|
22 April 2008 |
|
|
| |
|
What
is morally
wrong cannot be
politically right.
William
Gladstone
|
There
is no happiness for people at the expense of other people.
Anwar
el-Sadat
|
When love and
skill
work together, expect
a masterpiece.
John Ruskin
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Instilling
Strength
(an excerpt)
Sue Patton Thoele
Many
fears and weaknesses hang around because we try to
ignore them, overpower them, or outthink them.
This doesn't work. Relegated to the unconscious
mind, fears and weaknesses grow in power and
potency. However, meeting our demons in the
light of nonjudgmental stillness encourages them to
transform into strength and empowerment.
Willingly
greeting our fears and weaknesses with openness,
acceptance, and respect is one of the hardest tasks
mindfulness asks of us and one of the most freeing
practices we can undertake. Sitting in stillness
with our sorrow and shame, our fear and judgment laid
bare is an act of courage.
The
demon I'm sitting with right now is judgment of
another person, which spawns judgment of myself laced
with guilt and shame for being a "bad"
woman. Only recently have I had enough self-love
to really look at and accept this
judgment-weakness with the goal of transforming it
into strength.
As
often happens when we're on a path to improved
mindfulness, the perfect teacher has appeared for
me. I've developed an aversion to a person with
whom I attend a class once a week. I have a
fantasy that my beloved mother, whose deathbed
confession was that her main fault was judgment, has
arranged this opportunity for me.
|
|
|
Mindfulness
accepts experience and allows it to be our
teacher. To let this experience teach me, I am
being present to my tight jaws and constricted chest
whenever I see or think about the person. I
bring my attention back to my breath and relax into
the feelings of the moment.
Yesterday,
I felt a tiny glimmer of what the future might
bring. Upon seeing my "teacher," I
smiled at how creatively and speedily judgment leapt
into my mind and agitated my body and emotions.
Viewed with a touch of amusement, the difficult
feelings dissipated quickly, which gave me hope and
helped me trust the Buddha's assurance that
"mindfulness is all-helpful."
Practice.
. .
*
Sit in stillness of a few minutes with no agenda.
*
Continue sitting in stillness. If demons
surface, bless them and let them go.
*
Breathe in "I am. . ." Breathe out
". . . strong."
Throughout
your day. . .
*
Greet your feelings with gentle acceptance.
|
|
In
this book, Sue Patton Thoele shows you
how to incorporate mindfulness into your busy
and dynamic life. The book's gentle and humorous
approach makes it a practical and easily
understood guide for those who are new to the practice of
mindfulness as well as those who
are already familiar with its gifts. The book
offers over sixty-five simple and effective
practices to help you embrace mindfulness
one moment at a time. Filled with both the
author's and other women's personal stories
about the joys and hurdles that come with embracing mindful
living, The Mindful Woman
is a friend whose hand you can hold on the
path toward being present in the moment.
Finding your way will lead naturally to a more
open heart, inner peace, and greater zest
for life--a path well worth pursuing. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
Eyes
Wide Open
tom walsh
Admiration
Yesterday
was a very nice day--I went to the Grand Canyon with a
friend and we hiked down past Phantom Ranch along the
North Kaibab trail for a few miles before going back
up. We went about twenty miles in all, and we saw an
astonishing array of desert wildflowers all through the
Canyon. The day was sunny and the views were, of
course, amazing. And while such a hike always takes
its toll, it was still a fantastic experience, no matter
how my muscles might have been feeling.
But there
was something even more remarkable about yesterday's hike,
something that will stay with me for a very, very long
time. On the way back up, around mid-day, we came
across another pair of hikers just beneath Skeleton
Point--just over three miles from the trailhead on the
rim. They looked to be father and son, a man in his
early forties or so, and a boy about 15 years old.
But there was something very, very different about these
two hikers, for the father had no arms.
I was
shocked. Not because of the fact that the man had no
arms, but because of the miraculous nature of what he had
accomplished to be where he was. If you've ever
hiked the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, you'll
know just how important it is to keep your balance
constantly. If you haven't, please trust me--it's a
steep trail with many rocks and irregularities that make
it challenging for a person with both arms to keep his or
her balance at times. When I hike the trail I
constantly have to use my arms to maintain my balance,
especially since I tend to hike a bit faster than most.
For me
even to consider what it would take to navigate the trail
without the aid of the arms that I use to balance myself
would be a stretch of my imagination so extreme that I'm
not sure that I could do it.
I was
immediately overwhelmed with admiration for this man and
what he was doing. My friend and I stopped to rest,
and the pair passed us on the way uphill. And then I
realized just how much I admired the young man with
him--the boy who was carrying water and food for them
both, and who was showing nothing but the greatest
patience and consideration for his hiking partner.
In many ways he was just as admirable as the man with him,
and I suddenly felt blessed for having been able to see
this pair in that place on that particular day. My
life is now richer for having seen them.
We passed
them shortly thereafter, once we started moving
again. We exchanged a few words about how beautiful
the day was and how good the wind felt. I didn't say
anything about my admiration--I never know how something
like that will be taken. But a few minutes later I
turned and took a photo of the two of them navigating the
trail--they're far enough away that none of their features
are recognizable, but whenever I see that picture again,
I'll always remember just how strong the spirits of some
people are.
This was
a man who didn't let his situation get the best of
him. This was a man who experienced something very
special in spite of the great difficulties that he faced
in getting to where he was. And with him was a boy
who was kind and courteous and loving and helpful--a fine
example of just how giving human beings can be.
Theirs are two examples that most definitely will help me
to keep my life--my problems and trials and successes--in
perspective. I thank them, whoever they are and
wherever they may be. My only regret is that I
didn't share my admiration of them, with them. But
at least I can share it with others. . . .
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Living
Life Fully, the e-zine
exists to try to provide for visitors of the world wide web a
place
of growth, peace, inspiration, and encouragement. Our
articles
are presented as thoughts of the authors--by no means do
we
mean to present them as ways that anyone has to live
life. Take
from them what you will, and disagree with
whatever you disagree
with--just know that they'll be here for you
each week. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Sometimes
Sometimes
things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a person aims high, and all goes well.
A people
sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave some stranger poor.
Some people become what they were born for.
Sometimes
our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we were meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.
Sheenagh
Pugh
|
|
| |
Forgiveness
as a Foundation for Healing
David C. Lewis
At the root of all healing
is wholeness—wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Conscious
practitioners in the alternative or integrative healing
modalities know that all disease arises from stress upon or
blockages within the normal flow of energy or chi within and
through the body/mind/soul of a person. The normal
self-regenerating and restorative processes that bring about
balance and homeostasis are weakened and within at least one
system, organ or component of the complete person the stress
results in a breakdown or compromise of radiant health.
There is a growing
understanding within many modalities that a major portal to
wholeness in some way involves surrender, letting go and
forgiveness. In the physical arena, regular one-day-a-week
fasting or the skipping of a meal or two allows our body systems
and cells to rest and to repair themselves, bringing about an
internal cleansing as toxins are released. For those who
are stressed by the intensity of living in a fast-paced culture,
silent meditation and stillness facilitates the creation of a
field of presence and awareness that allows one greater peace of
mind and emotional calm.
Recently I was introduced
to a beautiful example of a very simple but profound methodology
of healing that springs from an ancient tradition of the kahunas
known as ho’oponopono. I read a story sent
through an e-mail of a psychiatrist who was called to work in a
prison with hardened criminals. These were murderers,
rapists and those who had committed heinous crimes who were
considered the least likely to be rehabilitated.
Whereas all previous
therapists had left in frustration at not having achieved their
hoped-for results, the new gentleman took a different tack.
He sat at his office desk
and opened the file of each particular inmate and reviewed the
criminal’s case and focused on his photo. Then, using
the science of healing of one’s community members by using
oneself as a surrogate as taught in ho’oponopono he
began to simply go within and work on himself, saying word such
as, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank
you. I love you.” These words are repeated until a
certain presence of heart and mind is reached and an inner
resolution achieved.
The interesting thing is
that the psychiatrist never actually met with or spoke to the
prisoners themselves! But, one by one, they began to
self-reflect, change, make amends and rehabilitate
themselves! Eventually nearly all of the criminals did a
180, experienced a complete turn-around in their lives and
became “model” prisoners. Many were eventually released from
the facility completely.
Why did this occur and how
did this come about? It may seem miraculous, but it is
really based on ancient wisdom which we are just again beginning
to rediscover—that we are all connected, that we are all
composed of the same stuff and that we can really only
work on changing ourselves. We have something of everyone
else within us, just as there is something of ourselves in
everyone else. When we work on removing the log in our own
consciousness, the mote can be let go of in another’s.
With the world situation
we see today all about us—the war in the Middle East, the
destruction of the Tibetan culture by the Chinese, the suffering
in Darfur and other African nations and the constant stresses in
the U.S. economy—it is incumbent upon us to find new ways of
dealing with the issues that challenge world harmony and
peace. I believe it all begins right within us, for the
change we desire to see manifest begins here and now—we need
to be the change we want to see in the world.
Forgiveness of self and of
others is a portal to the resolution of all our issues. Letting
go of past paradigms and belief systems that have bound us to
unconscious living can move us into greater acceptance of
all. And a new, joyful spirit may reside within us when we
live in the Now of picture-perfect presence by recognizing the
inner beauty of all life.
David C. Lewis is the
founder of The Hearts Center based in Paradise Valley,
Montana, composer of 7 music CDs, former art gallery owner and a
spiritual teacher. Read more or listen to his free discourses at
www.theheartscenter.org
or call 630-894-4410 for a free brochure and introductory DVD. |
|
| |
|
|
|
We've
been looking for a way to recommend many of the books
and movies that inspire us to live our lives more fully, and
Amazon
finally has provided it. Check out our new bookstore,
which is full
of inspirational and motivational material. We'd also
appreciate any
suggestions you might have of what to stock it with--please
visit
our feedback page
to make recommendations! |
|
| |
|
|
Free
Wallpaper! Just click
below on
the size your desktop
is formatted to,
right-click
on the picture that appears
in the new window, and choose
"Set as background."
800
x 600 - 1024
x 768
1280 x 800 |
|
| |
|
There
have been men and women in every generation
who have
longed for a better day and who have been willing
to aid
the forces which they believed would hasten that day.
Arnaud
C. Marts |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Alone
in his car heading west, it's easy for Jason to feel sorry
for himself and mad at the world. But then he gives
a ride to Hector and learns life isn't as negative as we
sometimes see it. The friendship between this young
man and his 70-year-old passenger is an inspiring story of
love and of dealing with obstacles in life. It's a
story that you'll treasure long after you've finished
reading. Three
Cavaliers, Tom Walsh's second published novel,
is now available in book form! Click
on the image
to the left to order! |
|
An excerpt:
“That was my first death.”
Jason
wasn’t sure what Hector meant.
It seemed obvious, but there was something in the
way that Hector had had spoken the words that made the
obvious explanation seem insufficient.
“Do you mean that was the first death you
experienced in your life?” Jason asked.
“No.
I mean that it was the first time I died.”
Jason
thought it over for a moment.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
Hector
looked over at Jason.
“Perhaps not,” he said simply.
“But perhaps it does.
I know that one day I was one person, but two weeks
later I was a different person.
The Hector Gutierrez Sanchez that I was one day no
longer was there the next.
I had all the same memories as that other person,
and people who had known me before still recognized me as
someone they knew, but I was not the same person.
The person I had been had died.”
“I
guess if you want to see it that way. . . .”
“Tell
me,” Hector said respectfully, “are you exactly the
same person you were five years ago?
Two years ago?”
“No,
not at all. I’ve
learned things. I’ve
grown. I’ve
been developing as a person, I guess.
But yes—I’m still the same person.
I mean, I’m still in the same body and all.”
“Perhaps
you see it that way only because you wish to hold on to
what you were. Because
you are afraid to let it go.
Perhaps you are frightened to let go of who you
were because you are frightened of who you may become.”
Hector spoke matter-of-factly, with no hint of
certainty that he was right, with no sign that he felt he
was teaching Jason something.
He was making no effort to convince Jason that he
was right, and that threw Jason off.
He didn’t know how to respond.
He was used to people telling him what they
believed almost as if they wished to challenge him, and he
was used to arguing his side, which he usually thought of
almost immediately. Here,
though, there was no challenge, no need for him to jump to
defend his own beliefs.
Rather, there almost seemed to be an invitation to
think more deeply, to reflect upon the words that Hector
had spoken and the thoughts they expressed.
It made Jason very uncomfortable.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
