Gaia: ACTION EVOLVING

Re: Why join evolution's journey?

http://onasearchforme.gaia.com — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:02:08 GMT

I feel we should all help out in Evolution, as, It seems that we're doomed to be gone by the time the next Important evolutionary step is taken. We must Either help push Evolution along so hopefully we can change our mistakes before too much Irreversable Damage is done, Or prolong the Events that cause the damage so that we have more time to Evolve. Whether we Do this by Deciding to live in the now, or by Strapping ourselves to a tree, It all helps. The Diffcult part is the same as every diffuclty in the world. Change. The Change of the Norm. People are too concerned about their little insignificant lives inside their boxes, to even realize they have the potential to change the World! We must change peoples thinking so that they can start making decisions on a basic, Universal level. Because every Universal matter, is The most basic of its kind.

Re: What is Evolutionary Activism?

http://onasearchforme.gaia.com — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:26:34 GMT

Katya said:
I define activism as being an integrated part of the group I belong to which means being a healthy minded human being, sharing, exploring, teachining, learning, creating.

Although this is undoubtly true, to be an activist is to extend past the group you belong to and extending to the masses. Activism as I think of is 15% Keeping the World a Good Place 15% Making the world a Better Place, and 70% Making Other People Think! To Be truely Active is to Change the Norm and Make people ask Questions by asking them Quesitons!

The Humble Warrior

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 07:48:15 GMT

THE HUMBLE WARRIOR IS SUPREME Once you have made a leap of daring, you might become arrogant. You might say to yourself: "Look, I have jumped! I am so great, so fantastic!" But arrogant warriorship does not work. It does nothing to benefit others. You need to cultivate gentleness, so that you remain humble, soft, and open. Allow tenderness to come into your heart. Renounce putting on a new suit of armor or growing a thick skin. The warrior who has accomplished true renunciation is completely naked and raw, without even skin or tissue. You are able to be, quite fearlessly, what you are. All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

Re: Why join evolution's journey?

http://wayfarer.gaia.com — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:34:17 GMT

often times i am in a stupor as to how i can affect global change. It seems to immanent the whole to change on a global scale that how i can connect my words and actions to that need seems to be all to often without direction. Here's an idea of a zine within a world of many zines. just a little something for my own local area.

Body: My Idea for a publication, a zine of sorts:

Numero uno subject: breaking down barriers.
Now i don't necessarily point out to black bloc anarchists who like to tear down police barricades but rather use action to charge a symbol with their lives with the energy to dissipate the "us against them" neurosis that plagues our society and the divine human being.

The hope for this relies on signs. The signs around us and in us all the time that bless our perception to immerse in the contemplation of greater harmony that lies inherently in reality and also in the same instant works in the world of time and space with conflict and struggle in the face of moving towards this divine transcendent insight. Thus within unity, there is diversity. This reality says in sacred text " I wish to know myself." It seems there is a gulf between the difference, criticism, and oppression that our selves feel at war with, but there is within that a path. A path that connects our ego (the false self) with the authentic. The authentic brings that world of division to us for that great opportunity to attribute that tension to the unitive ground of being. This is the dealing of what psychology terms projection: the attribution of ones own ideas and feeling to external persons or objects. Projection holds us with its character of seeking biologically rooted within our senses. The path works to fulfill that by bringing awareness into that diffusion of unity back into absolutie integration: incorporating as equal.

Integration is the path. It brings into focus, a solution to our world misery, apathy, and self destruction. The tension between personal comfort and non-self being is the groundwork of social justice. It works at everyones level to create positive change through an intimate personal look at what truly fulfills us and drives us. It is the wide open gape we see when we listen to what is around us and in us to perceive the great splendor of our source. Giving that peace in us outwardly is the spirit of charity, the fruits of social justice. For the tree to grow though we must till the soil. That soil is the unveiling of mystery. It is our hard hearts and as we till and work with that dirt, that system of ungrowth, we water it with tears of sincerity and truth burning away our lie that has become our life. This generates so much sympathy, for if we truly cry for this, we understand ourselves and are changed by that. We become conscious of these deep biological pulls of self survival and integrate them with knowledge that we have far more in common than we think. The egos pull towards self preservation above all else is what we see is what we all have in common and in this sense we all share the same path but possibility has to open that up. Psychologically we have to integrate ourselves into un-limitation. So the fruit that dies, plants the seed and gives it compost to nurture growth.

The signs of integration are living around us today in the most concrete of examples through human persons developed with this level of maturity. They are the saints, the mandelas, the ghandhis, the Malcolm X's, The Martin Luther Kings, the prophets (saws), the gardener, the child, and the kite. Really it's everything we feel is precious in life, so precious we dare not dilute it with fear. I am hoping that knowledge of their works and lives will bring enriching meaning to the path we stand on. It's not something we convert to, or become, it is where we are always and so we are forced to understand that this is called for all of us. We are all being pulled to grow on this hardened dirt in our hearts or face annihilation. We will lose our children, our elders, our books, our knowledge, our values, and ultimately possibility. So with such a dramatic introduction to the ideas of this zine I(really we) hope to bring out, will give a taste of that possibility. There are so many examples to choose from, and there is so much history of people doing these things that brings back the struggle in daily life to integrate. So I hope to bring the spirit of integration into political, sociological, religious, and psychological arenas. It is these examples that feed our community and ourselves. Perhaps with my own research into these matters I may get off my ass beyond my work a day life and bring a little more to the table and come to see what i'm capable of. Part of this studying is seeing just how capable i can be. I am a man of many faults, whatever knowledge this philosophy of integration spews forth comes only from my personal experience with these great examples. These leaders and saints. The common people who struggled and overcame the lie. So I invite anyone to agree, disagree, tear down, or build up this dialogue that I have rooted in the movement of blossoming consciousness. I have become so fascinated with those who love and love and yet with the whip on their back, love again with forgiveness, peace, and social justice that i must spread their message of controversy and truth to this great junction of our history. email me at Peanutgeisha333@yahoo.com or through zaadz to tell about what you think because it is really gonna take all of us to make this happen. Even if no one else reads the zine, at least we will.

Just-a-minute

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 21:05:29 GMT

Take just-a-minute to transform your world just-a-minute (j-a-m) is about experiencing the power of a peaceful and still mind starting with just one minute at a time. It’s a growing movement for people who feel the need to pause and reflect in the midst of a frenetic modern lifestyle. just-a-minute is being launched at an inspirational Wembley Arena event in London on Sunday, 17th September 2006, 3.00 - 5.30pm. This is just the beginning. Join the j-a-m and book your FREE tickets to a global fusion of music, dance and theatre featuring world famous celebrities and artists. Experience, the love, peace and wisdom from three women, who between them have the combined power of 200 years of spiritual study and meditation. www.just-a-minute.org/movie.html http://www.just-a-minute.org/

Deepak on the war in the middle east

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:07:36 GMT

Dear Friends of the Alliance, What happens when we are delving deep into the nature of our consciousness, while our collective subconscious erupts with rage and violence in the Middle East? I felt myself asking, “Is it realistic to hope for a new humanity?” As I look at the faces of people yearning for true peace (not just the absence of war) and feel their presence, any sense of helplessness diminishes, because I am looking at the seeds of the new humanity. These are caring, compassionate, loving, people engaged in personal transformation. There are many all over the world, if only they could be connected. If only we could reach critical mass as soon as humanly possible. But the immediate question for everyone of us is "What can I do now?" I would like to share my reflections with all of you in this time of war. These are not original insights. They have been part of wisdom traditions for a long, long time. I deeply honor the sentiments of those of you who favor social activism, but that approach has been tried over and over again without great success. I believe at the core of my being that only a consciousness-based approach will work. Societies get into the grip of their own self-created story. It's helpful to realize that we can choose not to participate in that story. Realize that national and tribal stories are limited, self-serving, based on the past, reinforced by orthodoxy, and therefore opposed to real change. Stories are incredibly persuasive. Wars are fueled by victimization that runs deep, for example. So let us not try to change anyone's story. Let us only notice and observe ourselves when we buy into it and then let us back away from participating in it. Let us not demand of ourselves that we alone must be the agent of change. In a fire brigade everyone passes along a bucket, but only the last person puts out the fire. None of us know where we stand in line. We may be here simply to pass a bucket; we may be called on to play a major role. In either case, all we can do is think, act, and say. Let us direct our thoughts, words, and actions to peace. That is all we can do. Let the results be what they will be. Let us realize that engagement and detachment aren't opposite--the more engaged we become, the more detached we will have to be. Otherwise, we will lose ourselves in conflict, obsessiveness, anxiety over the future, and feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Keep in mind that we are pioneers into the unknown, and uncertainty is our ally. When our minds want closure, certainty, and finality, let us remind ourselves that these are fictions. Our joyous moments will come from riding the wave, not asking to get off at the next station. Most misery is born of failed expectations so let us learn to minimize expectations so that we will feel far less guilt and disappointment. We aren't here to be good or perfect. We are here as the antennas for signals from the future. We are here to be midwives to something that wants to be born. Good people have preceded us. They solved some problems and created others. As one wise teacher said, "You aren't here to be as good as possible. You are here to be as real as possible. I know this sound difficult, but let us try to be tolerant of intolerance. This is a hard one at times, but if you try the opposite--showing a hard heart against those with hard hearts of their own -- all we've done is expand the problem. It's helpful (but often difficult) to remember that everyone is doing the best they can form their own level of consciousness. Trying to talk a terrorist out of his beliefs is like trying to persuade a lion to be a vegetarian. All we can realistically do is seek openings for higher awareness. Let us resist the lure of dualities. These include us versus them, civilized versus barbarians, good versus evil. The good, civilized people of Europe managed to kill millions of themselves, along with millions of "them." In reality we are all in the same boat of human conflict and confusion. Sometimes it helps to admit that the doctor is not far from being a patient. Let's create an atmosphere of peace around ourselves. Imagine that we are like a mother whose children come home crying about fights at school. Would it be her job to soothe their wounds or to arm them for fighting back tomorrow? Simplistic as it may sound, the male principle of aggression can only be healed by the feminine principle of nurturing and love. Mahatma Gandhi spoke the truth when he said "You must be the change you want to see in the world." We are units of consciousness, and the world is our projection. If there are enough units of peace consciousness and they connected with each other to reach critical mass, we could heal the world by healing ourselves. A conscious change of heart is one of the most concrete things the world can ever see, a change of heart can change the world, whereas dutiful combative stances can only increase our agonies. While caught up in a conflictive situation keep out there in the midst of it all doing what you do best: Do not be discouraged, but know that there are people all over the world who support you, one day there will be so many that everyone will see peace. Love is the only point of departure for intelligent action. Reactionary activism based on blame and self'-righteousness leads us to perpetual strife, as we accumulate vengeful and judgmental postures. There is war and suffering in life, it has always been there, now in the present news from the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Guatemala, Congo, Somalia, etc. But it is really everywhere, as we have forgotten who we really are, and have failed to exercise the charity of forgiveness of ourselves and others. How can we overcome this strife? -By overcoming hatred-. How can we overcome hatred? -By releasing love-. How can we release love? -By growing in consciousness, which means consideration, forgiveness, understanding, -an awareness of our common being. And this applies to collective, social, family, and individual conflicts. Lets not become impatient for concrete solutions alone. As we engage in dialogue among ourselves to find the solutions to our immediate problems, some of us with warplanes and missiles flying overhead, become truly desperate for concrete strategies, and concrete results. But lets ask ourselves: did millions marching for peace across American and Europe before the Iraq war prevent it? Did the peace treaties negotiated by President Clinton between the Palestinians and Israelis achieve anything? Has all the negotiation and conflict resolution by responsible, intelligent, sincere diplomats affected the estimated 35 wars that are now going on simultaneously in the world? Has all the moral outrage prevented the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Sudan, Ethiopia, or Gujarat? Has the hundreds of billions of dollars of aid to developing nations overcome poverty? We cannot simply pursue without reflection the same thing that didn’t work Maybe personal transformation (including the longing for personal transformation) can contribute towards a lasting and radical solution. Why don't we give peace a chance by engaging in something seemingly not so "concrete" like participating in the creation of peace consciousness? We can and must do whatever is in our reach to put out the fires. Yes, let us bring the buckets of water and dig the trenches to contain the forest fires we have started, but if we do not stop smoking, we would not have addressed the root cause that gives continuous rise to the fire. So although we must raise our voices and coordinate our actions as our hearts demand to counteract conflagrations like the one in the Middle East and Iraq and put pressure on our leaders to act fast to bring peace, we must not diminish our first order of sustained priority, that of addressing the root cause of all our social and individual hassle and pain - our ignorance and the healing our own selfishness. And this quest applies to all, the so called spiritual leaders, the seekers, the social workers activists and everyone, for all, no matter what role we play, we all are longing for love and peace, for greater understanding. Peace can only be created by those who are peaceful. I cannot honesty claim that I have achieved peace of mind, but because I am at least trying to go beyond my personal melodrama, it is my hope that I may be capable of seeing things in perspective. I think longing for peace may itself be the beginning to bring about a new birth of awareness. To be part of the gestation process is just as necessary as any other stage. As Rumi said in one of his poems, "Our longing and our helplessness are the way". Let’s meet as people who have nothing in common except our helplessness and our own peace of mind. It’s worth celebrating that we are not emotionally drawn into the concept of war as a “solution” when the rest of the world is. Maybe it is worthwhile to invite the world into a new era–showing humanity the face of peace. I have no doubt that millions will watch us and say, “That’s me, too.” I do not want to convey a sense of pacifism. Consciousness isn't passive. In itself it's always moving, changing, creating and affecting change. Activism that works for change on the surface often winds up being just a counterforce--it's the opposite side of a tug of war. The situation in the Middle East right now, for example is rife with action. It's rife with opposition. Is there a choice that didn't involve increasing tension? Of course, we all support humanitarian relief, peace negotiations, etc. this world has always been full of good, well-intentioned people who devote themselves to social change. And for many, this work is their personal path of evolution. Yet the world remains a sinkhole of poverty, famine, war, crime, and despair. Goodness hasn't changed the situation; activism has ameliorated it, at best. When doing more of the same thing doesn't work, I think it's time to consider the deeper wound, which is at the level of consciousness. There is action to be taken in consciousness, even though it may be subtle action. Love, Deepak

Emergency Meditation Alert for the Middle East

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 22:25:35 GMT

"I will never march against war. Have a march for peace and I will be there." - Mother Theresa This is a global call to all lightworkers around the world. Please turn your attention to what is happening in the Middle East right now. It is a very precarious time, and the consequences of what is happening and the possible escalation of events could effect the balance of the whole world. We are asked not to go into fear or blame, but to remain in a calm, loving and peaceful state whilst sending light, prayers and thoughts of peace to the whole of the Middle Eastern region and the people living in these areas and their leaders and negociators. We have many lightworker friends living in Beirut and in Israel, Arabs, Christians, Jews and Palestinian friends, all of whom have been working very hard, often in very difficult and challenging situations to maintain the balance and call for peace. I remember in 1999 when I attended a Lightworkers Peace Gathering in Israel, near Jerusalem, and Palestinian friends risked their lives by climbing over the mountains to bypass the checkpoints so as to join their Jewish lightworker friends at this gathering in order to meditate and share together. Here in Cyprus we are in very close proximity to the Middle East, it is only 25 minutes by air to Beirut and just over an hour to Israel . We can feel the tension rising from here, and energetically I can see and feel a wall of fear and distrust that is gaining in momentum and needs to be dissolved. It is like a cloud that is hovering above the area and it is thicker around the borders between the countries. A lot of ongoing assistance is needed on a light level to dissolve this cloud and to send clear, positive vibrations into the area in order to prevent further escaltion of the present circumstances. Things are not as they seem, many forces are at work in this situation. Let us call in all the masters, angelic presences and light beings to assist us in this endeavour. This is very important work and we need to be vigilant in our practices these days to support the process. We will be holding a Global Meditation Alert Gathering for the Middle East here in Nicosia this Tuesday, July 18th at 8pm and invite you to join us in spirit during this time, or to tune in throughout the day at any time that you can. Please light candles before beginning the meditation and call in the assistance from the cosmic level of all the great ones and envision a global network of light linking up all around the world. Think of unity and peace and if you wish chant the OM at the beginning of the meditation and the OM Shanti at the end. May Peace Prevail on Earth. Please distribute this message widely to as many people as possible. Love and light, Maggie The Global Spiritual Network To subscribe and receive our postings or to unsubscribe go to www.enabling.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gsn2 List co-ordinator Maggie Erotokritou surya@spidernet.com.cy www.planetawake.org

EDEN FROM THE ASHES

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 03:06:15 GMT

EDEN FROM THE ASHES North America's Largest Urban Garden Under Attack by Velcrow RIpper Please Forward Widely! The South Central Farms is the largest community urban garden in North America. It feeds 350 latino families, upward of 3000 people, in gang ridden South Central Los Angeles. For 14 years, the farmers lovingly tended the land, creating a lush paradise out of a 14 acre vacant lot, rising like an indomitable weed from the despair of the LA riots of 1992. The land was sold by the city to a developer in a back room deal, and last week, despite the fact that the farmers had raised the money to buy the land at full market value (16 million dollars), the developer moved in and destroyed the gardens with a phlanx of bulldozers. The farmers are currently in court, as of July 12, challenging the eviction. They vow to take the land back, and replant the gardens. Please visit www.southcentralfarmers.com and show your support! We live in a time of great crisis, in which the very life support systems of the planet are under threat. South Central Farms offers a model that needs to be replicated everywhere, a model of restoration, of healing both the land and the human community, of urban sustainability, of possibility in a place where possibility is precious and rare. When I first learned about the farm, and it’s risk of destruction, I immediately rushed down from Canada to join the encampment, recognizing just how important it is. I am honoured to have experienced what is at it’s essence, an outpouring of love - love for humanity, love for the planet, love for all that is sacred. A luminous example of ‘love in action’ as Martin Luther King would call it. A community rising up, committed to non-violence, peace and life. Like many, I thought I would be there for a few days, and like many, once I was there, I was captured by the magic, and didn’t want to leave. The days of the ‘habitation’ turned into weeks, beautiful weeks, in which a new community was formed, the farmers coming together with a brilliantly diverse human ecosytem that cut across lines of race, class, religion, and gender, drawn to the shining example that is South Central Farms. After about three weeks of staying on the farm, 24 hours a day, I reluctantly had to return home to Canada, but my heart has remained in South Central. And like you, my heart was broken this week as the bulldozers moved in and so brutally ripped apart this sacred garden of eden. I sat here in Canada, editing the footage I shot of this green jewel in a concrete desert, bawling like a baby. What I felt was not anger, but anguish. Slowly, my anguish turned to empathy. Empathy for all the precious oases that are being destroyed by the crumbling old paradigm of the industrial growth society. Empathy for Atenco, in Mexico, South Central Farms brothers and sisters in the struggle; empathy for the disappearing forests of the Amazon; empathy for the innocent civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan; empathy for all the children of war and hunger around the world; empathy for all the people who are getting sick from the toxic air, water and land, from the junk food that is being crammed down our throats, sick from the junk that is being crammed into our minds and hearts by a corrupt media, a corrupt establishment. Empathy for all of us who, know it or not, are in the gunsights of a sick society. My deep sadness brought me back to a great loss in my own life - the loss of my brother, Randy, last year, from cancer. And I remembered the lessons of hope and love that was my brother’s parting gift to his family. He taught us to never give up. Randy was determined to die at home, despite the doctors wanting to keep him in a sterile hospital, and together we suceeded in making that possible. He loved to sit in his backyard garden, with a huge bucket of peanuts, feeding the squirrels and birds. That garden was always filled with birds, hummingbirds, jays, woodpeckers, you name it. He fed them, and they fed his soul. Even when he was no longer able to sit in his wheelchair, we could still wheel him out into his beloved garden on his hospital bed. He was out there the day before he died, wearing an inspirational t-shirt that I had sent him from India, years ago, when I was shooting ScaredSacred. It was the last shirt he wore. On the front it said, 'Never Give Up', and on the back was a long quote from the Dalai Lama: No matter what is going on Never give up Develop the heart In your country too much work is spent developing the mind Instead of the heart Be compassionate Not just to your friends But to everyone Be compassionate Work for peace In your heart and in the world Work for peace And I say again Never give up No matter what is happening No matter what is going on around you Never give up. -The Dalai Lama On the day the bulldozers moved in and began their cruel attack on the farm, I found Randy’s t-shirt, and I put it on, something I had never done before. I put it on, and walked the few blocks to the community garden that grows in my own neighbourhood, the Strathcona Gardens. And I walked through this intact oasis, past the lovingly tended garden plots, and I cried behind my sunglasses. But my tears did not drain away my power. They watered it, like the rain waters the fresh new seedlings, only strengthening my resolve, my determination to dedicate my life to working towards a world that recognizes and fosters all life, towards a world that embraces the vision embodied by South Central Farms. They may have bulldozed the land, but the spirit can never be destroyed. It may be veiled in tears right now, but it is still there, still shining. Try as they might to crush us, we will rise, again and again, like the farm first rose from the fires of Los Angeles, like the phoenix rises from the ashes. The spirit of the people will prevail. Aqui estamos! ~in solidarity, Velcrow Ripper www.southcentralfarmers.com Velcrow Ripper is a two time winner of the Canadian Academy Award. His feature documentary, FierceLight, about Sacred Activism around the world, will feature the story of South Central Farms. It is part two of the acclaimed ScaredSacred Trilogy. FierceLight: Where Spirit Meets Action Produced by Cher Hawrysh Executive Producer Mark Achbar Directed by Velcrow Ripper www.scaredsacred.org

Fire the Earth Grid

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 22:16:15 GMT

Global Meditation to heal the Earth

www.firethegrid.com

The Earth needs our help! She is going through some chaotic transitional pains, and She needs our energy. Humans from all around the World, from every corner of the Globe are coming together simultaneously on July 17, 2007 11:11 Greenwich Mean time to fire the energy grid of the Earth. Mass citizens are doing this in order to give our Planet the surge of energy She needs to survive these chaotic times, and come through them resurrected anew, with a willingness to bring about the coming days of peace.

As you probably know, The Earth is being harmed by its residents. It won't be able to stand the poisons that are constantly entering Her environment for much longer unless we help her. Beings of Light, who truly care for this planet, have drawn up a plan for us humans to follow. So what is the plan? The time has been set for July 17, 2007 at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time, in which volunteers are to simply sit down and mediate, pray, visualize, (whatever you do) for one hour. It is only one hour out of your entire life. During this time, our combined energies will work to direct energy to the Earth and to each other. I ask you to choose the way in which you deliver your intention. For those of you that pray, then pray for the hour asking for the faith and power to accomplish this tremendous task. Those of you who meditate, meditate and see the intention of your thoughts swirling deep inside our Earth delivering the love and healing. Those of you who have no ritual may simply develop one that works for you. If you sit and repeat a phrase of your intention such as "I offer you my energy to heal this world and its people" Any positive words of hope, love, and desire for change will manifest these thoughts as our new reality. If possible, gather with others during this hour. I have found that the intensity of my meditations heightens when I am sharing the experience with other people.

You may be wondering if that will really heal the Earth. The answer is yes. We tend to underestimate the power of creation that we humans have been blessed with. We especially tend to underestimate are co-creative power we have as an entire race. This planned sitting of the people of Earth will demonstrate the love and faith we feel for the goodness of our world and its inhabitants. We are the catalyst to the healing of the Earth. A true believer has the power of ten fold. So if you only think you may believe, know that the faith of the others will boost your own faith and the power will be intensified. That is why we must all sit at the same time. We will feed each others power, strengthening the force of delivery and the compounding the energy we send to the core of our home. Each and every one of us is important alone, but together we are a very powerful source of creative energy. Remember we are all a piece of God, and that energy of creation lives in all of us.

Please join us. We are the hope.

http://www.firethegrid.com/

Re: THE FOURTH MOMENT

http://damselfly.gaia.com — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:51:21 GMT

Fall down seven times, stand up eight.

Re: Remaining Whole in the Face of the Truth

http://katya.gaia.com — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 05:12:31 GMT

Separation, good, bad, ego, etc.

Thinking like that, even when referring to "evolving" has really never helped me.

It always made me feel psychotic. I read all the theories. I know the dogma. It still doesnt help.

I am lately very pro gentleness. And I am a person of strength and sometimes incredibly destructive power and anger. (Never underestimate the power of impatience! lol)

And when I read that quote, it was like "BAM! - I dont like this." Not because it isnt true, and here many will go into loops about how its my mirror. Yes, but the point is "what helps?"

I'll tell you, 4 years with the Gnostics, I can dissect that ego for ya right now!

And what?
And what resulted was a feeling of unwholesomeness, self-distrust (cus I can change my mind any minute) and general sadness about the state of things.

It was MY experience, sure. But that kind of perception and personal ideology makes people dislike themselves. Which isnt the point. The point is to embrace yourself, Embrace your imperfections. Embrace your inconsistencies and face yourself with love.

Rainbows,
Katya

Re: Remaining Whole in the Face of the Truth

http://CalmEagle.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:14:37 GMT

velcrow ~

Thank you for that post, it is very similar to the traditional Christian concept of
The Dark Night of the Soul. I believe that also the the premise behind the Sun Dance of the Lakota. UNtil we suffer a breakdown of the ego, or discover its limits in utter desparation and reach beyond them, we will remain in its prison.

When you get a minute, come over to Soup's On and help me stir the soup.

Aho.

CalmEagle

Re: Vedic Quotes

http://rheos.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 19:26:11 GMT

Hi Air,

The proper way to make a link is by selecting the text and then using the "chain link" icon you see in the edit box above up where the "B", "I", "U", "center", etc are.

post editing, etc is coming..

peace

Re: Vedic Quotes

http://podness.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:56:33 GMT

Too bad we can't delete or edit posts here. Apparently the url was too long for the sites innards to handle. You can get to the link by copy/pasting the whole thing into your address bar. Sorry...

Re: Vedic Quotes

http://podness.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:54:02 GMT

I hope this works :)

Here is a vision of Ammachi by Victor Olenev.

http://podcollective.com/browse/?treeURL=content/Victor+Olenev&leafURL=content/Victor+Olenev/thumbs-02.ammachi.jpg

Re: A MOMENTOUS LEAP

http://manonfyre.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 06:15:12 GMT

rocket fuel!

Re: AMMACHI

http://manonfyre.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 06:12:16 GMT

one of more than 100 people who patiently waited for the honor at a satsang with ammachi in santa monica; screened for "too much colonge or scented shampoo;" i was clutched to her breast and rocked, and can hear today her close intonation in my ear: "Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma . . ."

pitched "scared sacred" to the owner of the local mom & pop video store. "something i'm looking forward to . . ."

Re: Your Favourite quotes

http://damselfly.gaia.com — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:18:34 GMT

"Grow to the Light"

Remaining Whole in the Face of the Truth

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:08:41 GMT

Spiritual development is moral development. It's the movement from division to wholeness. Most of us are deeply divided, which means we have mixed motives. This is why most of us are untrustworthy. Under pressure, the self divides and suddenly you don't know who a person is; you don't know what they are going to do. So when we become interested in evolving, we have to begin to face this deep division within ourselves. We have to confront the darkest motives that exist within us, the deeply unwholesome drives of the ego, and we have to emotionally get in touch with the effect we have on those around us when we act from those motives. As we evolve, we become a lot more sensitive to the deeply destructive nature of ego, in ourselves and in others. That's the awakening of conscience—a higher conscience that has nothing to do with ego but comes from the level of the soul. But it takes humility to develop at this level. Most of us cherish a self-image that has very little to do with how we really are. When the true picture is revealed, some people come to their knees in humility. Others fall into a narcissistic rage, unable to bear the truth. It's at moments like these, when there is tremendous evolutionary pressure, that the self divides. If you make a decision to remain whole under pressure, to face the truth without wavering, what emerges is literally a new human being. You discover self-confidence, spiritual and moral strength, self-respect and dignity. That's soul development. But it takes a tremendous commitment and a deep surrender to resist the temptation to divide. If the self doesn't divide under pressure, then evolution takes place in real time. Andrew Cohen

AMMACHI

http://velcrow.gaia.com — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 02:02:41 GMT

“Simply transferring the world's nuclear weapons to a museum will not in itself bring about world peace. The nuclear weapons of the mind must first be eliminated." -Ammachi, UN World Peace Summit of Spiritual leaders