Sunday Post #12

Not only are you what you think you are, more so; what you think, you are.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Remember to: Give

The Law of Giving

Every relationship is one of give and take. Giving engenders receiving, and receiving engenders giving. What goes up must come down; what goes out must come back. In reality, receiving is the same thing as giving, because giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy. And if you stop the flow of either, you interfere with nature’s intelligence.

In every seed is the promise of thousands of forests. But the seed must give its intelligence to the fertile ground. Through its giving, its unseen energy flows into material manifestation.

The more you give, the more you will receive, because you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life. In fact, anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given. That which doesn’t multiply through giving is neither worth giving nor worth receiving. If, through giving, you feel you have lost something, the gift is not truly given and will not cause increase. If you give grudgingly, there is not energy behind that giving.

"The gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation, and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything. "

The intention behind your giving and receiving is the most important thing. The intention should always be to create happiness for the giver and receiver, because happiness is life-supporting and life-sustaining and therefore generates increase. The return is directly proportional to the giving when it is unconditional and from the heart. That is why the act of giving has to be joyful—the frame of mind has to be one in which you feel joy in the very act of giving. Then the energy behind the giving increases many times over.

Practicing the Law of Giving is very simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love; or you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want affluence, help others to become affluent. In fact, the easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. If you want to be blessed with all the good things in life, learn to silently bless everyone with all the good things in life.

Even the thought of giving or blessing or praying has the power to affect others. This is because our body is a localized bundle of energy and information in a universe of energy and information. We are localized bundles of consciousness in a conscious universe. Consciousness implies more than just energy and information—it implies energy and information which is alive as thought. Therefore, we are bundles of thought in a thinking universe. And thought has the power to transform.

Life is the eternal dance of consciousness that expresses itself as the dynamic exchange of impulses of intelligence between microcosm and macrocosm, between the human body and the universal body, and between the human mind and the cosmic mind.

When you learn to give that which you seek, you activate and choreograph the dance with an exquisite, energetic, and vital movement that constitutes the general throb of life.

The best way to put the Law of Giving into operation—to start the whole process of circulation—is to make a decision that any time you come into contact with anyone, you will give them something. It doesn’t have to be in the form of material things; it could be a flower, a compliment, or a prayer. In fact, the most powerful forms of giving are nonmaterial. The gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation, and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything. When you meet someone, you can silently send them a blessing, wishing them happiness, joy, and laughter. This kind of silent giving is very powerful.

One of the things I was taught as a child, and which I taught my children also, is never to go to anyone’s house without bringing something—never visit anyone without bringing them a gift. You may say, “How can I give to others when at the moment I don’t have enough myself?” You can bring a flower. One flower. You can bring a note or a card which says something about your feelings for the person you’re visiting. You can bring a compliment. You can bring a prayer.

Make a decision to give wherever you go, to whomever you see. As long as you’re giving, you will be receiving. The more you give, the more confidence you will gain in the miraculous effects of this law. And as you receive more, your ability to give more will increase.

Our true nature is one of affluence and abundance; we are naturally affluent because nature supports every need and desire. We lack nothing, because our essential nature is one of pure potentiality and infinite possibilities. Therefore, you must know that you are already inherently affluent, no matter how much or how little money you have, because the source of all wealth is the field of pure potentiality—it is the consciousness that knows how to fulfill every need, including joy, love, laughter, peace, harmony, and knowledge. If you seek these things first—not only for yourself, but for others—all else will come to you spontaneously.

Applying the Law of Giving

Put the law of giving into effect by following three steps:

1. Wherever you go, and whomever you encounter, bring them a gift. The gift can be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, give something to everyone you come into contact with, and thus begin the process of circulating joy, wealth, and affluence in your life.

2. Gratefully receive all the gifts that life has to offer you. Receive the gifts of nature: sunlight and the sound of birds singing, or spring showers or the first snow of winter. Be open to receiving from others, weather it be in the form of a material gift, money, a compliment, or a prayer.

3. Make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in your life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love. Each time you meet someone, silently wish them happiness, joy, and laughter.

Deepak Chopra February 1, 2008

~Caprica

Sunday Post #11

Creative Commons Lisence

"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others" ~Saint John Chrysostom (Archbishop of Constantinople, 347-407)

"The busy bee has no time for sorrow" ~William Blake

"Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers" ~Robert Green Ingersoll

~Caprica

Remember: The Importance of Setting Personal Goals

Remember the Importance of Setting Personal Goals

When do we say no, and when do we say yes? Is saying no a sign of selfishness or a sign of strength? Is saying yes a sign of weakness, or a sign of generosity and compassion?

A perplexing question for so many travelers – do we set down boundaries, and if so, how? Some say boundaries are essential, for we have to look after ourselves. They say it is a sign of strength to be able to politely disappoint someone, or to firmly tell an abusive man to back off.

But others will say boundaries are essentially selfish, the sign of a petty man, a small hearted woman. If someone is being hurtful as a result of his own sadness, is it not right to show a compassionate response instead of leaving him? How can we call ourselves a friend if we turn down a request from someone in need?

This will be a strange thing to say: what if both sides are right?

The Butterfly and the Chrysalis

The metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a butterfly holds a haunting allure – it appeals to something raw, something primal inside us: a promise of rebirth.

When the time comes, a caterpillar first protects itself from the world, wrapped inside a chrysalis. Protected inside, it grows and strengthens itself until the day it is ready to emerge as a new being, whole and strong. When that day comes, it discards the protective shell, for it no longer needs one.

Perhaps that is the lesson. There will be a time we need to set our boundaries, to give ourselves a safe space to cherish, strengthen and heal ourselves for the journey towards health and compassion. And there will come a day it stifles us, and we have to relax them, or drop them altogether.

Boundaries

For many of us, a journey of personal development starts with limitations and a desire to overcome them. For many, these limitations are weaknesses – emotional suffering and instability, fear, an overwhelming need for the approval of others, sensitivity, and so on. Others might have suffered from emotional or physical abuse. Yet others feel they don’t deserve anything good in life. I remember reading about a woman; her self-esteem was so low she slept on the floor – believing herself unworthy of her bed.

The results are the same – an inability to set a healthy boundary. A flower that is constantly trampled on, a baby that is neglected – how can they flourish?

Rudeness and Negativity

The first type of person we set up boundaries against is the critic, or worse, the abusive person. Some might have good intentions; many don’t. Others attack because of their own unhappiness; they criticise in an attempt to ease their own pain, to feel better about what they are.

Without an ability to put their comments in perspective, even the most well-intentioned critic will sap away at our self-esteem. And this goes doubly so for the overtly hurtful – their words stick in our hearts and minds, corroding our happiness and ability to function.

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

If you are a tall man, and your neighbour calls you a midget – you would simply laugh it off, for not a single cell in your being agrees with her.

What if she were to call you ugly, worthless, a worm – what then? How would you react? The degree of your reaction – whether it is aggression, anguish, defensiveness or simply withdrawal – reflects how much you secretly agree with her.

Heal those shames, remove all such self-judgement from your heart, and no longer will these words affect you. Only then can you drop your shell. When that day comes, a compassionate, mature response is not only possible, but it is the only choice we have.

Requests and Demands

The second category revolves around demands on your resources and time. There are countless factors to be considered here – it is impossible to give a blanket statement. Not all requests, for instance, are unfair and intrusive. Some might be tiring, unwanted, but you have an obligation to fulfil them; perhaps it is a demonstration of love. So all I can offer is a broad statement, one that is only meant to guide.

Generosity is an acknowledged virtue – but it is also unwise to give what we would need for ourselves. It is often unskilful to give when we would feel resentful, sick, or frustrated after we have done so.

Why is this so? We have confused genuine compassion with the masquerade. We have confused compassion born of strength with a weak imitation born of weakness. For many, giving does not come from generosity or selflessness – on the contrary, it comes from the utmost selfishness!

One gives, because he wants the other to like him, to accept him. Another gives, because she sees her time, her intrinsic worth as somehow less. And self-hatred is just another form of selfishness. So they continue giving, wearing a painted smile on their face – all the while thinking only of themselves, of how others see them.

Behind the Masquerade

When one gives from the mask, there is always the danger of anger and frustration. Selfishness always lurks behind the façade – one always fears the judgement of others, always wondering when they will get something in return.

I spent much of my younger years parading behind this masquerade – always giving, even when I didn’t want to. Always being taken advantage of; giving even when I was sick or tired; always afraid of disapproval. And when the criticism and abuse inevitably came, I crumbled.

Further, I was too afraid to ask for favours in return. No one displayed the same care I did. Little by little, the anger and frustration began to build. Anger when they did not reciprocate; frustration at never being able to say no. And one day it all came pouring out. Hatred at myself, hatred at the world – it was a painful time for me and those who loved me. It was a period I could have avoided if I had learnt one simple word – No.

Many people encourage such behaviour in themselves. They see themselves as a noble martyr, perhaps a victim. There are times the distinction between compassion and disguised selfishness is hard to make.

Take, for instance, a mother, sacrificing herself daily for her children. Which one is she? Only she knows. Mimicking compassion is different from feeling it, and only she knows what she is feeling. Might she better serve her children by taking some time off to nourish herself, simply so she has more to give in the future?

What are Boundaries?

The logical progression, then – what exactly are boundaries?

This shield can come in many different forms, but at its core, a boundary simply involves saying No. No to giving something; no to behaving in a certain way; no to being treated in a way that will hurt your heart, your body, your totality.

Personal boundaries can come in all facets of life – physically, emotionally, and mentally. You protect your body; you protect yourself from fatigue and stress, you protect your time, money, and even privacy. You protect your right to a basic level of respect and courtesy.

The first step, then, is to recognise that we have our own needs and values. For many, even this can sound like a shock – that is how defenseless they have been.

Immediately after this, a second recognition is vital. Just as you have your limits – so do other people. They have their own needs, wants, and feelings; just as you would want them to respect your boundaries, so would you have to respect theirs. An intrusive, overdeveloped boundary can be worse than an underdeveloped one. I read a newspaper report once, of a man who was speeding and ran over a pedestrian. His response was callous; she shouldn’t have been in the way. This is the trap we have to avoid.

A good boundary respects all parties involved; clear and firm, but non-aggressive. And as you begin to shield and stand up for yourself, you will be surprised at how the world begins to treat you. It is one of the most empowering things we can ever do for ourselves.

Nourishing the Flower

Some might find it hard to see the value in nourishing yourself first, and yet this is a common truth – you cannot give what you do not have. Unless you have love, unless you have found your own peace – whatever actions you take, no matter how outwardly beautiful, will be subtly contaminated.

As Osho says – let your flower blossom, water it, love it; and naturally it will release a fragrance. There will come a time when we see the well-being of others as inextricable from our own. Then your very presence will be of connection, of happiness and joy.

The Dropping of the Shield

And when do we drop the shield? If you look closely, boundaries are essentially selfish – but they are a necessary first step. Barriers are there to stop us from getting overwhelmed, but like an armadillo – there is no way for us to connect with, touch, others on a deeper level. Some people throw up too many walls; their attempts at protection simply result in exile – isolation and loneliness.

As Lorne Ladner says in the beautiful lost art of compassion, there will be times the boundaries drop naturally, beyond our control. Little glimpses of genuine love, altruistic compassion, give with us a taste of what is on the other side. A couple in the heat of romance will naturally feel that they would do anything for the other; parents sacrifice for their children, even the man on the street will drop his defenses when he sees someone in pain.

This feeling of genuine compassion is one of the most beautiful inner states one can feel – and this can get quickly addictive, leading us to drop our boundaries. But we cannot push past them too quickly – for we will simply fall back into our old, unhealthy, patterns.

Gently push past your boundaries, test them, when you feel the strength to – not the strength of a Tyson, but the strength that is born of having found your own peace, your own quiet power. Expand them, relax their grip, until the day you can drop them.

The End of Selfishness

And when that day comes, you might not even realise the simple fact – you simply don’t need it any more. This day came for me in a very strange manner. I share this story; not as a boast, but as the only way I could bolster my argument.

In Melbourne, there is a traffic law – cars cannot pull up next to a tram at a red light. A space is required for passengers to exit. A few weeks ago, during the Easter holidays, I was driving down the road, daydreaming as usual. I was not paying much attention to the traffic around me, and without knowing, I pulled up next to a tram at a red light.

The tram driver flew into a rage and rushed out, heaping abuse on me. I didn’t know why at first, but as he began writing down the license number of my car, I realised that I had made a mistake. I lowered the window to apologise.

It was a genuine apology; I had no intentions of trying to get out of the fine, but perhaps he took my motivations as such. He made a rude gesture with his finger and told me to have a happy Easter.

The light turned green, and I drove off. I was wondering how much the fine was going to be, I was thinking that he must have had a very bad day to react so strongly – when I suddenly realised that I carried no pain at his words and gestures. I was elated. This might be a small situation for many, but it was a tremendous milestone for me.

Now all I felt was understanding. There was nothing I felt I could have, should have done. But if it was required, a compassionate response would have come without thinking.

And with that, the protective cocoon fell apart. There was no fear, no hesitance. It was simply no longer needed.

by: Albert

Thoughts from Jack Canfiield - Your Brain

I have enjoyed the thoughts from Jack Canfield's books and audio cd's this past year. Here's a recent article he wrote that talks about tapping into the powers of your brain.

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Tap into the Powers of Your Brain

Your brain will work tirelessly to achieve the statements you give your subconscious mind. When those statements are the affirmation of your goals, you are certain to achieve them! Stating these goals can be tricky however, and your subconscious mind needs things put a certain way.

You need to be specific with yourself. The more specific you are with your goal the more your brain has to go on to make them happen.

Remember, vague goals produce vague results. Don’t be afraid to be detailed with what you want! Write it all down as if you were putting in an order. Your subconscious will make it happen for you by steering you toward those opportunities.

Your goals might seem a bit overwhelming at first glance. But look again! Do you see how your goals can be broken down into a series of steps? What needs to be done first and next and after that? Keep writing the steps until you reach the goal.

Here’s a fun fact to help you attain your goals: your brain does not know the difference between actually doing something and just visualizing something being done. Your brain processes the two the same way!

Have you ever imagined yourself making a total flop out of yourself moments before you really do? That is because your brain really experienced it when you visualized it. Your brain will work to make happen whatever is being inputted.

What do you daydream about? Do you visualize yourself being successful? Do you visualize other people judging you? What you think about, you bring about!

Make it a habit to spend time visualizing your goals in detail as if you are living them right now. Do it every day, several times a day! Your brain will begin functioning as if your goals are already attained. You will start being the person you want to be simply because that is what is being processed in your brain. Your brain will make you notice all the resources available to you that you never noticed before. You will attract all the things you need to accomplish your goal.

Don’t visualize what it will be like, visualize what it is like!

Live it right now in your mind, everything in the present tense. What does it look like right now? What does it sound like and smell like? How does it feel? Create these detailed images and show your brain what it all looks like already complete. Your brain brings to your awareness only the things that match your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world. Everything else it filters out. When you visualize your completed goals in detail, your brain filters out everything that doesn’t pertain to those goals!

Write down your goals, break them down into achievable bits and every night visualize them completed. Then every morning visualize them completed. Take the time that is necessary to go through each goal in detail. Trust this process, the power of your brain has been greatly undervalued in the achievement of your goals!

by Jack Canfield

~Caprica

Remember To: Have Good Oral Hygeine

New Lollipop Fights Cavities

If you came out of your last dentist appointment with a less than stellar review, don’t feel like you have to settle for some bitter-tasting sugar-free candy or eliminate sweets altogether. Instead, you might want to consider trying the new cavity-fighting lollipop.

Microbiologists from the oral biology department at the UCLA School of Dentistry are creating a guilt-free way to enjoy juicy-flavored pops that satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings while also protecting your pearly whites.

According to a recent report by ABC News, Americans spent approximately $85 billion on oral health care in 2007.

To help fight costs and protect dental health in the United States, Dr. Wenyuan Shi, medical microbiologist at UCLA, developed a lollipop that helps prevent cavities.

“The sugarless lollipops will deliver the antimicrobial compound for oral cavity to kill the cavity-causing bacteria,” Shi wrote in an e-mail to City on a Hill Press.

Shi experimented with over 2,000 traditional Chinese remedies and also looked to modern technology before deciding to collaborate with Dr. John’s Candies and C3 Jian, a company that develops products that treat and prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Together, they came up with the cavity-fighting lollipops made from licorice root.

The licorice, which contains an anti-cavity compound, is first soaked in a liquid that evaporates, leaving a safe and natural cavity-fighting powder which becomes the active ingredient in the orange-flavored pops.

“We tried chewing gum and hard candies,” Shi said. “But the lollipop has the best appeal as well as the right timing, [because it] takes five to 10 minutes to melt a lollipop, killing the bacteria.”

According to Shi, the lollipops are intended for all ages, but especially for young children and the elderly. He recommends eating two lollipops a day for 10 days, four times a year. This regimen disables tooth decay for three to six months at a time.

Shi said that the lollipops should not replace the usual teeth cleaning and brushing routine.

An estimated 79 percent of children in the United States have a cavity by the age of 17, according to ABC News. Children are especially encouraged to continue brushing their developing teeth to avoid this trend.

The natural lollipops, which can be purchased online for 50 cents a pop, are revolutionizing dental health around the world. Future plans include adding the cavity-fighting component to some of the products of major oral health companies and pet food manufacturers, Shi said.

Shi hopes that with further testing and ongoing studies the lollipops will fight other oral diseases that could help underprivileged people in Third World countries.

To order one a cavity-fighting lollipop, visit c3-jian.com.

By Andrea Pyka

~Caprica

Remember to: Know Your Gun Safety Rules

Are you thinking about owning a firearm? If so, you'll want to read on. If owning a gun isn't part of your future, you will still benefit from knowing this information. Awareness is key!

View and remember these gun safety rules.

1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded.

• Visualize LOADED GUN with QUESTIONMARK

2. Keep the gun pointed in the safest possible direction.

• Visualize LOADED GUN with QUESTIONMARK ...
  
• ... POINTING AT SANDBANK (in a safe direction)
  

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

• Dig in the SANDBANK and ...
  
• ... find TRIGGERS, like shark teeth (keep your finger off it ... it might bite!)

4. Know your target, its surroundings and beyond.

• The TRIGGERS like to socialize (yap yap yap) and they ...
• ... KNOW TARGETS AND SURROUNDINGS within their community of other triggers in the sandbank.
  

5. Know how to properly operate your gun.

• The TARGETS AND SURROUNDINGS have a job driving heavy machinery to beef up the sandbank and they
• ... KNOW HOW TO OPERATE (the gun and) machinery.
  

6. Store your gun safely and securely to prevent unauthorized use. Guns and ammunition should be stored separately.

Written by: Steve Zenone


~Caprica

Sunday Post #10

Photo Credit: Tricia Zenone

ABBA
I Have A Dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

(written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus)

Dream Dictionary

~Caprica

Just a Thought: Silence

Every sound is born out of silence, dies back into silence, and during its life span is surrounded by silence. Silence enables the sound to be. It is an intrinsic but unmanifested part of every sound, every musical note, every song, every word. The unmanifested is present in this world as silence. That is why it has been said that nothing in this world is so like God as silence. All you have to do is pay attention to it.

—Eckhart Tolle