by Redemption
"Yes, maybe you have seen it all before - piecemeal, in writing, in theory. But did you ever get to see it in practice - in anybody? Anywhere?"
She waits for a response, which is a long time coming. She is cool, composed, sweet,… intangible, he thinks. Just sitting there looking at him, right into his inner being he suspects. Probably one of the infernal properties she has - not even mentioned on the list.
"No, of course not," is his almost inaudible reply. "It's… it's inhuman to be that good."
"But if people could become that good, if PP2 could get out of its strait-jacket and evolve consciously, rapidly, to be its 'real' self, to match PP1 in all its splendour? If people were that good, then would you agree the 2050 results, the 10R, would be achievable?"
With an expression that confirms he is in an inescapable logical corner Andrew warily concedes, "Yes, all right, I agree. If people were that good they could, conceivably, achieve those results, but I cannot for the life of me see by what process they could achieve 10Q."
"One step at a time Andrew. We have identified a milestone, or, in this case, a rung. Rung 'A' of the Frip Ladder, working in descending order from 2050. If 10Q, then 10R is achievable. And a corollary of Rung 'A' is that it's useless to try to change the world for the better without first changing individuals (or helping them choose to change) for the better. If not 10Q, then not 10R; that is, 10Q is a prerequisite for 10R. That's why you weren't getting anywhere without working on 10Q. You can't fix a broken leg with a bunch of Band-Aids and then try to run a race. You have to re-set the leg first. When you think about it now it's obvious - at the time you were oblivious. Am I labouring the point too much?"
"Probably, but in my present debilitated state I need to take it slowly. I'm not used to making such leaps of understanding fresh out of a coma. I'll have to take it a rung at a time. The next rung, I presume, is how to achieve 10Q - and Superman."
"I do believe you mock me," said Christiana, pouting a little. "You are averse to thinking in terms of 'improving' people substantially. What if people were able to bring themselves readily to this level?"
There is a long pause, during which he realises Christiana as a woman of the next generation probably is such a person. With a weak smile he says "Perhaps that would be a Provolution!"
CHAPTER 21 Smiles - becoming
"So, how many of these 'rungs' are there descending from 2050 to 2020?" Andrew asks.
"How many do you think? Go on - have a guess."
"Ten, maybe more. It's has to be such a tall ladder."
"Wrong. Too pessimistic. There are generally six, depending how you look at it."
"I have no idea how to look at it, how this process is going to be implemented," protests Andrew. "So get on with it."
"Yes I understand," Christiana counters, squeezing his inert hand. "It is a long process, but we have to go through the steps. We are getting close to the meat in the sandwich you have been waiting so long to get your teeth into," switching on the film at the moment she emphasises the word 'teeth'.
~
Phillipa Quinn's face appeared in a top corner and spoke to scenes in the Hebrides of animated discussion, arguments, meetings in groups and earnest conversations in twos and threes, interspersed with bleak seascapes, walking beneath trees bending in the wind, thoughtful meals, periods of quiet reflection.
"Kent encouraged, coaxed, pleaded with and pushed us unmercifully," she said. "But we thrived on it. One of the group described it as a synergistic, incestuous thought orgy, which made the rest sit up (figuratively) and take notice. Although there was a good deal of common ground to start with, each of us was hesitant to loosen up, to compromise, to help each other - until we found that by doing so we could all advance.
"However at one stage differences had widened to such an extent that there were tensions and our progress suffered. Our great ideas were becoming mired in argument and limited co-operation - rather like the rest of society. If we couldn't resolve our own situation how could we possibly 'save the world'?
"A key step was suggested by Rick Standish. Having a more objective view than the five in the 'inner circle', he commented that all the ideas were good in their own way, but what about the possibility of applying some of the concepts to ourselves in our own situation at this stage? For example, if Pals was as good as Ed claimed, why not apply it to members of the group to 'prove' it and give useful benefit at the same time?
"So," Pip said, "we got Ed to take us through a potted version of Pals. Well you would hardly credit the impetus it generated. By the end of the week we could read faster and remember better, we had more energy and enthusiasm, and could plan and utilise our time much more effectively. Not only did it demonstrate how Pals worked while giving an insight into its contents, it improved the team's abilities and we could use it as a focus, an example, a driving force in the project. Rose called it a meta-ability, others used terms like 'propelling forward', 'galvanising', 'supercharging'.
"It was like a picture within a picture - we started to apply the methods and principles in our project, thus reinforcing what we had learned as we applied it. Best of all, it put our individual ideas and efforts into perspective within an overall plan. It stopped our bickering and focused our attention on our important goals. Sed had been sneaking in the back door - we sent it packing out the front.
"All this contributed to Rick's later task of expediting the overall project. Importantly, our attitudes became even more positive and purposeful, and negative stress - well it just evaporated after Pals. We put 'eustress' (positive type stress) to work. We started to use visualisations and affirmations to good effect. Our empowerment soared."
V
D: "Pals Effect":
Kent: "Pals opened doors inside me. It released energies, forces, stimulants. They seeped out, crept and leapt out. Surges of inner creativity and power. It did this for me, it did it for the rest of the team, and we felt - knew - it could do it for anybody else. Rose called it the 'Muster' - Mustering Universal Secret Treasures (to) Elevate Resources."
Rose: "Yes, people I know talk glibly about 'transformational' experiences, either being dismissive of their existence or scornful of their impact. I had never experienced one before, and this may not be near the top of the scale, but for me it's a revelation, an eye-opener in terms of unused potential."
Yvonne Ziebarth: "I wish I could have done this years ago. To think about how much time I and thousands upon thousands of others have wasted. All the things I could have done with that lost time. Pals is straight-forward, even easy when you apply yourself. I was pessimistic; now I'm a strong proponent. My question is: why is it that the people who should have known about this haven't, or if they had, why was nothing done about it?"
Trevor Urquhart: "It's fantastic, so simple - as Yvonne said - but so effective. It's enlightening, life changing, shatteringly dynamic. It puts my life, even at my age, on another plane. So invigorating."
Phillipa Quinn: "The shared experiences and common language were invaluable in welding us into a dynamic team, 'capable of anything' as Mario enthused. In that respect, I believe it helped make our 'impossible' project possible. Doing Pals proved its worth to us and improved our abilities at the same time, helped us in planning and working as a team. We grew in confidence and in performance. And actually, years later I still benefit from that week. 'Pals for life' as Ed used to say."
Guy: "In a way, our group was a microcosm of society at large. With Pals we could assess our problems and limitations, and remedy them. It convinced and motivated us, while improving us and providing a model and inspiration for the stages of the Provolution to follow."
=
Kent's face appeared in the top corner. "I was so impressed by Ed's input to the group I asked Raj if he likewise could contribute something. We decided that within our time limitations a number of sessions on hatha yoga might be useful.
Raj: "We arranged to have an hour each morning at 6am. After a slow start it was fruit
ful - at the personal level, as a group, and for the overall cause. Mario was the only exception - he took a while to come around."
V
D: "Yoga Effect":
The top corner switched to Mario. "One day I was coming out of the gym as the others were returning from yoga. Raj asked me why I didn't go to his session."
The screen enlarged to show the full event.
"Because I don't want to watch my belly-button when I can be strengthening this," said Mario, flexing an enormous bicep.
"Can you arm-wrestle?" asked Raj.
"Of course." Inquisitively, "Why do you ask?"
"Tonight, after dinner, I issue you a challenge."
After they had eaten, to wry smiles and a whistle from Xena, Mario removed his shirt. His hairy bulging torso would have done credit to any muscle magazine. Raj reciprocated, revealing a perfectly formed physique that seemed half the age of its owner and half the bulk of his opponent. Kent officiated, dropping a handkerchief to start the contest. Mario's face re-appeared at top corner.
"I sort of respected him, so I applied only enough force to defeat the old man. But his arm, it didn't move. Then I doubled the force to break his impudence. Still it didn't move. Then my surprise turned to anger - I was furious and put all my possible strength forward.
"He raised his face. He looked straight into my eyes. And then he slowly pushed my arm down, against all my strength, right to the table. I was powerless to stop him."
"That is one of the reasons why you might like to come to my yoga," said Raj evenly. Breathing quietly, he retired for the night leaving Mario red and puffing.
Next morning there was a full house at yoga.
"My gymnasium is not as big as Mario's," said Raj. He unrolled a slim piece of matting two feet wide by six feet long. Lightly resting his eyes on Mario, he spoke quietly. "For your explanation, I use no external apparatus. All that is necessary to obtain a perfect physique and enduring health is already contained within the body and the mind. I will demonstrate."
He removed his track suit from the lithe and supple but obviously strong body they had seen the night before. Taking a stance on the mat, he very slowly went through the motions of a shot put. It took a minute from start to finish, exerting full strength of muscle tensed against muscle, concentrating intensely on the process.
"Where's the excitement in that?" asked Mario. "Nothing is happening."
"On the contrary, many things are happening," replied Raj. "My muscles are acting in balance, and by focusing my mind directly on the muscles involved their strength is enhanced in the maximum possible way - as you experienced last night. There are other, better, sources of power available to you than pumping iron."
"More importantly, your mind has a remarkable effect on your body. 'You are what you think,' was said 2500 years ago.(18) Yoga links body and mind, breath and brain, consciousness and living. Bodily strength is but one small facet - managing the activities of the mind in balanced moderation makes you a whole person, allows you to be in control of your life. We should all awaken ourselves to realities, possibilities. In Guy's terms, from another viewpoint, develop PP2 to be in balance with PP1."
I want you to show me, to teach me," said Mario, aggrieved. "All my life might has been right. I cannot fight them with my puny might, therefore I have tried to use my brain to develop my truth machine - what all of you have dubbed 'McTrue' with some misplaced Hebridean sense of humour. But you have opened exciting new vistas to me. I am now a convert and will be your best pupil."
He had glimpsed, in the most dramatic way, physically and in front of others to his embarrassment, a new and powerful force that he could use to increase his powers.
=
Kent was happy. "Pals and yoga had accentuated strongly the positives. We were proving our theories on ourselves. Our participation and experiential activity was firing up our creativity, our energy and our application. In our hideaway we were free of the negatives - the carpers, the disparagers and the naysayers. With no interruptions and total focus we were able, in our far-off corner of the world, to explore, create, build and develop to heights where none had ascended before."
Rick Standish appeared on screen. "My project management experience got me the job of riding herd on this mother of all projects. Normally I have concrete and steel and machines and drawings, professional and tradespeople to deal with. This business of ideas and concepts and society is entirely new but certainly interesting - in the 'Chinese' sense, perhaps.
"We had good ideas and plenty of enthusiasm, but how to get it all into a usable practical form, a 'package' that could translate and transpose to the public at large? We agreed that the scale of change we wanted and thought possible would only come if we could change people in fundamental ways. And we could only change people if we could alter the way they think - their mindsets. Some of us earlier would have said you can't change people, others that you shouldn't try. But the events of last week convinced us, unanimously, that we can help them and must try.
"We agreed to amalgamate our offerings into a composite vehicle that could be used to help people develop their potential and use it to good effect. I suggested a way of bringing it together would be to use Living Phil as the backbone, inject large amounts of Pals, as much of Raj's old truths as was practicable, aspects of McTrue where possible, and then use Pow to oil the wheels and Woww to help implement it.
"The end product could emerge as a system or guide for living that would enable people to lead enhanced, fulfilling and productive lives and to 'elevate' society. It would integrate a range of beneficial concepts for people to develop abilities and use them in the best interests of themselves and others. This would empower them in their daily living and lead to excellence in quality of life.
"But the whole thing was vague and slippery, and hard to visualise let alone discuss. Was it a philosophy? a guide? a master plan? psychology? self-development? or what?"
Rose was shown twiddling with her pencil. Into the void left by lack of answers she spoke. Good summary Rick. Actually it's part of all those things (you could have added 'aide de vivre'), yet it isn't fully any one of them. We're talking about something that has assumed a new form for which no existing word does justice. It requires a new word. I'm reminded of a drink we used to imbibe called 'Pims' - in this case it could stand for 'Personal Integrated Management System'.
"Alternatively I've thought of calling it 'Pawl'. A pawl is the part of a ratchet or windlass that ensures you get the benefit of your exertion and assists progress in the desired direction. In our case it could stand for "Principled Active Wise Living'." She paused and then in the silence continued. "The old unsatisfactory condition could be referred to as 'Sawl': 'Stupefied Atrophied Wasted Living'." Pause, silence. "Then you could have Sawl converted to Pawl on the road to Damascus."
There were groans and a call of "What did you have for breakfast Rose?"
"Well, if you think that's a bit rich, how about 'Smiles'?"
They looked at her nonplussed until she elaborated.
"Self Management Integrated Living Empowerment System - Smiles."
"That might be a good description, but isn't it simplistic and childish?" asked Ed, smiling. "Smiles? People might laugh at it."
They smirked at the suggestion as Rose continued. From what I've seen and heard Smiles will be a pragmatic amalgam of philosophy, psychology and development techniques so structured as to offer positive change in abilities and outlook for anybody who's interested. When put into operation it will enable - not force or guarantee - people to Muster, to achieve substantial personal goals and contribute to the betterment of society. I also see Smiles as a way of living that helps you when you help yourself. All round, very becoming."
~
"Interesting - in theory," Andrew remarks. "However they've got a long way to go to put it into practice."
"Yes, but if they could make Smiles work, then 10 Q would be feasible?"
"Possibly… perhaps probabl
y," he concedes, "but how to construct and make it work - that's monumental. And imponderable," he adds, wishing he could scratch his head.
"That will follow, but the concept of a workable Smiles is Rung 'B' of the Frip Ladder, from which Rung 'A' (10Q) can be reached. We are progressing, now we have to see how Rung 'B' can be reached." She notices a hint of the muscles itching at the corners of his mouth.
CHAPTER 22 Smiles - beaming
"You are right Andrew," Christiana agrees. "They did have a long way to go. The 'hard yards' and 'hard yakka' as Yvonne and Pip would say. Through their experiences they knew that the difficulty of implementing any change would be proportional to its value. And of course if it had been easy it would have been done long ago."
"Quite so. I can't wait to see how these geniuses - or are they mavericks? - conjure up the content of this Smiles."
~
Pip spoke to viewers. "This film would be exceedingly long if we went through all the detail of our discussions, wrangles, detours and even occasional reversals. So we'll save you the pain, give you a summary and then go straight to the final distilled result.
"Towards the end of our Hebridean sessions, in the latter part of 1AB, the backbone of Smiles had shaped up as an eclectic mix of Western philosophies supplemented by Eastern techniques, aspects of psychological input derived from self-image psychology and cognitive behavioural theory, components of personal development practice, and elements of health plans. The 'package' included use of modern technologies such as computer programs, mind-body equipment and networking systems. It aimed at action, pragmatism, practical achievable results and simple, down-to-earth sensible guidelines for living.
"The object was to bring out abilities that lie dormant in all of us and can be accessed and used to benefit ourselves and others. It had to be attractive so as to interest people, simple to understand and learn, and powerful and effective to deliver the results we sought. A message and a plan for the person-in-the-street who might say: