1. Playacting IF YOU PLAYACT BEING A THINKER, YOU WILL BECOME ONE

2. Introduction “Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into actions is the most difficult thing in the world.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

3. Playacting “I believe that one of the two Rodin originals for ‘The Thinker’ is in Buenos Aires in the square in front of the parliament building. At least that’s what my guide told me as she pointed to this busy thinker frozen into immortal bronze.”

4. Playacting But as far as we know, this may be wrong on several accounts. “How?” You may ask. Well…

5. Playacting It may not have been an original It may not have been an original There may not have been two originals There may not have been two originals My guide might have been mistaken My memory might be mistaken

6. Playacting So why put forth something which has not been checked as an absolute fact? Well, there are many reasons.

7. Playacting To provoke those people who feel that facts are more important than their use To provoke those people who feel that facts are more important than their use I want you to be able to visualize the Thinker figure, wherever it may be I want you to be able to visualize the Thinker figure, wherever it may be

8. Playacting You will notice that the first two words of the book, and of this PowerPoint are “I believe.”

9. Playacting The words “I believe” indicate a person’s state of belief, rather than a dogmatically asserted fact. We often need to indicate the way in which something is being put forward.

10. Playacting Imagine Rodin’s The Thinker Imagine that chin- on-hand pose that is supposed to come to any thinker that is being more than just frivolous.

11. Playacting But in all honesty, I believe that thinking should be active and brisk, not gloomy and solemn. But let’s just use that traditional image for now.

12. Playacting Ok, on the count of three I want you to throw yourself into the pose of a thinker. Physically, not mentally. One, two, three!

13. Playacting “Why?” You may ask. “What was the point?” Well, if you playact being a thinker, you will become one.

14. Playacting The Tibetans say prayers by revolving the prayer wheels on which the prayers are inscribed.

15. Playacting The rotating wheels spiral the prayers into divine space. If the wheels are properly balanced, one assistant can keep a dozen prayer wheels turning, just like a circus act on spinning plates.

16. Playacting Maybe the Tibetan is actually thinking of his laundry list as he spins the wheel, we’re not sure. But it is the intention to pray that counts, and not the emotional and spiritual fluttering that many Christians demand of themselves.

17. Playacting But there is another Christian view that is much closer to the Tibetans:

18. Playacting Both groups go through the motions of praying, even if they do not feel emotionally involved. In time, your emotions will catch up with your motions. That’s what I mean when I’m asking you to playact being a thinker.

19. Playacting Adopt the pose of a thinker Adopt the pose of a thinker Go through the motions Go through the motions Have the intention Have the intention Make it manifest to yourself and to those around you Make it manifest to yourself and to those around you

20. Playacting Pretty soon your brain will follow the role that you are playing. If you playact being a Thinker, you will become one. Thanks for watching.