Between East & West: Former President of Bosnia

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Hello,

Sometime ago, I read (parts of) the book “Islam Between East & West” by the late former Bosnian President, Alija Izetbegovic (1984, American Trust Publications, ISBN: 0-89259-057-2). I must admit it wasn’t the easiest of reads as it appears to be a real in-depth journey into his mind and the reconciliation between his identity, philosophies, nationality and faith. So, I’m glad he summarised the work in his autobiographical notes: “Inescapable Questions” (2003, The Islamic Foundation, ISBN: 0-86037-362-2) so that I may represent the summary here for your convenience (pp 26-29):

“My aim with that book was to consider the place of Islam in the present-day world of ideas and facts. It appeared to me that it lay somewhere between Eastern and Western thinking, just as the geographical position of the Muslim world occupies the space on the globe between East and West. I tried to show that some general ideas and some values are common to all humanity. To summarise briefly, these are the contents of the book: there are only three world views and more there cannot be - the religious, the materialist and the Islamic.

Everything is created in pairs (Qur’an). Man is a dual being: body and soul. The body is merely the ‘carrier’ of the soul. That carrier has evolved, which means it has a history, but the soul has not; it was inspired by the touch of God.

The first aspect of mankind is the subject of science, the second of religion, art and ethics. This is why there are two accounts and two truths about mankind.

In the Western world, they are symbolised by Darwin and Michelangelo. Darwin has nothing to about Michelangelo’s man, and vice versa. Their truths are different, but not mutually exclusive. Over time they manifest themselves as the opposition of civilisation and culture. Science and technology belong within the domain of civilisation, religion and art to culture. The first is the expression of human needs (how do I live), the second of human aspirations (why do I live). This is the contradiction between utopia and drama.

Utopia does not recognise the individual, drama, morality. Study and meditation are two different spiritual activities, with opposing foci: the first is outwardly oriented - towards nature, the second inwardly - towards the spirit and the Self.

Every scientific method leads towards a negation of God and man, whilst all art announces religion. If there is no God, there is no Mankind either. And without mankind humanism, human dignity and human rights are empty phrases.

Civilisation knows nothing of the notion of duty, and every culture is an affirmation of the victim. Civilisations aim is an ‘earthly empire’ with utopian equality, and religion’s is the ‘kingdom of heaven’. This is Campanella’s ‘Civitas Solis‘ as against the ‘Civitas Dei‘ of St. Augustine. Their is no moral order without God. Morality is merely ‘another physical condition’ of religion. While civilisation is evolution; history, religion and art have no true development.

Every religion was pure in its origins (ur-monotheism). It becomes corrupted in the course of its history, as is the case with art and morality; hence the opposition between Jesus and the Church. Every true law is dual, and medicine is never purely science.

Caveman’s drawings or the aboriginal masks from Polynesia are in essence works of art no less stirring than modern creations. The whole of life is marked by this primary dualism, and its ’signs’ may be found in every phenomenon linked with the name of man. Here too is the difference in spirit between Old and New Testament, between Moses and Jesus. One was leader of the people, the other a preacher of morality. And there, too, lie their two different justices and aims: the Promised Land and the Kingdom of Heaven.

These opposites are reconciled in mankind and in Islam. Islam is a synthesis, the ‘third way’ between these two poles that denote all that is human.

I must admit that I was afraid of experts and their reading of the book ‘line by line’. I felt confident that a reader who followed the vision outlined in rough, or even hinted at, in the book would find something more in it than the pedantic, analytical mind. I was aware that my attempt at stating my vision remained understated, merely conjectural, and in places incoherent. I gave a number of familiar concepts a metaphorical rather than conventional meaning: Judaism, Christianity, Islam and so on are metaphors, with general rather than specific meaning. For example, Islam is a major metaphor for the ‘third way’, for every form of life, with a formula that fulfils the human person. In fact, the book was no more than testimony to a vision of the world.

I enjoyed identifying new parallels, theses and antithesis, coincidence and symmetries, but this was not the subject that interested me most deeply. There was one issue that always preoccupied me more than any other: the issue of famous losers. I regarded it then, and regard it to this day, as the deepest religious problem. It can be posited in a number of different ways: whence the tragic and pathos in the Darwinian-Euclidian world? What are the great losers like, and why do we admire them so if this life is the only one we have? Were Antigone, Socrates and Jesus really losers? And if so, why are they so great in our eyes?

What is the origin of our admiration for the fallen heroes that has accompanied us ever since the pre-historical Iliad and The Epic of Gilgamesh? Do not even films such as cheap Westerns exploit our innate sympathy for the victim (that is, for losers) and resistance to the calculated, to self-interest? Sympathy for the victim is not something we can find in the intellect, but only in the soul, by which I mean, essentially, that is not ‘of this world’. And I say sympathy, not understanding, for this is not, and cannot be, understanding.

No amount of reasoning, cogitation and sagacity can explain or justify a single case of a life sacrificed for justice and truth. Something that is very close and comprehensible to every human soul eludes examination by all our science and philosophy. Between the act approved and the approbation there is no mediation of reflection, no apportionment of reasons pro et con. It may even be said that there is no time lapse. It is the instant reaction of the soul to good and justice, to something that is identical to the soul itself. In the world that atheists regard as the one and only, the tragic and tragedy are impossible. In such a world there are only incidents and misfortunes.

In this mindset, tragedy manifests itself to us as a religious parable. In tragedy, villains fall on their feet and great and sincere souls suffer. And because there is no ‘intellectual’ operation to proclaim these eternal losers as mad and demented, the entire story, and in particular its tragic end, appears to us as merely the first act of a greater drama - one that only God could think up. For suffering and death - which are the end of everything to the intellect - are here merely an interval between two acts in a continuing drama. Our admiration and sympathy for the fallen hero are completely meaningless from the intellectual point of view, but for that reason - whether we are aware of it or not - it is deeply religious. For only in such experiences do death and failure or loss have an entirely different meaning.

I dedicated many pages of Islam Between East and West to this question, seeking to resolve it in a variety of ways, but I was never wholly satisfied with the answer. It continues to preoccupy me to this day.”

Time Part 2: The Paradoxes of Our Times.

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Hi,

Yesterday we saw the European Elections results revealed, with a disappointing result for my home area, the Northwest of England, where the British National Party gained 1 seat, and 2 seats nationally. This only happened due to the terrible results of Labour, as the BNP did not gain much ground beyond their 2004 election results. Now Nick Griffin is an MEP even though he won fewer than he did 5 years ago: the slump in Labour support meant its share of the vote increased.

This is an interesting feature: a party that does not allow black members has become part of the European Parliament. The Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman described the BNP result as “terrible”.

But I think that this is another wake-up call for the rest of us peace-seeking citizens who believe in plurality, multi-culturism and co-existence. Remember how George W Bush and his cronies did their best to smear the hardworking citizens of many countries and attempted to curtail many civilian rights and freedoms that were enshrined in the First Amendment, The Geneva Convention and the like? But it didn’t last so long, did it? Despite Tony Blair, the then British Prime Minister saying that “we are in this for the long haul”. Forgive me for sounding dismissive of such tripe, but times change frequently, however the absolute truth is unerring and must always prevail: this is what it means to be principled and to stick to true, lasting and higher values.

We are surrounded by contradictions in our societies and the world-over so it is important to have knowledge and self-understanding to help steer through the difficult times. Most around the world marvelled at the victory of the black President Barack Hussein Obama: of black and white descent, of Muslim values and Christian belief systems, and of Eastern and Western heritage. He continues to bridge the gulf between various conflicting parties both in his homeland as well as overseas. Let’s see some of his recent remarks in the Cairo speech:

We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world — tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim—majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam. “

“So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end.”

“I’ve come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”

“There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, “Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.” That is what I will try to do today — to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.”

“As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam — at places like Al-Azhar — that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities — it was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

“In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President, John Adams, wrote, “The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.” And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, they have served in our government, they have stood for civil rights, they have started businesses, they have taught at our universities, they’ve excelled in our sports arenas, they’ve won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers — Thomas Jefferson — kept in his personal library”

“So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”

“Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words — within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum — “Out of many, one.”

“So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.

“Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.”

“For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.”

“And this is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes — and, yes, religions — subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; our progress must be shared.

And on it goes, covering off thoughts, directions and plans on the following 7 aspects:

1.    “The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
2.    The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
3.    The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
4.    The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
5.    The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
6.    The sixth issue that I want to address is women’s rights.
7.    Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.”

“It’s easier to start wars than to end them. It’s easier to blame others than to look inward. It’s easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There’s one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn’t new; that isn’t black or white or brown; that isn’t Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It’s a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It’s a faith in other people, and it’s what brought me here today”

“We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.”

The Holy Quran tells us, “O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.”

The Talmud tells us: “The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.”

The Holy Bible tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

“The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God’s peace be upon you. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

We all await to see if these words are mere sentiments or an honest call for earnest action. I think that we all need to see that higher purpose and values can manifest through well-meaning people, otherwise we have nothing to solid to hold onto, except assured belief. But Belief without purposeful action is insufficient to meet the needs of people. And so the struggle continues, as it has always been intended by the Creator, for each and every one of us to rise-up to the challenges of the day and fulfill our duties and inherent potential. To give back to others as we have taken, and add a little more to the stock of good hope and collective well-being.

This is how the racist and fascists in our societies will be defeated. We all need to understand ourselves and each other much better. Through such common fraternity we can take bold decisions that re-maps our world. And through selfless service - sharing with others the best of what we have - we can help people make insightful distinctions on aspects of higher value, values and issues pertaining to:

Right / Wrong : Good / Evil : Hope / Despair : Prosperity / Poverty : Progress / Regress

Life is about struggle it always has been and will always remain as such, for this is within the Grand Master Scheme of the Great Architect of the Universe. There must be constant and continuous improvement as this will surely help - help make sense and decrease the contradictions that exist in our world. The clock is ticking, so how are you deciding to contribute…?

For Success and Contentment,

Asad Khan

PS Last night we also witnessed the last episode of this years BBC’s series of The Apprentice . Interestingly, Sir Alan said it was the “Toughest decision ever made in this boardroom” (that he was faced with) / “Between the best I’ve ever had here” (2 distinguished ladies, Jasmina and Kate). Get the MPPPL workbook and help yourself to shift further.

A Word from Asad Khan

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Hi,

I thought I’d make the audio transcript available here on the blog so that it’s more accessible to others.

Welcome to Ark2Ark! Let me begin by thanking you for taking a moment to listen to this introduction.

Ark2Ark is the place where you can feel at ease and be assured in the knowledge that you are coming into contact with valuable insights to help you move further, grow bigger, act better, get clarity and feel more centred and certain about the situations facing you and those around you.

Hi, my name is Asad Khan - and you know throughout my academic, professional, business and community life, I have dealt with a wide variety of people who talk about a range of issues that they are confronted with: be that in their organisations, their teams, their businesses, their study or work place, social circles, community and faith groups or even their families.

And I often wonder how the people seek to resolve their issues and move forward. After 12 years of being at the forefront of many diverse projects in an array of settings, my primary interests now are:

a) To understand the coping mechanisms of people who wish to excel in their field of ambition; and
b) To identify the critical features that distinguishes the ones who really make a mark for themselves - from those who just pass through time without really paying attention to their self-worth, destiny or legacy.

As you aware, we are now living in a global economy where the exchange of ideas, news, trade, people and culture are moving at rapid speeds and more than ever before, it seems clear to me that those who are keen to make significant progress in our times are the ones who get ahead of the rest by structuring key strategies into their mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual patterns.

I think you will agree, that we are all facing challenges at multiple levels of our everyday lives – whether that be dealing with customers & clients; patients & colleagues; relatives or spouses; friends & neighbours; public authorities or others…right through to the other side, where one needs to get clear their own career aspirations & promotion; finances & health fitness; lifestyle habits; relationships & companionship; learning & contribution; and sense of purpose.

This I think is the dilemma of our times – and we are, as the Chinese saying goes, “living in interesting times”. I mean take a look around you and you’ll see we’re making great advances in areas such as science & technology, media, transport and construction, yet at the same time so many of us seem to lack the recognition of vital factors such as higher purpose, values and judgements.

This makes me want to strive to understand not only human needs and motivation, but also the prominent features that stifle progress and harmony in all areas of our lives.

The reasons for this is as you can see: that for some their material resources far outweighs their spiritual resourcefulness, so they begin to feel a sense of urgency to get clear on what their actual aims of life are, and how they can make meaningful contributions back to others; this way they aim to feel truly fulfilled.

Yet with others, their emotional wellness seems to be far greater than their material bank, but then they may find it hard to manifest their inner yearnings into the practical world.

I’d like you to understand that at any given moment in time a person is in one of two conditions: (a) fortunate; or (b) unfortunate. From my personal experiences, it isn’t always clear as to which category one may actually be in – however they may appear to be otherwise on the outside.

Take myself for example: I had everything going for me – career wise, social status, finances, professional credibility and a track record of achievement - till life dealt me another hand – and I ended-up losing a significant portion of those advantages that I took for granted.

In retrospection, life was teaching me major lessons - far greater than I had expected – and I am actually grateful for the opportunity to have been afforded the time for serious self-reflection and the space necessary to study my own value system.

This was a chance for me to really take stock of my experiences and begin to consider more carefully the full direction of my life and the features that are most important to me – such as

•    Time – Health – Family;
•    Skills Set – Goals – Abilities;
•    Opportunity to Give Back to Others;
•    Authentic Values & Overall Purpose.

What transpired as a result was Ark2Ark – and what it really is about is helping people - at every level of society - to get their personal balance right - so not only do they get on track to achieve their ambitions – but also feel complete whilst doing so.

Now I know the challenges are great - and so they require equally great solutions, and I believe this can only happen through a dialogue – an opening if you like.

We aim to help create the environment where you are given both the time and space to open-up to the challenges and face them authentically. The greater the scope of challenge around you, the deeper the moments of reflection that are required to muster-up the strategies to help solve and overcome them.

This is where you will be engaging your whole existence – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual centres to become focussed on achieving outstanding results.

That’s why we aim to help you get full alignment of your mind, body and soul so that you feel confident and comfortable with taking vital decisions that will affect any areas of concern, and also have a lasting positive impact on your future.

Remember, it was not long ago when Nelson Mandela was sitting in his prison looking out of the small cracks in the walls of his cell - having spent 26 harsh years for wanting to bring about a change in the condition of his people. But it wasn’t just the sunlight or air he was seeking through those gaps, he was envisioning his plans for materialising the dreams that he had incubated for several decades.

He is one living example of the power a person gets when living on purpose and with passion – and it is this inner world that I wish to demonstrate to you as the most potent and meaningful – because this is the place where the greatest and most profound transformation takes place first – and be sure to know that every human soul has the gift of choice in using it for their benefit.

So allow me to ask you this:– despite what you may have achieved so far; where you have been; whom you’ve interacted with; what you have done; or what you may acquired or amassed; what you may cherish, value or believe in – tell me in all truth and sincerity – is this all there is, or do you think there is more?

I, for one, would like you to think that there is more and to not have to settle with accepting anything less.

So really, my team and I help you to uncover the fundamentals of your being through asking searching questions in an attempt to help you to discern the reality around you.

And let me also add this: it doesn’t matter to me whether you are:-

•    the janitor of the building or the CEO of the blue chip company housed within it;
•    the student attending a place of learning or the specialist delivering the material;
•    the social entrepreneur wanting to make things happen or a national politician working to bring to the people what you claimed;
•    the home maker, professional, executive or anyone else –

In fact it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re tall or small; thin or large; dark or light; single or partnered; wealthy or impoverished; male or female or whatever -

For what truly matters to me is the place you are at right now – deep inside of you – and even more, the processes that you are undertaking to understand

  • Which side of the fence you wish to be & which way you wish to evaluate things?
  • What you are trying to achieve & what factors are your true callings?
  • How you wish to feel & how do you desire to be remembered?

It is this sense of meaning and interpretation of your surroundings that Ark2Ark offers individuals, teams, organisations and communities - at every level - unparalleled service and insights.

Combining time-tested skills from both eastern and western best practices, we are helping people to bridge the gap between the levels of mere sensory inputs and that of higher cognitive processing. We are here to help people come together on a shared platform of progress and harmony.

So, go ahead and get your workbook now - which details some key ideas for you to digest and raise awareness about the beauty and power of your uniqueness. Look around the site and when you are ready, join our online community where there are great conversations taking place from people around the world -  who have a chance to raise their voice and share their thoughts on 3 principal areas of:

  • Leadership and management;
  • Personal and social effectiveness; &
  • Health and Well-being

Once you have signed-up, be on the look-out for updates revealing information on forthcoming live events – as well as providing top tips aimed at bringing higher perspectives straight to you –equipping you with essential knowledge to help you advance further in the game of life with the,

Science of Success and the Art of Contentment!

Asad

What Proof Do You Have?

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Hi,

When most people have issues in their lives, they often base the aspects on a series of events: usually what someone said, how they said it, or the way something was done or how it was not done, etc. This leads to a train of thoughts repeating themselves in the head that creates anxiety and disturbances, which the person own themselves. You see, no one else can really dominate your head, its yours and no-one else’s, so why do many end up agonising so much about (a) other people’s issues, (b) what happened in the past, (c) mis-interpretating the actual event to suit our own inner voice?

Its because its convenient to do so. It’s easier to follow self-furnished notions and assumptions rather than approaching the source of the matter and deal with it thoroughly and clearly. This takes courage, sincerity, respect and courtesy. Wheareas living by assumptions makes us feel secure in our own little world to the extent that we develop a notion, or an assumption, into a living fact, without any actual eveidence for it. This is the base nature of man, and we cannot turn away from it, but rather have to acknowledge it and work on it.

This, in my analysis, is all what NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), Meditation, Prayer and a whole host of other therapy/coaching/personal development disciplines are concerned with. Dealing with:

  • Creating self-awareness, integrity and openness
  • Acknowledging one’s own limiting beliefs, values and assumptions
  • Expanding the Inner vision and developing an authentic voice
  • Getting to the source of problem on the inside & altering images/sounds/energy vibrations
  • Realigning the central nervous system so that it congruent and whole
  • Moving to better (higher) place of being, relating, seeing, perceiving, judging and living.

The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but representative of what it means to deal with self-made, mind-consuming assumptions.

Furthermore, the same is true of revealed faith and monotheistic religions. Essentially, they point out the wayward practices of those who design their lives on fanciful conjecture, tradition and habits of convenience.  Continuing from the chapter (68) quoted in the previous posting, let’s take a look at some of the latter verses:-

What is the matter with you? How judge ye?

Or have ye a book through which ye learn-

That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?

Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, (providing) that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand?

Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

Or have they some “Partners” (in Godhead)? Then let them produce their “partners”, if they are truthful!

Just as we tend to repeat the false notions of others in our minds, the same is true of our spiritual beliefs and practices: we tend to reject the avenue towards clarity and evidence-based spirituality and rather follow convenient mis-truths because we have a sense of security by being surrounded in their presence: idols, fetishes, priests, godlings, suspicions, omens, materialism, fellowship, intellect, science, art, construction, industry etc.

Do we stop and consider the whole order of the universe and our little place in it? Are the work of our minds, imaginations and hands nothing but lesser reflections of the great order of the universe. If so, why not acknowledge the Creator of the heavens and the earth for this great order and leave all other considerations aside? Convenience should not replace logic, proof, evidence, justice, rationale, and pure spirituality based on these aspects. This was the way of Father Abraham and this is the right way. All other ways are bound to lead to confusion and imbalance.

The first step towards FREEDOM is to question. Question:

  1. Yourself - the mind, body, soul and spirit, who’s controlling them?
  2. Your Existence - from whence and to where, and why are you here?
  3. Your Provision - who ultimately provides this for you?
  4. Your Relations - what do they really mean and do you honour any of them?
  5. Your Code of Conduct - who’s standards do you live by?
  6. Your Laws - Who says what’s allowed and what’s prohibited to you?
  7. Your Tastes - What are the boundaries and structures that define your choice of taste?
  8. Your Inheritance/Legacy - How are you linked before you and with generations after you?

Begin this honest questioning process with yourself and then once done, ask yourself this:

What are my foundations for these, i.e. by which Authority  do I claim such matters? Do I have a Book, a God-head, or any other higher authority that determines such matters for me, or am I just living by ’societal norms’ of which I am clueless as to who, or how, these norms have come into place.

Question, for it is the beginning of your journey and the end of fanciful assumptions.

“Ask, & you shall be answered,
Knock, & you shall be opened to,
Seek, & you shall find”

For Success and Contentment,

Asad Khan

Interview Notes of Asad Khan’s Biography & the Set-up of Ark2Ark Training & Coaching

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Ace

Hi,

I thought it would be good for you to know a little bit more about me and the the background to Ark2Ark Training & Coaching. So here’s the summary interview of my bio submitted to a local business magazine:

For over 14 years Asad Khan has been providing strategic leadership to individuals, groups, corporations, organisations and government agencies.

Asad Khan (PhD) has blue-chip corporate experience working alongside some of the world’s top scientist in the Research and Development Headquarters of the Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. He has been a consultant on technology and knowledge commercialisation projects to public institutions both governmental (Dept. of Trade and Industry, Regional Development Agencies, Local Authorities, etc.) and non-governmental (Academia) with Angle Technology Ltd. He has worked with Islamic Relief, an International Relief & Development NGO and through them, was involved in early post-war reconstruction work in Iraq in late 2003, as well as setting-up offices in Johannesburg, South Africa. He also has extensive experience of working with a variety of people and groups in voluntary capacities and has engaged in a number of projects that have impacted local communities.

Asad Khan has learnt powerful strategies, tools and techniques that can help people to evaluate their personal, professional and public pursuits in life. He works in ways which can help identify a person’s real talents, values and ambitions. Further, he can help crystallise these internal drivers and transmute them into solid plans so they create a compelling future in which the true life goals and purpose are being realised. No matter which level of standards one is currently living at, he believes there is every potential for personal growth with maximisation of ones abilities. He has the motivation and ingenuity to dispel fears and limiting belief patterns that hold people back from higher achievement and helps galvanise the forces that thrust their personal energies into desired directions. Commenting on his vision behind creating Ark2Ark Training & Coaching he says:

“I knew my strengths were always in thought-leadership, communication and resource mobilisation. It hit me right in my heart that such people skills were high on my personality listing. My job is to help discern the meaning behind events people face and get them into positive action, a mode of fulfilment and a commitment to higher levels of self-determination and actualisation. It upsets me to know that talented people can stroll through life only to reach a point of understanding where they query ‘Is this all there is?’ I want to shift this point of realisation to an earlier stage so that there is time to turn potential regrets into sources of inspiration and beneficial action.”

He has trained with world-class leaders in the field of personal development who have used their talents in transforming the lives of millions around the globe – both as individuals and corporate/organisation members including Anthony Robins, Paul McKenna and Christopher Howard as well as in-depth study of Stephen Covey’s work. He has, over the years, steadily built his own understandings and added his personal dimensions to the field. When asked about his route into strategic self-leadership coaching, he responded:

“We simply don’t give ourselves the chance to understand how we work; what makes us tick; how to get centred and look on the inside; how to grow to a level which enables us to let go of inconsequential things; how to appreciate the finer aspects of relationships and to expand our minds and hearts to embrace both minor or major matters of importance. Throughout the years I have gone through ‘traditional routes of progression’ in academia and professional endeavours only to realise that something deep was missing: a sense of self-belief and living on my purpose with true passion & contentment.”

His desire to break from monotony and social configuration led him through a period of self-analysis and reflection. Perhaps this is his key distinction – that he has personally walked through this process for himself and now supports other leaders and high achievers to step-up their game:

“I took a break from it all and threw everything I had into working out what the meaning of my life’s work was to be. I have to tell you this because despite being what appeared to be a rising professional, I knew that complacency and self-limiting beliefs would get in the way of my fulfilment and I had to ‘step out of the box’ - my comfort zone - in order to reflect and develop plans. See, initially I climbed the corporate & social ladder as a rising star tends to; then I came down a few rungs. And now I’ve gone back-up with greater perspectives. I can confidently say that I know what it means to be in the dark; be mediocre; settle for the ordinary; get socially, or corporately, scripted and even get pre-occupied with matters of insignificance. Conversely, I now also know what it means to be enlightened; be emboldened; be empowered; be energised to take risk and discover new potential both within and around me.”

His experiences are far-ranging and contain the depth necessary to have insights into the developing strategies that help people shift into more resourceful, enlightened, balanced states of being. He’s often been questioned as to why he’s so passionate about working with people to develop higher standards, regain balance and work their edge, for which he replies:

“I’ve had times when I’ve seen top-ranking professionals just crumble under the enormous pressure they face without knowing what had happened. For instance, a middle-aged professor in a leading university was having an intense period in his work routine with all sorts of deadlines looming concerning proposals, contracts, company listing, patents etc. as well as strife within his team. He was arriving early to his office and leaving late – sometimes very late, in order to meet the deadlines. This continued over a number of months and there seemed to be no end to the amount of things he had to attend to, including more deadlines. Consequently, he faced the unimaginable: his wife wanted to divorce him and take their 3 children with her. He had got to a stage where there was an imbalance in his routine with a lack of priority of things. He had the best of intentions that led him to work flat-out but without recognising the negative consequences on his personal health and relationships. Not only did he lose his family, but some of his senior members of staff also left and the once ‘high priority’ work that he’d spent long hours on had now collapsed. The point of the matter here is that important work will always be around, as I said to him, but that it mustn’t overtake our bearings and sense of balance, principles and time such that our various roles and activities are adversely affected. I know there are people who are silently suffering from lack of clarity and conviction to their innate nature - which is the root-cause of incongruence. But with the right support things can be adjusted so that a person is re-aligned and centred.”

Asad Khan is known for his talents and abilities, and they are apparent for all to see who engage with him and allow an air of honesty and opportunity to exist around them – which he helps create if there is an unconscious resistance to this. He has witnessed radical transformations in individuals who were formally living a filtered, scripted and constrained life. Complete turnarounds in their views, perspectives, directions and course of actions have been achieved with his interventions and assistance. He has also been noted to energise and captivate audiences with his presence, moving presentation and thought-provoking analysis. When asked about publishing his thoughts and experiences, he says:

“I’ve started drafting some pages and intend to publish a book in the next couple of years, but for now I’d like you to understand this: our life is but a summation of our choices and what, and more importantly how, we decide to act now will determine the quality of our lives in the future and ultimately our destiny. I’m currently busy working with people to re-align with their authentic self and a book will happen when the time is right. However, a workbook is available. Ark2Ark Training & Coaching is a continuation of a desire and it won’t stop here; there’s plenty more to come. At this moment, I’m giving my all to this and I’d like to offer you a little food for thought in what I believe form The 7P’s of Incredible Psychology. I’ll be writing about these in more details in the forth-coming book, but readers are requested to sign-up to the regular newsletters for further details and meanings behind the 7P’s as well as other gems.”

PURPOSE - PASSION - PERFORMANCE - PRODUCTIVITY - PROGRESS - POWER - PEACE

“And I’d just like to add that there is already a lot of success, achievement and blessing in one’s life but we need to pay careful attention to understand the thread between them and their possible meaning. When we do have challenges, when we dip, it’s usually for a reason – life wants to help us grow and learn new perspectives. But the tragedy is when we don’t pay heed to these pointers and we continue on regardless of whether we have good fortune or misfortune. Ark2Ark Training & Coaching was set-up to act on the hearts and minds of talented people to guide their inner thoughts and feelings; but not just to inform, rather to transform.”

Go ahead and order your Workbook and view the Training Brochure for all courses and you can book onto the Seminars here.

Why not Asad call for a free half-an hour coaching session and see the what the power of coaching can do for you. Call me on +44 (0)161 860 77 77.

For Success & Contentment,

Asad Khan