28 January, 2016

Pain and No pain...


“The king said: ‘He who will not be reborn [one who is enlightened], Nâgasena does he still feel any painful sensation?’ The Elder replied: ‘Some he feels and some not.’ ‘Which are they?’ ‘He may feel bodily pain, O king; but mental pain he would not’ ‘How would that be so?’ ‘Because the causes, proximate or remote, of bodily pain still continue, he would be liable to it. But the causes, proximate or remote, of mental agony having ceased, he could not feel it. For it has been said by the Blessed One: “One kind of pain he suffers, bodily pain: but not mental.”

 Milindapanha

27 January, 2016

Human and Spiritual beings...


“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. 
We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” 

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

25 January, 2016

Cultivating good


"Abandon wrongdoing. It can be done. If there were no likelihood, I would not ask you to do it. But since it is possible and since it brings blessing and happiness, I do ask of you: abandon wrongdoing. Cultivate doing good. It can be done. If it brought deprivation and sorrow, I would not ask you to do it. But since it brings blessing and happiness, I do ask of you: cultivate doing good."

Anguttara Nikaya


24 January, 2016

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching


“Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, 
you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.” 

22 January, 2016

On true essence....


"I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe of things was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization."

Luther Standing Bear, 
Oglala Lakota Sioux (1868-1939)

20 January, 2016

Black Elk Speaks: A Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux


“Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of all things. That is the real world that is behind this one, and everything we see here is something like a shadow from that one.”

Black Elk

17 January, 2016

Charter for compassion....


"We... call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies."

The above words are taken from the Charter for Compassion. It is evident that we live in complicated and troubled times but the Charter and the work of the Charter is about bringing us back to respecting and honoring those with whom we live. The Charter is about civility-acting with consideration and care--towards others. The Charter is about hope and building peace.

As we approach the holiday season and the advent of a New Year let us all recommit to the words and intent of the Charter.

With gratitude for all of the good works you do for others, and in appreciation for what you have given to the Charter.

Marilyn

Marilyn Turkovich, Director

Charter for Compassion International

http://www.charterforcompassion.org/

11 January, 2016

Black Elk Speaks...


“And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being.”

09 January, 2016

Achieving harmony...


"Every time you want something and achieve vibrational harmony with it and allow it to come to you, you not only gain the satisfaction of having accomplished your desire, you also gain a whole new perspective from which to desire."

Esther Hicks (Abraham)

(Please visit this brilliant author's site and genuine exponent of the Law of Attraction. These teachings contain and reflect great practical wisdom.)

http://www.abraham-hicks.com

07 January, 2016

American Native Indian - Amazing Grace (flute)

Very beautiful....

And in the 7th generation great wisdom is reappearing once again
from a great people like a sun swept free of clouds....

06 January, 2016

American Indian beliefs....


Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.

Black Elk, Oglala Lakota Sioux (1863-1950)

04 January, 2016

Lakota Sioux wisdom...



"Upon suffering beyond suffering: The Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world; a world filled with broken promises, selfishness and separations; a world longing for light again.
I see a time of Seven Generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the Sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again.
In that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom.
I salute the light within your eyes where the whole Universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am that place within me, we shall be one."

Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota Sioux (circa 1840-1877)
Crazy Horse is quoted as saying while he sat smoking the Sacred Pipe with Sitting Bull for the last time — Crazy Horse was killed four days later by US Army soldiers in a hand-to-hand scuffle as they attempted to imprison him. There are no known photographs of Crazy Horse, he would not permit anyone to take his picture, presumably, Crazy Horse believed a photograph stole or unnaturally held the soul of the person(s) pictured.

03 January, 2016

Finding your dream...



"You have to look deeper, way below the anger, the hurt, the hate, the jealousy, the self-pity, way down deeper where the dreams lie, son. Find your dream. It's the pursuit of the dream that heals you".


Billy Mills (father), Oglala Lakota (1938-)