On September 28th 1997 Apple Computer aired the following commercial called Here’s to The Crazy Ones.

This commercial shows a montage of people who at their time were considered the crazy ones, misfits, and rebels, but now are regarded as some of the most remarkable people who have walked this earth. Why is this? Do they know something we don’t? Or were they just crazy?

I don’t think they knew anything we don’t know ourselves, but what they did have is the courage to be the crazy ones. When I was a debater in High School I had to write a case on mental illness. As I was doing my researching I came across a definition for mental illness that I believe is true to this day and that is differing from societies norms. This is exactly what Apple is talking about in this advertisement. We all need to be crazy, mentally ill, we need to differ from societies norms. We will never make a difference if we keep to the status quo. As my close friend since elementary school says,

“I love being called crazy, because sane people don’t change the world!”
Anthony P Bambara

Lama Sumati Marut

So, what does this have to do with the dharma? EVERYTHING. Part of the issue with society is that we don’t challenge the status quo. If we are going to change our worlds for the better we must have the courage to get up and say, “I am not ok with the way things are” And we will be called crazy, rebels, and misfits. In-fact for his time Jesus was a huge rebel and was crucified for it.

We all have choices when it comes to our lives and our time is running out! So, we have no time to lose. Lama Sumati Marut released the following podcast from a teaching in 2008 in Tucson, AZ called Fighting the Power which is just what we need to do.

Fighting the Power by Lama Sumati Marut

We need to start seeing ourselves as the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels and start “Being the change we want to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi). In the end it is up to you.