“There is no guide, no teacher, no authority. There is only you…”
—Jiddu Krishnamurti

 
This week, NASA released incredible, as-if-you-were-there images of Mars. The landscape above titled, “Greeley Panorama,” is from NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, during its fifth Martian winter. It consists of 817 images taken by the panoramic camera (Pancam) on board Opportunity.

Also, this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the first half of 2012 was the warmest of any year on record for the contiguous United States. National temperatures averaged 52.9 degrees, which is 4.5 degrees above the long-term average.

Looking at the Mars panorama and considering the spectacle of climate change, I can’t help but wonder if earth might soon take a similar form if humanity continues its frenzy of growth, insatiable consumption, environmental degradation, nuclear inventions and war, which, when you think about it, simply boils down to selfishness, greed and anger —psychological conditions of the mind.

There lived a man of Indian descent, a gifted spiritual philosopher, who spoke often of bringing about positive change in society through a change, a revolution, in the individual psyche —change from within. His name was Jiddu Krishnamurti, and he walked among us from 1895 until 1986. He held that each one of us is accountable for the state of this world because the actions formed of beauty or ugliness are rooted in and demonstrated by each of us.

Krishnamurti’s revelation provides a simple, yet profound message that if we wish positive change, it must take place within the core of each of us —from the inside out —as within, so without. There is only you, and only you can bring about change within yourself —which is the change that will change the world.

Mitakuye Oyasin!

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“From the beginning, Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden has been an overachiever, churning out more peppers, parsley and eggplant than expected, and generating interest that – yes, really – crosses oceans…” Read the entire story here.

Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Hardcover, 272 pages
Publisher: Crown

Amazon customer review:

“She makes me proud, By Richard Cumming, May 29, 2012

FedEx brought the book an hour ago and I whipped right through it. Wow, what a lovely book! It is coffee table sized and filled with marvelous photos. Our First Lady’s charisma shimmers on these pages.

This story began on March, 20, 2009, as the Obamas were finally getting settled into the White House. Mrs. Obama’s mother had just moved in and Michelle was contemplating something she had never done before, planting a garden. That was the day that they broke ground for the White House vegetable garden.

She takes readers back to other White House Gardens, most notably, to the Victory Gardens that helped to get our country through war. There are some wonderful old photos here.

This is a real hands on gardening book. It is broken down by seasons and there are illustrations of various garden plots. Obviously this book was a team effort. We meet the WH gardening team. There are all kinds of gardening tips, recipes, and anecdotes, here.

This book has so many wonderful photos and illustrations! I can’t wait to try out this recipe for collard greens! This book makes me proud to be an American. Thanks to you, Mrs. Obama!”

Change comes from within —we find a better way as we learn to live wisely.

Mitakuye Oyasin!

The Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews,
Buddhists or other noble creeds,
The black, white, brown and yellow hues
Or other pure or mongrel breeds,

Like many-colored flowers in
A park, the charm of earth enhance,
And vessels of one God within,
Must live as brothers, laugh and dance.      —Gopi Krishna

There is a little green book I read. I have read it more times than I can remember and every time I finish the last page, I begin again on the first. It acts as a guide and reminder of how I want to live and the true purpose of life, and while reading it today, it occurred to me to jot down ways I might conduct myself to contribute to a better world, because… the way to a better world begins with personal responsibility.

Imagine the change if we all ascended these steps:

  1. Help your neighbor (your neighbor is any being beside yourself).
  2. Be kind.
  3. Be gentle.
  4. Be patient.
  5. Be honest.
  6. Be generous.
  7. Refrain from rough/divisive talk.
  8. Refrain from judgment of others.
  9. Refrain from violence.
  10. Refrain from intoxication.
  11. Refrain from eating meat.
  12. Refrain from emotional indulgence.
  13. Grow a garden.
  14. Take care of your body, the vessel of your spirit.
  15. The Earth has been filled; control reproduction.
  16. Plan the birth of a child with utmost care.
  17. Care for and teach your child well.
  18. Preserve nature.

 

 

 

Change comes from within —we find a better way as we learn to live wisely.

Mitakuye Oyasin!

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Lately, I’ve been on the look-out for something new to read, but nothing has interested me until today, when I came upon “The Call of Sedona —Journey of the Heart,” by Ilchi Lee. It reached out and grabbed my attention by embracing a phenomena that goes mostly unspoken of, unrecognized by some, yet something that remains ever present and awesome within its silence.

I experienced it for the first time in Sedona, but it can be felt in other places as well. When I was young, our family visited Sedona during summer vacation. I remember the blazing desert sunshine streaming through the windows of our motel room at 5:00 in the morning inciting us to get out of bed and begin our day. First, and as tourists do, we perused the gift shops. There was a small, almost black, stone bowl in one of them that had been formed, decorated and polished by hand. It was perfect and beautiful and I wanted it —I have always liked rocks —not fancy gems —just plain rocks —the smooth, rounded kind like you find at the bottom of a stream bed. The little stone bowl must have been very expensive, because we left there without it and continued on to the next activity, which was the jeep ride. And that’s when, looking out over the vast red rock vistas of Sedona, I felt it. Even as a little kid I was inspired by it, will never forget it, and I took lots of pictures, because I wanted to have a record of it when I returned home, but when I received the photos from the printer, IT wasn’t IN the pictures! I was so disappointed. I didn’t know then what a spiritual energy vortex even was, but I was trying to capture it on film.

The Amazon description of this book reads: “Several million visitors arrive in Sedona, Arizona, each year, captivated by her remarkable scenery, and majestic sunsets. They are also enticed by a hidden quality —the uplifting healing energy and sacred vibrations of Sedona’s spiritual vortexes. Here Ilchi Lee shares his Sedona experiences in an intimate, heart-expanding exploration of natural and spiritual mysteries. Through the profound meditations the author was guided to create in Sedona, anyone anywhere can experience the deep peace, joy, and messages of hope, healing, and guidance that Sedona offers. This is a guidebook like no other.”

You can learn more by visiting the author’s book page here. While you are there check out the rest of his site http://www.ilchi.com/. He offers lots of interesting, helpful information to help you live better right now.

Mitakuye Oyasin!

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