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“false evidence appearing real”

Fear – “false evidence appearing real” – could entrench itself within our whole being if we let it. The stories of killings, poverty, attacks, abuses, bombings, muggings, etc., they won’t go away, even for a day. It would be so easy to set up a case for fear. So easy to bring fear into our every day lives. But many of us know that that would serve no purpose, that fear has never worked; it paralyzes. We are all brave souls, so much braver than we realize – I would call us warriors – wise in the way of the world we live in. And we won’t let fear have its way in our lives!

We live in a kind of world where many children, who, during their entire childhood, have experienced killings, rapes, starvation, lack of love, guns placed in their small hands, hate, neighborhoods destroyed by “the enemy.” Why are we surprised when these children become people having hearts of stone, and now able to destroy without blinking an eye? Can it be more obvious that wars don’t work?

The so-called leaders of the world (that’s anyone wielding the kind of power that’s destroying our world, and pretending it’s on our behalf) could put an end to wars (of course they could!), but instead spend billions upon billions upon billions of dollars keeping them going. Is it really all about empty souls lusting for power and money? Is it all about greed? No judging here, simply longing for leaders who are truly for the people.

It’s safe to say that the majority of people are sick and tired of what’s happening, and know in their hearts that there most certainly is a better way. Planet Earth belongs to no one. Though we know there are those who seem to believe that they created and own the universe.

Ahh yes, the world – how wonderful it could be!

RIP, All those who died this weekend in Paris, and all who suffer at the hands of ignorance.
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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I keep in close touch with what happens in the world. And there are times when I feel deeply grieved by the suffering I read about, and wonder why life has to be this way. But I never despair. At those times I go deep, deep into meditation until I reach the very source of love and wisdom that exists in each of us.

“So what I would tell all of you is this: meditate every day, throw yourself into some form of selfless work, and use your sense of suffering to relieve the suffering of others. It is a wonderful gift to be able to give.” – Eknath Easwaran
Read more from the Spring 2015 journal, in which Easwaran gives his views on violence, and how our meditation helps the world, easwaran.org/blue-mountain-journal.html We’re repeating our mantram for the people of Paris.


 

 

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mother earth and us

 

I‘ve been thinking about some of the postings on Facebook and Youtube by people obsessing over the negativity in the world. Many people are churning out videos trying to figure out who exactly is responsible for the mess, and some are asking what can be done to turn things around.

Definitely there are problems on our Planet. Mother Earth is disgusted with the way we have been abusing a beautiful Planet that gives us limitless resources for our well-being – a Planet we are completely dependent on for our lives. It’s insanity, is what Eckhart Tolle and Steve Taylor, and countless other people are saying. Is it true that we’re all insane to allow this to happen? – It does look that way, doesn’t it?

We have opinions about the people we think are responsible for causing the havoc, and we have a right to wonder and to know the who and why of it. Although believing this ‘n that and not having a course of action amounts to, well, – nothing.

There’s a sense of helplessness, even hopelessness, judging from the world-wide anxiety and depression. There are questions needing answers, for instance: There’s an abundance of food, but a lot of it is wasted; this being the case, how do we get it to the great numbers of people starving to death every day? And why so many wars? – the maiming, violence, killings, destruction. And why the ongoing raping of beautiful Mother Earth for the benefit of a few? And why the endless brands of packaged foods in supermarkets causing obesity and sickness? And why not transform our archaic educational system and replace it with what’s really relevant in terms of body mind spirit? – giving all children a better chance of becoming happy, fearless, fully-functioning, creative adults. And why the many trashy magazines on newsstands? And why the medicines produced by Big Pharma having side effects at times worse than the diseases? And why the half-truths that keep us “dumbed down.” And then there’s politics as usual – if there wasn’t so much at stake, it would be laughable. The last I heard, a presidential candidate spends billions of dollars trying to get elected, and we know where that money comes from. Still. . . . 

Many of us have great hope for our Planet, and want to be part of helping it heal. We understand that we are visitors, so to speak, to this Planet, and we will continue on after. So perhaps in lieu of not having a brilliant idea as to how to help save Mother Earth and ourselves, we can turn within and get our strength, courage, peace, fearlessness from a part of us that knows, and when the time comes to take action, we’ll be ready.

It’s been said that we’re much more than what we’ve been taught to believe, and we need to know and remember this because at this time in the world’s history we can’t falter, no more coming up with excuses; we go beyond, we don’t cringe; we accept and work with what’s happening in the world, and we become powerful human beings working together. The answers will come at the right time, and whatever they are, we’ll accept them and work with them.  

 Imagine that!

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“All is always well even when it seems unbelievably unwell.”  – Adyashanti

It’s a fascinating world, and it’s a pleasure and honor to be part of it, eh?

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in quito

On a Sunday a few weeks ago I went to the Coffee Bean located at Av. Shyris y Naciones Unidas, Edf. Shyris Park, across from Park Carolina in Quito, Ecuador. It’s a place  where a delicious cup of coffee is guaranteed.

That visit to the Coffee Bean turned into a trip to a part of La Ronda, one of Quito’s oldest neighborhoods. Alexander is the owner of the Coffee Bean, and he suggested that his wife Ekaterina and daughter Maria show me this old section. 

Ekaterina, Maria, Alexander from Moscow

Off we went by taxi. Then, the driver said we’d have to get off (something about a tunnel). Okay, no questions asked. We walked a little, and soon were in front of the beautiful Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow). We climbed and climbed and climbed the steps leading to the top of the Basilica. I suspected as we went higher and higher, and as I listened to their conversation, that of all the buildings, the Basilica is the favorite of mother and daughter.

Then ekaterina and Maria pointed to a statute of the Virgin Mary. She is dipicted with the wings of an angel. Can you see it in the distance on that hill? It’s as close as I got. 

Sunday in Quito having breakfast made by Cesar at the Coffee Bean, and then to the top of the Basilica, nice!

With Cesar on the right. He is from Venezuela.

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bamboo juice . . . *uh-oh, mistake!

How is it that I’ve never heard of, let alone tasted, bamboo juice before visiting Otovalo? It was by pure accident that I discovered a young woman hacking away at part of a bamboo tree as I passed her shop. I’ve always appreciated all that the bamboo tree gives us. So when I saw them outside adorning the entrance to a shop, I had to double back. A hearty-looking bamboo juicer was directly in front of the shop, and in the back was a counter made of . . . bamboo.

 

I had no idea what bamboo juice would taste like. So I prepared myself, and, surprise . . . it was DELICIOUS.

The young woman was so friendly. She laughed alot, tried hard to inderstand a gringo, and let me take as many photos as I wanted. As long as I’m in Otavalo, I’m a steady customer.

*uh-oh mistake . . . I’ve been told this is sugar cane and not bamboo. : (

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it’s that word trust again

I just deleted a post I wasn’t sure about. That word delete makes me think of other ways we delete events in our lives. It can happen when we have a thought that manages to take over, and soon we’re second-guessing what was once a solid plan.

For instance, I like reading travel essays, travel books, and, well, most anything having to do with travel. Lately there’s plenty written about moving to Cuenca, Ecuador where I live. However, I don’t often hear or read about what happens when people cancel a move, or make the move and find that it’s not what they expected. I suppose it could be a good thing that quite a few travel writers don’t write a whole lot about the downside of living abroad because doubts would take hold, and once that happens, the thought of, I’m not going because if it didn’t work for them, it probably won’t work for me would/could easily sabotage what were once solid plans.

Too bad because simply stated, change is probably calling – change in all its many wonderful possibilities, and moving for movings’s sake becomes a secondary reason. For instance, we move abroad and a feeling of regret begins to creep over us. But before we stress about it, we try to understand the situation we’re in, and why we thought it would work.

Then we stop second-guessing ourselves. perhaps it’s not only about the move, but that we had to go from here to there to meet an extraordinary person who will be instrumental in helping us in a meaningful way, or maybe the love of our life is waiting for us when we get to our destination, or we needed a good enough reason to quit that awful job that was pulling us down.

And so, when a decision is made, we simply trust whatever comes our way – trust we have what it takes to expand, explore, spread some joy, have fun with new experiences, meet people, and at times be open to serendipity and spontaneity. Otherwise, we’ll never know the incredible opportunities waiting for us if we don’t go, or if we let regret take hold. Because for sure, if we trust, they’ll be there.

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Simply be who you are, do what you do best, be where you are called by joy, and let life work its magic on your behalf. ~ Alan Cohen

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the magic of some words

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I’m retweeting . . . my way . . . these words want to be shared . . . they speak to the heart, to the spirit, they have their own kind of magic – they show us another way of understanding ourselves and each other.

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@Soulseedzforall: Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn’t lie.

@PanacheDesai: Every one of us embarks on this journey from the Divine and every one of us is returning to the Divine. So what are you worried about?

@soniachoquette: You cannot breathe deeply and worry at the same time. Breathe. Let the worry go. Breathe. Allow the love and intuition in.

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance. ~Reuben Blades

@james odea: The world is also facing a lot of new problems, most of which are man-made.

@james odea: A great Tibetan teacher of mind training once remarked that 1 of the mind’s most marvelous qualities is that it can b transformed.

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We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. – Marcel Proust

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lorna byrne

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She inspires! And the messages she gets from Angels go around the world with her as she communicates what they tell her. Seeing Angels and receiving their messages, and asking them questions, I can’t image how that must be for her.

On one of her recordings she said that she was in a hotel in the Times Square area of New York and saw the Angel of Hope moving among the skyscrapers and sending hope to the people below.

That is a wonderful message for all Americans to keep in their hearts on this Fourth of July 2013. She said that the Angels tell her that America hasn’t reached its potential yet, but it will.
“@LornaByrne: Happy 4th July! America is a beacon of hope for the world http://bit.ly/1b9GOFH”

She gets and gives lots of hugs, and wants us to open our hearts and send out compassion and love to all the people we’re connected to — and that’s everyone.

Thank you Lorna Byrne for being a messenger of hope around the world.
www.lornabyrne.com

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

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A tweet: “@LornaByrne: Angels are asking me to ask you all to smile a litttle more.”

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into the lives of others

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I was perusing Inc magazine while enjoying a good cup of coffee, when I saw on page 64, La Colombe Torrefaction Every Cup An Adventure Tale, and read: “This company shows the passion the owner has for coffee and lengths he’s willing to go to get it. It’s like the Patagonia of coffee.” — Bob Lord

The photo of co-founder and CEO Todd Carmichael on page 64 audacious companies helps to tell the story. He goes anywhere in the coffee world to track down “high-end beans other roasters won’t risk pursuing.” The words violence and danger don’t seem to be part of his vocabulary — he just goes. A travel channel show called Dangerous Grounds “captures each expedition.” A savvy businessman who loves what he does, does it his way, and does it well captures the definition of the word, inspiring. And www.lacolombe.com/founders-biographiessuggests that his personal life is also inspiring.

Reading about people who see the world in a good, BIG way and live with that amount of passion, feeds the mind and soul. Nice, right?

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That same day I passed Rittenhouse Plaza and there was Joseph Dupoldt, a doorman who, without fail smiles and has an encouraging word for all who pass — should they be open to it. I pass Joseph to and fro when going to La Colombe which is next door, and so have an opportunity to collect his smiles and see him in action. And I’ve noticed that he doesn’t seem to realize the impact he has on the lives of the different people who come in contact with him as they go in and out of the door where he stands. He does though. He’s aware of when people want a smile, or when they want to be with their thoughts, undisturbed — either way, he’s there for them. If you pass quietly or linger a little, you can hear him singing; he likes du bop and has a wonderful voice. It’s easy to see that he brings harmony, joy, and awareness to his job, and that’s only the things I can see. Nice, right? I want to ask him where someone as young as he is got his wisdom. I wonder what he’ll say.

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“There is nobody else like you. The more you can quiet your own thoughts, fears, doubts and suspicions, the more will be revealed to you from the highest realms of imagination, intuition, and inspiration.” – Kenneth Wydro, American lecturer

“My country is the world and my religion is to do good.” – Thomas Paine

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joel osteen

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Did you read about the preposterous spam: “Joel Osteen Hoax: Man Allegedly Behind Ploy To Discredit Leader Wants Televangelist To Change His Message”? It had Joel Osteen abandoning his faith, and fleeing his congregation. And I ask myself, does the spammer have nothing else to do than to waste that amount of time doing what he did by sending biting words – supposedly from Joel Osteen’s mouth, along with pictures seeming to agree with the words – around the online world?

The following was Joel Osteen’s response to this pretend headline: “I’m really not angry; I don’t feel like a victim. I feel too blessed; life is too short to let things like this get you down.” Now that’s a perfectly simple response – one that we might want to memorize, and say with gusto, whenever we feel like a victim. Because we, in the modern world, tend to get offended rather easily.

When all was said and done, it was reported that the spammer said: “Joel doesn’t talk enough about the environment and poverty. He’s just too positive and smiley.” You gotta laugh; what else is there to do? Though the question that comes to mind for the spammer is: Why did you spend so much time doing what you did when there’s a call for ALL OF US to do our share, in whatever way works for us, to fix what’s been called, “our broken down” world.

Upon hearing the words: “he’s just too positive and smiley,” I thought, and what a different world it would be if we were all “just too positive and smiley.” Maybe we could all give it a try just to see what would happen.

When I had a TV, I enjoyed seeing Joel Osteen’s contagious smile and listening to him, because he has a talent for getting his message across with stories and laughter. What’s not to like?

I suppose the spammer thinks Joel Osteen came into this world just as he is. Think again, he’s had an interesting development, and chances are he continues to expand on it. Oh, yes.
www.joelosteen.com
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“Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9% of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself, and there isn’t one.” Wei Wu Wei

“Joy is not in things. It is in you. – Richard Wagner

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world . . . as in being able to remake ourselves.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi

“We choose our joys and sorrows before we experience them.” – Kahlil Gibran