Gaia Community: mita's Blog

How would you respond to those who feel overwhelmed by bad news?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:00:57 -0000

Unplug and actively lookout for good news, solutions, and inspired social nets like Gaia. Dare to dream, imagine, contemplate and create a world that you love to live in and enjoy with others. Cultivate and radiate metta to bless, rejuvenate, sustain and evolve personal, planetary and cosmic Life.

Wonder anyone here knows of any great youth magazine and conscious media for the teens?

BTW, I am using bad news for my project here for the long haul

Peaceful metta

Counting My Blessings~

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:02:11 -0000

The day is gorgeous with all the spring blossoms in full display of colors. My partner and I mowed, weeded and mulched the entire front and back flower beds this year, unlike last year. Although my back feels achy, I feel an urge to try our new zero turn riding mower.

Yet feel the time crunch to wrap up things and pack up as we will be heading towards a four day trip to Ann Arbor to see his holiness Dalai Lama for the two day weekend program, do some visiting in the area and bring our daughter Maya home!

Tonight Maya is attending a pre-dalailama talk with Philip Glass, Bob Mcferrin and Richard Gere. You can the see the livecast here. Ann arbor seems to be a very thriving place with all kinds of holistic and concious businesses and community events.

A month or so ago we had the good fortune to attend President Abdul Kalam lectures here in my hometown at the University of KY, Lexington. The peak moment for me was to spontaneously merge my voice in unison with over 500 fellow Indians in the audience, singing the nostalgic national anthem of India after more than a decade.

I will be joining Maya and her dad, leaving a week before me, in India on May 3rd. Meeting my mom, neices, nephews, cousins, in-laws is something I am cherishing very much as we are visiting as a family this time, upon Maya's insistence. We are taking a family group tour to Darjeeling and I am likely to visit for the first time my birthplace Jalpaiguri!

Dalai Lama's two day teaching at Crisler Arena was filled to capacity! Overall the program was good, although Maya did not understand much of Sunday's teaching as much of Nagarjuna's emptiness, dependent origination, middle way went over her head. For myself the the best parts were the begining and ending of the program.

Dalai Lama began the program Saturday by saying how as individuals we have different view of many things and he jokingly mentioned the various hats or practices - yellow, red, white, black traditions in Tibetan buddhism itself. And may be a new color Blue hat would arise here in American scene. Then HH folded his hands and said. "But Sakyamuni (Buddha) had no hat! Perhaps it is time that we return to the original teachings of Sakyamuni." I am in total alignment here with HH Dalai Lama. And I especially liked his gesture of asking a Sri Lankan Monk (?) to begin the program by chanting Mangalam Sutta in Pali, something I heard in Bodh Gaya and Saranath as teenager. The program ended with collective reading of simple verses repeating three refuges and bodhisattava aspirations for generating and cultivating the mind for enlightenment for the wellbeing of all sentient beings.

I am amazed at student activism at University of michigan. There was a large contingent of chinese student protesters who gathered along the path of Crisler arena with all kinds of signs and info. Every time we visited, we came across some kind of student demonstration or protest and other groups including some faculty members support them. I am getting a little biased already for u.Mich as you can see.

A couple of days ago had a wonderful time with Liz, Richard and Joan and few others in the BPF Cincinnati Dhamma group. Richard is doing some great work transcribing Buddha's original teachings from Pali in a manner that is most user friendly for beginners and advanced students alike.

Now we had almost a panic attack Friday evening, just before departing Lexington after I posted the initial half of the blog. We discovered Maya's US Passport (as minor) has expired last October as we were planning to go to Windsor Canada to visit my neice. Things looked really bleak Sunday, but somehow today Monday morning all pieces and puzzles came together. We could gather all documents needed and with the help of a very kind postal passport agent and travel agent (who appeared just in the nick of time) it looks like we are going to receive the new passport wednesday in Ky, when we reach home!

We had a great mother daughter day shopping in the mall and enjoying dipping dots icecream (my first time), a chair massage and a sizzling chinese dinner with energy left to finish this blog before bidding goodnight to you all!

BTW counting blessing works since I just came across another headline with same subject posted a few days ago somewhere in the wide world of web! And the passport arrived at 10Am sharp and we arrived home at 3AM last night to receive it! When things don't turn out my way, that is also a blessing. That reminds me to let go, relax my focus on obstacles and barriers and not watch my rear-view mirror so much as long as I can see the front 200 yard clearly. Joyful blessings to you.

Grateful cheers

Will Ron Paul Ripples Inspire Ideology-free Third Party?

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:52:13 -0000

It is already February. Time seem to be flowing in a FF mode for me with so many things happening at many levels. Wanted to post something this year of 2008 which is a year of conscious creation and partnerships suggested by number 2 with two zero's indicating pure potential or accessing the zero point is going to bring heaven on earth (suggested by 8). That's how I see it anyway.

Historically politics has been the tool for managing conflicts, instigating cahos, extend power and implement sophisticated "divide and rule" strategy via mass ideology, survival fear-based propaganda via mass media, mass distraction via decadent mass entertainment to maintain staus quo of the few (power elite) over the masses. Independent minded conscious citizens may gather to create ideology free third party to reclaim "democracy of the people by the people for the people" everywhere.

Did you know the current Republican party was a minority Third Party and Abraham Lincoln was the first and only Third party Candidate to win presidency, back in 1860! Also just came across this site on potential bi-party presidential candidacy of kucinichpaul
Of course Barack Obama is htting a cord with grassroots and independents. latest CNN

Obama is quite charismatic and seen as someone for Change. Some allegations about his changing position, elite connections and lifestyle surfacing lately in non-mainstream media is a cause for concern, IF true.

Also see the passion of Ron Paul for Sane Foreign Policy

More in my my Sister blog aha2008!

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Now this year my goal is to take mindful pauses for lighthearted fun and laughter every now and then by accepting the present moment with all its possibilities and perils and keep the harmony.

Here's some laughter to defuse the stress and pressure of rapid energy shifts and microenergies many of us are quite sensitive to now . Watch the spill over of 'i' tech boom
'i'mac attacks.

Enjoy the year. Take last year's trash out, let the cat play and take the dog out ~

Peace&joy
mita

What is something everyone can agree on?

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:07:02 -0000

We are all human beings. We all need human care and affection to survive, thrive and stay humane!

I started wondering 6 months ago about the origin of the word "human" and the sound 'Hu' came to me. A month ago I walked into a booth at Inner light festival, same one I had seen a month before in a peace fair. I instantly recognized the face of someone, whose book I read at one time 7-8 years ago in the public library.

I learned the word "HU" is the ancient word for God that connects one with Holyspirit from
a meeting of Eckankar! This sound is similar to Tibetan sacred sound 'HUM'
There is also the Vedic sacred chant of 'OM' that connects us with our divine essence.

Unlike 'OM' I found instant connection with 'HU'.

Intuitively I feel the word HU + OM = HUOM (feels like Home)! Just an amusing muse I have this morning ;)

OR it also sounds like the Tibetan Sacred sound HUM....wondering

Date: 1/26/08

This past two weeks I had some strange or auspicious coincidences (subject of another blog perhaps)

Last night I fell asleep with HU, and at one point woke up from a dream where i felt like communicating with Rebazar Tarzs (his image came) a Tibetan Eckmaster....as I was contemplating similarities in the ECk and Vajrayana...(both I don't know much about) and afte waking up opened up the CTR book in my bedside and exact page which describes HUM

According To Chogyam Trungpa, collected works volume 5...

HUM is the seed sound in all four orders of Tantra (kriya, upa, yoga, and anuttara) and composed of HA (which expels impure air from lungs), U (of U M) releases irritating thoughts thru the mouth and M clears the remaining thoughts thru nose.

For advanced meditators HUM is a means of developing five wisdoms.

H is the mirrorlike wisdom: Clear and continuous
A is the wisdom of equanimity
U is the wisdom of discriminating awareness
M is all accomplishing wisdom, effortless accomplishment
A is the wisdom of all accomplishing space (dharmadhatu) ground from which all things originate and to which they return

This is very beautiful and I very much resonate with it. The breath of HA feels very good...always and MA is the sound of mater or mother in many languages, including my own Bengali. to be contd...

My Current Posts to Other Blogs

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:30:31 -0000

Re: Being a Mindful Leader, Inner Guidance Network by Adrianus

Re: Dalai Lama's Congressional Medal , SKy High's blog A Dove & a Hawk

Re: Biology of Enlightenment at Birdtribes.ning.com created by SOL Luckman

Re: Al Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize for What? Brent's blog

Many times i lose my posts. So this may be a better way to keep track for now.

What's your favorite poem? Why?

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:49:35 -0000

Spontaneous Art - Bengali Alpana art for auspicious occasion. My drawing class sample work, big and miniature art. After many years of gap this is my first drawing class and my teacher and class mates liked it a lot. I used markers on the spontaneous pencil sketch I drew in the class...reminded me of my childhood and my current association with Lexington Shambhala.

There are quite a few. Here is one by Rabindranath Tagore
Listen To Martin Sheen Recite “Mind Without Fear”
Another Bengali Poem "Ecstasy of Creation" by the Rebel Poet Nazrul.

Here a little bit on Bengali Alpana Folk art history from online search.
"Alpana (Ritual Painting) is a kind of folk art and a spontaneous expression of the artistic sensibility of people. It retains the past experience of the community and, at the same time, is very much contemporary in feeling. It is mainly the womenfolk who have kept the art alive in this part of the subcontinent. They retain connections with age-old traditions and at the same time are bold enough to experiment with new forms and new colours. They are conscious of the changing moods of the seasons and their creativity thus marks the changing cycle of the year. ..It is difficult to determine the origins of the art. Many authorities hold that many of the vratas and pujas with which alpanas are associated can be traced to pre-Aryan times. It has come down to us from the Austric people who lived in the country long before the coming of the Aryans."

Alpana is more popularly known as Rangoli in Hindi. It is a form of sandpainting decoration or floorart that uses finely ground white powder and colours, and is used commonly outside homes in India, similar to Hindu or Buddhist mandalas. (see wikipedia).

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Tue, 22 May 2007 02:56:42 -0000

Comtemplating Capitalism

I would Transform Capitalism. Inspire and engage others to be part of a big bold solution to myriad systemic problems at macro and microlevel generated by unexamined foundation of capitalism...modern financial system based on debt-money, usury, fractional reserve banking, centralized commercial bank generated credit instead of 100% debt-free decentralized publicly issued money.

Changing the ("capital" in capitalism) system requires three things.....

1) Shifting our own individual perception of what money is and its proper function in the economy and society, separating means of production (tangible capital) from currency (abstract capital that is a medium of exchange and circulation). The first can be privately owned, but currency itself as public agreement must be issued 100% debt-free by the people (not a few private banks centrally controlled).

2) understanding the basic sources of the problem inherent in our current system and educating others by sharing information; issueing fiat money privately as compound-interest bearing debt via fractional reserve banking is mathematically unsustainable and rationally indefensible

3) Taking Small inspired actions. Simultaneous actions would be taken by many spontaneously growing social networks and grassroot groups. Once our inner perception shifts outer reality will shift effortlessley through a peaceful transformation. A dancing revolution where the "capital' is us, and we the people design it collectively.

I invite you to explore, think and discover it for yourself....and be part of a bold public awareness and education project so we can collectively shift the evolutionary path of the planet and human civilization for the benefit and welfare of all beings. A sustainable currency system is essential now to ensure survival of all people and restoring ecological balance in the planet.

Come and Join my Conscious Capitalism Discussion. Be the fearless change.

Envision abundant debt-free Trust Money that keeps circulating love, gratitude, gift of human labor and joyful service.

In order to create a reality, YOU must see it.

In the West you have been struggling for many years with the problem of evil. But in the light of non-duality, there is not any problem. You need both right and left to have a branch. Do not take sides, if you take sides, you are trying to eliminate half of reality, which is mpossible. For many years, the United States has been trying to describe the Soviet Union as the evil side. Some Americans even have the illusion they can survive alone, without the other half. If we look at America very deeply, we see the Soviet Union. And if we look deeply at the Soviet union, we see America. If we look deeply at the rose, we see the garbage; if we look deeply at the garbage, we see the rose. In this international situation, each side is pretending to be the rose, and calling the other side garbage.

Survival means the survival of human kind as a whole, not just a part of it. If the South cannot survive, then the North is going to crumble. If countries of Third World cannot pay their debts, you are going to suffer here in the North. If you do not take care of the Third World, your well-being is not going to last, and you will not be able to continue living in the way you have been much longer. It is leaping out at us already. You cannot leave the job to the governments or the political scientists alone. You have to do it yourself. My new blog

- Thich Naht Hahn, The Heart of Understanding, Commentaries on Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, 1988 p36
cheers

To Women of The World: Wish You A Happy Woman's Day 3/08/2007

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:21:48 -0000

Just now a note arrived from a friend in Calcutta, India reminding me to take a pause and celebrate the worth of all women today! I am truely happy to be who I am and no longer need the validation of my worth from my children, spouse, family, in-laws, relatives, friends, work, social expectations or anything external to me....and it feels great just to be me
....the whole me smiling with sun peeping through the window on my face ;-)

Take a look at my new blog

The Woman

When God created woman he late on the 6th day

An angel came by and said: “Why spend so much time on that one””’

And the Lord answered:
“Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her ?"

“She must be durable, but not made of plastic, have more than 200 moving parts which all must be replaceable and she must function on all kinds of food, she must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, give a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart and she must do all this with only two hands”. The angel was impressed.

“Just two hands....impossible!“ And this is the standard model?!

“Too much work for one day....wait until tomorrow and then complete her“.

“I will not”, said the Lord. “I am so close to complete this creation,

which will be the favourite of my heart”.

“She cures herself when sick and she can work 18 hours a day”.

The angel came nearer and touched the woman.

“But you have made her so soft, Lord”

“She is soft", said the Lord, “But I have also made her strong. You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.“

“Can she think?" the angel asked.

The Lord answered:

“Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."

The angel touched the womans cheek....

“Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.”

“She is not leaking....it’s a tear” the lord corrected the angel

“What’s it for?" asked the angel. And the Lord said:

“Tears are her way of expressing grief, her doubts,

her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.”

This made a big impression on the angel; “Lord, you are genius.

You thought of everything. The woman is indeed marvellous!"

Indeed she is!

Woman has strengths that amazes man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.

She holds happiness, love and opinions.

She smiles when feeling like screaming.

She sings when she feels like crying, crys when she is happy and laughs when she is afraid.

She fights for what she belives in.

Stand up against injustice.

She doesn’t take “no” for an answer, when she can see a better solution. She gives herself so her family can thrive. She takes her friend to the doctor if she is afraid.

Her love is unconditional.

She cries when her kids are victorious. She is happy when her friends do well.

She is glad when she hears of a birth or a wedding.

Her heart is broken when a next of kin or friend dies.

But she finds the strength to get on with life.

She knows that a kiss and a hug can heal a broken heart.

There is only one thing wrong with her

She forgets what she is worth...

Please share it with women you love. Thanks.

Here's more on International woman's Day

Here's my article on some Invisible Women of Science and Technology

Waking Up from The tragedy of woman's enslavement by Ramtha

Cheers

GREEN ALERT for Fearless Peace!

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:05:06 -0000

Blog Catalog

I have been active past week or two working for peace! I feel this is the time for those who are passionate about bringing peace within our hearts and out in the world to stand up and show up publicly for the cause of "Peace" on Earth and The Missing Peace

Please show up in your local peace gatherings tomorrow January 27, 2007

Desire for Peace and Justice is Desire for the

Whole Truth & Nothing But The TRUTH

1) To Peacefully express our solidarity with the National Peace March in Washington DC on January 27

2) Show our Support and Compassion for all who lost lives and are affected on all sides by the War in Iraq

3) Non-cooperate with forces that mislead and misguide us and falsely promote “war” as the only way to make us/our freedom secure!

4) Above all to affirm, pledge and practice the innate “Power of Peace” within us to endure, sustain, co-create and celebrate

our diversity and embrace multiple non-harming ways of pursuing life, liberty and happiness for all in the world.

Bring Your Enthusiasm, Creative Ideas, Humor and Peace Signs! Children and young generation are especially welcome!

Just Showing up and Standing Up for Peace is immensely EMPOWERING!

It does breakdown the cycle of despair, fear and powerlessness.

YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS!!!

Please make every effort to be present and visible, so we are seen and heard!

Get inspired by two young soldiers and brave hearts resisting war and speaking Truth to Power here…..

Darell Anderson Speech KY’s Non-Cooperator. Recently he talks more openly about the untold story

A Soldier's Higher Duty: The Watada Story, Watada's February 2007 court martial for refusing to go to IRAQ War ended in a mistrial, his future is still a mystery.

who's Selling the War: Bill Moyers

"I spent 33 years and 4 months in active service as a member of our country's most agile military force--the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was part of a racket all the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service."

Major General Smedley D. Butler, USMC (1881-1940)

Some insights and ideas for making posters

WAR IS What??

Find other rackets at the end

World's Biggest "T" Organization??

see wikipedia.org

NoWar Project In Our Name
Stop PNAC Architects of war

Why Call yourself a Think Tank, if all your ideas are stupid? Enjoy a laugh.

Wall Street Bankers Win

As People & Planet LOSE

STOP IRAQ WAR

End OUR WAR ECONOMY

Reject 5 US Bases in IRAQ
700 US Military Bases Worldwide

Makes war-economy going

Video & gangster rap keeps soldier trigger-happy
Generation Kill in America
stop culture of war & violence

Confession of some
Iraq War Veterans, 2008

No Dark Mass Mind Invasion

No Home Schooling of Assassins
School of Americas watch

War is "Uncivilized", has no place in "CIVILIZATION" or "CIVIL SOCIETY"

PEACE IS THE POWER TO CREATE, COLLABORATE &
ENJOY COMPASSIONATE LIFE!!!

PEACE is Life After Capitalism of a Foolish Few

May be the children can teach adults a lesson with a banner
"There are no enemies, we are all brothers and sisters".

Keep an eye for News on Tommorow's March at DC, not likely to be reported in main media. Search Youtube for Live Video of rally.

Thumbs up and Hi five for Peace!!!

"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount."
(General Omar N. Bradley)

Reflections: from Sacred Path of a warrior - Chogyam Trungpa

TO EXPERIENCE FEARLESSNESS, IT IS NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE FEAR
The essence of cowardice is to not acknowledge the reality of fear. Fear takes many forms. We are afraid of death, we are afraid that we can't handle the demands of our life, and there is abrupt fear, or panic, when new situations occur. Fear is expressed as restlessness: how we move, how we talk, how we chew our nails, how we sometimes put our hands in our pockets uselessly. We have to realize our fear and reconcile ourselves with fear. However, acknowledging fear is not a cause for depression. Because we possess such fear, we can potentially experience fearlessness.

GO BEYOND FEAR When you examine your fear, if you look beneath the veneer of your nervousness, you find sadness. Nervousness is cranking up, vibrating all the time. When you slow down, when you relax with your fear, the sadness is calm and gentle. In the Shambhala tradition, discovering fearlessness comes from working with the softness of the human heart.

Listen To Martin Sheen Recite "Mind Without Fear"

"In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us." - Thich Nhat Hanh, Socially Engaged Buddhist Monk.

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal. - Dhammapada

Do you think this kind of globalization of democracy going to liberate us or give us real peace and security?

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Other Humorous Green Alerts:
Big Pharma

Creating Enlightened Civilization, Culture and Communities

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:42:07 -0000

I am reposting my answer here from a thread in Pod What the Bleep do You Know
-----
My new Dream of a Butterfly workshop that I am envisioning for the year 2007 is focused on creating an Enlightened Society (which is also the Shambhala Vision).

Three things that an Enlightened Society must love and cherish are: Knowledge, Wisdom and Truth

And each of them can be understood at many levels, the highest being the Universal and non-dual perspective. Knowledge must progessively encompass a mindful process of inner self-inquiry and an exploration of outer world (both natural and social, subjective and objective, primary and secondary) ultimately leading to self-discovery and self-realization of the unity of Nature of Self and Nature of Reality.

"The "perfect practice" is not to search for enlightenment, but to inquire into the motive for seeking (practice) itself." - K.wilber

So ours would be based on a process of understanding how realities (personal and social) are constructed and created and how best to consciously evolve so we can collectively co-create realities that works for the highest good of both the individual and the society.

We need to unlearn many things before we can begin learning from a fresh and empty mind. This is difficult if we have not looked within our own social conditionings and our sense of self that is very much socially constructed.

Our calling is to be authentic and genuine by honoring the sacred within each other and all life forms. Walking every step mindfully and fiercely is our final heroic journey back to home - our own self-enlightened peaceful nature.

["Radical transformative spirituality is extremely rare, anywhere in history, and anywhere in the world. Authentic spirituality is an incredibly rare bird, anywhere, at any time, at any place.
The alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision
in no uncertain terms.

Authenticity always and absolutely carries a demand and duty: you must speak out, to the best of your ability, and shake the spiritual tree, and shine your headlights into the eyes of the complacent. Speak out with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means.But speak out you must. This is truly a terrible burden, a horrible burden, because in any case there is no room for timidity."]

- Ken Wilber

Note the post by Alex on 9 insights of Celestine Prophesy on this thread here.

How To Stop War and Terrorism The Radical Way (from the root)

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 01:30:50 -0000

The radical way is to get enlightened about war and terrorism.

Here is a related topic "Terrorism: Can it be eliminated? If so How? What is your plan?" posted at Omidyar Net

Here was my answer:

Terrorism thrives under Fear

Dispel Fear with Knowledge and Skillful Actions

Knowledge requires understanding issues from all sides and looking deep within man-made systems and beliefs

Understanding requires respectfully listening others views..creating dialogues of personal experiences across and within every race, religion, culture factions (as within interfaith alliance, diversity groups and christian-muslim dialogues

Go relentlesssly for TRUTH as Truth will set you free.

Who or what creates the conditions for War and funds terrorism (often hidden by propaganda by media and think tanks)

Who benefits/profits from war and who finances wars and revolutions?

What's the relationship between bloated War-economy and debt-economy?

Ask questions others are not asking or focusing on.

Clue 1: War is a Racket

Example: Iraq for Sale

Clue 2: Journey from Freedom to Fascism

Clue 3: Billions for ??? Debt for People

Riddle: If Terrorism is a form of low budget war by the poor, and War is massive affair by the elite...do you wonder how War on Terror solves the problem?

Wisdom Notes : Terrorists are known as freedom-fighters in their home country... and freedom loving activists may be labeled as enemy combatants, security threats or conspirators here at home

Solutions: To be continued.....

Meanwhile Choose ~L O V ~E ~V O L ~E

Empowered By Poetry

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:26:06 -0000

I felt energized and empowered today by this poetry in my mailbox. Hope You do too...

The Tao is infinite, eternal

Why is it eternal?

It was never born, thus it can never die

Why is it infinite?

It has no desires for itself

Thus it is present for all beings.

The Master stays behind

That is why she is ahead

She is detached from all things

That is why she is one with them

Because she has let go of herself,

She is perfectly fulfilled.

– Lao Tzu

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My Country Awake

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been split
Into narrow domestic walls;
Where words sprout from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving reaches its arms to fulfillment;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost
Its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habits;
Where the mind is led forward by thee
into ever-expanding thought and action --
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father,
let my country awake!

--by Rabindranath Tagore

Listen To Martin Sheen Recite this Poem

Empowered by Poetry
Remain inspired...

What Is Enlightenment for you?

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:09:59 -0000

This is a topic posted in WIE magazine Pod here at zaadz. Here is my answer.

In simple terms Enlightenment is about bringing light into darkness or the light of knowledge, understanding, insight and wisdom into life's deepest questions or existential dilemmas. As much as i love to ask, think and contemplate questions, the question of "Enlightenment" itself was a non-issue for me.

From my experience, a real Awakening experience cuts through all beliefs systems and structures wihin one's own mental constructions and touches the very groundless ground and selfless self of Primordial non-dual reality like a big-bang in consciousness and it happens spontaneously following a vajra intention “to know” not for the sake of ego-self but for the benefit and well-being of all LIFE.

Anytime you approach the E thing with any speck of idea or concept or structure or image you would be back into your own reality creation box. And those who are quite afraid of genuine self-inquiry, knowing the unknown void or truth, stepping out of the imprisoning attitudes of ego, letting go of fear of future and attachment to past, relaxing in the present moment by dying to self-image, of being completely free of mass-consciousness and being authentic in their self-expression cannot reach the threshhold.

BTW there are as many paths and as many ways to get a Peak Big-Bang E experience, as there are individuals, since it has to happen within one's own unique consciousness by leaping out of all ego mind-identifications.

“Why enlightenment?” seems to be a better phrased question for myself than “what is enlightenment” which implies “something already known” or “something that can be explained or described in language” ..which itself is based on duality or separation.

My path has been to persistently follow the in-spired questions of my life, exploring and living them as best as I can. And the awakening experience is just a by-product of it.
It is simultaneously the most difficult and the most spontaneous thing to achieve for any human being. And yes you do not need any teacher or guru outside of you ...if you are open and passionate about Learning (from within and without).

I feel knowledge and understanding of human beings greater nature and nature of reality from universal perspective (that bridges physical and non-physical) expedites our learning curve and our conscious evolution. Since knowledge takes away fear and judgements, it allows us to embrace the path of unconditional love for self and joyful exploration of Life instead of resistance, pain and suffering. Bless all your experiences and grow from them.

Explore more here

What is Your Burning Life Question?

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 17:54:44 -0000

Question from Blue

I have several that come into play daily. Truth (What is the correct path)?
Trust (Who and what to trust)/?

Here's my answer

There are so many paths, sects, cults even within one religion or spiritual tradition that its is naturally confusing and worrisome for anyone to step into any path for longterm. But if you hold on to your question and trust your own mind and intutive guidance from within, you can surely guide yourself from moment to moment what is right for you now.

See my reflection page on what Bible, Buddha or Gandhi said about Truth.

Also see what Krishnamurty said about Truth and Buddha' Kalama sutra on this question of what or who to believe.

“Those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height.” - Buddha's Farewell Message to Ananda

cheers

------------------------------------------------------

Jo asks

“How do we create more equity in this world without completely dismissing historically unfair acts? it seem that the conflicts are always reactions to perceived injustices that have not been resolved properly.”

Here is the choice. If we are stuck in the past “perceived injustices” and victimisation that is what we will keep recreating and repeating - getting free of past is the begining of personal and collective transformation.

History or “His Story” taught in schools is only one version of many versions (minority or commoner's views often suppressed) that happened. That version is written by whoever is ruling or holding power at the time. ......

Do we care to know how many millions were Killed in the invisible third world war or about those not known to be enslaved. If this is happening in recent times, can you imagine how much glorious history of humanity/christianity/Black and non-white civilizations has been distorted or suppressed, by burning the Libraries like the ancient library of Alexandria or kept hidden under secret vatican archives. Few of us care to look deep enough to know the whole truth.

And who amongst us can say that I have never felt violated in some way? Even Buddha and Christ could not escape it. When the movie Color of Fear was shown in a diverse community group, I was surprised ....

What we need to do is to emphasize the perennial philosophy and essence of all religions. ... shift our human existence from tribal perspective to planetary even cosmic perspective.

Read more here

What is Mind?

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:50:11 -0000

Very interesting posts in The Students of Mind Pod at zaadz . Here is mine.

There are many ways of looking at this question as the above posts reveal. Purely from physical and human perspective mind is often equated with brain - the apparatus. But if we observe our thoughts…many things land in our consciousness or brain at random without conscious thinking on our part.

Brain seem to be in many ways a receiver/transmitter of thoughts (stream of consciousness) much like a radio captures radio-waves and transmitts them in different bands/channels. Brain is also capable of functioning at different level. Here comes different levels of mind and consciousness and perception. All questions can be answered at diffrent levels of perception.

Brain also functions like a computer in storing memories (like hardware) or creating reality images according to habitual perception/beliefs/attitudes/expectations (work like software) from the pure unified field of energy or mind-matter.

In exploring what is Mind holistically…if we probe deeply we naturally need to move from outside-physical to more inward non-physical and finally unified Consciousness-Energy realms. In energy realms at the level of quantum physics there is no inner and outer, the separation between observer and observation fades….all is part of unified universal quantum field. The whole human body and not just brain is part of this unified field.

A greater perception of human -mind is the entire bio-energy or electromagnetic field that surrounds our body..our aura. Our skin is a very sensitive sensor of energy..we get vibes of a place, person or event in distant place or time all the time. We just are not conscious of them. Our phsychic, clairvoyant, telepathic, intutive abilities also come from being immersed in this unified field. When we talk about spirit-mind-body connection or alignment or developing intuition along with rational we are trying to create a unified mind that can connect with unified field to consciously evolve our mind-body to its fullest potential. Journey to mind is a fascinating adventure to self-discovery.

Find more on this question here
“All things are preceded by the mind, led by the mind, created by the mind.” - Buddha

Radical Mindfulness Shifting the Present Colonnial Money Paradigm

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:44:39 -0000

Here is why the current debt-based usury-based Tyrannosaurus-Rex like money paradigm that is no longer working ..must change.

Imagine their is just one root problem in the world focusing on which will make you come to a possibility that addresses all the symptoms like corporate greed, overpopulation, mass poverty, inequality, trashing of human life, human-trafficking, pollution and destruction of habitat, small farmers and farmland, natural diversity, hunger, infant and children mortality, disease, global warming, war, terrorism….on and on.

Are you willing to devote one day or couple of days to really understand it…a view of a non-expert but a practical philosopher who happens to think deeply about life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Here is your chance…provided your mind is already not full with conventional wisdom, intellectual arguments or polarized dual thinking. It does require whole heart-brain approach and a love of life.

See Life precedes pursuit of liberty and happiness. Life is a profoundly rich, beautiful web of interconnecting relationships and energy at many levels… biological, ecological, physical, mental and spiritual all working in balance and harmony…our body naturally maintains it. In our mind we are polarized and divided. Yet we humans are spending all our lives in pursuit of money than pursuit of precious LIFE…running or progressing backwards it seems.

Now should we not take a moment or long to reflect on what money is, how it is issued, comes into circulation and allocated. See money is the life blood of society and if our blood/sweat/labor that is money contains cancer, would not all human institutions and human mind/brain affected by that? Without much adieu here is my view…may I have your deep attention please. Thanks.

I like very much what is happening at the community level in terms of sustainable communities Network, local living economies, Balle, Flow and many such networks of conscious living and business. However we need to focus on what is the problem with existing Debt-based Usury-based (charging compound interest on fiat money that has no inherent value) and centralized-commercial banking (money is issued as debt/loan to people, businesses and goverment out of thin air by central banks and banking system here and almost globally). It requires deep thinking how this money system is causing so many dysfunctions under name of free-market and democracy.

We do not have truely free democracy, here you see why and what has been kept secret from public. You must see this movie.

Here is an alternative whole perspective on money. Life is an indivisible whole and we cannot understand or serve the pursuit of Life, Liberty, happiness with reductionist, dualistic thinking in economics, politics and science. It requires deep thinking and understanding.

Our right to petition the government is our greatest right and grossly unfair systems like central banking can be easily changed and the power of issueing money can be peacefully restored to people. Wake up yourself and others. Thanks for your attention and action.

This issue is so gigantic and vast that your mind may spin for a while. Freedom cannot be kept with ignorance intact. can it??

You can have all the above community initiatives but how do you fight the power of global usurious corporate centralized banking (and increasing the debt-slavery of people) that is funding the dinosaur like prison-intelligenge-industrial-war-media-propaganda complex with your labor and sweat and children's future!

Energy goes where attention flows. Each of us need to wake up and awaken others. The conscious journey to freedom has begun. Are you observing it?

Come Join my deep Conscious Capitalism Pod

Dreaming Fearless peace~

Transforming Capitalism: My Activism Story with David Korten

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 03:25:52 -0000

Tuesday, June 27th there was a community gathering at the Lexington, KY Central Library theater as part of two day earth community dialogue by David Korten, Author of The Great Turning featured in Yes Magazine

For some years now I had the vision of talking about what is the foundational problem
with Capitalism in front of diverse community people, but this subject arouses considerable fear and disbelief. When i started researching this issue in 1997-98 based on the question "how come huge sums of money is readily available for War and the military-industrial-prison complex and not for basic survival needs and entrepreneural aspirations of the people?"

There was practically nothing available on the internet about the shadow side of money, and after 9-11 and Patriot Act there was much fear even among activists online to post anything on this issue, let alone openly discuss it in forums. David Korten told us he spent about 30 years in SE Asia, South America, Africa? preaching the glory of American democracy and capitalism. Then some colleague of his in Phillipine suggested him to go back home and tell what havoc Corporate capitalism is doing to their country. So since 1992 he came back to US and now working against global capitalism and imperialism.

When I walked in I found people in a circle both on and in front of the stage. On stage I found myself a seat next to David Korten (with whom I once corresponded before about the hidden agenda of some progresssive and conservative think tanks to keep people distracted on symptoms and the real problems are not corporations but the way the capitalist money system was designed to create artificial scarcity, inequality, war and promote greed, scarcity, inequality and such but didn't receive a response). The small library theater was packed Monday for David's talk (over 150 people) but fewer (60-70) came next day in the community meeting.

After David's half an hour persuasive introduction about the dire global situation ...the need for each of us to wake up and decide our children's future...different people from the community started telling what they are doing personally to change the story in the community. I did not plan to talk about this but it just came out naturally in the context of creating sustainable communities. Sustainable economy, technology, institutions all require sustainable money. I spoke for five-six minutes passionately about how we are conditioned to think superficially only along certain lines both by media and institutions
...to target symptoms and not address the cause. How history is His story (those in power) and colors our perception of things. The multiplying debt is an illusion and has no real basis as is speculation with money. I could see the squinted and quite serious look in the audience. And then I was motioned by both Jim (host) and David to come back to my seat. my seat.

At this point I thought may be David would give me a rebuttal. To my great relief and surprise David agreed completely with me in that, that money is not a store of value and the whole debt-based fiancial system is a scam!!! Not only that as i took my chair next to him he said, "I applaud you for your courage, do you know you can get killed for this!" I said "I do and I feel safe here to speak about this." I knew David understood the significance of this, although few people in academia, law and politics who know about it are mortally afraid to talk about it. I feel there is so much fear in the outside world, only because fear is stored wihin us in many layers.

See more of my thoughts on creating conscious capital here. Hope you join me in envisioning sustainable holistic money that ends our shame and fear based relationship with money and restores pursuit of life, liberty, happiness for people everywhere.

It is upto each of us to break the silence and move through the fear of shame, survival and guilt within us, before we can create a new reality where money becomes a consciously and publicly created tool for manifesting unimaginable prosperity, peace, human potential and entrepreneurism in all human endeavors. I do believe it is possible to change the current system peacefully once enough of us become aware and enlightened about money.

I came out of the meeting feeling I just walked into my dream! A New Dream based on unconditional love and compassion for all life. We all can co-create such a reality!!!