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This page is meant to contain random information. Click on the link that interests you on the left. New: Important Questions. Ask them
Now. LovingKindness: The First Abode, by Joan Halifax Roshi Note on Sanskrit pronunciation and transliteration A letter to the Ottawa Citizen on Violence on TV and children New! A letter to Fashion Magazine on the Fur Industry- December 06 New! A letter to Ken Wilber on The Integral Life Practice- December 06 "There is no duty we so underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world." Robert Louis Stevenson, (November 13th, 1850 - December 3rd, 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet and writer.
On Meditation “The skill of becoming more mindful and present and compassionate is something we may learn sitting on a meditation cushion. But this capacity for awareness helps in many other ways: in computer programming, playing tennis, lovemaking, or walking by the ocean and listening to life around you. In fact meditation is really the central art in all other arts.” –Jack Kornfield We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. - Einstein "Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom." Buddha I have discovered that all of mans unhappiness derives
from only one source, not being able to sit quietly in a room. "Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation... Tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego." Jean Harp Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves. - The Buddha Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine. - Shunryu Suzuki I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. - Hellen Keller If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it? - Dogen Zenji Ten thousand years are one moment, one moment is ten thousand years. If you want to become acquainted with direct perception, it is before mention is made. - Blue Cliff Record Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. - Helen Keller One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers
a thousand times a thousand on the battlefield.
* From Remez Sasson ( http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_00007c.htm ) From Ken Wilber, Excerpt from One Taste, p. 160 : “Charles Alexander sent his latest dream/meditation research; it is as I expected it would be, and it confirms my little experiments on myself with an EEG machine. Namely, advanced meditators, during sleep, show “theta-alpha activity simultaneously with delta activity.” The subjects report being “conscious” during sleep, and the EEG seems to support this, in that alpha (waking), theta (dreaming,) and delta (deep sleep) patterns are all simultaneously present—this is “constant consciousness” through all three states. What is so exciting about this type of research is that it gives us yet another empirical correlate of higher, transcendental states. There are several immediate applications. One, individuals could use this to help monitor their own progress in consciousness transformation. Spiritual growth would be less of a hit and miss affair. Two, this gives us one way to test the effectiveness of different “transformative practices.” Divide students into various groups—let one group spend two years reading books like Ecopsychology, Return of the Goddess, and You can Heal Your Life; let another group meditate; let another do shamanic drumming, another yoga, another contemplative prayer, etc., and measure the actual changes in brain wave patterns as a correlate of consciousness transformation. The point, in other words, is practice,, and this type of research is so important because it encourages people to practice diligently, not merely to think differently. Thinking (and reading) will only alter alpha and beta states (the gross realm); but profound meditative practice will take you into theta (the subtle realm) and delta (the causal), and then allow all three to be present simultaneously—constant consciousness through all three states, whereupon the Ground of all three states—nondual Spirit itself—will become as obvious as a glass of cold water thrown in your Original Face. This is yet another call to let merely translative* spirituality—which is well over 90% of the market—give way to genuinely transformative spirituality, which rewires your soul and plugs it directly into your source.” * translative refers to an intellectual spirituality or a conceptual mind, as opposed to a transformed mind which has the direct insights and benefits of meditation.
Important
Questions. Ask them Now. In the whirlwind of our complex lives we can forget our deepest values and intentions. But when we come to the end of our lives and look back, what will we ask? What will have mattered most?
or will we ask:
Most people die with their music still locked inside them.* * Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881, author, politician)
Lovingkindness:
The First Abode "Every time we narrow the vision of what we really are, we become afraid and fall out of love." Joan Halifax Roshi – Buddhist teacher, Zen priest,
anthropologist, civil-rights activist, and author – is Founder and
Abbot of Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As Director of the
Project for Being with Dying, she counsels dying people and teaches health-care
professionals about the dying process -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON SANSKRIT PRONUNCIATION ET TRANSLITERATION There has occurred some confusion regarding the transliteration of Sanskrit words. It is difficult to convey the subtlety of such an ancient and perfect language, to fully understand it, we would need to learn how to read and write the Dev Nâgri alphabet. Since this is not usually possible, I have included here some explanations regarding the spelling of the Sanskrit words used in the texts that I composed. I have had the chance to study with Sanskrit scholars and teachers while living in India; of course I am aware that I also would need much more practice to perfect the subtlety of Sanskrit pronunciation. But I feel confident that the phonetic that I use is pretty close to the actual pronunciation of the Sanskrit words. In the West, some teachers decided to add the vowel « a » at the end of many words, searching for a way to convey this half « a » that is predominant after consonants. This has lead to problematic changes in the actual pronunciation of words; so we chose to put small « a » at the end of words like YOGa, as the emphasis is meant to be on the « o » ; the « a » at the end of YOGa is meant to be very light as explained below. Note that the exemples of Sanskrit words are taken from the Samaadhi Paad, the first chapter of the YOGa SÛTRAS. NOTE ON PRONUNCIATION AND TRANSLITERATION In Sanskrit, words have many possible grammatical endings that indicate the way in which a word is used in a particular sentence. In our word-by-word definitions, we have put the grammatical ending in brackets so that you can see the word in its simple form, free from any sentence structure. In the transliteration of the Sanskrit verses into English every attempt has been made to make the words easy to read while conveying a sense of their correct pronunciation. ABOUT VOWELS In general, Sanskrit consonant sounds have an unstressed « a » sound inherent within it, which is pronounced like the first syllable in the English words « about » or « above. » Because this « a » sound should not have any emphasis at all, we have added a small “a” at the end of most words. For instance, we write ATHa instead of HATHA. Exceptions to this practice occur when the final letter A makes the word easier for an English reader to pronounce, as in the words VIPARYA-YA (1.6), or VEERYA (1.20). The correct pronunciation in Sanskrit of both the short and long sounds of the vowels represented by the letters « A » and « AA » is key to singing the sûtras effectively. Within a word, the short sound is transliterated as A and is pronounced like the vowel sound in the second syllable of the word « organ . » The long sound is transliterated as AA and is pronounced like the vowel sound in the first syllable of the word « father. » An example of both these sounds can be seen in the word ANUSHAASANAM (1.1). In Sanskrit, two or more words are often linked together and sung as one long word. When this happens, the short vowels between the words are transformed into long vowels. Yet, always remember that the final « a » sound of consonants is just barely audible so that Yoga sounds like “Yogue” as in the word “vogue”. ABOUT CONSONANTS Wherever consonants are underlined, it is to indicate that the position of the tongue is curled toward the back of the palate. The « TH » in Sanskrit is pronounced as a « T » followed by a slight exhalation, or aspiration, and not as the sound in the English words « the » or « thing. » When A and Y are separated by a hyphen (-), this indicates that A is the final sound of a syllable, and Y, beginning a new syllable, functions here as a consonant. This occurs, for example, in the word VRITTA-YAHA (1.5). The consonant sound represented by the « M », when appearing at the end of a sûtra, or verse, is a sustained humming sound; for example, ATHa YOGAANUSHAASANAM (1.1).
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To the Ottawa Citizen Letter to the Editor, published on May 26th, 2002 Re: Violent TV, video games don't make kids kill: study I was surprised to see that the Monday May 20th paper announced on the front page that Violent TV, video games don`t make kids kill: study. Are they saying that media does not influence people? A first basic logic will prove contrary to this statement. As I have been in the field of philosophy for the last thirty years, I can confidently state by simple logical deductions that it is impossible to act without desiring to, and that desire is rooted in memory, and memory alone. Per example it is impossible for a child who has never seen a gun before to take it and use it to kill someone if he doesn't even know what it is for. If he has the memory of it's usefulness, and if this memory is clear and strong, and if he has concluded that to use this gun is easy, useful and will serve his purpose in a dignified positive way,he will use it, and only then. So if a British judge was convinced that a television program influenced some boys to commit an act of violence, he was likely right. Those boys learned to act in this way somewhere, it has to be. If they were not surrounded by such atrocious violence, then they learned it somewhere else, and we have but to turn our television on to look for an obvious cause. Children learn from society how to act; it is society's responsibility to educate them, as they are our future. The power of repetition is so basic and logic that it is constantly used by the media. Multinationals invest millions in this avenue, as medias are a strong influence over the masses, and it is constantly and very consciously used for this purpose. For further proof one should read Author and Stanford University professor James Steyer (The Other Parent) who Founded F.I.R.M. which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families deal with today's media. The goal is to give parents the tools and resources about the media so they can make better choices. You can visit their web site at: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/newsletter/ To quote professor Steyer: "It [the media] shapes their reality. It can set their expectations. It can define their values, their behavior." Every day, children are bombarded by messages and images from the media's messages about how to behave, what choices to make and what to think. Children even try to emulate what they learn from television, video games and the Internet. They're more susceptible to these messages than adults, because they haven't developed good judgment or the ability to process the information they're given. Lynne Cardinal
Re: "Savage Style" By Clara Young - Fashion Magazine - Winter 2007 Dear Clara Young, I read your article with great interest. I too am against any type of violence as I see violence as a manifestation of a less aware consciousness. Despite the fact that PETA itself will use aggression (a type of violence no doubt), they don't torture nor kill people nor animals. But fur industry does. A sentence in your article particularly drew my interest: "Now 30-year-old girls who wear fur want to make a statement. It is a great change in femininity. We are coming out of a black, pauperist, minimalist period, and we want the opposite extreme.” You are glorifying a great change in feminity but a change that in my opinion is a type of flow downward, a devolution, or degeneration. Facts remain facts: fur belongs to animals and we don't need fur to keep warm, as alternatives are numerous. The fur industry is undeniably cruel and unnecessary. It is not sexy to wear the fur of a dead animal. And the statement it makes, I'm afraid, represents a type of arrogance, wanting to defy PETA's authority and others who share PETA's opinion. Let's put our reactive ego aside, and open our heart and speak and think from that deeper place. Fur comes from a cruel industry. Animals suffers just like we do, if you have pets you will know that. They love, care and want freedom just like we do. Please rethink this subject. Just visit a fur farm or read about it.
And maybe you can see that evolution will lead to a non-violent compassionate
society, one that empathizes and is not bound by egocentricity. I wish
to see a society that grows towards ethnocentricity and worldcentricity.
To see the rise for a concern for the whole planet, for all its living
things, representing the gift of love, goods and services. Do you share
my opinion? Thanking you for your time and attention; sincerely, Lynne Cardinal
To the attention of Ken Wilber . Answer: Dear Lynne, This is a complex issue. Ken writes, "...So we want our environmental
ethics to honor all holons without excepion as manifestations of Spirit,
and also, at the same time, be able to make pragmatic distinctions of
intrinsic worth, and realize that it is much better to kick a
rock than an ape, much better to eat a carrot than a cow, much better
to subsist on grains than on mammals." -A Brief History
of Everything, pg 40 Brian Berger
Doing our part for the environment “The impact of small actions by millions of people will be huge.”
It’s easy being green. Even if we only do a few small things to reduce our energy consumption, it will have a huge impact on our environment. The impact of small actions by millions of people will be huge. Starting with a few steps is all it takes. Our choices at all levels make a difference to nature. Let's choose wisely and be proud of each single step taken. Tips from the David Suzuki Website: "We've researched the 10 most effective ways to help conserve nature and improve our quality of life. Here’s how you can make positive changes: 1. Reduce home energy by 10% http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/Newsletter/one.asp 2. Eat meat-free meals once a week (increasing your vegetable intake could help reduce your risk of cancer by 20%) for more details visit http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/Newsletter/Two.asp 3. Buy a fuel efficient, low-polluting car 4. Choose an energy efficient home and appliances 5. Stop using pesticides 6. Walk, bike or take transit to regular destinations 7. Prepare your meals with locally produced food 8. Choose a home close to regular destinations 9. Support alternatives to the car 10. Get involved, stay informed" For more information and details visit David Suzuki's excellent web site : http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/ Laurie David, who produced Al Gore’s documentary about global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth,” says saving the planet isn’t about everyone doing everything. “It’s about everyone doing something,” said Laurie David, who is also the author of “Stop Global Warming: The Solution is You” and founder of the StopGlobalWarming.org website. There is no doubt that “The impact of small actions by millions of people will be huge.” Here are 10 things you can do in the new year to do your part for the environment, including some “go green” tips from http://www.StopGlobalWarming.org. 1. Use compact fluorescent bulbs. Replace three frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and about $60 a year. The Council on the Environment and Jewish Life is organizing a campaign called “How Many Jews Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?” to encourage synagogues and other Jewish groups to replace conventional bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which last four times longer but use 25 percent of the energy. 2. Save the water bottle. Sick of watching your recycle bin fill up with water bottles? Time to buy a reusable water bottle. REI, the outdoor equipment store, carries a 16-ounce Nalgene bottle, $7.95, in five colors, made from polycarbonate plastic; it has a wide mouth and is easily washed. Eastern Mountain Sports carries SIGG bottles from Switzerland, including an 0.6-liter lightweight stainless steel model that is a replica of a 1941 Swiss Army bottle, $20, in blue or red. 3. Pull the plug on electronics and chargers. Mobile phones, BlackBerry devices, iPods, digital cameras and other electronics use energy, even if they are turned off, if the charger is still going. 4. Take shorter showers. Water for bathing accounts for two-thirds of all water-heating costs. 5. Buy a hybrid car (or a compact car). Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz have glamorized them; David even convinced her husband’s HBO comedy series to have his character drive one on the show. 6. Create idle-free zones. Schools, churches, synagogues, libraries, shopping malls and anywhere that accommodates a large number of vehicles are prime spots for signs requiring vehicle engines to be turned off to help cut fuel emissions and improve air quality. David helped institute a no-idle rule in the parking lot of her children’s school in Southern California to cut down on the “carbon dioxide haze” created by parents’ idling vehicles. “You can do the same at your school, temple or church,” David said. “Ask that a sign be posted outside that says, ‘Turn off your vehicle.”’ 7. Buy local food products. You may pay a bit more in the grocery store, but buying locally grown products helps the earth because less fuel is required to transport your products to market. Additionally, buying goods that require less packaging may help reduce your garbage. 8. Bring cloth bags to the market. Tote your own cloth bags to the store instead of plastic and paper bags, reducing waste and requiring no additional energy. David also suggests carrying your own garment bag to the drycleaners to avoid bringing home plastic bags and wire hangers. 9. Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat in your home. 10. Use recycled paper. Switch your home and business paper products to 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper, saving countless trees and five pounds of carbon dioxide per ream of paper. "It's not the years in your life that counts. It's what you do with the life in your years." Abraham Lincoln
With an array of brands and
choices, the selection of “green” footwear has grown by leaps and bounds.
You’ll take the switch to green in a confident stride with a variety of
shoes that will complement any style. Whether you’re looking for some
all-weather rugged hiking boots for hitting the trail, some sandals for
those beach days or even more formal styles like a pair of men’s dress
shoes or perhaps a pair of ladies’ stylish pumps, there’s a “green” shoe
to fit you! Shoes are often produced
using “first materials,” which puts a drain on resources. From factory
production to transportation, they leave a big “carbon footprint” trail
behind them on their way to your feet. Certain types of shoes that are
made from a variety of materials can be difficult to recycle, resulting in
them landing in the garbage bin, further increasing their burden on the
environment. Eco-conscious shoes fit the “green” bill because they are
composed of recycled materials like recycled rubber and fabrics or other
natural materials that need less intense processing and are therefore more
earth-friendly. Once you decide your old comfy worn-out sneakers are ready to be retired, think green by locating a running shoe recycling program in your area. Many areas have shoe-recycling drop-off centres while the “reuse-a-shoe” program offers a mail-in option, as well as information about organizing and starting up a shoe-recycling program in your community if you don’t already have one. Some programs turn running shoes into their favourite counterpart – an athletic-grade surface! Other programs reuse the shoes through charity organizations worldwide. After you’ve found an eco-friendly way to dismiss your old shoes from service, the fun begins. Recycled shoes often take
other difficult-to-dispose-of items and turn them into useful ingredients
to make a long-lasting, earth-friendly, foot-hugging shoe. For example,
old automobile tires enjoy a comeback as part of the latest from
Flat Tire Footwear. These green shoes will put the bounce
in your step with their unique “crumb rubber” soles made from recycled
tires. They’re cushy and comfortable and offer plenty of traction. The
line includes men’s and women’s shoes in several styles including sandals,
clogs and casual shoes. Many feature suede-leather uppers. If you need durable,
earth-friendly shoes for enjoying nature, the Patagonia
Company offers a large variety of
hiking shoes and boots for men and women that feature a significant
percentage of recycled plastics and cork. They also offer trainers,
flip-flops and two-in-one slip-ons, all of which come in very stylish
earth tone colors. If you like tennis shoes or
bicycle shoes, Worn Again is an
environmentally conscious British company that creates spiffy shoes with
great attention to detail. Worn Again boasts products that are made
from inner tubes, airline seats and other surprising
materials. If you need some suave
dress shoes, Ecolution has designed some great “green”
ones for men including hemp oxfords. They are naturally organic and come
in black, brown and light tan. If you feel like splurging,
treat your feet to a pair of Beyond Skin
pumps or heels. They are available in a
wide variety of ultra stylish designs and are all made from earth- and
animal-friendly materials. The Zoe &
Zac line by Payless Shoe Source features a naturally different
assortment of women and girls’ summer shoes produced by using organic
materials and recycled rubber. The next time you shoe shop, go green with your footwear. The ground you walk on and future generations will thank you.
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