Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 09:17 Written by Sunday, 08 November 2009 10:09

Our present article is on the topic of altruism.

Defined: unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others; behavior of an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits the survival of its species.

Introduction: Wendell is volunteering at the local food bank serving food to the homeless and other people in need.

Wendell: Sir, what would you like today?

Person 1: Man, save the small chit chat for somebody else and give me some of those sweet potatoes and green beans!

Wendell: Miss, what can I get you today?

Person 2: You can get me a job is what you can do! Now how about some of that rice pudding, sweet potatoes, and salad!

[Laughter starts taking place at the end of the line near the door. Soon everyone that can see towards the door is laughing.]

Wendell: [Wondering what is going on while serving the line.] Sir, what are you hungry for today?

Person 3: Sonny, I can use whatever their having! I don’t think I have heard that much laughter in a long time. I need to get out there and see what’s going on!

[At that moment Kailoken comes into everyone’s view dressed as a mime. His clownish antics lighten the place up. Wendell starts laughing with the rest.]

Volunteer 1: Who is this guy? We need to get him here again!

Supervisor: He goes by the name of Quailokun or something like that. He said he wanted to come in and cheer some folks up and I said go for it. He is good!

Wendell: [He did not recognize that the mime was Kailoken and overheard the others talking.] Hey, I know that guy! [Thinking to himself “he sure is something alright!”]

[At that moment Addison walks up to Wendell.]

Addison: Greetings Wendell.

Wendell: Hello Addison! What are you doing here today?

Addison: I came here to see how your first day at volunteering was going, and to catch a few laughs from Kailoken’s mime routine.

Wendell: Well, I am giving my time and assistance serving up the food, but Kailoken seems to be doing a lot of good too. A lot of these people were in a negative space before the laughter started becoming contagious. Now look at them, they are smiling and being joyful!

Addison: Yes, he is quite effective in the humor department. He usually does this with the children at the hospital. Positive humor has been shown to help boost the immune system and of course a positive mental frame is always helpful in healing physically and mentally. In addition, he helps people deal with fear, whether of death or hardship.

Wendell: Do all the 5^th Way Team members do volunteer work?

Addison: Every one of us does something. That is a part of our state of being. Let’s take this week and see what the others do.

[The next evening Addison and Wendell are observing Waneta.]

Waneta: Take four of these capsules every morning and evening for two weeks and that make problem go away.

Patient: Thank you very much for this. How can I ever repay you?

Waneta: Be kind to others and that is payment enough. [Patient leaves.] Aho, Addison and Wendell!

Wendell: Aho! Do you treat a lot of people?

Waneta: Most just need someone to talk with about their problems. When we talk about problems, many of them go away at least for a short while. While we talk I shift them from a negative outlook to an understanding of problem and then to positive.

Wendell: I can see how it would benefit everyone to be in a positive frame of mind. But then what?

Waneta: We can help people to get in that positive head space but that do not mean they stay there. People have to work on how to stay in positive space. That mean someone have to show them how. As the saying goes, “don’t just give a fish to a person but show him how to catch a fish.” That way people do not rely on us for a long time.

Wendell: I never thought of it like that before. I see a lot of people helping others but based upon what you just said a lot of the people being helped are not learning how to “fish” themselves. I suppose the helper has to be knowledgeable about fishing to begin with. At least the people helping are giving them food and shelter.

Waneta: Yes, it is good to help people but it is even better to do so with wisdom.

[Addison and Wendell leave and meet up the next day to observe Zhi.]

Zhi: You come back next week for another acupuncture session and you should be good. Hello Addison and Wendell, what brings you to my practice? You have need for herbs or getting poked with needle?

Addison: Greetings, Zhi. I have brought Wendell by to observe you in helping others. Do you have anything to share with him on this?

Zhi: Ah, very good. I find very interesting that many of those who devotedly take care of others do not take care of themselves first. The main thing in helping others is helping you first. If you are good then you can help others be good too. Too many people not pay attention to themselves when helping others. They lose chi and get ill from expending much energy on others. They must learn how to keep strong chi first, then help others. Then both be good.

Wendell: That does seem to make sense. I mean how can you stay strong if you are wearing yourself out from taking care of others and not yourself? I see so many sacrificing themselves for others and not doing a thing for themselves.

Zhi: Yes, many people “live” life for and through others and not really be alive themselves.

[Addison and Wendell finish up the conversation with Zhi and meet up the following day with Naruto.]

Naruto: [Speaking to self-defense class for abused women.] When somebody approach you like this, you can take care of him like this. Wham! Smack! Believe me he no touch you again. Now you try… [Having noticed Addison and Wendell walking into the dojo.] Okay, class, I would like to introduce you to good friends. This is Addison and Wendell. Wendell why don’t you take your shoes off and help these women practice?

Wendell: Well, er, ah… okay.

Naruto: Okay, now try not to hurt Wendell for real. He is here to help you practice only. Let’s form a circle and each take a turn with Wendell with the arm bar move I showed you earlier. To refresh your memory I will now demonstrate. Wendell you attempt to grab me like this and I will do move on you to immobilize you. Do not worry I will not break arm! Make sure you tap mat when you feel move good. [Laughter from women.] You grab now… [Wendell goes down into a prone position on the floor and Naruto puts a touch of hurt on him.] tap…tap…tap… Good, very good. Okay, everyone get a try…

[All the women take their turn with Wendell. Naruto dismisses the class for the day.]

Naruto: How are arms Wendell?

Wendell: [Rubbing and stretching his arms out.] I think I will survive another day. That was an interesting class. Do you teach many of these self-defense classes in addition to your regular ones?

Naruto: Yes, I teach many classes for old people, handicapped people, children, and women. Too many people like to take advantage of others. I help people to control themselves in negative situations. Better yet to not get in them in first place. That takes awareness of the environment. With these women here today I help them interact again with positive men. Some have never been in contact with a positive man before in their lives. They build up confidence to get on with their lives.

Wendell: I am glad I could be of assistance in class. I would be happy to assist you again.

Naruto: Through these classes the students learn how to interact better with others with confidence and control. I welcome your help. Through your assistance with me in helping others you will be more effective in helping people in general.

[Addison and Wendell wrap it up with Naruto and meet the next day to observe Catharsis.]

Catharsis: [Speaking to a group of people outside of a building on the lawn.] So as you can see if you role play the emotion you choose to have then you will produce it. Everyone please put your hand to your lips and turn them into a smile. Now don’t really smile… just put your lips into a smile. See if you can still be your cranky self when your lips are in the smiling position. [Laughter comes from the group as they try the technique.] How many of you sourpusses are now really smiling? [All the hands shoot up into the air. At that moment someone walking by tosses a cigarette butt onto the sidewalk next to where the group is sitting.] Wow, a cigarette butt just fell out of the sky! Did anyone else see that besides me? [Catharsis walks over to the cigarette butt.] God is this a sign? What are you trying to tell me with this God?! [People stare and start laughing including the person who threw the cigarette butt.] Are you saying that I need to raise tobacco? That I need to take up a collection for a cigarette butt urn? That I am the butt of your jokes? [Getting down on his knees in front of the cigarette butt.] Oh, Mr. cigarette butt did I do something bad to you in a past life and you are here to torment me about it? Oh, please forgive me! [More laughter from the gathering crowd. He carefully picks up the cigarette butt and takes it over to dispose of it properly.] May you rest in peace Mr. cigarette butt. [Many people are now clapping as well as laughing.]

“Yeah, that was funny man!” “Show them smokers what to do with them butts!”

[Catharsis talks with the crowd a bit before leaving. He walks over to Addison and Wendell.]

Addison: Greetings, Catharsis. That was quite instructive. I have brought Wendell here to observe you helping others. If you will take Wendell back home, I must part now.

[The two say good bye to Addison, and they get into Catharsis’ vehicle.]

Wendell: That sure was an interesting group session you had there. Are they always like that?

Catharsis: Each session is a little bit different. It depends on whom I am engaging and under what conditions. Some things work better for some than others.

Wendell: It seems that you do a lot of role playing.

Catharsis: Yes, role playing can be very effective. It seems to be less threatening to most people and still gets the point I choose to make across to them. As a therapist I often have to demonstrate the behavior that my client may choose to emulate. So, you can say that I serve as a role model. Through my behavior I can help entrain someone else to behave in a better way; not necessarily copying my shenanigans but observing the point I make through my playing.

Wendell: I have to say you got your point across effectively in my opinion during that session. Addison has been having me observe the whole team during the week in watching everyone helping others.

Catharsis: Did you know that young children are naturally altruistic? Being altruistic is a natural state of being until many parents and segments of society condition it out of the youngsters.

Wendell: I did not know that.

Catharsis: Ironically, the very parents who so altruistically take care of their parents or children, set the example of not being altruistic to people outside their families. I find it very interesting that many who so devotedly take care of a select few will not even give the time of day to others.

Wendell: Yes, that is very unfortunate for us all. I just thought of something, I got to see the whole team except for Addison doing something to help others. I am kind of disappointed about that.

Catharsis: Son, you have much to learn. First of all, Addison was helping you by taking you to observe the rest of us. And, much of what we all do is incognito…