the world but if you want it in a sentence then I would say life fulness
sentence then I would say life fulness
sentence then I would say life fulness is a way of sharing life together in
is a way of sharing life together in
is a way of sharing life together in community so that some of the pre-chat
community so that some of the pre-chat
community so that some of the pre-chat there I am now gonna share with you the
there I am now gonna share with you the
there I am now gonna share with you the four guiding principles of life fulness
excited but could be maybe a bit more
excited but could be maybe a bit more excited and the first one is is that
excited and the first one is is that
excited and the first one is is that life fulness is a community building
life fulness is a community building
life fulness is a community building methodology I have to make this really
methodology I have to make this really
methodology I have to make this really clear we are not starting a new religion
clear we are not starting a new religion
clear we are not starting a new religion even though I do have the haircut for it
even though I do have the haircut for it
even though I do have the haircut for it live mindfulness does not equal religion
live mindfulness does not equal religion
live mindfulness does not equal religion in the same way that life fulness does
in the same way that life fulness does
in the same way that life fulness does not equal religion and I’m gonna make
not equal religion and I’m gonna make
not equal religion and I’m gonna make that even clearer so what happened is
that even clearer so what happened is
that even clearer so what happened is that John kabat-zinn he went and took
that John kabat-zinn he went and took
that John kabat-zinn he went and took Buddhist meditation he then removed the
Buddhist meditation he then removed the
Buddhist meditation he then removed the metaphysical aspects he then measured it
metaphysical aspects he then measured it
metaphysical aspects he then measured it with science to make it evidence-based
with science to make it evidence-based
with science to make it evidence-based and he created mindfulness what we’re
and he created mindfulness what we’re
and he created mindfulness what we’re doing is we’re looking at congregations
doing is we’re looking at congregations
doing is we’re looking at congregations moving the metaphysical aspects to make
moving the metaphysical aspects to make
moving the metaphysical aspects to make it inclusive measuring it with science
it inclusive measuring it with science
it inclusive measuring it with science to make it evidence-based and tada
to make it evidence-based and tada
to make it evidence-based and tada life fulness and you might be thinking
life fulness and you might be thinking
life fulness and you might be thinking why on earth would you choose the word
why on earth would you choose the word
why on earth would you choose the word life fulness tty to tell you the truth
life fulness tty to tell you the truth
life fulness tty to tell you the truth it’s partly because it sounds quite a
it’s partly because it sounds quite a
it’s partly because it sounds quite a lot like mindfulness and worse that
lot like mindfulness and worse that
lot like mindfulness and worse that sounds silly I just want to make the
sounds silly I just want to make the
sounds silly I just want to make the connection totally clear we’re doing the
connection totally clear we’re doing the
connection totally clear we’re doing the same process but also because living in
same process but also because living in
same process but also because living in a Congregational community a life on
a Congregational community a life on
a Congregational community a life on this community is about living life as
this community is about living life as
this community is about living life as fully as possible about celebrating life
fully as possible about celebrating life
fully as possible about celebrating life and being with people over the course of
and being with people over the course of
and being with people over the course of their life the fullness of their life
their life the fullness of their life
their life the fullness of their life but the Wonder and the messiness and I
but the Wonder and the messiness and I
but the Wonder and the messiness and I think we are in dire need of more
think we are in dire need of more
think we are in dire need of more connection in the world today I’m sure
connection in the world today I’m sure
connection in the world today I’m sure everyone here has notice that the
everyone here has notice that the
everyone here has notice that the seeming chaos is on the rise the
seeming chaos is on the rise the
seeming chaos is on the rise the polarization and the fragmentation which
polarization and the fragmentation which
polarization and the fragmentation which has happened in a dislocated society you
has happened in a dislocated society you
has happened in a dislocated society you know there’s so many of the normal
know there’s so many of the normal
know there’s so many of the normal systems of community and social support
systems of community and social support
systems of community and social support have gone away there doesn’t seem to be
have gone away there doesn’t seem to be
have gone away there doesn’t seem to be a positive narrative about the future
a positive narrative about the future
a positive narrative about the future unless it’s you know those sort of weird
unless it’s you know those sort of weird
unless it’s you know those sort of weird tech utopia’s you read about where
tech utopia’s you read about where
tech utopia’s you read about where everyone’s going to be uploaded into the
everyone’s going to be uploaded into the
everyone’s going to be uploaded into the cloud or or else we’re all going to have
cloud or or else we’re all going to have
cloud or or else we’re all going to have virtual reality strapped onto us and
virtual reality strapped onto us and
virtual reality strapped onto us and then be looked after by sex robots might
then be looked after by sex robots might
then be looked after by sex robots might have been a dream there seems to be so
have been a dream there seems to be so
have been a dream there seems to be so much talk about the budget deficit
much talk about the budget deficit
much talk about the budget deficit nowadays but not about the deficit we
nowadays but not about the deficit we
nowadays but not about the deficit we have of hope of belonging and meaning
have of hope of belonging and meaning
have of hope of belonging and meaning there used to be one type of social
there used to be one type of social
there used to be one type of social structure which spoke to all three of
structure which spoke to all three of
structure which spoke to all three of those needs and that was the
those needs and that was the
those needs and that was the Congregational community there’s
Congregational community there’s
Congregational community there’s something about it which really
something about it which really
something about it which really resonates with people I know that it
resonates with people I know that it
resonates with people I know that it resonated with me I remember on the
resonated with me I remember on the
resonated with me I remember on the first day that we did Sunday assembly I
first day that we did Sunday assembly I
first day that we did Sunday assembly I was getting on my bike going back up a
was getting on my bike going back up a
was getting on my bike going back up a hill and I thought this is what I want
hill and I thought this is what I want
hill and I thought this is what I want to do for the rest of my life I put my
to do for the rest of my life I put my
to do for the rest of my life I put my comedy career to the side and then I
comedy career to the side and then I
comedy career to the side and then I went out
went out
went out I met all these people who got in touch
I met all these people who got in touch
I met all these people who got in touch online there were people in the UK I
online there were people in the UK I
online there were people in the UK I went to go meet people in the US when I
went to go meet people in the US when I
went to go meet people in the US when I was in the US I even met our first
was in the US I even met our first
was in the US I even met our first protester he clearly hadn’t done enough
protester he clearly hadn’t done enough
protester he clearly hadn’t done enough research I was standing next to him he
research I was standing next to him he
research I was standing next to him he said are you part of this as like no
kinda and I think that the
kinda and I think that the congregational community has resonated
congregational community has resonated
congregational community has resonated with people over the years in all manner
with people over the years in all manner
with people over the years in all manner of different countries and cities and
of different countries and cities and
of different countries and cities and places and times because it is naturally
places and times because it is naturally
places and times because it is naturally evolved around the human condition I
evolved around the human condition I
evolved around the human condition I think it’s quite useful to think about
think it’s quite useful to think about
think it’s quite useful to think about hats when thinking about this hats a
hats when thinking about this hats a
hats when thinking about this hats a much the same shape the world over
much the same shape the world over
much the same shape the world over because they fit human heads
because they fit human heads
because they fit human heads congregational communities are much the
congregational communities are much the
congregational communities are much the same shape the world over because they
same shape the world over because they
same shape the world over because they fit human lives but I think the problem
fit human lives but I think the problem
fit human lives but I think the problem that we’re experiencing at the moment is
that we’re experiencing at the moment is
that we’re experiencing at the moment is that the congregation doesn’t fit us
that the congregation doesn’t fit us
that the congregation doesn’t fit us anymore
anymore
anymore in Britain the latest survey which came
in Britain the latest survey which came
in Britain the latest survey which came out said 53 percent of people no longer
out said 53 percent of people no longer
out said 53 percent of people no longer believe in religion and that goes way up
believe in religion and that goes way up
believe in religion and that goes way up to 75 percent in the 18 to 25 year olds
to 75 percent in the 18 to 25 year olds
to 75 percent in the 18 to 25 year olds and and whilst the decline of community
and and whilst the decline of community
and and whilst the decline of community life is not the only reason and for the
life is not the only reason and for the
life is not the only reason and for the dislocation we’re experiencing there’s
dislocation we’re experiencing there’s
dislocation we’re experiencing there’s the rise of Technology longer working
the rise of Technology longer working
the rise of Technology longer working hours this connective tissue in Britain
hours this connective tissue in Britain
hours this connective tissue in Britain has disappeared and it’s also got
has disappeared and it’s also got
has disappeared and it’s also got profound impacts in sort of health and
profound impacts in sort of health and
profound impacts in sort of health and mental health did you know that the
mental health did you know that the
mental health did you know that the thing which reduces your life expectancy
thing which reduces your life expectancy
thing which reduces your life expectancy the most isn’t smoking more than figures
the most isn’t smoking more than figures
the most isn’t smoking more than figures say 15 cigarettes a day isn’t heavy
say 15 cigarettes a day isn’t heavy
say 15 cigarettes a day isn’t heavy drinking or not exercise it is more
drinking or not exercise it is more
drinking or not exercise it is more dangerous for your mortality if you’ve
dangerous for your mortality if you’ve
dangerous for your mortality if you’ve got weak relationships and low social
got weak relationships and low social
got weak relationships and low social integration I spoke to some scientists
integration I spoke to some scientists
integration I spoke to some scientists though and they said that if you’ve got
though and they said that if you’ve got
though and they said that if you’ve got lots of mates it doesn’t mean you can
lots of mates it doesn’t mean you can
lots of mates it doesn’t mean you can smoke lots of
smoke lots of
smoke lots of just to clarify that luckily I think
just to clarify that luckily I think
just to clarify that luckily I think light fulness answers many of these
light fulness answers many of these
light fulness answers many of these things because life fulness is inclusive
things because life fulness is inclusive
things because life fulness is inclusive and it is evidence-based it is all about
and it is evidence-based it is all about
and it is evidence-based it is all about bringing people together from different
bringing people together from different
bringing people together from different backgrounds having places where people
backgrounds having places where people
backgrounds having places where people who might have voted brexit and the
who might have voted brexit and the
who might have voted brexit and the remainders can come together and not
remainders can come together and not
remainders can come together and not talk about the politics which divide
talk about the politics which divide
talk about the politics which divide them but instead the hundreds of
them but instead the hundreds of
them but instead the hundreds of thousands of things that unite them and
thousands of things that unite them and
thousands of things that unite them and at sunday assembly we’ve got an
at sunday assembly we’ve got an
at sunday assembly we’ve got an expression well we said that we’re
expression well we said that we’re
expression well we said that we’re radically inclusive but we find it’s
radically inclusive but we find it’s
radically inclusive but we find it’s often best expressed as we welcome all
often best expressed as we welcome all
often best expressed as we welcome all who welcome all and that’s where the
who welcome all and that’s where the
who welcome all and that’s where the lesson of mindfulness really comes in
lesson of mindfulness really comes in
lesson of mindfulness really comes in mindfulness was able to bring people
mindfulness was able to bring people
mindfulness was able to bring people together by having a shared language by
together by having a shared language by
together by having a shared language by having a shared language which means
having a shared language which means
having a shared language which means Christians and Muslims and atheists and
Christians and Muslims and atheists and
Christians and Muslims and atheists and agnostics could all be there in the room
agnostics could all be there in the room
agnostics could all be there in the room together at the same time imagine if we
together at the same time imagine if we
together at the same time imagine if we could do the same thing for
could do the same thing for
could do the same thing for congregational communities imagine if
congregational communities imagine if
congregational communities imagine if there was a way of organizing people so
there was a way of organizing people so
there was a way of organizing people so that we could all be in the room at the
that we could all be in the room at the
that we could all be in the room at the same time we’re on number two of four
same time we’re on number two of four
same time we’re on number two of four points I’ve got one minute left I don’t
points I’ve got one minute left I don’t
points I’ve got one minute left I don’t even have a book to sell you so I can
even have a book to sell you so I can
even have a book to sell you so I can say read the book rats but we’re gonna
say read the book rats but we’re gonna
say read the book rats but we’re gonna keep on going at Sunday assembly if we
keep on going at Sunday assembly if we
keep on going at Sunday assembly if we want to go and have that impact if we
want to go and have that impact if we
want to go and have that impact if we want to go and make a new social
want to go and make a new social
want to go and make a new social software which can connect people across
software which can connect people across
software which can connect people across the planet then then I think we’re gonna
the planet then then I think we’re gonna
the planet then then I think we’re gonna have to have evidence for it and we’ve
have to have evidence for it and we’ve
have to have evidence for it and we’ve started doing studies of what happens if
started doing studies of what happens if
started doing studies of what happens if people attend Sunday assembly and you’re
people attend Sunday assembly and you’re
people attend Sunday assembly and you’re gonna have to learn about them
gonna have to learn about them
gonna have to learn about them afterwards oh that’s a great story
afterwards oh that’s a great story
afterwards oh that’s a great story you’re not getting it
it’s really touching it moves me point
it’s really touching it moves me point number three is that life fulness is
number three is that life fulness is
number three is that life fulness is ethical is ethical and organized and
ethical is ethical and organized and
ethical is ethical and organized and maybe spiritual and I say their sins of
maybe spiritual and I say their sins of
maybe spiritual and I say their sins of comparison to mindfulness and by the way
comparison to mindfulness and by the way
comparison to mindfulness and by the way I’ve want to make it clear I’m not
I’ve want to make it clear I’m not
I’ve want to make it clear I’m not saying it’s unethical disorganized and
saying it’s unethical disorganized and
saying it’s unethical disorganized and not spiritual I’m just saying that when
not spiritual I’m just saying that when
not spiritual I’m just saying that when Jon kabat-zinn made the decision to made
Jon kabat-zinn made the decision to made
Jon kabat-zinn made the decision to made the decision to go and adapt it he only
the decision to go and adapt it he only
the decision to go and adapt it he only adapted one part of the Buddhist
adapted one part of the Buddhist
adapted one part of the Buddhist tradition and he left out the ethics and
tradition and he left out the ethics and
tradition and he left out the ethics and the organization and also the spiritual
the organization and also the spiritual
the organization and also the spiritual aspect it’s led to some people to
aspect it’s led to some people to
aspect it’s led to some people to describe it as the commodification of
describe it as the commodification of
describe it as the commodification of mindfulness law and person said that
mindfulness law and person said that
mindfulness law and person said that even a person committing a premeditated
even a person committing a premeditated
even a person committing a premeditated heinous crime can be exercising
heinous crime can be exercising
heinous crime can be exercising mindfulness albeit wrong mindfulness so
mindfulness albeit wrong mindfulness so
mindfulness albeit wrong mindfulness so we need to make sure that these
we need to make sure that these
we need to make sure that these communities are all about people leading
communities are all about people leading
communities are all about people leading their best lives not just for them not
their best lives not just for them not
their best lives not just for them not just as individuals but for their
just as individuals but for their
just as individuals but for their communities and the world and I’m sure
communities and the world and I’m sure
communities and the world and I’m sure there’s some people here who might have
there’s some people here who might have
there’s some people here who might have heard that word organized that didn’t
heard that word organized that didn’t
heard that word organized that didn’t chime with them you know thinking I
chime with them you know thinking I
chime with them you know thinking I liking religion but not organized
liking religion but not organized
liking religion but not organized religion well since starting Sunday
religion well since starting Sunday
religion well since starting Sunday assembly I’ve started to think that the
assembly I’ve started to think that the
assembly I’ve started to think that the organization is one of the best parts of
organization is one of the best parts of
organization is one of the best parts of religion fuzzy feelings on their own
religion fuzzy feelings on their own
religion fuzzy feelings on their own don’t start foodbanks fuzzy feelings on
don’t start foodbanks fuzzy feelings on
don’t start foodbanks fuzzy feelings on their own don’t look after the elderly
their own don’t look after the elderly
their own don’t look after the elderly visit the sick or make food parcels
visit the sick or make food parcels
visit the sick or make food parcels institutions allow positive vibes to
institutions allow positive vibes to
institutions allow positive vibes to roll up their sleeves and organizations
roll up their sleeves and organizations
roll up their sleeves and organizations allow philosophies to get their hands
allow philosophies to get their hands
allow philosophies to get their hands dirty that there is a picture of the
dirty that there is a picture of the
dirty that there is a picture of the Salvation Army they’re giving out tea
Salvation Army they’re giving out tea
Salvation Army they’re giving out tea and bacon butties to the firefighters
and bacon butties to the firefighters
and bacon butties to the firefighters underneath the Grenville tower you only
underneath the Grenville tower you only
underneath the Grenville tower you only do that if you’re able to get organized
do that if you’re able to get organized
do that if you’re able to get organized I also have some very interesting
I also have some very interesting
I also have some very interesting opinions on secular spirituality
point number four there are in fact more
point number four there are in fact more guiding principles but let’s not put
guiding principles but let’s not put
guiding principles but let’s not put them all down here cuz this is the TED
them all down here cuz this is the TED
them all down here cuz this is the TED talk and not a big list
they even racing these there we go
they even racing these there we go that’s life–all miss ladies and
that’s life–all miss ladies and
that’s life–all miss ladies and gentlemen I haven’t quite finished
gentlemen I haven’t quite finished
gentlemen I haven’t quite finished though I just want you guys all to let
though I just want you guys all to let
though I just want you guys all to let me know that now you understand that
me know that now you understand that
me know that now you understand that life fulness is too as mindfulness is
life fulness is too as mindfulness is
life fulness is too as mindfulness is too and I hope that some of you here
too and I hope that some of you here
too and I hope that some of you here might have heard something in this and
might have heard something in this and
might have heard something in this and decided to get involved in your
decided to get involved in your
decided to get involved in your community so you might want to join some
community so you might want to join some
community so you might want to join some people who are already doing something
people who are already doing something
people who are already doing something you might want to start something
you might want to start something
you might want to start something yourself I’m hoping that you’ve heard
yourself I’m hoping that you’ve heard
yourself I’m hoping that you’ve heard something not just from me but across
something not just from me but across
something not just from me but across this whole day which will make you
this whole day which will make you
this whole day which will make you committed to building the world as it
committed to building the world as it
committed to building the world as it should be a world and this is on the
should be a world and this is on the
should be a world and this is on the subject of utopias and this is my utopia
subject of utopias and this is my utopia
subject of utopias and this is my utopia that I want to see happen on this earth
that I want to see happen on this earth
that I want to see happen on this earth a world where everyone is able to live
a world where everyone is able to live
a world where everyone is able to live life as fully as possible thank you very
life as fully as possible thank you very
life as fully as possible thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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