I wonder how much of the sentiment here is just alarmist doomerism. There seems to be no shortage of it going around. Anyway, looks like he's going the beat generation route.^[1] I hope it works out well for him.

@elvismercury, it reminded me of what you shared recently (#1267318). I think about how you're doing sometimes.

There is a lot I want to share. But if the last week has taught me anything, it is that our words have weight, and that our voices matter. I want to use my voice wisely. It matters to me deeply that my words come from a place of integrity and wholeness. A quote from John O’Donohue comes to mind: may integrity of soul be your first ideal. May integrity of soul be your first ideal.

continuously find myself reckoning with our situation. The world is in peril. And not just from AI, or bioweapons, but from a whole series of interconnected crises unfolding in this very moment.1 We appear to be approaching a threshold where our wisdom must grow in equal measure to our capacity to affect the world, lest we face the consequences. Moreover, throughout my time here, I’ve repeatedly seen how hard it is to truly let our values govern our actions. I’ve seen this within myself, within the organization, where we constantly face pressures to set aside what matters most,2 and throughout broader society too.

What comes next, I do not know. I think fondly of the famous Zen quote “not knowing is most intimate”. My intention is to create space to set aside the structures that have held me these past years, and see what might emerge in their absence. I feel called to writing that addresses and engages fully with the place we find ourselves, and that places poetic truth alongside scientific truth as equally valid ways of knowing,4 both of which I believe have something essential to contribute when developing new technology. I hope to explore a poetry degree and devote myself to the practice of courageous speech. I am also excited to deepen my practice of facilitation, coaching, community building, and group work. We shall see what unfolds.

Thank you, and goodbye. I’ve learnt so much from being here and I wish you the best. I’ll leave you with one of my favourite poems, The Way It Is by William Stafford.

Good Luck,
Mrinank

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The Way It Is

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.

William Stafford

1. He has published some nice poetry. ↩