Playacting IF YOU PLAYACT BEING A THINKER, YOU WILL BECOME ONE
Dec 15, 2015
PlayactingIF YOU PLAYACT BEING A THINKER, YOU WILL BECOME ONE
Introduction
“Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into actions is the most difficult thing in the world.”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Playacting
“I believe that one of the two Rodin originals for ‘The Thinker’ is in Buenos Aires in the square in front of the parliament building. At least that’s what my guide told me as she pointed to this busy thinker frozen into immortal bronze.”
PlayactingBut as far as we know, this may be wrong on several accounts. “How?”
You may ask. Well…
Playacting It may not have been an
original
There may not have been two originals
My guide might have been mistaken
My memory might be mistaken
PlayactingSo why put forth something which has not been checked as an absolute fact? Well, there are many reasons.
Playacting To provoke those
people who feel that facts are more important than their use
I want you to be able to visualize the Thinker figure, wherever it may be
Playacting
You will notice that the first two words of the book, and of this PowerPoint are “I believe.”
“I Believe”“I Believe”“I Believe”“I Believe”“I Believe”“I Believe”
PlayactingThe words “I believe” indicate a person’s state of belief, rather than a dogmatically asserted fact. We often need to indicate the way in which something is being put forward.
Playacting
Imagine Rodin’s The Thinker
Imagine that chin-on-hand pose that is supposed to come to any thinker that is being more than just frivolous.
Playacting
But in all honesty, I believe that thinking should be active and brisk, not gloomy and solemn. But let’s just use that traditional image for now.
Playacting
Ok, on the count of three I want you to throw yourself into the pose of a thinker. Physically, not mentally. One, two, three!
Playacting
“Why?” You may ask. “What was the point?” Well, if you playact being a thinker, you will become one.
PlayactingThe Tibetans say prayers by revolving the prayer wheels on which the prayers are inscribed.
Playacting
The rotating wheels spiral the prayers into divine space.
If the wheels are properly balanced, one assistant can keep a dozen prayer wheels turning, just like a circus act on spinning plates.
Playacting
Maybe the Tibetan is actually thinking of his laundry list as he spins the wheel, we’re not sure. But it is the intention to pray that counts, and not the emotional and spiritual fluttering that many Christians demand of themselves.
Playacting
But there is another Christian view that is much closer to the Tibetans:
Playacting
Both groups go through the motions of praying, even if they do not feel emotionally involved. In time, your emotions will catch up with your motions. That’s what I mean when I’m asking you to playact being a thinker.
Playacting Adopt the pose
of a thinker Go through the
motions Have the
intention Make it
manifest to yourself and to those around you
Playacting
Pretty soon your brain will follow the role that you are playing. If you playact being a Thinker, you will become one. Thanks for watching.