Peter Moranga – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Peter Moranga (Kenya)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

“This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much-written-upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that they themselves are makers of themselves. By virtue of the thoughts, which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.”

“Thought is the fount of action, life, and manifestation; make the fountain pure, and all will be pure.”
“Such is the conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within himself the laws of thought; which discovery is totally a matter of application, self analysis, and experience.”

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not co-operate with it.”

“Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.“

“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.”

“As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss.”

“By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life.”

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. You should never be afraid to learn, you never know what more you’ll discover.

By mastering our thoughts, we can change our lives. Ever sat and wondered what makes us humans what we are? It’s a puzzling question, so here’s a clue to start you off: man is the sum of his thoughts.

ii. Just as a plant sprouts from a tiny seed, each action we perform is an outgrowth of our thoughts.

From these actions, patterns emerge. In turn, these patterns come to constitute our character. Our character or personality begins with our thoughts. But why is this important?

iii. Relationships

Well, have you ever known someone who always seemed to give up on projects or relationships, and at the same time had a pretty pessimistic attitude? You guessed it: those two things; attitude and action. Are closely related. Underachievers tend to disappoint themselves because they think very little of themselves to begin with. Attitude problems often snowball and have severe consequences. Yet, there’s a very simple solution.

iv. Our thoughts shape of our Character.

If our thoughts shape our character, it’s only logical that changing our thoughts will change our character, too. By changing the nature of their thoughts, pessimistic people might find that they have a bit more to smile about. Anyone who attempts to master his thoughts can do much more than eliminate negative character traits. By working on his thoughts the right way, an individual can even obtain what the author refers to as Divine Perfection. In other words, by weeding out bad or useless thoughts, a person can bring joy, strength, peace and wisdom to his life.

Those are some pretty attractive benefits! So why not start mastering your thoughts today? The alternative, after all, isn’t pretty. Unmanaged thoughts can make you into your biggest obstacle; negative attitudes literally have the power to destroy the things you cherish and love.

v. The world we live in doesn’t just shape us; we shape it, too!

Ever failed miserably at something and blamed it on the weather, the unpleasant phone call you had with your mother that day or on some particularly nasty childhood experience? Blaming failure on external factors is something we’re all guilty of. It might make us feel better, but it only sets us back.

vi. Our circumstances

That is, all those external factors that impact our lives are closely linked to our character. But they aren’t linked in the way you might first assume. It’s all too easy to think that our experiences and our living conditions shape who we are. But the truth is: we shape our world just as much as it shapes us!

vii. Work toward better health and other goals by cultivating positive thoughts.

Some of us age gracefully, while some of us – to put it lightly! – do not. Bad habits, lack of access to healthcare and unfortunate genes all play a role. But there’s one factor we often forget to consider: our attitude. We’ve already seen what a powerful influence our thoughts have on both our character and the conditions we face. It should come as no surprise, then, that our thoughts impact our bodies, too. Unhappy thoughts have a slew of unfortunate side effects: a higher heart rate, poorer sleep, headaches, and yes, wrinkles from all that frowning!

viii. We are solely responsible for our ability to succeed, so dream big!

In the second blink, we learned that external factors aren’t to blame for the way we are or the mistakes we make. This may seem like a great burden, however. Are we solely to blame for our failures?
This doesn’t seem like a very helpful attitude, so let’s change our perspective. If we think we’re being victimized, we’re bound to feel and act like victims, and continue being oppressed. Yet, if we don’t let ourselves feel like victims, it’s harder for others to make us their victims. Therefore, it’s crucial that we understand that our ability to free ourselves lies in our hands.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

This book is a nice one because it is talking about our thinking which makes us who we are.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.”

“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”

“impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances: thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence: lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution: selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing. On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom: energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness:”

“The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”

“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?

It is a handy book and in simple language to understand.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book helps us to discover ourselves and our potentials.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

No comment the book is well understood.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Peter Moranga (Kenya)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Jonathan’s Desire for Flight Mastery:In Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the story begins with a young seagull named Jonathan who has a strong desire to master flying. Unlike other seagulls who fly just to gather food, Jonathan values the art of flying for its own sake. He spends countless hours practicing, pushing his limitations to achieve extraordinary speeds and acrobatic maneuvers. However, his passion for flying is misunderstood by the rest of his flock, who consider it foolish and irresponsible.

Jonathan’s obsession for mastery goes to such an extent that he becomes alienated from the flock. Ignoring the primal urge for food, Jonathan is deemed as a rebel, a disgrace to the group. Inevitably, he is banished from the flock, forced to spend his life in solitude. Nevertheless, the isolation doesn’t deter him. He remains focused and continues with his flying practice, realizing that he is bestowed with a gift that transcends the ordinary.

Enlightenment and a New Purpose: In solitude, Jonathan achieves immense progress in his flight skills, defying all primordial set limitations. One day, he’s visited by two radiant gulls who escort him to a higher plane of existence, known as “the other side”. Here, he meets other gulls like him, who value flying as he does. They guide him, teaching him about love, kindness, and the purpose of life. It’s here that Jonathan truly discovers his potential and learns that heaven is not a place, but a state of being.

Having learned and progressed, Jonathan is filled with an intense desire to share his enlightenment. He wishes to return to his old flock and guide other misunderstood gulls. After sharing his idea with the Elders, though they find it dangerous, they don’t stand in his way. Thus, Jonathan embarks on a new journey, leaving his newfound paradise to serve a purpose greater than his individualistic pursuit.

The Return and Trials of Teaching: Upon returning to his old flock, Jonathan starts teaching his knowledge to others. He begins with Outcasts and Bummels who were also banished from the flock. He trains them to aspire for more than mere survival and to experience the joy of unhindered flight. This draws attention, attracting other gulls from the flock who dare to question conformity and the set norms.

However, the road to imparting knowledge isn’t easy. The vast majority of the flock deems Jonathan and his students as a threat to the societal constructs, remaining stuck in their old ways of living. Despite the resistance, those who understand and imbibe Jonathan’s teachings considerably enhance their flying skills and experience a life much richer than before.

The Cycle Continues: The book ends with similar patterns repeating. The flock banishes Jonathan’s students, just as they had done with Jonathan. However, they, guided by Jonathan’s teachings, continue pursuing their love for flying. The cycle of pursuing mastery, experiencing enlightenment, teaching, and facing exile, points towards the continual struggle against conformity.

In conclusion, Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a rich metaphorical tale about an individual’s pursuit of excellence, desire for knowledge, and the determination to teach against habitual barriers. It teaches us about self-realization, breaking norms, finding purpose, and the pursuit of perfection for personal satisfaction beyond societal acceptance.

You should never be afraid to learn, you never know what more you’ll discover.

i. Open your mind, be curious; stay curious. Ask questions.

ii. Although Jonathan was awesome, he wasn’t immune to self-doubt and sad moments. Even the best of the best have anxious moments but still move forward.

iii. He sought to teach others and share what he knew even when others were against him and he was considered an outcast by his very own ‘gull community. He showed forgiveness, and with forgiveness, we let off massive weights of hatred from us that may not let us move forward.

iv. If you want to succeed, to do something you find impossible or difficult, the trick is to know that you have already arrived or achieved it.

v. Have a limitless mindset and be teachable.

vi. Learn to love and show kindness. Learn it. It gets difficult to show love after we have gone through so much hardship, but you can always learn and learn again how to show love.

vii. Do not let the words of others get to you.

viii. Never let the accolades get to your head either. Jonathan accepted the praises other seagulls gave to him but only for a minute. Then he moved on and continued to practice.

ix. He believed so much in practice making perfect.

x. Jonathan didn’t want to be eulogized as a god but instead wanted others to know he was an ordinary gull who made things happen, giving them hope that they too could make things happen and find more meaning and freedom in their life.

xi. When people don’t understand you, they either call you a devil or a god. But your duty is to keep showing up and being better than your previous self.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

This ideas will help me understand that there is nothing can limit my capacity I am able to fly higher and higher to achieve my dreams.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly. You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”

“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed. And that isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there. Jonathan sighed. The price of being misunderstood, he thought. They call you devil or they call you god.”

“Overcome space, and all we have left is Here. Overcome time, and all we have left is Now.
Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, Jonathan would say, other times, is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”

“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”

“Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect. And that isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”

“He spoke of very simple things that it is right for a gull to fly, that freedom is the very nature of his being, that whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form. Set aside, came a voice from the multitude, even if it be the Law of the Flock? The only true law is that which leads to freedom, Jonathan said. There is no other.”

“Why, Jon, why? his mother asked. Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon? Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the alhatross? Why don’t you eat? Son, you’re bone and feathers! I don’t mind being bone and feathers mom. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t, that’s all. I just want to know.”

“Sully,for shame! Jonathan said in reproach, and don’t be foolish! What are we trying to practice everyday? If our friendship depends on things like space and time, we’ve destroyed our own brotherhood! But overcome space, and all we have left is Here. Overcome time, and all we have left is Now. And in the middle of Here and Now, don’t you think that we might see each other once or twice?”

“Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s reason to live! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can learn to be free! We can learn to fly!”