Conversations For Transformation

Essays By Laurence Platt

Inspired By The Ideas Of Werner Erhard

And More

Laurence Platt Video Interview

Cowboy Cottage, East Napa, California, USA

February 24, 2007

This essay, Laurence Platt Video Interview, is the second in a quintology comprising The Laurence Platt Story:

Laurence Platt Autobiography

Laurence Platt Video Interview

in that order.

I am indebted to Nirman Anurag Asthana and to Yeiber Cano who inspired this conversation.

www.zouddha.com/video_frameset.htm

When Nirman Anurag Asthana first requested to interview me, I wasn't enrolled. He said he'd read my essays. He said they're extraordinary. They are, I thought, agreeing with him. But noticing that doesn't get him an interview! Only when I visited his website Zouddha - The Birth Of The New Man and realized he's up to something big in the world did I agree to his request.

Nirman's website broadcasts his video interviews with people who interest him, people who make a difference in the world, people whose life and work forwards conversations for transformation. In an eastern context of the discipline of meditation, the people Nirman interviews are all what he calls sanyasins ie people now integrated into the spiritual world after wholly giving up any addiction to material life, and becoming aware of any attachments - material or spiritual. Even though I have reservations about including myself in that noble lifestyle, its context adds an element of great dignity and tradition. My hesitation to work with him vanished.

When I got to know Nirman I realized he didn't only have a critic's interest in my writing. Nirman, like me, is also a graduate of Werner Erhard's work. Nirman says it's largely Werner Erhard's inspiration that has empowered him manifesting his vision and his website.

I have a great deal of respect for Nirman in this regard. Many graduates of Werner's work go on to create their own powerful works in the world, inspired and empowered by new possibilities they get from working with Werner. And that, of course, is the whole point of Werner's work. Yet I'm often disappointed when those graduates then don't acknowledge Werner's contribution.

An interview conducted by Nirman may or may not specifically bring forth the ideas of Werner Erhard although in my case it does. Nirman, however, unreservedly acknowledges Werner's contribution to his work. I don't just like the guy. I'm impressed by his integrity.

After I indicated to Nirman I was willing to proceed, a concern showed up. It was this:

Would he allow me rights of edit of the final product? Censorship was the last thing on my mind. When one commits comments to any medium - video, paper, or (in my case) the internet - there are barriers, mostly self imposed, of trust and confidentiality which should not be violated. Actually they're not so much barriers to full and open Self expression and communication as they are lines which shouldn't be crossed. I knew I could manage those. I am, after all, the one who chooses what I say. I am, after all, the one who chooses what comes out of my mouth.

I was concerned with the forgiveness of the medium. For example, the internet is a forgiving medium to work with. If I write something which I publish to the internet then later realize there's a more workable way to write what I wrote, I can rework what I wrote then republish it in its more workable form.

Paper is an unforgiving medium. If I write something which I publish on paper then later realize there's a more workable way to write what I wrote, I can't rework what I wrote without a new printing. Even so, existing paper will in perpetuity reflect the unworkable form of what I wrote.

Similarly, once it's released into the world, video is also an unforgiving medium. I wanted to be sure whatever we released I could live with forever. Here I'm simply speaking about the workability and the accuracy of the material disseminated. I had very little concern for camera angles, for my better profile, or for looking good on video.

Nirman agreed to give me rights of edit to the final version of the interview which dispelled my concern. In addition, I knew this conversation for transformation would be its own best representation. So I left the technical details of the production to Yeiber Cano, Nirman's videographer and audio producer, and settled back myself to enjoy an evening of chai with Nirman.

To say I'm pleased with the result of this collaboration with Nirman and Yeiber is an understatement. I was totally blown away by it when I first saw the finished product.

Please click this link to watch Nirman's interview on Nirman's Zouddha - The Birth Of The New Man website. When the linked window opens, maximize it to full screen. Locate my named photograph in the lower half of Nirman's website in the linked window. Click it to start the video.

The interview lasts thirty two minutes and twenty seven seconds. For best results you'll need a high speed connection to the internet.

If you don't have a high speed connection to the internet, please e-mail your request for the video on CD.

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