Q.1 Tell us a little about yourself?
A. I am 76 years old. Born in
Stockholm/Sweden of a Swiss mother and Bulgarian father. Left Sweden for
Switzerland in the 1940s. Received education in Switzerland up to graduation
in Dentistry. Moved to Vancouver/Canada, teaching at the University of British
Columbia. Returned to Switzerland into private dental practice in Zurich. I got more and more interested in the psychological causes of illnesses and
sufferings of people as well as in the spiritual relationship with our earthly
existence. I moved to Germany to practice Dentistry in a holistic naturopathic
clinic. In the 1980s I met Gabriele, the prophetess and emissary of God in our
present time what changed my life.
Q.2 Do you have any upcoming books?
A. Many ideas, but probably not ready within
this year.
Q.3 What inspired you to write Advanced
Global Citizenship?
A. In 2002 I attended the 1st
International Global Citizenship Conference in Vancouver/Canada and met a great
number of wonderful people, such as Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Prof. William Rees,
and many others. The topic that interested and influenced me most was Ethics
and Morals in all aspects of life. Upon my return from Canada, I started a
website with the name “ethicplanet” in which I already then tried to
communicate my views. The website, unfortunately, failed technically. So I began
to write and published a small booklet in German Ethicplanet - der Weg Zu
Globalem Staatsbürgertum.
Soon thereafter I expanded on the topic and
published the book under the title Erdenbürgersein - Ratgeber Auf dem Weg ZuEthos und Verantwortung. It didn’t, however, really get off the ground, but
when Greta Thunberg started to speak up and so many youngsters worldwide joined
with her, and at the same time society on all continents tumbled into more and
more immorality and irresponsibility - I felt it was high time I wrote my
thoughts down in English, this being the language most people on the planet
could understand. This led to Advanced Global Citizenship which, I feel, is
indeed our only chance for survival - physically and spiritually.
Q.4 What do you want readers to take away from your book?
A. The message is, there is no other
way than to start with oneself! Pointing at others, blaming others, and finding
excuses are mere business as usual which has brought us to where we stand
today - and this will be our self-inflicted downfall. We must become what we
expect from others and at the same time develop the courage to speak up against
injustice, cruelty, and inequity - peacefully!
Q.5 What do you mean by ethical-moral
motivation?
A. It is the simple “Golden Rule”: Treat others as you would like others to
treat you or Do not treat others in
ways that you would not like to be treated, including the animals and
nature. It is the high maxim which was given to all cultures right from the Vedic
Upanishads to the original Christian teachings. Ethical-moral motivation in a
person means to genuinely strive for unity and equality with and justice
towards all life forms.
Q.6 What are some simple every day
things we would do to bring peace into the world and our lives?
A. Besides and following the Golden Rule it means to have awe and respect for any form of life. Our great
ancestors, including all the spiritual leaders, have given so many indications
over the millennia how we can develop compassion and empathy for our human
brothers and sisters and all life on Earth and how we can learn to keep the
universal laws. We are free to respect or reject them, but we bear the
consequences. If we try to find our own part in any difficult situation and
begin with clearing this up first, before addressing our neighbor's fault, we
will participate in finding a good solution and thus contribute to peace.
Q.7 When was your last memorable
learning curve?
A. Yesterday! There is not, nor will there
be a last learning day for anyone, because striving for perfection is a steady
learning curve, and since we all are imperfect beings striving for perfection,
we learn and learn and learn every day, every hour - in every instant. So whenever
I get irritated or aggravated, I should recognize a message, telling me to
change something in my attitude or behavior - and that still happens to me
every day. Many years ago, I got upset with this knowledge and revolted against
it, because I didn’t want to take the blame for unpleasant things happening to
me. Meanwhile, it has become like a challenge for me to improve and step ahead.
I realized that if everything emanating from me finds its way back to me again,
then everything happening to me at a given time must have once gone out from
me. If we understand that everything is flowing energy, this “law of the
boomerang”, as we might call it, becomes self-evident.
Q.8 How do you deal with a lingering,
creeping thoughts of doubts, anxiety, and fears?
A. I have learned that it is important
to analyze my lingering thoughts and feelings, my moods, and sensations. I must
try to find the root of these lingering thought-vagabonds which lie in our
subconscious because it is precisely this root or origin that I must and can work
on. In most cases it has to do with people or situations where things have been
left unresolved and that I should have to forgive my neighbor or ask him or her
for forgiveness. If we avoid this clearing-up and making-amends, things keep
brooding in our subconscious and will repeatedly creep up into our conscious
mind, leading to restlessness, anxiety, and fears. Are we aware of a mighty
intelligence above us who wishes to help? It is all about: Ask and it will be
given to you; seek, and ye shall find!
Q.9 What kind of research did you do
before writing the book?
A. Research has been going on
continuously, and already now, one month after the publication of Advanced Global Citizenship, I feel that I should add more chapters because I have
found new recognition. But my major interest was in the expansion of consciousness which is the only
way of bringing about true change in oneself, in society, education, nutrition,
medicine, you name it.
However, the most astounding research was, and is the search of myself: Who am I
truly? And what am I not? What is it that dwells in me and never stops
searching for the truth? What is the divine spark in me and how can I unfold it
more and more?
This research and recognition of oneself leads to the understanding of human
behavior patterns and sheds light on the things that must change, in the
family, in society, in education, in environmental awareness, in economics and
politics.
Q.10 What was one of the most
surprising things you learned while writing your book?
A. The writing of the book was, of
course, accompanied by many conversations with friends and acquaintances of
rather various and often opposing opinions. Yet, I was astounded that there were
so many people in agreement with my views, but did not express their opinion openly
or did not believe in being able to change the course of our world as
individuals. They were afraid to abandon old traditions or to provoke their
friends and families or even to break up with them. So they remained quiet and
“friendly” toward them outwardly but started to reject and devalue them in their
thoughts and feelings which in turn causes them to now indulge in negative
energy, which will fall back on them in due time.
But we can change the course of our world as individuals! And speaking up doesn’t necessarily mean losing friends - on the contrary, they might be motivated by us! Of course, it takes some courage to jump over one’s own shadow and this was the most surprising thing I learned - that there were so many people of all age groups who did jump over their own shadow because they really wanted to!
Admittedly, jumping over one’s own shadow isn’t easy or pleasant and requires a constant effort, because we must master ourselves by breaking, i.e. dissolving our stubborn ego step by step. This demands our full life energy and concentration, every day - whilst temptation, distraction, and indifference are continuously lingering around us. But let’s understand that this great effort is the very reason for us human beings to live on this earth and we should never forget this.
Q.11 Who would you most like to thank
for their involvement in your writing career?
A. So far, I cannot say that I have a
writing career. If this book becomes a career promoter, then it will be because
many readers read, study, recommend and apply the contents of this book to
their own lives. That would make me really happy and grateful.
Q.12 Do you believe in writer’s block?
If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. I am not familiar with this.
Q.13 Does writing energize you or
exhaust you?
A. It energizes me greatly because I
only write when and if I have to communicate something which means that I am
inspired to do so.
Q.14 Do you have any unique and quirky
writing habits?
A. I don’t know if it is unique or
quirky but when I start writing I just cannot stop, even if it is way past
midnight. But then it also happens that I sit down to write, tear up page after
page, and finally leave my room to do something totally different. Then I wait
until “it comes over me” again.
Q.15 What do you consider to be your
best accomplishment?
A. That I have applied myself the
contents of this book to a great part in my own everyday life. I lead a wonderful
marriage that lasts over fifty years and I have brought up three gorgeous
children with now nine equally gorgeous grandchildren who have all turned out
to be fine human beings with high ethical-moral values.
Q.16 What is your work schedule like
when you’re writing?
A. Now at age 76, I write, of course,
when I feel like it. But when I was younger and professionally active, I spent
my evenings and weekends, and then nothing could stop me - not even meals.
Q.17 What are your sources of hope,
strength, peace, and love?
A. It is a strong belief - no, the
firm knowledge - that there is this mighty Free Spirit above us who reaches out
at any moment to help and guide us and draw us back to our eternal heavenly
origin, but that He leaves us free will and never interferes with it. Thus, if
we do affirm His helping hand and His cosmic wisdom in leading us and if we
live accordingly, then this is our inexhaustible source of hope, strength,
peace and love - this is the testimony of my life.
Q.18 Which famous person, living or
dead would you like to meet and why?
A. I have met many a great and even
famous person, scientist, artist, musician, and author, but there is none more
admirable and respectable than the prophetess and emissary of God in our time,
Gabriele, whose wisdom is beyond explanation - and I have met her!
Q.19 What is your favorite book and
why?
A. The
Soul on its Path to Perfection by Gabriele, because it inspired me more
than any other book to walk my path on earth and to become again who I am deep
inside and to keep this goal in focus.
Q.20 Share the experience of your
journey so far?
A. It has become my experience over
many decades that life on earth is a unique school for every human being. Not
always easy or comfortable, but interesting and promoting; like “school” as we
know it: Who likes all of Math, Grammar, Biology, Physics, History or Geography?
And yet, we have to attend. We would probably prefer to play ball all day long
or hang around the disco or the beach whenever we feel like it. But then we
must realize that school prepares us for our earthly existence in order to
sustain us for seventy, eighty, or more years. Equally, it is with the School of
Life in which every moment has a message and a task for us, either showing us
joy, love, and fulfillment or admonishing us to get rid of one of our negative
habits, our egotism and thus this school prepares us for our life beyond
death. Therefore, the more we make good use of the daily messages in our life,
the more fulfillment, gratitude, and joy will bring our days, right up into our
old age - and beyond.
Book links:
Amazon IN - https://amzn.to/2Vai3qK
Amazon US - https://amzn.to/37TfvCo
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