Friday, October 30, 2009

Science and Spirituality

Comment by Ron Alexander on October 27, Spirituality & Quantum Physics:
"I once asked my physicist friend David Bohm this question: From the perspective of modern science, apart from the question of misrepresentation, what is wrong with the belief in the independent existence of things? His response was telling. He said that if we examine various ideologies that tend to divide humanity, such as racism, extreme nationalism, and the Marxist class struggle, one of the key factors of their origin is the tendency to perceive things as inherently divided and disconnected." His Holiness The Dalia Lama from p. 51 of his book The Universe in a Single Atom.

In Loving Oneness, ron

Comment by mary rose on October 27, 2009 at 7:10pm Ron, I very much appreciate your comment about David Bohm and his response to you with regard to perceiving things as inherently divided and disconnected as so many do today. While i was not fortunate enough to converse with Bohm, my mentor of many years, V. Vernon Woolf, founder of the International Academy of Holodynamics had many discussions with him. And, i consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have been introduced to quantum physics through the study of Holodynamics meaning that one must understand the multi-dimensional dynamics of any given situation in order to comprehend the many different inter-actions going on within the whole and thus find solutions to any challenges which might arise within any given situation. There is always so much overlap going on that it soon becomes obvious that there are no beginnings and no endings -- that everything we do affects everything else.

Thank you, Ron, for also providing the correct title to the Dalia Lama's book - It is one i do not own, although i have read it, and have been writing "The Universe In An Atom" when referring to it and leaving out the word "single".

Another theory of Bohm's that has been quite useful to me is that of there being an Implicate Order to the Universe which holds true even in chaos. In one of John Assaroff's videos the other day on Facebook, he was saying: "Don't worry about the Universe it is always OK -- it will always be there for you."

with much love and appreciation, m r .


Hi dear Mary Rose, thank you for your learned contribution. I am going to copy it and add to my collection of connections between science and spirituality. David Bohm was talking to The Dalia Lama, who wrote that in his book. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bohm, but have been blessed to work with The Dalia Lama and Yolanda King (drama therapy type support) with "Children of War" in San Francisco 15 to 20 years ago. It was so sad to hear of Yolanda's passing as I think she was the best of MLK, Jr.'s children. much gratitude, ron

Spirituality & Quantum Physics Comment by mary rose on October 9, 2009 at 11:30am In my book, The Sacred Quest for the Who of I Am, which discusses the biology of human consciousness while at the same time exploring what i call the 'cultural baggage" that accompanies it in the form of religious beliefs, I will be defining "quantum entrainment" as the state of being in which both hemispheres of the brain are integrated and entrained with the heart brain This then making the mind/body connection.

In her book, "Molecules of Emotion" pharmacologist, Dr. Candace Pert, reveals the body as being the sub-conscious mind. Information from cellular biolgist, Dr. Bruce Lipton reveals that each cell in the body is configured exactly like a computer chip, so here we have the vision of the body/mind configured like a quantum computer with the heart being the energy cord that connects us to the electromagnetic energy field which underlies all of life and to the electromagnetic field surrounding the Earth.

While the entire picture is not complete, at least that i am able to find as a research journalist, what appears is that when the heart and the brain are entrained, we are configured as a hologram. But, i am only providing the simple version here it is really much more complex.

What the New Biology or New Science is revealing is that the "divine" is not "out there" someplace, we are the Divine in the form of a coded energy field with a coded energy field being defined as a "field of in-form-ation". In other words, since form follows function, we are, as a field of information coded as to what our mission in life is about.

As we understand more about who we really are, it becomes easier to understand how quantum or energy healing takes place and why so-called miracles are really natural normal occurrences that some have tried to replace with chemical drugs in order to make money.

I really love your video Sky and the healing music you provide along with the visuals. In the realm of energy healing we are learning more and more about the ability of music to create both chaos and coherence patterns in the human energy field and what the benefit to society as a whole would be if we would devote our listening time to healing music. However, if we do a "walk on the wild" side so to speak, we can bring the body/mind field back into a coherence pattern by listening to healing music afterwards so that no harm is done by listening to sounds that produce incoherent mind/body patterns.

Coherence patterns are denoted both by measuring the number of hertz per second at which the body is vibrating and viewing the aura with its corresponding colors.

Monday, October 26, 2009

To Experience Oneness, See Everyone as a Divine Mirror

WORD FOR THE DAY (gratefulness.org)
Monday, Oct. 26

If you look at every human
being as a Divine mirror,
you will know yourself
and
understand life.


Sherif Baba

Reply by Francois Ward
Couldn't agree more just see love
in everyone because it is just yourself
you are looking at, thanks Ron


Reply from Maria,
Thank you Ron...that was timely...I was just reading about what Jesus said about treating everyone...what you do to them, you do to him. etc.Have a terrific week!



We are all innocent, loving the best we can.
Thank you, Linda for bringing back this dialogue ("Narcissism or Self - love?). I have returned to my mantra: "Everyone (including ourselves) is innocent and loving the best they can" after re-reading all of the wisdom in your and the other replies plus some positive dialogue with my nephew (facing up to 30 years in jail); Also, when I use the Ho'Oponopono "I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you. I love you" - it starts with me and I send it outwards to those I have judged (like Mom, most recently).

Thought of the Day by Story Waters, 10/26/09


Love is freedom. It is the foundation upon which you create. Unconditional love can only birth through loving your Self for you cannot love anyone more than you unconditionally love yourself. All love you give to others that you do not give to yourself is conditional love as it represents a separation rather than unification between you. Loving without condition connects the fabric of reality.
hi ron,
thanks for your alert that you'll copy the "thought of the day by Story Waters" - i'm happy you did and also glad you kept the mention of the author of this great snippet - it's so true in my experience and yet so hard to come by -

one person had asked Story, why she could feel unconditional love for her son and not for herself and Story answered the following:

Story Waters:
Perhaps he is a mirror of what is possible, a mirror of what can birth from within you, so your love for him is a mirror of your potential to directly love your Self. Children are incredible mirrors of the love that has always been within you, waiting to be birthed. May you discover the love for your children in the mirror of your Self. xxx

i found that to explain beautifully why we sometimes can't give ourselves that unconditional love yet, but do feel it for our loved ones (mainly our children i think).

the never ending topic love
- and when are we comprehending, integrating and living that we ARE love already ?.... claudia


Doreen A Agostino has sent you a message on Architects of a New Dawn

Thank you Ron.

May I add something about the mirror?

When I am triggered emotionally in a negative way by what the mirror reveals; this signals a hidden gift or higher purpose. In essence the mirror reflects my inner emotional wounded self crying out for love and oneness with me.

When I am without emotion by what the mirror reveals, it is an invitation to allow others to be that which they are without judgment. Curious to hear your views.
Warm regards,
Doreen
Dear Doreen, thanks for your deep thoughtful response and question. I am taking my time to answer you, as it is such a profound subject. I am studying several writings right now that are helping me formulate an answer including THE UNIVERSE IN A SINGLE ATOM by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. I consider this subject so vital to our growth as human beings, I would like to dialogue with you publicly on-line or co-write a book about it or both! What mutual group here would be an appropriate venue or could we start a new one on "Experiencing Oneness Dialogue"?

P.S. In grad. school, one of my favorite friends/co-students last name was Rose D'agostino. She helped me with a workshop on Attitudinal Healing for the Krishnamurti group in the Sierras. I used to work for Jerry Jampolsky at his Center, when it was in Sausalito

Reply by William Kimmel:
Nice. We are all one anyway. I think really there is no mirror but see where the saying is coming from. I like your title better "Gratfulness for Divine Mirrors". Gatefulness for The Divine. Cool~


"I once asked my physicist friend David Bohm this question: From the perspective of modern science, apart from the question of misrepresentation, what is wrong with the belief in the independent existence of things? His response was telling. He said that if we examine various ideologies that tend to divide humanity, such as racism, extreme nationalism, and the Marxist class struggle, one of the key factors of their origin is the tendency to perceive things as inherently divided and disconnected." His Holiness The Dalia Lama from p. 51 of his book The Universe in a Single Atom.

reply by William Kimmel
Wonderful.....It really is all based in our perception of things. Good.....Nuteral......Bad. It is dependant on our experience somewhat and what we have been taught. Our embedded conceptual thinking, one might say. When we train our self to look beyond our own concepts and judgments with compassion, our mind expands and we begin to see how things really are. The divine eye that sees the mirror. The mirror is just a reflection of our true nature. To "love one another" (Golden Rule). We see that we face the same basic emotions and causes of suffering regardless of race, nationality or religion Then we can have a truly harmonious and peaceful world.~

Hi Ron,
i'd like to let you know that i know very little of Buddhism practices/theology. I have very early in my life decided that i would follow no religion and i still hold it this way. This decision does not mean that I am against religion, it just means, i have in this life no desire to follow one. I have however had a great journey away from the initial "christian" indoctrinations from my childhood where a "God" was placed at the top towards the understanding at age 15, that I hold this "God-ness" inside of me, in my heart and that i AM a spark of "God" or "All that is"... mind you that was 1976.
i have since had epiphanies and experiences that bring certain knowledge, or wisdom, if you will. the greatest transformation came to me when I realized, that not only are we all one, but we are here to learn about love and at the core of this love of self. Once, the many sparks (or say, the critical mass of sparks) have learned to love themselves, the ONE (God?) will have made the experience it has set out to do. I believe the "big bang" to be the splitting up of the ONE into a myriad of singular particles and before that, I can only imagine absolute stillness, and a great amount of boredom. Perhaps the one decided to split itself up into these sparks, because it was bored? or because there was a possible curiosity to find out how it would be to love oneself.

The "playground" earth is set up ingeniously in my opinion.
It creates a singular reality for each individual and that mirrors exactly what is inside that individual. There are no victims, we are just all actors in our own play, that we write, create, direct and act in. Sometimes this "stage/actor/director" idea comes to me so clearly, when i'm interacting with others and it creates a wave of laughter so strong, it is hard to hold back. I have often wondered if that is what creates the perma-smile on the Dalai Lama's face ?... who's to say.

In that smile, i see many things, i see understanding, compassion, love, not just for others, that would be sort of arrogant, but mainly for oneself. Carlos Santana writes: "The world would be transformed if all of us would practice forgiveness.My heart tells me that." and i hope he means that we need to forgive ourselves first for ALL the goof-ups, ALL the silly mistakes, ALL the moments we weren't balanced and in loving kindness. Only then do we have the courage to tap into our hearts, to know what is truly our essence. We are made of love, have been scattered around the globe with the veil of forgetfulness in order to experience ALL and return to who we truly are. WE ARE LOVE - your grandmother, for whatever reason was able to give you unconditional love, she showed you who you are and if you feel it saved your life, then i have a suspicion, it DID!... it only takes ONE adult in a child's life and it does not have to be a parent, to "save" it from whatever atrocity is going on. You can only honor your grandmother by trying to see in yourself what she obviously was able to see in you - a being whose essence is love, a being who is basically kind, compassionate and forgiving. a being who potentially can recognize that who he is - LOVE...

ok - that was a long sort of message ron, i don't mean to indoctrinate anyone, these are my core beliefs of life and so far i haven't found any better ones :)... take what resonates with you, leave the rest and thanks for being open to read it all :)
lovely to get to know you - every encounter is an opportunity to look into the mirror of life anew :)

claudia

Vipassana means to see things as they really are, and was started by Gautama Buddha 2600 years ago. "...Buddha taught: an art of living. He never established or taught any religion, any 'ism'. He never instructed those who came to him to practice any rituals, any empty formalities. Instead, he taught them just to observe nature as it is, by observing the reality inside. Out of ignorance we keep reacting in ways which harm ourselves and others. But when the wisdom arises-the wisdom of observing reality as it is-this habit of reacting falls away. When we cease to react blindly, then we are capable of real action-action proceeding from a balanced mind, a mind which sees and understands the truth. Such action can only be positive, creative, helpful to ourselves and to others." S.N. Goenka "The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation".

Hi Claudia, as you can see above, Buddha was not about starting a religion. l really enjoyed your letter. It fits well with my beliefs. My experience is that form disappears but the essence remains.
The form could be the body, while the essence is the energy of unconditional love like my Grandmother sent me. Buddhism does not even have a word for God, unless it it the Universe, which they think is infinite and eternal. So I believe that God, Higher Power, Inner Power, Great Spirit, Great Mystery (my favorite) or the Universe is energized by Love. "God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind."
no mistake, ron

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Soothing to the soul, Healing to the bone

You don't have to respond to me - "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power,love and a sound mind".


We are all innocent and loving the best we can, "Be as one..." , thanks ron

I really love this prayer though, and like me you have probably seen it several times:
& St. Theresa is not Mother Teresa, I am pretty sure.

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,
praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

***********************************************************************************
This goes along with one of my favorite verses from Proverbs:
May your words be sweet as honeycomb, soothing to the soul, and healing to the bone.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

We are all innocent, loving the best we can.

Thank you, Linda for bringing back this dialogue ("Narcissism or Self - love?). I have returned to my mantra: "Everyone (including ourselves) is innocent and loving the best they can" after re-reading all of the wisdom in your and the other replies plus some positive dialogue with my nephew (facing up to 30 years in jail); Also, when I use the Ho'Oponopono "I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you. I love you" - it starts with me and I send it outwards to those I have judged (like Mom, most recently).

Thought of the Day by Story Waters, 10/26/09


Love is freedom. It is the foundation upon which you create. Unconditional love can only birth through loving your Self for you cannot love anyone more than you unconditionally love yourself. All love you give to others that you do not give to yourself is conditional love as it represents a separation rather than unification between you. Loving without condition connects the fabric of reality.
hi ron,
thanks for your alert that you'll copy the "thought of the day by Story Waters" - i'm happy you did and also glad you kept the mention of the author of this great snippet - it's so true in my experience and yet so hard to come by -

one person had asked Story, why she could feel unconditional love for her son and not for herself and Story answered the following:

Story Waters:
Perhaps he is a mirror of what is possible, a mirror of what can birth from within you, so your love for him is a mirror of your potential to directly love your Self. Children are incredible mirrors of the love that has always been within you, waiting to be birthed. May you discover the love for your children in the mirror of your Self. xxx

i found that to explain beautifully why we sometimes can't give ourselves that unconditional love yet, but do feel it for our loved ones (mainly our children i think).

the never ending topic love
- and when are we comprehending, integrating and living that we ARE love already ?.... claudia


Here is a reply to a friend who has recently become enamored with The Koran -
"Tear out those pages", the advice that Bill Thetford used to tell us when studying A Course in Miracles
in the mid- 80's. This scribe (Helen was the channel) of this tome was describing the dualistic (ego-bashing part of ACIM)
What I look for in all religions and spiritual pursuits is their essence. If their essence is Love and the belief that God is love and that there is no seperation, no duality in their teaching, then I will study further. The Bible, the Koran, A Course in Miracles all have this essence yet they also have parts with much duality - God and Satan or God and Ego, etc. So if in the end they do not teach that we are all innocent and loving the best we can, I lose interest. For that matter, I am not interested in the Old Testament with it's condemning "God". or the first half of A Course in Miracles which tells us how bad our ego is....then both have their wonderful love chapters like Jesus taught and the ACIM finally tells us our "essence is Love, that we are wholly loveable and wholly loving!" I don't know enough about the Koran, but would discard any seperation/duality thoughts that are written there and go for its Love Essence - the Truth!

One Love, ron

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Hard Lessons: Combining Ho'oponopono with Meditation




I have had a very interesting past few days. Getting involved in things again, which made me realize again how the best things in life are not things. I was invited to a wooden boat show to sell some of my nautical collections (including some of my original illustrations such as "Divina,the golden dolphin"). It was a lot of work for not much money, and helped me realize that I have the same "dis-ease" as my collector Mother. This was dismaying, however it helped me express more forgiveness toward her. I used ho'oponopon very sincerely - "I am so sorry, please forgive me, thank you. I love you." as I realized my attachment to things is toxic also.

I am waiting now for someone to come help me un
load rental truck, and my body is sore and my spirit is lifted as I learn to have equanimity despite doing something I don't like doing - moving "things". It helps me realize why I appreciate a monastery/ashram so much - being away from attachment to things. Now I will simplify my life by selling and giving away alot of my objects. So I see this time as a new realization and beginning to a more simple life. Hard lessons but karma, I suppose!

in the spirit of loving Oneness,ron

My love for you will always be, forevermore, throughout eternity. Divina the golden dolphin

Reply by William Kimmel, Jr.
Congratulations on your growth. Equanimity is one of the great keys to life! Not an easy one to get either.

Reply by Ron Alexander
Thank you, William. The equanimity I am improving on is a direct result of Vipassana meditation usually one hour in AM & one hour in PM. I sleep better also.
I credit my more balanced calmer mind in helping me to drive the remaining truckload and selling the whole thing (minus my originals) to an antique dealer and allowing them to empty it - saving me from expending more energy and lightening my spirit as well.
May all beings be free, ron

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Two Ways to live your live...

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Embracing The Divine Masculine

Embracing the Divine Masculine

.Life is a beautiful interplay of imagination and manifestation. Known in other ways as feeling and thought, feminine and masculine, yin yang, each requires and adds to the other. In an amazing dance that allows us to create and recreate our world, these energies continuously merge into each other to form a union that brings wholeness to our expression. Inspiration held with determination is what creates our physical experience and when this process is conscious and balanced, great manifestations result that benefit all.

Identified simply as our feminine and masculine aspects, these forces combine to make up our innate creative potential. Although often exemplified by our gender, we must take care not to confuse this strictly with being male or female. Both of these potent energies are a natural part of each of us and provide the very mechanism for our ability to exist. They are our right and left brain functioning as one, with love and logic in perfect harmony.

For millennia, cultures have held a fundamental focus and tendency towards the masculine aspect having dominion, where physical manifestation is at the cost of suppressing our intuitive, holistic, and imaginative, feminine energy. This ongoing and increasing imbalance has formed a great rift from our once splendid ability to create with wisdom, universal vision and magnificence.

Thus we find many men using their will to make things materialize regardless of cost to the whole, while subordinating their feminine equal into roles that ignore and trivialize the nurturing and imaginative aspects so vital to life. Likewise, many women deny their ability to fully realize their creations in manifest form and perpetuate the dilemma of subservience to male domination.

In recent times, we have born witness to a re-awakening of the feminine energy. For many females, this has been a necessary reclaiming of their “goddess” energy or divine feminine, which in reality is their embracing the fullness of both aspects essential to manifest, including the masculine will. In men, however, we often find confusion and frustration as this loving energy begins to percolate throughout their existence. They are beginning to feel once again, and yet with so few examples as to what this means, there is a tendency to remain in the only perspective they have known for so long.

Life always seeks balance. With an increasing awareness of cause and effect, we are quickly seeing that what happens in one part of the world instantly affects the whole just as our thoughts and feelings work together in our personal experience. We are coming to realize that it is up to each of us to embrace our true creative potential and ensure that we balance the feminine with the masculine. Nowhere is this more evident than with the men who have been constantly using their unbridled will without regard to consequences.

It is time for the divine masculine to emerge through love. What does this mean? It is a wakeup call for each to embody their highest potential of masculine energy. Rather than perpetuating an imbalanced approach to creation that ultimately leads to destruction and chaos, it is our distinct opportunity to embrace and express our integrity, honesty, dignity and compassion. It is allowing the rising feminine energy to blend with our masculine to make enlightened and loving choices. By consciously acknowledging and incorporating our imagination, intuition and feelings, with courage, strength, and an open heart, we birth a new world where love, wisdom and power are always in balance.

Love, light and peace,
Harold W. Becker
President and Founder
The Love Foundation, Inc.

Morning Meditation - a Daily AM Read

Morning Meditation "Just for Today"Posted by Lubov Ovtchinikov
This is a message I read every morning before I start my day,
It is simple but very helpful.

Just for today
I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problems at once.
I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
Just for today
I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that,
"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Just for today
I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.
I will take my “luck” as it comes, and fit myself to it.
Just for today
I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer.
I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
Just for today
I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out;
if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do – just for exercise.
I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt: they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
Just for today
I will be agreeable, I will look as well as I can: dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, not find fault with anything, and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.
Just for today
I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.
Just for today
I will have quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.
Just for today
I will be unafraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

Reply by Ron Alexander
Wise thoughts - thanks for adding this - I will cut and copy to my daily reminders! loving kindness, ron

I wrote this for the Vipassana group site today:
Not transcendance, not trance, not out-of-body, not egolessness, although these states happen in meditation, in Vipassana, our goal is equanimity according to Goenka.
To me equanimity is real peace, real joy, real balance, and is the middle road that Buddha teaches. metta, ron

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Web Inquiry

The Web Inquiry

The web
in a dreamcatcher
The worldwide web

The interconnectedness
of all beings
dream or reality?

Deep Healing

It is better if we can feel what we say, otherwise it is just words without much meaning behind of it.
Just can't get over of talking about Ho'oponopono.
So, if we say: " I love you," we should really take the time to feel it inside. (Me personally I'd prefer "us all" to word "you", even if it is being done for someone personally. It is just that I prefer seeing everything as the whole.)
When saying "thank you," we should really feel gratitude and think of what we're
being grateful for.
When saying "I'm sorry and please forgive me," it would be useful to get so deep that we could also let go and forgive all the pain. It is just that we can't get without giving it first. So we need to forgive ourselves and all the others for carrying or causing the pain. So we also need to forgive before asking to be forgiven, but also understand the reasons that has caused it all.

The whole creation was not intended to cause any of the suffering and that's how it was before, but this information is erased from our history books. But as the human civilization we have gone pretty far from it... Kind a difficult to make a good face and not to see what we have done. I'm really deeply sorry for all of it, that I'd rather not want to see. I'm sorry for all the pain that I'm still causing and what I have caused before because not being aware enough or brave enough to make the better choices. I'm sorry whenever being unhappy and sad... I am grateful for being happy and for making someone feel happier. I'm happy for all of the life we still have here, for the love and joy.

You can say just one word with all the meaning by feeling it all that you say.
With love,
-Silja

Comment by Ron Alexander
Thanks for adding your wisdom to Ho'oponopono! dear Silja, The words "I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you" taken into my loving kindness meditation is really helping me heal alot of old wounds.

"There is no more of a sacred place than where ancient wounds are turned into a present love." (ACIM)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Experiencing Oneness

I dreamt of my husband last night. He died almost two years ago exactly. I dreamt that he was here with us in Ladakh. You, he and I were walking in the late afternoon in the hills near Lamayuru. He was carrying a dark leather book under one arm. It looked very old. From time to time he would stop to show you a passage from the book, and from the expressions on both of your faces, it must have been a work of great beauty. I asked him, "what book are you reading together, but he did not answer. Perhaps he had not heard me. A little later, he left us and went down to a stream on the right. he bent down and laid the book tenderly in the stream. "Why are you doing that?" you asked. He did not answer for a long time, and I thought, "He is dead; he cannot answer," but then he said, "None of us needs those words any more." He walked on ahead alone. We all walked alone. The valley where we were walking narrowed and filled with an even light. We were walking separatly, but I felt that we were part of the same mind, a mind that contained also the rocks around us, and the stream that now began to shine with the same light. I found myself talking to myself with your voice; once I looked down at my hands, and saw that, in that moment, they were my husband's hands. And it was not frightening at all, this mingling with each other and with the rocks around us, and with the light; it was very calm and natural.

p. 110 in A Journey in Ladakh by Andrew Harvey
WORD FOR THE DAY (gratefulness.org)
Thursday, Oct. 8

So far as past errors are concerned,
forget them and start afresh, as if it were your
first day in this body; but so far as your
present contacts are concerned, be kind to them,
as if it were your last day in this body.


Paul Brunton

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Altering the course of history



"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."

~Mohandas Gandhi

Memory of the Heart

WORD FOR THE DAY(gratefulness.org)
Wednesday, Oct. 7

Gratitude is
the memory of
the heart.


St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
Motto for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Our Lady of Charity

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

To Love So Much: Meditate on this -

May all beings be free:

The Rinpoche (Thuksey) speaking:
Many people say they want to receive teachings and all they are saying is : I want a little more knowledge so that I can impress people. What is the use of that? Many people say they want to learn about Buddhism, but their way of learning is an escape from the truth and not an approach to it. So it is important that you understand that what is necessary is the true motivation, the true approach. If you do not have that, everything you learn will be of no use to you.

He paused , with his eyes still closed. To come to the Teachings in the right spirit you must know and feel many things. You must understand, not merely in your mind but in your heart and spirit the impermanence and transience of all phenomena. You must understand that all things are suffering - that love without awareness is suffering, that desire without awareness is suffering. You must understand the nature of suffering so deeply that you see all the world is in pain, that all Being is suffering. The Buddha said the whole world is on fire. Even those words will burn you if you do not hear them with the right purity. You must understand the nature of suffering, to transcend it to leave the world of fire and enter Nirvana, to overcome the torment of desire and live in calm and love.

He put his hands to his forehead, In the Hinayana they say the end of discipline is to escape suffering. This is not what we say in Tibet,in the Mayahana. We cannot bear to escape ourselves while we see the rest of creation is in pain; we could not endure to be free while the rest of the world is in prison. And so you must not only want to attain Nirvana for yourself , you must also want with all your heart that the whole of Being should attain Nirvana, should enter into bliss. And if you truly love all things, you will renounce your own salvation for the joy of continually working for the liberation of others. This is the ideal of the Bodhisatva. The heart of the Bodhisatva is so great that it cannot be content until the whole of creation, even the small insects and the blades of grass, have entered into Nirvana.

To be a Bodhisatva is to be free of all delusions of selfhood, to have finally realized that all things arise contingently and have no separate absolute existence, to be free of the falsity of the notion of personality, The Bodhisatva does not act for his own benefit; he acts in full awareness of emptiness, the emptiness of all things, in full awareness of the emptiness of all his actions, in full awareness, even, of the emptiness of his compassion. And yet his whole being is compassion. Everything he does is dedicated to others, every action, every thought, every ectasy, every meditation - given effortlessly, dedicated without for the "Self"
that gives.

This is the true motivation, this is the true feeling - to love all things so much that you wish to bring them into Nirvana, to love all created things so much that you want to become perfect, so that you can be of help to them. You should meditate on this. It is the beginning.


A Journey In Ladakh (p. 152-153) Andrew Harvey