Let every year make you a better person.
Benjamin Franklin
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Key
Stories and Articles
An important
facet of All Around is learning to do more good. The
following materials all provide insight into patterns that limit
the good that people do, or else new patterns that can allow them
to do more good. Reading them is a start. But
greater value comes through using them to reflect on your life, and
then having a discussion with others
who are interested in learning to do more good. The greatest
value
comes through using or creating structures that embody the
principles that the materials illustrate.
Two Important Cartoons
Sometimes one cartoon is worth a thousand words. Both of these
cartoons capture some of the essence of this approach to change.
Stories
Goodness Invitation Stories These are a group of four very short stories meant to
spark a desire to learn to do more good. One is about three environmentalists, one who does far more good than the other two.
The Gun Angel This
fictional story describes how one person switched their life and
compassion into high gear. It's another way of illustrating
the attitude of surgeons who don't settle for any technique, but
instead, automatically seek and use the best techniques and
methods.
The Nine Beggars and the Deed to the Farm (a parable) Since
you are being offered something of great value, you
will be like one of the people in this story.
The Joy of Really Knowing that You Helped (a short story with
discussion questions) A sobering story that reveals many ways people who sincerely want
to help others do great harm. Anyone who wants to learn to
do more good will find this story thought-provoking.
One Person's Suffering (a story with commentary)
A true story of a girl's rape and torture. It's too late
to help her. But contemplating this story and how people use
stories like this can help you do the kind of good that will prevent
greater evil and harm in the future.
The Dam A story that illustrates the Golden Rule 2.0 in action.
In Which Mitonimic Almost Beheads the
Self-Help Authors of the World An amusing story
with a very serious message about learning and changing.
Learn why self-help materials and programs often cause very little
change.
The Riddle of the Donkeys (a parable with
commentary) This parable provides some insight into why
people often vehemently disagree about how to go about solving the
world's problems.
Articles
The Recipe for Goodness Although a seemingly
simple concept, this "recipe" idea of goodness is far
more refined than the primitive notion that goodness is simply doing helpful actions.
Anne's Journal This journal is based on the story on the Home Page called
The Story of Anne and Diane. It can help you understand how a person can do a tremendous amount of good without
spending much more time than the average volunteer.
The 22 Stages of
"Real-Life" Learning In classrooms,
students seem to learn in a straightforward manner. But left
on their own, they often take the scenic route. This is a
lighthearted look at how people often learn.
Humanity's Chance to Complete the Code of Life If
an alien were to land and look at how humans behave, this is how
it might explain why there is so much
needless suffering.
What Your Life Depends On This essay
presents the Golden Rule 2.0
and a broader, more useful definition of peace.
The Roots of Suffering An article that discusses over 25 distinct roots of suffering,
then organizes most of them in four categories: a failure to perceive, a failure to care, a failure to understand and
a failure to act.
There are many other reflection-discussion-and-action materials
available to members. Yet these are some of the most
important ones.
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