Huna Article

Huna International

Problem-solving With The Seven Principles
by Brian HIggins

I am a relatively new student of Huna and over the last few months I have been working with the idea of how to use Huna to enrich my daily life.

A lot of the time I forget to use what I have learned, but sometimes, more often as I get into the habit of it, I suddenly remember that I have an effective way to deal with any situation.

Pohaku, the creator of the HunaTrainer podcast, gave me this great question for the fourth principle, Manawa: "What can I do right now?"

I like asking myself that question. I've been suggesting this to other people when I think of it and when an online friend asked me what other questions I have for the other principles, I made up these and would like to share them with you. Perhaps you will think of even better ones.

IKE - The world is what you think it is.
Which question would be good to ask right now?

KALA - There are no limits.
How can I connect more fully with this situation? What choices do I currently have? What other choices do I have?

MAKIA - Energy flows where attention goes.
What is it that I want in this situation?

MANAWA - Now is the moment of power.
What can I do RIGHT NOW to move towards what I want?

ALOHA - To love is to be happy with...
How do I create more happiness in this situation?

MANA - All power comes from within.
How can I bring more power back to myself in this situation ?

PONO - Effectiveness is the measure of truth.
Is what I am doing right now working?

Let's say we find ourself in a situation where something is happening and we would like to have a positive influence on that. We spend a moment asking the question, "What question(s) would be good to ask right now?" We might ask Ku, "Hey Ku! What question is good for me to ask here?" and see what ideas come to mind. We might analyse the situation and pick our next question based on that or perhaps we might do something else. By asking this question we choose an interpretation of what is happening and our next question or questions will be much more focused. I find I often respond to many situations habitually. By asking myself a few simple questions I give myself the opportunity to respond with something new.

When I'm not sure what is going on I might ask the KALA or MAKIA question. "Connecting with the situation" can mean different things for me. It might just mean paying a little more attention to what is going on. It might be asking someone a pertinent question. It might mean shifting perspective. It might mean "grokking" a person or thing. Whatever it is, if I ask the question I am on the road to more fully connecting with whatever is happening.

Examining the choices we have may lead to an inspiration. Right now, for example, I am struggling to think of a good example for this process. I've just asked Ku for a suitable anecdote to add here. I got two pretty good ones, but one is kind of personal, and the other has to do with a work situation where by not limiting myself to option A or B, I had an inspiration for a superior C. However, this anecdote seemed a bit long winded so I asked the question, "What other choices do I have?"

Here is a little story to illustrate the use of these questions. Earlier today, a Saturday, my 8-year-old daughter came to me wanting internet access in her room. I have an old computer in there for her to play around with.

I asked my IKE question. I asked my MAKIA question. I asked my MANAWA question.

I thought to myself it would be good for my daughter to have internet access. I realized I had some network cable in the car and the right tools. Also there is an existing hole in the wall through which I thought I could feed the cable.

So I got some cable, cut it to about the right length and was happy to see that I could just about feed it past the other cables that come through that hole. My daughter was in the other room to tell me when the cable came through. No cable appeared. I asked the KALA question. After a while I found that the wall was a good bit thicker than I had thought. I had imagined about six inches, but I measured it at about 18 inches. The cable was obviously going astray in the cavity. I talked to the cable asking it to find its way to the hole on the other side. I asked Ku for a picture of the situation inside the wall and received a picture of two cavity blocks and also the plaster board at both sides.

After trying it from the each end for half an hour I asked the PONO question.

I decided to go upstairs and unbend a clothes hanger to poke through the hole. I would tie the cable to it and pull it back with the clothes hanger. After an hour gently and patiently trying to coax the cable through the clothes hanger, talking to the coat hanger and the wall, than having my daughter try, I asked the PONO question again. What I was doing was not working. Time for a new plan.

I asked the IKE question and then I asked the KALA question and grokked an expert. I looked at the existing cable and followed it back. I realized I could get about two feet of slack on it if I took it out of its current moorings. I then taped the network cable to the existing TV cable, went to the other side of the wall and started to pull. Then yank. Then cuss.

With the network cable taped to the existing cable it incontrovertibly did not fit through the hole.

I calmed myself for a moment. I asked my IKE question. Then I asked the MANA question. Again I asked myself the IKE question. Then I asked my ALOHA and my favorite, the MANAWA question.

I set up my daughter's computer next to my computer and connected to the internet. This way we were both together and she was able to play at some fun sites on the internet and talk to me while I was typing this.

I asked my IKE question then I asked the MAKIA question again.

After a little research I believe I can definitely solve the connection problem by getting wired internet access anywhere in my home with available products.

I asked my IKE question then ask the KALA question,

...or perhaps I will borrow an industrial drill with a long drill bit from a friend of mine and make a new hole.

So there you have it, some ways to solve problems using questions based on the Huna Principles. I think the ancient sages are right - if we ask the question, we receive the answer.

Copyright Huna International 2008