Your Neighbor is Your Other Self

YOUR NEIGHBOR IS YOUR OTHER
SELF DWELLING BEHIND A WALL.
IN UNDERSTANDING,
ALL WALLS SHALL FALL DOWN.

WHO KNOWS BUT THAT YOUR
NEIGHBOR IS YOUR BETTER SELF
WEARING ANOTHER BODY?

SEE THAT YOU WOULD LOVE HIM
AS YOU WOULD LOVE YOURSELF.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Of Note: The Arab Spring has taken its time in Syria, but yesterday the Syrian Vice-president called for a transition to democracy after four decades of power by the ruling family. At long last, the demonstrators are having an impact. In the process 1,600 civilians and 350 members of the security forces have been killed. The VP al-Sharaa said during the televised two-day conference in Damascus: "I hope that we will reach transition to a pluralistic democratic state that enjoys equality for all citizens who participate in forming their own shining future." At the same time he warned that future demonstrations should cease. Senior opposition leaders and others boycotted the meeting saying that the overture was insincere while other opposition members joined the discussion, which surprisingly included a series of intellectuals slamming the government for using such a heavy hand with protesters. It was a rare step in a country which does not tolerate dissent and potentially a move in the right direction. Even with the threats by the vice-president, the demonstrators have vowed to carry on, and their energy will eventually carry the day. As mentioned in a previous blog when the Arab Spring began, the Assads might consider packing their bags.

(The quote above was taken from Jesus, The Son of Man: His Words and His Deeds as Told and Recorded by Those Who Knew Him.)

No One Lands Where They Aim

NO ONE LANDS
WHERE THEY AIM,
NOT EVEN GOD.

~ Mark Nepo

Of Note: Our god is an imperfect Being. We know that by looking at His creations. He is evolving just as we are but at a much higher turn of the spiral. Because of Him, we know that all things are possible and can thus aspire to greater and greater thoughts. Onward and upward always . . . at nearly 100 degrees today, that is all there is to say.

The Source in Africa

THROUGHOUT THE TEN
REGIONS OF THE UNIVERSE,
THERE IS NO PLACE WHERE
THE SOURCE IS NOT.

~ Hakuin

Of Note: We know that one place the Source has arrived for an extended visit is Africa. This blog has long touted the growth of that long-sleeping continent. But it is sleeping no more. Six of the ten fastest growing economies in the last decade were in sub-Saharan Africa. It is predicted that in the next five years, Africa will outpace its Asian counterparts. That is good news for the rest of the world. For one, 60% of the world's arable yet uncultivated land is in Africa. Thus, it could be a future breadbasket not only for itself but the world. Vision coupled with action is taking the place of handouts. Some entrenched aid bureaucracies may not like a developed Africa because it bursts their bubble. But Africans themselves like it, many of whom are upwardly mobile and are excited about their new-found ability to create. All eyes will be on Africa in the next decade as it emerges like a Phoenix from the ashes. International corporations and others are taking note. For example, Campbell Soup is leaving Russia and heading to Africa for its next wave of expansion. Those who don't pay attention will most likely be left in the dust.

Service is the Rent We Pay

SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY FOR
THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING ON THIS EARTH.
IT IS THE VERY PURPOSE OF LIFE,
AND NOT SOMETHING WE
DO IN OUR SPARE TIME.

~ Shirley Chisholm

Of Note: Ever heard of Rinderpest? No? That is not surprising because most people in the developed world haven't either. Rinderpest is an animal disease, whose name means "cattle plague" in German. It has been blamed for speeding the fall of the Roman Empire, aiding the conquests of the mighty Genghis Khan while hindering those of Charlemagne, and opened the way for the French and Russian revolutions while at the same time keeping Africa from flourishing. The good news this week is that the United Nations has declared it eradicated. It is only the second disease in history next to smallpox to claim that distinction. The New York Times said: "The long but little-known campaign to conquer Rinderpest is a tribute to the skill and bravery of big animal veterinarians, who fought the disease in remote and sometimes war-torn areas across stretches of Africa bigger than Europe, in the Arabian desert and on the Mongolian steppes." This tale of conquest and service begun in the late 1940's is so incredible it will undoubtedly be a movie someday. Until then, we can just thank the heroes of this story in a little prayer of gratitude as they move on to other scourges facing men and beasts.

As We Act, So We Become

AS A PERSON ACTS,
SO SHE BECOMES IN LIFE.
THOSE WHO DO GOOD
BECOME GOOD . . .

SO WE ARE SAID TO BE
WHAT OUR DESIRE IS.
AS OUR DESIRE IS,
SO IS OUR WILL.
AS OUR WILL IS,
SO ARE OUR ACTS.

AS WE ACT,
SO WE BECOME.

~ The Upanishads

Of Note: Along with the esteemed Nobel Prize goes authority to the recipient. We Americans often yawn at the influence of the prize, but in Peru it most likely swayed an election. There many believe that the left-leaning Ollanta Humala, a former army officer, beat out Keiko Fujimori because of the endorsement of Mario Vargas, Peru's Nobel Prize winning writer. Fujimori is the child of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who is currently imprisoned for human rights violations. It took years to get him there, so Peruvians may not have wanted to try another Fujimori any time soon. Former leftist Mr. Humala for his part had to distance himself from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Thus, while neither was a primo pick, it may be true that the Vargas voice tipped the scales. Wonder if future political influence is a qualifying category when selecting a Nobel Prize winner?

Becoming Alive!

DON'T ASK WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
ASK WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE
AND GO OUT AND DO IT.
BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS
IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME ALIVE.

~ Howard Thurman

Of Note: Being alive is very important for our health. Without it, we slog along aimlessly in a dance of doing, doing without being, being. We are not talking happiness here--rather ALIVENESS. Most everyone has had the experience at some point. All we have to do is go back to that instance and recreate it again. This time, though, let's immortalize it in our hearts so that the spark of ALIVENESS shines forth on a daily basis. It might take 28 days for the habit of ALIVENESS to set in but the whole universe will be grateful for our efforts.

They are Their Own Leaders

FREEDOM, BY DEFINITION,
IS PEOPLE REALIZING THAT
THEY ARE THERE OWN LEADERS.

~ Diane Nash

Of Note: The founding fathers could never have imagined a United States of America that stretched from sea to shining sea and included 50 states. Neither would they have considered it possible for the President to sign a piece of legislation from across the ocean, which was then enacted into law. But that's how far we've come in 235 years. Recently, President Obama auto-signed an extension of the Patriot Act from a French resort town. Literally, he wrote a document authorizing a phone call from his hotel to the White House, where an auto-pen signed his name to the official legislation. Not many citizens even knew an auto-pen existed for such eventualities but it was recently disclosed that the contraption has been around since Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thing is, John Q. Public has been kept in the dark all these years. Seems nothing can be kept secret any longer. In the coming New Age when we can all communicate telepathically, there will be no secrets. That will definitely shine a light in all the dark corners of the planet.

Let Your Soul Be Stirred

DIVE DEEPLY INTO
THE MIRACLE OF LIFE
AND LET THE TIPS
OF YOUR WINGS
BE BURNT BY THE FLAME,
LET YOUR FEET BE
LACERATED BY THE THORNS,
LET YOUR HEART BE
STIRRED BY HUMAN EMOTION,
AND LET YOUR SOUL BE
LIFTED BEYOND THE EARTH.

~ Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

Of Note: Lebanon and Israel have been at war more than once. A few times with bullets and bombs but more recently with hummus, a popular Middle Eastern chickpea-based dip. Israel originally held the world record with 900 pound bowl of the stuff, but Lebanon retaliated in 2009 with a whopping 4532 hummus plate. Not to be outdone, Israeli chef's responded in 2010 with a gargantuan 8993 pound dish. Lebanon considers hummus a national food and accused Israel of appropriating the treasure. So, its chefs came back with an untouchable 23,042 pound batch, enough to cover a piece of pita the size of the Dead Sea. So far this record has stood; though, Lebanese hummus producers are considering charging Israel with copyright violations just to be sure. This dust-up follows the earlier tabbouleh wars, which ended in a draw. Better food than bullets, though. Hummus anyone?

I'm Not Worried About Anything

I HAVE SEEN THE PROMISED LAND.
I MAY NOT GET THERE WITH YOU.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW TONIGHT,
THAT WE, AS A PEOPLE WILL GET
TO THE PROMISED LAND.
AND I'M HAPPY TONIGHT.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Of Note: What Dr. King knew is that the Promised Land is within us and that eventually each of us will find that out. It is no secret. But for most of our lifetimes, we search for the Promised Land outside ourselves until we get frustrated and exhausted. That is the very nature of the endeavor at the School of Earth. Eventually, we learn the Truth of the inner Light, Love and Power, and we are never the same. Thing is, we can only find it in our own way and in our own time. Once we understand then we too will have no worries, and the world will be a better place. One person at a time.

Living Forward

LIFE CAN ONLY BE
UNDERSTOOD BACKWARD,
BUT IT MUST BE LIVED FORWARD.

~ Soren Kierkegaard

Of Note: The Masters do not have this time problem of understanding backward and living forward. They live in the state of Eternal Now where all can be seen at once. Humans have a hard time getting their brains around that concept because we are embedded in linear, forward-moving time and cannot escape. There is one way, however. Through meditation we link with our Souls and then beyond. It is the "beyond" state that takes us to Eternal Now, which is not a place as it sounds, but a state of Being guarded by the high vibration of Love. Once we Become Love, the doors of Eternal Now open in ourselves to reveal the connectivity of all with All. At that exalted point, we will wonder for a brief moment how we ever lived any other way before moving onward and upward on our evolutionary path.

Revealed to the Eyes of the Soul

THOSE THINGS THAT NATURE
DENIED TO HUMAN SIGHT
SHE REVEALED TO THE
EYES OF THE SOUL.

~ Ovid

Of Note: Ever heard of a free floating planet not attached to a star? No? Neither had most people. This week NASA announced to the surprise of many that these solitary orbs do exist and may twice outnumber stars in the universe. Turns out that planets are exceedingly hard to find and cannot be seen at all if less than the size of Jupiter. One NASA official explained: "Although free-floating planets have been predicted, they finally have been detected. This has major implications for models of planetary formation and evolution." Some researchers postulate that the bodies are stars called Brown Dwarfs that simply did not "turn on." Others believe that the loaners have been ejected from solar systems by the gravitational pull of other stars or planets. Could be a little of each. A few scientists believe that our own solar system is populated with planets from outer space since the planets encircling our sun really don't match. We have the inner solid planets, an asteroid belt, then the large outer gaseous planets. Pluto, though not officially a planet any longer, is the real outlier. Ancient astrology even postulates that a few more invisible planets have yet to be discovered. Thus, just when we think there is little to learn about such a mundane topic as planets, along comes a new wave of discoveries. Many believe in the coming Age of Aquarius, this is just the beginning.

Be Awake

RUB YOUR EYES AND BE AWAKE.

~ William Barrett

Of Note: The space station planners and engineers had prepared for every contingency imaginable over the years. Or so they thought. When it came time for the first Muslim astronaut to launch into space in 2007, however, a method had to be devised for daily prayer that was in line with the teachings of the Koran. So, the Malaysian Space Agency asked a panel of 150 Muslim scholars for suggestions. It was not as easy as it sounded. Even such things as the direction to Mecca were complicated. Finally, after much discussion, the agency produced "A Guideline of Performing Ibadha [Worship] at the International Space Station." Included were rules to pray only five times during a 24-hour period instead of five times every time the space station orbited the planet. In the end, the direction to Mecca was left to the astronaut's discretion.

Two Roads Diverge

We stand now where
two roads diverge.
But unlike the roads in
Robert Frost's familiar poem,
they are not equally fair.
The road we have long been
traveling is deceptively easy,
a smooth superhighway
on which we progress
with great speed,
but at its end lies disaster.

The other fork of the road--
the one "less traveled by"--
offers our last, our only chance
to reach a destination that assures
the preservation of our earth.

~ Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

Of Note: With gas prices going up again, people might start to rethink their SUVs and consider an alternative fuel vehicle seriously. Change is hard, that's a fact. Therefore, we often require a little pain in order to spur us to do what we need to do. Pain in the pocketbook seems to be particularly effective, and gas prices at upward of $4 per gallon makes most of us say OUCH! A recent advertisement for the Nissan LEAF, the 100% electric car, explained that when we begin to make the change to alternative fuels such as electricity, the old Mile Per Gallon comparison will not stand up. After all, the LEAF doesn't even have a gas tank. What was suggested was a comparison based on how far a driver went on a single dollar. Of course, the reader could guess that the Nissan LEAF outshone all the other competitors at 25 miles traveled on a buck. The worst was the Chevrolet Corvette at 6 miles which is hardly a reasonable comparison. But other vehicles mentioned include the Ford Taurus at 7 miles, the Honda Accord at 9 miles, the Chevrolet Volt at 16.5 miles and finally the Toyota Prius Hybrid at 18 miles per dollar. None come close to the LEAF. In very teeny, tiny print, the formula for deriving the figures was stated and was Greek to this blogger. Rachel Carson might be pleased that the discussion has started in earnest about alternative fuels with the backing of the big oil and auto companies. The cynics may sniff that this is nothing and has happened before. However, the energy of real change is in the air, and nothing can arrest its progress. We only have to have faith in humanity that it will carry out its charge as world savior. Don't think we will be disappointed.

PS This photo was taken by my sister, Marie, at the Trinity Audubon Center in Dallas, Texas, a place that is teaching city folk the pleasures of nature.

A Revolution of the Heart

THE GREATEST CHALLENGE
OF THE DAY IS THIS:
HOW TO BRING ABOUT A
REVOLUTION OF THE HEART,
A REVOLUTION WHICH HAS TO
START WITH EACH ONE OF US.

~ Dorothy Day

Of Note: Today, let us resolve to bring about a revolution of our hearts. Ms. Day asks how to do this. Certainly, giving instead of taking is a good start. Giving always opens the heart, which then has the opportunity to fill with Love and Light. That is the real reason to give--it brings more Love and Light into a needy world. Another way to open the heart is through meditation, which creates another channel for Love and Light to enter the planet. Of course, meditation as service is a form of giving. To learn more about meditation as service, check out www.lucistrust.org. This Website is full of excellent ways to give for those interested.

The Present State of Theoretical Physics

The present state of theoretical physics
implies that empty space has all this energy
and that matter is a slight increase of the energy.
And therefore, matter is like a small ripple on
the tremendous ocean of energy,
having some relative stability and being manifest.

My suggestion is that the implicate order implies
a reality immensely beyond what we call matter.
Matter itself is merely a ripple in this background.

~ David Bohm

Of Note: Black holes fall into the realm of theoretical. We might be surprised at that because articles about them routinely state their existence as if proven. That is not true. The lay press conveniently drops the word hypothesis and leads the layman to believe that black holes are IN FACT sucking up light vociferously letting none out, rendering them invisible. Everyone knows that invisible is very hard to prove. The theoretical physicist will respond that mathematics has taken them to the event horizon of a black hole. That is well and good but they should be honest that a black hole is purely mathematical conjecture. Believe it or not, other theories about the cosmos exist that do not include black holes. However, alternative theoretical physicists are shut down financially because academic institutions only pay scientists, who study whatever is currently in vogue. Unless these men and women are independently wealthy or have a patron, their alternative theories languish. What's worse, the innovators are often black balled academically. Slowly, this situation is changing. We can thank the legions of alternative researchers, who have carried on with little funding. It is a good bet that many of their future discoveries will benefit humanity and save the planet while the theoretical physicists are still lost in their mathematical dreams about black holes.

As a Man Thinketh

AS A MAN THINKETH
IN HIS HEART,
SO IS HE.

~ Sacred Scripture

Of Note: The young in repressed nations are learning a new lesson of non-violent dissent. They have seen up close and personal that violence only begets more violence and creates a never ending cycle of dysfunction. Many of these young adults have known nothing else but chaos. For example, in Kashmir, two thirds of the population is below the age of 30, which means they have never known anything but the police state imposed by India to quell Pakistani and Kashmiri militants. But the Arab Spring has awakened an enlightened group of young Kashmiris, who have taken note of the non-violent methods used elsewhere. Here social networking has been shut down by India; so, a group of them have composed songs to carry the message. Last summer they threw stones, and 117 of them were killed with many more imprisoned. This summer they will sing instead. The rest of us will be listening to the new tune with hope of a non-violent ending to decade's old repression. Is that a fanciful dream? Maybe. But if we put our energy of Love behind them, the universe may respond with a miracle.

Free to Meditate

OUTWARDLY, ONE'S LIFE MAY

SUFFER EVERY KIND OF LIMITATION,
FROM BODILY PARALYSIS
TO MISERABLE SURROUNDINGS,
BUT INWARDLY, IT IS FREE
TO MEDITATE TO REACH OUT
TO A SPHERE OF LIGHT, BEAUTY,
TRUTH, LOVE AND POWER.

~Paul Brunton,
Meditations for People in Crisis

Of Note: The most important part of this quote is the word FREE. Meditation is free, meaning it costs nothing. Meditation also frees us from our physical surroundings in order to create a channel of love, light and power so needed by the planet. It is service to all of creation when we know FREEDOM as a state of being through meditation. As a matter of fact, according to ageless wisdom, freedom is a divine attribute of which we know little. That is because true freedom relieves us from material plane existence altogether, and those who have done so aren't talking. Because we have no local guides to that state, we can get a sense of FREE through meditation. The Buddha was our guide for that, and He assured us that joy and bliss are the inevitable result. Given a daily meditative practice, we will get there as well--crisis or not.

Indistinguishable From Magicf

ANY SUFFICIENTLY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC.

~ Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist

Of Note: We humans use our brain for any number of wonderful inventions. By tinkering with the physical world, scientists, engineers and others turn out more gidgets and gadgets than we know what to do with. Often these technological miracles get ahead of the civilization and, as Mr. Clarke commented, are indistinguishable from magic. But let's put this in perspective.....we can send a man to the moon but have yet to figure out how to feed those that are earth-bound. Nor have we figured out how to get along on a daily basis or create a sustainable living situation using our resources. Mahatma Gandhi had it right when he said: "As human being, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world--the is the myth of the atomic age--as in being able to remake ourselves." If each and every one of us made it a point to remake ourselves based on spiritual values including sharing, cooperation, social and personal responsibility and the sacrifice of selfishness, the physical plane matters would fall nicely into place. Being Love. That is the key. Meditation as service is the tool. It's sustainable, free and uses no resources but our minds, which we carry with us at all times. For more information on meditation as service check out www. lucistrust.org. The Website is not only a beautiful presentation it is also highly informative and inspirational.

The Heart Wide Open

AS AN INLET CANNOT
CLOSE ITSELF TO THE
SEA THAT SHAPES IT,
THE HEART CAN ONLY
WEAR ITSELF OPEN.

~ Mark Nepo

Of Note: This is my step-granddaughter, Samantha, a couple years ago. We had been out painting and sharing a hot afternoon while at the same time discussing how the school year went, how things were with her siblings and stuff like that. Parenting comes with no How-To Manual. But, if it did, the first rule would be to wear the heart open at all times, no matter what happens or how tough it gets. Children may be in our lives to remind us of this valuable lesson. To all those who know or are in the process of learning this, Happy Mother's Day!

Three Divine Qualities

THE FRIEND OF GOD HAS THESE THREE QUALITIES:
A GENEROSITY LIKE THAT OF AN OCEAN,
A COMPASSION LIKE THAT OF THE SUN,
AND A HUMILITY LIKE THAT OF THE EARTH.

~ Bayazid

Of Note: I understand where Mr. Bayazid is coming from when he defined the divine qualities required of God's friends. What he doesn't say, however, is that these three are the result of soul fusion attained through meditation. We can try and try to attain generosity, compassion and humility on a daily basis but we will find it difficult because our Earth-bound personalities block higher attunement. Only through the practice of meditation do the Higher Self and the personality get in touch and then stay in touch. Eventually, when meditation becomes a daily habit of Being, generosity, compassion and humility flow readily and easily without trying. Because most of us don't meditate, we have a way to go yet. But we can thank Mr. Bayazid for bringing to our attention the ultimate goals. Even if we don't begin the practice of meditation in this lifetime, we will in a future one. That is guaranteed.