reflections on Goa

Tue Oct 5 21:05:08 PDT 2004

Mine too does not seem to have made it to the list..........here's what I wrote...........

Indeed it was lovely......Goa, the sea, a Bollywood film being shot on the beach (did you arrange that also Janet?)........with actresses in bikinis gyrating repeatedly to a tune for more than 4 hours at last count......Boy!! Do they need to work for that money?? And nobody talks of exploitation of women......Strange world we live in!!!

Anyway to come to the OSonOs; I discovered that Harrison was not an electron but actually exists and is a long lost brother in spirit. So my trip was fulfilled almost before it started. All the rest was a bonus. And indeed that was plenty of that.

Meeting so many fellow OpenSpacers (is that legit?) from so many places in the world. Doing all sorts of wonderful and crazy things. Some I laughed with. Some I cried with. Some I was awed by. Some ......there are always many kinds of people.

Once again for me, the effectiveness of the Technology part of the OST was reinforced. This is a marvelous method and Harrison is a genius and all people who do OS are wonderful.

One disconnect: There were repeated calls from 2-3 people who felt that what was happening in Goa was more a networking socializing thing and had no real purpose other than that. This they felt was a waste of talent and ability collected there. 

On the face of it, this seemed valid. Until I had a thought: OS in practice is all about clearly defined purpose. The entire session is around a theme which relates to a definite business problem / issue. So there's no problem there.

An OSonOS is however all about re-connecting of OS Professionals. It is a home-coming,  a battery charging, a meeting, a reinforcing of ideas, sharing of challenges and rejuvenating of strength and energy. That is its purpose and "business problem / issue." So it is not a purposeless and social gathering.

The problem I believe is that this is not clear to some people, especially those who are new to OS and come to an OSonOS as their first (or almost first) experience. This can create a sense of  - "I did not get what I was looking for and so I am disappointed. " I believe this is avoidable if we clear this especially for people who may be coming for the first time.

More later. Have to run now

Yawar
Mirza Yawar Baig
President, Yawar Baig & Associates

Telephone: + 91 40 23376563
Fax & Voicemail: + 91 40 23372526
Mobile: + 91 98490 38258
URL: www.yawarbaig.com

"Change is inevitable. Progress is optional."
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Raffi Aftandelian 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 2:57 PM
  Subject: reflections on Goa

  Hi folks!
  I'm reposting this because it didn't seem to make the listserv...
  Raffi
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Raffi Aftandelian 
  To: OSLIST 
  Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 1:01 PM
  Subject: reflections on Goa

  Hi all! 
  I wanted to put in my few words about Goa. It was all I could have wished for and more. It was funny how after the first day I was sad that the OSonOS would be over in two days. By the end of the second day, I was very full, so full that I felt too tired to carry on with the 4th (!) topic I'd posted-- "Personal preparation for OST". One of the Indian participants (Khosro, I believe-- I mix up his name because there's a Persian analog of his name) who'd never been to an OST meeting before, however was curious about this topic. And it was curious to be the one imparting information about OST. Prior to that I'd be the one doing the "downloading", listening to more experienced OST practitioners, challenging them (gently), asking questions. Now, of course, any human exchange is a lot more complex and curious than either "downloading" or "uploading".

  I took lots of notes and hope to type them up, much to digest for a while. It's hard even to imagine going to Halifax for now. There was so much from this event, and so much ahead in my personal life as many at the event learned.

  One of the interesting learnings was hearing how Seattle folks, or more precisely the Spiritedwork community there, include the Fourfold Way in opening space. I realized that there were certain OST meetings in the past where I definitely could have used those four practices. As I keep on hearing about the Fourfold Way I realize that it can no longer be a book gathering dust in a box. I need to bring those practices into my life. 

  One thing I somehow never got to say to you Harrison, but I did when we hugged upon meeting on Day One, was how grateful I am to you (and Spirit) for bringing OST to our Now and for bringing OS principles into our consciousness. It is such a gift.

  And I am so grateful for Janet Pinto's work in making this OSonOS possible. There were so many touches that just left me very grateful. So much care, thoroughness, and thoughtfulness went into the meeting. While I know that some participants felt awkward about the inclusion of the Ganesha celebration in the OSonOS - which I understand-- I really appreciated the invitation to participate in the celebration. And I really valued hearing the story of Ganesha.

  I left feeling much more confident in my abilities as an OST facilitator.

  Side remark to all: Shabbir looks like my father; and Zachary looks like my brother!!

  Also I want to express my thanks to OSI-USA for making it possible to come to Goa. A real gift. I'll be typing up my notes into Russian and sharing them with the OST world here.

  Warmly from a Moscow bursting with autumn colors (after a beautiful run in Sokolniki Park-- where the tsar and his buddies went falcon hunting in the good old days),
  Raffi
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