UBUNTU 🐊
A FASCINATING PHILOSOPHY OR A WAY OF LIFE?
Today‘s post is inspired by an amazing podcast that was recommended to me recently. I had a headache that wanted to spiral into a migraine so I could not listen at the time.
A couple of days later I started and it was absolutely riveting. I had to listen in two parts as I was invited to go out that evening when I started it. I did briefly consider canceling my dinner - it was that good.
In this podcast (just skip the first unnerving minutes of ads) between Tim Ferriss and Boyd Varty - which is one of the best I have heard in a very long time - I heard the word UBUNTU for the first time and I am fascinated. The amazing story I am referencing starts at about minute 58, albeit I encourage you to listen to the complete podcast.
“I am because we are”
Zulu: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”
In other words, a person is a person through other people.
This is the short and sweet of this beautiful philosophy of Ubutu, which instantly filled me with joy and resonated with me just as quickly.
This philosophy is so simple and feels so pure in many ways that it is something worth exploring and in part also worth embracing. Isn’t it funny how things seem to come into your life at just the right time?
Essentially it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility and mutual support. Something that we sadly appear to be losing in our western and so-called “civilised” world.
I am most certainly not speaking of socialism that the left is screaming for but of this sense of community, the sense of empathy and caring that we are often lacking. Unfortunately everything good can be twisted and abused for evil and Unbuntu is no exception.
The way I understand it, Ubuntu is a very simple concept that essentially incorporates all things good. We are all in this together and there is an interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals everywhere. It begins the day we are born. We need others to become someone. We need others to learn how to walk, how to talk, how to dance, how to be. One beautiful example is that most of us are at our happiest when others are happy too.
I am not claiming that Ubuntu is the solution for all that is wrong in this world - unfortunately there is no simple solution - yet it is a powerful and simple approach to how we can see the world and how we may want to live our lives.
I believe there is Ubuntu in everyone in one way or another, even if some people have buried it very deep down inside of them.
True self is non-self, the awareness that the self is made only of non-self elements. There's no separation between self and other, and everything is interconnected. — Thich Nhat Hanh
🎶My Song for you
It is a song that makes me want to move… Electric Light Orchestra - All Over The World
For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!
📚My Poem for you
Is by Robert William Service (1874 – 1958)
My Inner Life
Tis true my garments threadbare are,
And sorry poor I seem;
But inly I am richer far
Than any poet's dream.
For I've a hidden life no one
Can ever hope to see;
A sacred sanctuary none
May share with me.
Aloof I stand from out the strife,
Within my heart a song;
By virtue of my inner life
I to myself belong.
Against man-ruling I rebel,
Yet do not fear defeat,
For to my secret citadel
I may retreat.
Oh you who have an inner life
Beyond this dismal day
With wars and evil rumours rife,
Go blessedly your way.
Your refuge hold inviolate;
Unto yourself be true,
And shield serene from sordid fate
The Real You.
👀Impression
This stunning morning shot from my balcony…
What is your take on Ubuntu? Just a philosophy or a way of life?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, leave a ❤️ or send me a message. I always love hearing from you.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend wherever you are.
Yours
Tanja 🤗
PS. You can now also find my podcast on Spotify
Change & Evolve and feel free to get in touch
first reference I saw to Ubuntu was when the Linux operating system flavor of the same name was sending out free installation CDs on request.
they explained the origin of the name and that the all-for-one concept suited what they wanted to provide as an open source OS.
back in the 1990s, I think.
while Ubuntu has somewhat turned into the Windows of Linux (ridiculously high requirements for hardware, tons of preinstalled bloatware, sign in requests) they're still free and open source, and one of the easier to install plug and play Linux flavors.
I realize that's sort of off topic and sort of on topic.
more off topic, Red Hat Linux was still free back then (and included an awesome "redneck" language selection in their text based installer, specifying steps like "put that there shiny coaster in the pop out drink holder on your computer.") Red Hat is interesting in that they're the only company I know of to make any significant amount of money selling an open source OS. they managed that by selling dedicated tech support to businesses for their flavor of Linux.