Questions and Answers about the All-Win Principle

What is All Wiin?
The All Win principle is based on the concept that everything is interconnected and thus part of an all-encompassing unity, also referred to as "the Source from which all is derived". It is therefore in the enlightened self-interest of each part to sec that each other part is strengthened without curtailing the natural development of any other part. In other words for all to win. When all win; the whole is strengthened, which in turn nourishes each part.

What is meant by "everything is a part of a unity"?
A way of looking at all-that-is, is that the Universe, the Earth and the minerals, plants, animals and people are all interconnected. According to Einstein's E=mc2, everything can be seen as different densities of energy. This energy which can be seen as the building blocks of the Universe is sometimes referred to as spirit by religions. Whatever happens to a part of this whole affects everything else, as well as the all-encompassing system

Nobelprize winner llya Prigogine showed in his studies of dissipative systems that, under pressure, a system jumps into a pattern of increased complexity, whereby each part has a precognition of its position in the new pattern. Each is thus conscious. Human beings have attained self-consciousness and are moving into a sense of consciousness that we are all apart of an all-embracing whole. Each of us has at least an unconscious inkling of where he or she fits into the global reality. Those who are consciously aware of their role in their immediate surroundings and at the same time of their role in the evolution of humanity as a whole can be referred to as spiritual world citizens.

What is meant by Source?
The Source is the unity from which each part is derived. The Source can be seen as energy, which feels like love, since it attracts parts to their specific place in the whole. The Source encompasses the Universe and in its vastness it functions according to extremely complex organising principles, which we perceive intuitively. In religious terms these principles are referred to as God, Spirit, Jahweh, Allah, Brahma, Being, that which can not be named.
Everything is inspired (energised) by the principles that govern the unity. Human beings however have the ability to ignore them and thus to become out of sync with the Source and get dislodged from our rightful place. This diminishes our life force, causes pain and suffering and can end in death.
Our challenge, as human beings, is to allow ourselves to be sensitive to the promptings of the whole by listening to our intuition and thus to refind our natural place in the scheme of things.

What is All Win in relation to win/win and win/lose?
Win/win can be seen as an agreement between two parties by which each benefits (more or less equally).
Win/lose implies that one party gains at the expense of the other.
All Win involves all parties benefiting as well as the whole -- the Earth, plants, animals and people -- by paying attention to the promptings of the whole (the Source), which prompts us through our intuition.

Why draw attention to the All Win-principle while so much is already being undertaken to benefit the whole?
Indeed there are myriad actions to benefit an aspect of the whole: Green Peace, S.O. S. Trade, the World Wildlife Fund, Save the Panda, recycling, the actions by various religious groups, and so much else, including the many acts of kindness performed by each of us daily. All these are invaluable. And yet, the arms industry is flourishing, animals are treated with indignity for food and luxury goods and human beings are now endangered by diseases that this maltreatment generates, many human activities destroy whole plant and animal species (about 150 per day) and people are estranged from their intuitive connection to the whole. We need one approach that broadens our thinking so that we consciously act with the part and the whole in mind all at the same time.

For instance, when I am being kind to one person, a number of things can happen without me being aware of it: The person can benefit alone, we both can benefit and it can be unwittingly at the expense of others. Yet if I undertake an all-win act of kindness, I am careful that my action does no harm whatever. By, constantly keeping the whole in mind, I help to create all-round harmony.

Pim van Monsjou