Thanks for the Kramer and Alstad quote! It definitely resonates with the overall sentiment of the article. “Seemingly insurmountable challenge” certainly is wonderful imagery to use. I come to practice with Sharath each year because things which previously carried the sentiment of insurmountability, eventually become accomplishments. It certainly does apply to our species as a whole in terms of our future survival. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ve yet reached the breaking point where drastic shifts in social and cultural evolution become necessary, but it will probably happen sooner than most people think.

In the words of Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad:
“This is the way evolution works. The cosmos and evolution bring change through challenge and response, through forcing its parts to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges—or not. An evolutionary challenge is by definition seemingly insurmountable. That’s what brings necessary change.”

I think especially the word insurmountable is key here. Not just a bit of discomfort that you learn to circumvent or avoid completely. Only if you feel it will break you, will you change. Most certainly true for our species survival. Sounds a bit harsh as a formula to backbends though (in my case 🙂 Everything with a grain of salt I guess.

Thank you for this article.
Had a great laugh imagining you chuckle when reading the emails requesting to learn as much as possible within days.