TED Community » Andrew Horgan

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Peace, contemporary society, world religions, international development, yoga, meditation.

Talk to me about

Meditation, yoga, Buddhism, world religions, international development, society, peace, Food sutainability...

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: Looking to become a future TED speaker. Many questions!

  Jan 11 2012: Hi Nicole,
  
  I too would like to be a TED speaker. I have found that knowledge and passion are key to delivering a good presentation. Find your passion. What will excite you to spread the word about change?

• A comment on Conversation: Is there a framework for forgiving yourself?

  Oct 31 2011: I think the first step is to understand that we are human. Mistakes are common and (for some of us) frequent. In forgiving ourselves we must find compassion for ourselves. We can't find forgiveness externally it is inside all of us, that's the most difficult quest of all. Delving deep into ourselves for forgiveness. I think a good start is simply saying to ourselves, "I forgive me". Then taking the time to understand what that means. Learning and practicing meditation is a great way to sort these things a out at your pace and under your own comfort level.
  There are many people who can teach you this skill, locally and nationally.

• A comment on Conversation: What can we do to get our intelligentsia to focus on the major problems of our time?

  Oct 31 2011: Make it profitable...unfortunately.

• A comment on Conversation: How can the African diaspora help the continent?

  Oct 24 2011: Hello Oli,
  
  I'm trying to understand how an organized Diaspora can help Africa? I mean when people leave their roots for a better life, it's usually not in the name of a continent. It's to make a better life for their families. A truly noble but individual decision. It's been my experience that once things get "organized" the original meaning gets lost. I think that Diaspora is a natural progression that has been a part of development throughout history.

• A reply on Conversation: What is your favorite quote?

  Oct 22 2011: My pleasure...good luck in your quest.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: What is your favorite quote?

  Oct 21 2011: The last of the human dignities...is to choose your attitude.
  -Victor Frankel

• A comment on Conversation: How does meditation affect down syndrome individuls?

  Oct 21 2011: I teach yoga and meditation to military veterans with disabilities. Everything from amputations to TBI and PTSD. I believe that meditation in this special needs community gives back control. Control of their bodies, control of their thoughts (including control over debilitating memories of war). It centers them and grounds them in a way that helps organize their minds the way they are comfortable with. In this center they slowly begin to sort out the past, present and future. They see the problems of the mind and filter out the memories and thoughts that are really shackling them to traumatic events in their lives. Once these events are filtered out and identified, they can come to understanding them and placing them in a different priority of their past, present and future. One of the biggest things I'm told is that they finally "Accept Themselves"...or understand maitri. That is their enlightenment.
  I know that our special needs groups are different but the goals are the same. Calming the mind, cultivating mindfulness, loving kindness, compassion in any person is the goal. I think any mind can understand that.

• A comment on Conversation: Should there be different religions and castes? Is it time to think big and accept humanity as a religion?

  Oct 21 2011: Does the ending of, or the, homogenation of religion also dispose of faith and the belief of something bigger than ourselves? Not neccessarily a heaven or hell concept but more of world hunger and the faith that it will be resolved. I don't believe that discrimination comes from religions, it comes from the hearts and minds of people using religion as justification. There are many more people of faith that don't discriminate than do.
  Religions are cultural, just as food traditions, dances and languages are. I don't think creating one type of food will solve heartburn or creating one type of dance with solve my two left feet. Nor do I think having one language will solve the misunderstandings of communication.