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This section
of the site is dedicated to those words that inspire us so greatly! The way I am
going to set this up to start with, is by pasting my little inspirational
goodies here. Later I plan to categorize them into topics. I am leaving them in
e-mail form just as I had originally sent them out. I hope you find tons of
treasures here! I will update every free chance I get.
These
sharings have been collected from all over the internet to bring light and
love to your life. I send them daily as a rule, but when life happens to me,
I may miss a few days here and there. :) I am calling this sharing of love
and light, Serenity's Hope. My hopes and dreams for all of us. Through love,
sharing, caring, giving, trusting, forgiving, inspiring and the learning to
become a whole, we will have a better world! At the bottom of the page a
form is provided to subscribe to 2 different e-mail lists. One is the daily
"Serenity's Hope" and the other is a discussion list called
"Lightworkers Spreading the Light". This also includes the daily,
"Serenity's Hope".
Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe
if you chose to join us.
We are looking for Lightworkers to
share in Spreading the Light!
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To Subscribe to one of our E-Mail Lists Click Here
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| 9/12/01
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(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \ ( ) / )
( /<>\ ) Serenity's
( / \/ \ )
Hope :)
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~~~
Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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Hello Sweet Ones,
The events of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001
can only be described as
surreal. As we were watching it all unfold on CNN this morning, it
felt as
if we were actually watching a Steven Spielberg film. My hope,
Serenity's
Hope, is that we can see through and above what this is really all
about. I
believe that we are at a critical mass of consciousness as a Unified
World.
The deaths and injuries that we all, being ONE, have experienced today
is on
the minds and in the hearts of every living being on this Earth. Many
knew
of it's happening simply from the anguish of the energy that flowed
through
them. For these people needed no television or radio to understand
that
tragedy had fallen upon our Earth. Since 4:44 pm today I have felt a
great
healing happening all around us. I saw a vision of legions and legions
of
Angels and Archangels surrounding the Earth sending light, love and
comfort
and healing to us. The Earth is glowing in the most beautiful bright
white
light you could ever imagine. There are Angels sounding trumpets and
expressing great joy in the homecoming celebration for many sweet
souls
today. Their stay on Earth is at an end and yet they are just
beginning a
most wondrous journey of love and light. In Spirit, they will be able
to
help all of us in ways they never could in physical form. I am
grateful for
their seeming sacrifice for the whole of humanity. Namaste!
As it has been spoken of in a great many e-mail messages today, this
is a
time for love and compassion, not fear. Some of those around me
have
expressed confusion, panic, fear and anger and yet I have been
peaceful,
hopeful, even optimistic about the implications that are present at
this
time. It is a new beginning for us all. Today IS the FIRST
day of the rest
of your life!! It is absolutely essential, even critical, that
we, as
Lightworkers, bring out the positive aspects of this tragedy, and only
that
which is positive. Please don't fall into the trap of "awful-izing"
with
anyone. When others are insisting that revenge and anger are the
proper
response, we have to show them that there are alternative perceptions
available. It is what we signed up for and why we are on Earth
at this time
in history. We are the fuel that will feed the fire. Now I
ask... what
fires are you supporting? The burning desire for a world of unity,
love and
peace, or a burning desire for someone to pay for this act of
terrorism and
inducement of fear? It is our choice, do we choose love or fear?
I choose
my individualized expression of God to be that of love! My hope
is that you
will do the same.
Love,
Serenity
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Today's Positive Thought:
You have two basic choices in life; love or
fear. Choose love.
Today's Positive Affirmation:
I AM love and I express love in every thought,
word, and deed.
Today's Positive Visualization:
As I close my eyes, I allow myself to sense a
spring of love bubbling up from my center. I
imagine this love flowing throughout my body,
mind, and emotions, healing and transforming
every part of my life. In my mind's eye I see
the love within me connecting to the love that
is flowing throughout the world. I affirm that
in this love there is nothing to fear. I trust
that this Universal Source of love will protect
and care for me at all times. I imagine myself
going throughout my day sending and receiving
love everywhere I go. In this love, I become
a magnet for all the good things I deserve in life.
I imagine myself sharing freely the good I receive
with others. I know that the Divine will is the
abundance of every good and perfect thing for ALL of
God's children, no matter where they live or what
their nationality. I combine these images and thoughts
with a feeling of joy and let them go.
-- Marty Dow
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"One's destination is never a place,
but rather a new way of looking at things."
-- Henry Miller
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Throughout history, man has fought many wars and battles,
yet to this day the wars and battles rage on. So violence
does not end when one counters violence with violence, no,
the only things that end are more innocent lives
-- Gary Barnes
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Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
to violent anger: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay
said the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy hunger, feed him;
if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals
of fire upon his head.Be not overcome with evil,
but overcome evil with good.
-- Romans 12:19-21
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"I waited patiently for God to help me;
then He listened and heard my cry....
He has given me a new song to sing!"
-- Psalms 42
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You may find happiness of the heart in the little things
you do for others...for you are thus blessed by God.
-- Evelyn Heinz
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"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word
is love."
-- Sophocles
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Creating Loving-Friendliness (overcoming anger)
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
As you let go of negative states of mind, you create the space in your
mind
for the cultivation of positive thoughts. Skillful Thinking means that
we
replace angry or hostile thoughts with thoughts of
loving-friendliness.
Loving-friendliness, or metta, is a natural capacity. It is a warm
wash of
fellow-feeling, a sense of interconnectedness with all beings. Because
we
wish for peace, happiness, and joy for ourselves, we know that all
beings
must wish for these qualities. Loving-friendliness radiates to the
whole
world the wish that all beings enjoy a comfortable life with harmony,
mutual
appreciation, and appropriate abundance.
Though we all have the seed of loving-friendliness within us, we must
make
the effort to cultivate it. When we are rigid, uptight, tense,
anxious, full
of worries and fears, our natural capacity for loving-friendliness
cannot
flourish. To nurture the seed of loving-friendliness, we must learn to
relax. In a peaceful state of mind, such as we get from mindfulness
meditation, we can forget our past differences with others and forgive
their
faults, weaknesses, and offenses. Then loving-friendliness naturally
grows
within us.
As is the case with generosity, loving-friendliness begins with a
thought.
Typically, our minds are full of views, opinions, beliefs, ideas. We
have
been conditioned by our culture, traditions, education, associations,
and
experiences. From these mental conditions we have developed prejudices
and
judgments. These rigid ideas stifle our natural loving-friendliness.
Yet,
within this tangle of confused thinking, the idea of our friendly
interconnection with others does come up occasionally. We catch a
glimpse of
it as we might glimpse a tree during a flash of lightning. As we learn
to
relax and let go of negativity, we begin to recognize our biases and
not let
them dominate our minds. Then the thought of loving-friendliness
begins to
shine, showing its true strength and beauty.
The loving-friendliness that we wish to cultivate is not love as we
ordinarily understand it. When you say you love so-and-so, what you
conceive
in your mind is generally an emotion conditioned by the behavior or
qualities of that person. Perhaps you admire the person's appearance,
manner, ideas, voice, or attitude. Should these conditions change, or
your
tastes, whims, and fancies change, what you call love might change as
well.
In extreme cases, your love might even turn to hate. This love-hate
duality
pervades all our ordinary feelings of affection. You love one person
and
hate another. Or you love now and hate later. Or you love whenever you
feel
like it and hate whenever you feel like it. Or you love when
everything is
smooth and rosy, and hate when anything goes wrong.
If your love changes from time to time, place to place, and situation
to
situation in this fashion, then what you call love is not the skillful
thought of loving-friendliness. It may be erotic lust, greed for
material
security, desire to feel loved, or some other form of greed in
disguise.
True loving-friendliness has no ulterior motive. It never changes into
hate
as circumstances change. It never makes you angry if you do not get
favors
in return. Loving-friendliness motivates you to behave kindly to all
beings
at all times and to speak gently in their presence and in their
absence.
When fully matured, your net of loving-friendliness embraces
everything in
the universe without exception. It has no limitations, no boundaries.
Your
thought of loving-friendliness includes not only all beings as they
are at
this moment but also your wish that all of them, without any
discrimination
or favoritism, will be happy in the limitless future.
Loving Your Enemies
Some people wonder how they can extend the feeling of
loving-friendliness
toward their enemies. They wonder how they can say sincerely,
"May my
enemies be well, happy, and peaceful. May no difficulties or problems
come
to them."
This question arises from mistaken thinking. A person whose mind is
filled
with problems may behave in a way that offends or harms us. We call
that
person an enemy. But in actuality, there is no such person as an
enemy. It
is the person's negative state of mind that is causing us problems.
Mindfulness shows us that states of mind are not permanent. They are
temporary, correctable, adjustable.
In practical terms, the best thing I can do to assure my own peace and
happiness is to help my enemies overcome their problems. If all my
enemies
were free of pain, dissatisfaction, affliction, neurosis, paranoia,
tension,
and anxiety, they would no longer have reason to be my enemies. Once
free of
negativity, an enemy is just like anybody else -- a wonderful human
being.
We can practice loving-friendliness on anyone -- parents, teachers,
relatives, friends, unfriendly people, indifferent people, people who
cause
us problems. We do not have to know or be close to people to practice
loving-friendliness toward them. In fact, sometimes it's easier not to
know
people. Why? Because if we don't know them, we can treat all people
alike.
We can look at the many, many beings in the universe as if they were
specks
of light in space and wish them all to be happy and at peace. Though
merely
wishing may not make this so, cultivating the hope that others might
enjoy
loving-friendliness is a skillful thought that fills our own minds
with
contentment and joy.
If everyone holds the thought that everyone else enjoys
loving-friendliness,
we will have peace on earth. Say there are six billion people in the
world,
and each one cultivates this wish. Who will be left to cultivate
hatred?
There will be no more struggle, no more fighting. Every action comes
from
thinking. If the thought is impure, the actions that follow from that
thought will be impure and harmful. The opposite is also true. As the
Buddha
told us, the pure thought of loving-friendliness is more powerful than
hatred, more powerful than weapons. Weapons destroy.
Loving-friendliness
helps beings live in peace and harmony. Which do you think is more
lasting
and more powerful?
Dealing with Anger
The main obstacle to loving-friendliness is anger. When anger and
hatred
consume us, there is no room in our minds for friendly feelings toward
ourselves or toward others, no space for relaxation or peace.
We each react to anger in our own way. Some people try to justify
their
angry feelings. They tell themselves again and again, "I have
every right to
be angry." Others hold on to their anger for a long time, even
months or
years. They feel that their anger makes them very special, very
righteous.
Still others lash out physically against those who anger them.
Whatever your
style, you can be sure of one thing: Your anger ultimately hurts you
more
than it hurts the person you're angry with.
Have you noticed how you feel when you are angry? Do you experience
tension,
pain in your chest, burning in your stomach, blurred eyesight? Does
your
reasoning become unclear, or your speech turn harsh and unpleasant?
Doctors
tell us that these common manifestations of anger have serious
consequences
for our health -- high blood pressure, nightmares, insomnia, ulcers,
even
heart disease. The emotional toll of anger is equally grim. To put it
bluntly, anger makes us feel miserable.
Anger also disrupts our relationships. Don't you generally try to
avoid
people who are angry? In the same way, when you are angry, people
avoid you.
No one wants to associate with someone in the grip of anger. An angry
person
can be irrational, even dangerous.
Moreover, anger often does no damage to the person toward whom it is
directed. In most cases, your anger with someone who insulted you
harms that
person not at all. Rather, it's you who are red in the face, you who
are
shouting and making a scene, you who look ridiculous and feel
miserable.
Your adversary may even find your anger entertaining. An attitude of
habitual ill will and resentment can adversely affect your health,
your
relationships, your livelihood, your future. You yourself may even
experience the terrible things you wished upon your adversary.
Since it's clear that anger can hurt us, what can we do about it? How
can we
let go of anger and replace it with loving-friendliness?
In working with anger, we must first determine to restrain ourselves
from
acting on angry impulses. Whenever I think about restraint, I remember
my
uncle's elephant. When I was a little boy, my uncle had a big,
beautiful
elephant. My friends and I used to like to tease this animal. We would
throw
stones at her until she became angry with us. The elephant was so big,
she
could have crushed us if she had wanted to. What she did instead was
remarkable.
One time when we threw stones at her, the elephant used her trunk to
grab a
stick about the size of a pencil and to spank us with this little
stick. She
showed great self-restraint, doing only what was needed to make us
respect
her. For a few days after that, the elephant held a grudge against us
and
would not let us ride her. My uncle told us to take her to the big
creek,
where we scrubbed her skin with coconut shells while she relaxed and
enjoyed
the cool water. After that, she completely let go of her anger toward
us.
Now I tell my students, when you feel justified in reacting violently
out of
anger, remember the moderate response of my uncle's big, gentle
elephant.
Another way of dealing with anger is to reflect on its results. We
know very
well that when we are angry, we do not see the truth clearly. As a
result,
we may commit many unwholesome actions. As we have learned, our past
intentional actions are the only thing we really own. Our future life
is
determined by our intentional actions today, just as our present life
is
heir to our previous intentional behavior. Intentional actions
committed
under the influence of anger cannot lead to a happy future.
The best antidote to feelings of anger is patience. Patience does not
mean
letting others walk all over you. Patience means buying time with
mindfulness so that you can act rightly. When we react to provocation
with
patience, we speak the truth at the right time and in the right tone.
We use
soft, kind, and appropriate words as if we were speaking to a child or
a
dear friend to prevent him from doing something harmful to himself or
others. Though you may raise your voice, this does not mean that you
are
angry. Rather, you are being skillful in protecting someone you care
about.
A famous story illustrates the Buddha's patience and resourcefulness
when
confronted by an angry person:
Once there was a Brahmin, a person of high rank and authority. This
Brahmin
had a habit of getting angry, even for no reason. He quarreled with
everyone. If someone else was wronged and did not get angry, the
Brahmin
would get angry at that person for not being angry.
The Brahmin had heard that the Buddha never got angry. One day he went
to
the Buddha and abused him with insults. The Buddha listened
compassionately
and patiently. Then he asked the Brahmin, "Do you have any family
or friends
or relatives?"
"Yes, I have many relatives and friends," the Brahmin
replied.
"Do you visit them periodically?" the Buddha asked.
"Of course. I visit them often."
"Do you carry gifts for them when you visit them?"
"Surely. I never go to see them without a gift," said the
Brahmin.
The Buddha asked, "When you give gifts to them, suppose they do
not accept
them. What would you do with these gifts?"
"I would take them home and enjoy them with my family,"
answered the
Brahmin.
Then the Buddha said, "Similarly, friend, you gave me a gift. I
do not
accept it. It is all yours. Take it home and enjoy it with your
family."
The man was deeply embarrassed. He understood and admired the Buddha's
compassionate advice.
Finally, to overcome anger you can consider the benefits of
loving-friendliness. According to the Buddha, when you practice
loving-friendliness, you "sleep in comfort, wake up in comfort,
and dream
sweet dreams. You are dear to human beings and to nonhuman beings.
Deities
guard you. Aren't these prospects more pleasant than the misery, poor
health, and ill will we get as a result of anger?
As your awareness of your mental states increases, you will recognize
more
and more quickly when you are becoming angry. Then, as soon as angry
thoughts arise, you can begin to apply the antidotes of patience and
mindfulness. You should also take every opportunity to make
restitution for
your angry actions. If you said or did something to someone in anger,
as
soon as that moment has passed, you should consider going to this
person to
apologize, even if you think the other person was wrong or acted worse
than
you did. Spending a few minutes apologizing to someone you offended
produces
marvelous and immediate relief for both of you.
In the same spirit, if you see that someone is angry with you, you can
approach this person and talk in a relaxed way to try to find the
cause of
the anger. You might say: "I am sorry you're angry with me. I'm
not angry
with you at all. Perhaps we can work this out as friends." You
might also
give a gift to the person you think is angry with you. A gift tames
the
untamed and makes friends of foes. A gift can convert angry speech
into kind
words and harshness into gentleness.
Here are some practical steps you can take to overcome anger:
. Become aware of your anger as soon as possible.
. Be mindful of your anger and feel its strength.
. Remember that a quick temper is extremely dangerous.
. Bring to mind anger's miserable consequences.
. Practice restraint.
. Realize that anger and its causes are impermanent.
. Recall the example of the Buddha's patience with the Brahmin.
. Change your attitude by becoming helpful and kind.
. Change the atmosphere between you and a person with whom you are
angry by
offering a gift or other favor.
. Remember the advantages of practicing loving-friendliness.
. Remember we all will die one day, and we don't want to die with
anger.
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Namaste
»§«:*´`³ Serenity ³´`*:»§«
http://www.namastecafe.com/
serenity@namastecafe.com
Evil, (ignorance) is like a shadow-it has no
real
substance of its own, it is simply a lack of light. You
cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying to fight it,
stomp on it, by railing against it, or any other form of
emotional or physical resistance. In order to cause
a shadow to disappear, you must shine light on it.
-- Shakti Gawain
»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«
You
CAN help change the world!
Click the
links below to contribute!
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
http://www.thechildsurvivalsite.com/
http://www.thehungersite.com/
http://www.greatergood.com/
http://www.saverainforest.net/
http://www.endcancernow.com/
http://www.thekidsaidssite.com/
Sweet Angels,
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Namaste!
Serenity :)
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To copy and paste text:
1. Left click in front of the first letter you want copied.
2. Hold the left mouse button down to highlight text
until you come to the end of what you want copied.
3. Carefully right click on the highlighted text and when
the drop down menu appears left click on copy.
4. Go to the New Message box that you have opened
and right click. Left click paste.
You can do this in any program in Windows. :)
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(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \ ( ) / )
( /<>\ ) Serenity's
( / \/ \ )
Hope :)
/ \
( )
~~~
Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look
forward to a
world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is
freedom of
speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is
freedom of
every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.
The
third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms,
means
economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy
peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world.
The fourth is
freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a
world-wide
reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough
fashion that
no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical
aggression
against any neighbor--anywhere in the world."
-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945)
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I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to
bear.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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By becoming a conscious choice-maker, you begin to
generate actions that are evolutionary for you.
-- From, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
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"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways
of truth
and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers,
and
for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always
fall.
Think of it... always."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
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All things are difficult before they are easy.
-- Italian Proverb
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I took the Victory Over Violence pledge (inserted below.)
I encourage you to read this, print it, and keep it by you
when you can see it and "repledge" every day. Please pass
this
on to others you care about.
This pledge was start by students, yet it applies to any area of
your
life - home, work, community and anywhere you find yourself
interacting with others.
Victory Over Violence Peace Pledge
I, (insert your name) will value my own life. Recognizing that a
lack
of self-identity and hope for the future lay at the roots of all
violence, I will reach beyond my limitations, taking concrete steps
each day to uncover my real potential. I will never give up on my
dreams, even if they seem impossible.
I will respect all life. Recognizing that violence comes in many
forms, I will not isolate myself but will create an environment
where
others feel comfortable and can be themselves. I will see beyond
superficial differences and reflect on my own behavior.
I will inspire hope in others. With courage, I will resolutely stand
up against violence, be it verbal, physical or passive and teach
others through my own example. I will support others and encourage
them to follow their dreams.
For more information on Victory Over Violence, please go to
http://www.vov.com
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How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now,
and that there will never be a time when it is not now.
-- Gerald Jampolsky
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RED CROSS INFORMATION
TO GIVE BLOOD:
Call 1-800 GIVE LIFE or contact your local hospital or health care
system. As you might imagine, it is currently very difficult to get
through on a phone line. Please be patient and attempt your call
later.
Keep in mind that the need for blood will be ongoing for the next
several months.
TO MAKE A DONATION:
Call 1-800 HELP NOW or visit the online donation system:
https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
If you are experiencing problems while donating online, it is due to
extremely heavy volume on the Red Cross website. Please try again
later
in the week or call the 800 number.
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I think laughter may be a form of courage. As humans we sometimes
stand tall and look into the sun and laugh, and I think we are never
more brave than when we do that.
-- Linda Ellerbee
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AMERICA GRIEVES
All members of our Life Support family are affected by the
terrorist attacks in the United States today, September 11. Some
of our readers may have actually been present at the scenes of
the attacks; others may have lost their lives and many lost loved
ones. Most of us watched and listened from afar as these horrific
events unfolded.
General Omar Bradley wrote this several decades ago: "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." Today's attack on American
civilians demonstrates again our world's intimate relationship
with killing.
Good and decent people around the globe feel shocked and helpless
in the face of such indiscriminant violence. We are in shock, but
not completely helpless. Here are some suggestions on what you
can do:
1. Remember, most persons of particular nationalities and
religious or ethnic backgrounds are NOT in favor of attacks upon
innocent men, women and children. Such atrocities come from
extremist and radical groups. Our anger, though justified, should
not broadly target innocent civilians of nation or persons who
simply happen to represent a certain religion or ethnicity.
2. This is a time to stick together, as a nation and as a world.
All nations must work together to ensure that such atrocities
never be allowed to occur again. This incident should usher in an
unprecedented time of cooperation as we fight side by side
against a common evil. We can dedicate ourselves to the cause of
ridding the world of terrorism.
3. We can turn our anger and helplessness into constructive
action. Give blood at a donation center close to you. Generously
support disaster response groups with material donations and
money. Some churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious
communities have disaster relief funds that are set up to receive
donations for this emergency. Those of faith should also pray for
those who lost loved ones, those who are missing and wounded and
those who labor to rescue and comfort victims. Pray also for
victims and perpetrators of violence throughout the world.
4. All Americans (and others) who are stunned by today's attack
should find time to grieve. Consider attending a service at your
community of faith to help put the day's events and aftermath in
perspective as you grieve for and with families and friends of
victims.
5. War, whether it be a conventional war or act of terrorism,
is
abhorrent to the human family. In the long term, you can channel
your anger and concern into constructive support of organizations
dedicated to global peace, including the eradication of
terrorism, and to groups that give aid to victims of violence and
war.
6. Rededicate yourself to loving others. Life is short -- cherish
every moment of it.
America will never be the same again. September 11, 2001 will
forever be remembered as a defining moment in our history. But
let the history books record it also as a time of unparalleled
cohesiveness as nations unite to comfort a country in grief
and to commit together to rid our planet of the scourge of
terrorism. May God grant us wisdom this pivotal day, comfort as
we grieve and healing as we move ahead together.
Steve Goodier, September 11, 2001
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| 9/14/01 ______________________________________________
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(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \ ( ) / )
( /<>\ ) Serenity's
( / \/ \ )
Hope :)
/ \
( )
~~~
Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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It came to me in a flash! What would Jesus do? Is this just a
marketing
cliché that we all want to pour from our lips or do we really
want the
True answer when we ask it? Many say that they don't know what
action
should be taken in dealing with the terrorist. I do recall Jesus
hanging
from the cross praying to God, "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they
do." So, What do you suppose Jesus would do? Just think about
it......
-- Serenity
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Dear God, bless us in our journey of awakening; fuel our
commitment to walk
in the light of truth - no matter the obstacles; give us the
wisdom and the
courage to surrender our own fears and doubts and judgments; fill
us with
the faith that knows that It is all God/Consciousness and gives us
confidence to command; that we each chose to be present - as
vehicles for
the
transformation which surely seeks expression through each of us
now - we are
reborn in the light, the love and the grace of GOD. It is all and
It is
enough. blessed be.
-- Barbara Leger Cherkasy, Ukraine
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All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of
times,
but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again
honestly,
till they take root in our personal experience.
-- Goethe
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Many of us have been taught and believe that God is a punishing
God.
That God separates us into good and bad.
That God rewards good and punishes bad.
This attitude does predominate most religious teachings, families
and
schoolings.
From the premise that God is a punishing god one can then say that
to do God's work is to punish bad/evil and reward only good.
People do not understand how someone can kill in the name of
God....
But this has occurred thru out time....as people come up with
there own
ideas of good and bad and right and wrong.
In life there will always be extremes.
Extreme weather.
Extreme pain.
Extreme happiness.
Extreme illness
Extreme madness and so forth.
So can we understand a little that terrorism is this extreme.
These people do believe that they are doing God's most extreme
work
And therefore believe that their reward is paradise.
Perhaps if we go to the root of the problem then we can find the
solution.
God is not a punishing god.
This concept has been misused and abused through out time.
It is practiced on a daily basis by organized religion and creates
this
mindset/ illusion.
Is it not time to revisit the teachings of Christ?
Is it not time to revisit forgiveness and unconditional love?
Is it not time to start practicing what we preach and learn to
love each
other and forgive each other?
God does love each and every one of us unconditionally (God does
not judge).
We are all the same.
No matter how hard we try to define ourselves as different or
separate
(or better) we can only do this with illusion.
If we can start to practice loving and forgiving,
Then we can start to see changes that bring us what we all want.
To live in a world of love and acceptance.
It starts in each and every one of our own hearts.
Thank you for sharing this John! :)
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Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue;
it makes it a requirement for survival.
-- Rene Dubos, Celebrations of Life, 1981
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IMAGINE
Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people,
Living for today...
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope one day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
Imagine there are no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
And no religion too,
Imagine all the people,
Living life in peace ...
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope one day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people,
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope one day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.
-- John Lennon
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Do not believe anything on the mere authority of teachers or
priests.
Accept as true and as the guide to your life, only that which
accords
with your own reason and experience, after thorough investigation.
Accept only that which contributes to the well-being of yourself
and others.
-- Buddha
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Tonight, Friday Night, at 7:00 p.m. (your time)
wherever you live, step out your door,
stop your car, or step out of your
establishment and light a candle.
We will show the terrorist in the world that we,
the people of the World, are all strong
and united together against terrorism.
Please pass this to everyone
on your e-mail list. We need to reach
everyone in the World Community.
The message:
WE STAND UNITED -
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE TERRORISM.
We need the press to cover this --
we need the world to see...
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There Are No Coincidences
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that
they were
meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, teach
you a lesson, or
help figure out who you are, or who you want to become. You
never know who
these people may be, but when you lock eyes with them, you know
that very
moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible,
painful
and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming
those
obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength,
will
power, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance
or by means of
good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true
greatness, and sheer
stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without
these small
tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to
nowhere.
Safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet affect your life. The successes and
downfalls that you
experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be
learned
from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and
important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive
them
because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance
of being
cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you,
love them back
unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because
they are
teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little
things.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from
it everything
that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it
again.
Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually
listen. Let
yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.
Hold your head
up because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself,
for if you
don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.
Create your own life and then go out and live it!
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| 9/15/01
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(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \ ( ) / )
( /<>\ ) Serenity's
( / \/ \ )
Hope :)
/ \
( )
~~~
Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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The natural world has its own law governing life and death.
There is no need for a ruler to usurp nature's role and
decide the fate of the people. He who tries to usurp
nature's role cannot avoid bringing injury to himself.
-- Tsai chih
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"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety
from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the
storm within that endangers him, not the storm without."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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" ....and the day came.... when the risk to remain tight in
a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." --
Anias Nin
Let us blossom as one and strive for a world at peace!
The messages are pouring in and we are with you in Spirit...
I choose Love!
As I struggle to write this week, I know that you all need some
positive energy. This energy needs to be passed on to the world
as we come to grips with 'our' tragedy. You can choose to
bury your head and try to forget that it has happened or stand
up
and be counted to continue to share and grow our world's loving
spirit.
My preparations to fly to America have been a real struggle, but
I know that my efforts to be in America are for a reason. I want
to positively stand up and say this Aussie is committed to a
happiness centered life and helping people to enthusiastically
love life.
I want to make a difference and you can too!
Last week I gave you an affirmation:
Life is happening all around you and you do not want to miss a
single heart beat. You have to seize every opportunity to make
the most of every moment and fill your heart with love and
compassion for the people in your life and your world.
This is the very moment that can change your life. This is the
very moment that is your new beginning. Don't waste the moment!
This week it is a reflection verse:
"The wound has been opened for the whole of the world to
see, let
us now heal that wound with love and compassion and remove the
scar with world peace."
-- John Ahern
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"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and
have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, non-
apologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way
you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The
enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'"
-- Stephen Covey
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TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:
When you align yourself to the presence of God
within you, you realize that there is nothing
to fear.
TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:
There is nothing to fear because I AM aligned
to the presence of God within me.
TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:
As I close my eyes, I acknowledge that the presence
of God is within me. I quiet my mind and I allow
myself to connect to the Divine spirit that dwells
at the center of my being. For a moment, I absorb
the light and love that emanates from this Divine
spirit within me. I affirm that there is only one
God; the God that dwells within me and the God that
dwells in everything outside of me. I remind myself
that if God is for me then nothing can be against me.
In my mind's eye, I see this presence going before me
protecting me everywhere I go and I know there is
nothing to fear. I combine these thoughts and images
with a feeling of joy and let them go.
-- Marty Dow and Tricia Sample
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"Humor is a prelude to faith,
and laughter is the beginning of prayer."
-- Reinhold Niebuhr
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"Smile, 'tho your heart is aching.
Smile, even tho' it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky...
You'll get by.
If you smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow...
You'll see the sun
comes shining thru for you.
Light up your face with gladness.
Hide every trace of sadness.
Altho' a tear may be ever so near.
That's the time you must keep on trying.
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile...
If you ~ just ~ smile!"
Parsons/Turner/Chaplin
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You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part
of it.
That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the
skies, that
is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and
understand, for all that is life.
-- J. Krishnamurti (Indian Philosopher - 1895-1986)
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"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will
endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
-- Og Mandino
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Signs When You Need Them
by Alan Cohen
While driving home one day, I noticed that someone had posted
some cardboard
signs along the roadside, leading guests to a party on my
street. I live out
in the country where there are no city blocks, with many curving
roads and
irregular intersections.
I saw that the person who had posted the signs, placed them at
the crucial
intersections. At every important choice point, there was a
sign. I drove
for long stretches past numerous smaller intersections, where
there were no
posters. Then, when I again reached a crucial intersection,
there was
another clear marker.
It occurred to me that this is how Spirit gives us guidance --
we get signs
when we need them. Whenever you arrive at a critical choice
point,
information shows up to help you decide. If you are not getting
a sign, you
are probably not at a crucial intersection. That's the time to
just keep
going and enjoy the ride. When you are ready to know, you will.
If you don't
know, it is not time yet. In the meantime, just breathe, trust,
and find the
blessing where you are.
If you are seeking direction, pray for guidance. Then let the
universe
deliver your answer in the right way, place, and time. If, upon
completing
your prayer, you do not hear a voice boom from heaven, shout
your name, and
bellow, "This is what you must do!" don't freak out.
Give the Great Spirit a
chance to deliver your message when you most need it. It will
come.
Guidance often arrives in uncanny and synchronistic ways. I met
a fellow who
prayed for a sign to help him decide whether or not to accept a
promotion
that would require him to relocate his home and family to a
distant city.
Then one night he came home late and saw a "For Sale"
sign on his lawn.
Since his wife was already sleeping, he did not want to wake
her. The next
morning he asked her about the sign. "What sign?" she
asked him. "The one on
the lawn," he told her. The two walked outside, and no sign
was to be found.
The fellow deduced that he had indeed been given a sign. He took
the job,
and the move ultimately turned out to be a success for everyone.
A man at a seminar told me he prayed for direction one morning,
and then
that afternoon as he walked out of a restaurant, the wind blew a
piece of
paper against his knees. He picked it up and discovered it was a
flyer for
my seminar that evening. He attended, and subsequently his life
changed.
Another friend decided he wanted to become independently wealthy
and retire
at a young age. He prayed for help with this project. The next
morning when
he went out to jog, as he turned a corner he saw a book someone
had left on
top of a trashcan: Your Money or Your Life. He took the book,
read it, and
found the wisdom he needed. Now he is well on his way to riches
and early
retirement.
If you act anxiously to hasten your answer, you inhibit your
ability to
receive guidance, and delay its arrival. In such a situation
your wisest
move is to step back from frenetic activity and return to peace.
I once
needed to find a particular document to resolve a financial
snafu. I
searched for it nervously, and only grew more confused and
frustrated.
Finally I realized I was getting nowhere and decided to sit down
and
meditate to clear my mind. I let go of trying to locate the
paper, and
relaxed. Toward the end of my meditation, an image popped into
my mind,
showing me a certain folder toward the rear of a file cabinet. I
looked in
the folder and there was the document.
I use a very successful method to receive guidance. I call it
"The Truth
Smoke-Out." Whenever I am not sure what to do, I say to the
universe, "Just
show me what I am to do here. I am willing to do whatever is in
the best
interest of everyone involved. Give me a clue, and I will
follow." Then I
release the situation. I give up any preconceived notion about
how this is
supposed to turn out, and when I am supposed to know. Sometimes
the answer
comes instantly, and sometimes it takes a while. But it always
comes.
In the Greek version of the Bible, the first translation from
the original
Aramaic, two different words are used for our word
"time." One is chronos,
which is equivalent to our understanding of time in seconds,
minutes, and
hours. The other word is kairos, which can best be translated as
"in God's
time" or "at the right time" or "when the
time is ripe." In our culture we
are used to living in chronos. But there is an entirely more
important
element of time, which is timing. That's kairos. Practice living
in kairos,
and answers arrive at the perfect time. God is at least as smart
as the
person who put the signs up for the party.
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(\ /)
( \ __ / )
( \ ( ) / )
( /<>\ ) Serenity's
( / \/ \ )
Hope :)
/ \
( )
~~~
Namaste, Sweet Angels!
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The only way out is to go through.
-- Robert Frost
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"What you do speaks so loudly that
I cannot hear what you say."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Your devotion to God can transcend all situations
and become the constant factor of your life.
Then you follow one Light, the Light which is God.
It's been called many names and worshipped in
many ways, but everyone is reaching to this one
consciousness.
-- John-Roger
From: The Path to Mastership
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"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;
the most massive characters are sheared with scars."
-- E. H. Chapin
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We can work on inner peace and world peace at the same time.
On
one hand, people have found inner peace by losing themselves
in a cause
larger than themselves, like the cause of world peace, because
finding
inner peace means coming from the self-centered life into the
life
centered in the good of the whole. On the other hand, one of
the ways of
working for world peace is to work for more inner peace,
because world
peace will never be stable until enough of us find inner peace
to
stabilize it.
Peace Pilgrim
(1908-1981, American Peace Activist)
http://www.peacepilgrim.com/
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"Never fear shadows; they simply mean that there's a
light shining somewhere nearby."
-- Unknown
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Talking comforts us and dispels tension.
Our automatic reactions come from our human
nature and from memories of past difficulties.
Under stress we naturally tense our muscles and
minds to prepare for flight or fight. Conscious
choices can take us beyond these automatic fear
reactions and help us use more creative responses.
We can learn to stay serene when facing our fears
rather than react automatically.
We can talk about our feelings with each other. Just
talking comforts us and dispels tension. We can also
pray and meditate, not to control what we have no
power to change, but to accept the ultimate care and
wisdom of a Power greater than ourselves. We can
keep returning to the simple wisdom of living just
one day and one moment at a time. We do not have
to deal with today's troubles plus all the troubles we
foresee. With practice we can determine to respond
with our integrity and not be victims of our
automatic reactions.
Make a list of your worries and then consciously
turn them over to the care of your Higher Power.
from the book, Touchstones by Anonymous copyright 1986
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TODAY'S POSITIVE THOUGHT:
Words have power. Encouraging words will attract
others to you. Words of peace will increase the
harmony you experience in life.
TODAY'S POSITIVE AFFIRMATION:
Today and every day, I carefully choose my words to
create the kind of life I want to experience.
TODAY'S POSITIVE VISUALIZATION:
As I close my eyes, I remind myself of the power of
words to create my life and experience. I imagine myself
easily and joyfully choosing words that support the kind
of life I want to create. In my mind's eye, I see the
warm and loving responses my words generate in others.
I see the peaceful and harmonious situations my words
attract to me. I imagine my words going out into the world
and returning to me the kind of experiences I desire to
have. I combine these thoughts and images with a feeling
of joy and let them go.
-- Marty Dow and Tricia Sample
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I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war.
-- Marcus T. Cicero
(c. 106-43 BC, Great Roman Orator, Politician)
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