well said Kavita. I was getting quite fed up of what I saw here, and that is why havent been here for a while. That is a beautiful excerpt.

Human beings are the same every where. We like gossip and we like to have the last word. And while all of us are humming and hawing and expressing our disdain at Bush and the world of his politics in general, there are people like Joanie who quietly do what has to be done, physically help the less fortunate. Thanks for this post Kavita. Very timely.

I apologize.

Dearest Kavita . . . if I could give you a standing ovation at this moment - I would! WOW - many thanks for providing simple, touching imagery that leaves a permanent mark on our consciousness. Well done . . .wishing everyone an abundance of raindrops - to glean the meaningful and to share with solid and positive intention. Take care . . .Laila

Hello,

I really have to say that I find this website amusing. Since the 'Intent of the Intent' says that you can criticise this Blog so I will !

All the blogs on this website (and many of the comments) remind me of our school essays in India. Generally the exam question used to be, given a topic write a 1000 words or say 1-2 pages. So somehow or the other, we used to try to fill in 2 pages. What we wrote used to be usually quite irrelevant and illogical to the given topic.....just beating around the bush, a whole lot of meaningless and flowery words...just something so that the topic is mentioned and 2 pages get filled. One reason for this 'dumbness' could be that although our education system imparts lots of facts & figures, it usually doesnt go the how-why direction. More of rote learning than logical education. This especially applies to non-vernacular schools. Although I was educated in a Convent School, I did and do see the difference between the two. But thats a topic for another comment.

Anyways, all those essays (and hence the thought process or its lack of) was when we were kids but we are all grown-up now. Yet the same theme is visible in these blogs. All hot air.

I am really really so dissapointed ! Mr. India is one of my fav movies and I was so eager to read Mr. Shekhar Kapur's thoughts. Dissapointed again. Mr. Kapur are you listening ?

Anyways, thats about it.
-Sonali

ah but now you are doing the same thing, Sonali- lumping every one together and calling it hot air, without specifying.So you are induldging in it yourself. I was brought up in India and went to convent schools too, but I remember the nuns would not tolerate meaningless flowery essays. The beauty of language does not have to necessarily lack substance. I know that Kavita too was educated in convent schools and even went to a college where the foundation stone was laid by Lady Mountbatten. And I also know some amazing writers who went to verancular schools and did damn well.
I do agree about Shekhar though..maybe he is just competing for more hits than Dr Chopra and comes up with unpalatable stuff. He is beginning to be tiresome and repititive and predictable-I dont even read what he vomits anymore..so now we get to see those bloody pictures out of context.
May be its time to have those facilities where we can read what we want to read.

and I see Sonali, that you dont even want to be original any more either-you just put the same thing on mallika and kavita's blog..

Hello,

As I sit here tonight, I find that I have missed being here, as I have started my teaching year.

Thank you Madhav whoever you are and where ever you are...I hope I am not the only one quietly going about life helping others....I really hope not. Tomorrow I will meet families that have relocated here in our county in Maryland from Katrina. I can not even imagine what it would be like. I hope I never will.

I look around at my "things" I have....it is all just "stuff"....do I need more clothes, no. Do I need more jewelry, no. Do I need more shoes, no. Do I need more cds, books, cell phones, pictures on my wall, candles, makeup, shampoo, picture frames....no.

I hope that everyone in this country can do 1 thing to help these hurricane victims. Today, I went around to some stores to get gift cards donated. A manager from a pizza store, said she could really relate as she had survived a fire where she lost all....but felt helpless as she could not give $ to these people. BUT she picked up the phone, called her district manager and within minutes arranged to have gift cards available next week. I looked at her and as she said that she really wanted to help, I just looked at her and said, "you just did".

Helping others is not hard, think of all the people you know in your life, connections you have, we are here together in this lifetime and must help others. If it were us, we would want others to help us.

There is no reason for hatred in this world, all it is is wasted energy.

As my new favorite singer Anna Nalick says in her song........

Just Breathe....
Life is like an hour glass glued to a table, no one can find the rewind button
Just Breathe....Lets go forward, not back.

~joanie

Some have given the need to right.

~not that they are trying to be good, they simply realized how much energy they wasted needing to be right.

Some are no longer inclined to judge others because they see there own self behind that other point of view.

Some do not gossip and focus on the faults of others because they are focusing on correcting their own faults and erroneous conditioning.

Some people don't try to blame others but seek to see how they might be responsible.

Some people don't spend all day pointing out what is wrong but seek to express executable solutions and be a part of the solution and not the problem.

True we should point out what needs to change, and the what we see as flaws in the thinking of others and their policy but perhaps we should not dwell on it but rather the solution or manifesting the change we want to see.

I also see your frustration, which is really what many of us are expressing. You can do a lot to change your self and that is where it starts, but often feel powerless by your self to change the system. This is why we need to move in unity to bring change to the system.

We ask where we can place our contructive energies to change the system. I trust that we will begin to see these focus points come into being very soon.

One of the post powerful thing you can do is to spread awareness and simply communicate and raise up those around you. Lead them to the sources of insight wisdom and intelligence that will become apparent.

For every thing that has been there was a reason and a divine purpose, as it is for every change to come.

Let us not dwell on the past for it is a waste of energy, but let us take from it the wisdom that it provided and apply it to the future that manifests itself in the present.

~Richard Thomas

Kavita i came from work,then went to study group..had a very busy day.I go to work again at 6 tomorrow...In such simple words you express the truth...it is very touching!!!I felt re-energize..Joanie it is amazing "There is no reason for hatred in this world, all it is is wasted energy"..now time to do my homework..
thanks kavita and joanie both...your positive cyber energy working...time to slog now

That should have been

"Some have given up the need to be right".

As for some of the other thoughts, why one would be inclined to provide empty criticism, why not provide some great insight? Well probably one has none to provide so the only thing left to provide is some criticism.

Oh and Kavita, the raindrop example was a great insight thanks for sharing.

Richard,

I loved what you wrote. It was very incisive and very loving in its energy, despite the content. This loving energy is what I found missing In kavitas post. She sounded matronly, patronising, judgemental. The problem is not addressed, the symptoms are. When the intention is to transform a behaviourial pattern it can never be achieved by sitting on a high horse or with a holier than thou attitude.It has to be dealt with an iron fist in kid gloves and with compassion, as you did Richard. Maybe that is the reason I am addressing this post to you. What she has written about is easily discernible in these blogs and did not need a Professional analysis. In fact in one of Deepaks post on cancer, this is exactly what I had feared was spreading like the plague and I expressed doubt over the sanity Of a blog which can only invite negativity. I wrote about it in rather strong words.

Having said that I also wish to comment on what is happening here and now.. Despite the objection to this continuous mental wrestling by bloggers, it is at its best here. Aditi and her one liners!She has not made a single contribution worth its salt, In all the posts of except commenting on others' posts in a very derogatory manner.I have had first hand experience of this. My second day on intent blog and I had written something on Advaitism or oneness, using Kahlil Gibrans format so to speak.And our Aditi soon enough wrote back saying (if i remember right)"it was pathetic , and you should stick to doing Yoga or whatever it is that you do, and leave the writing to the other Kavita"... I was rather shocked as it seemed more of a personal attack than a differing view on the issue.Surprisingly ,it was Kavitas chhibbers post. Wonder why aditi surfaces only then? Is it an alias or are the other posts beyond her comprehension?

I felt it too unimportant to react to Aditi at the time for two reasons. The first, she exposed her own ignorance on Hindu Philosophy . I also gathered she was young, immature and using this blog to vent her frustration at the world in general. If she is in her 20's, then I have a daughter her age. So where was the sense in matching wits with someone who has self- censorship problems And again Like I said all I would be doing would be reacting to the symptoms.

The second reason why I did not respond o Aditis acid and venom attack , I will explain through a story. One of the greatest sages that have lived in India was Sri Ramakrishna. He was sitting on the banks of a river with his disciple. Soon a scorpion emerged from the water and bit him on the foot. Ramakrishna gently picked up the scorpion and put him back in the water. After a l while the scorpion emerged again and bit him . Ramakrishna picked him up again put him in the water. Soon the scorpion emerged again. When the disciple could control himself no longer he asked ramakrishna what was he doing? Why was he saving the scorpion only to be stung? Ramkrishna replied'let him follow his nature. I am following mine'

My request to all bloggers would therefore be to kill the tendencies of the scorpion we may possess. Let us all follow our innate nature, which is to be patient and caring. If you cannot make someones day,why spoil it for him? In doing so you harm yourself more because you first create negative energy within you much before you have begun shredding another to pieces with your caustic comments? What is in it to gain except a perverse satisfaction ! that is not what we are about or the purpose of this blog in the first place. Please refrain fron vitiating the spiritual energy one is trying to raise . It maybe a small effort but why undermine it?

Disagreement is not wrong but to be disagreeable is. Make an effort to sugarcoat your pill, that too only if you feel it can stand the test of validity.. Ponder over this.. we are presently a community of approximaely about a 100 .. from across the globe. Cannot we exrcise ACCEPTANCE? not Tolerance because that has negative connotations . Acceptance is all embracng- it is preceded or followed by respect, goodwill and compassion. So it is a better feeling.

Please refrain from personal attacks as far as possible. It was vey disconcerting to read about the comments on Shekhar Kapur. Whatever your opinion why voice it so viciously. Your identity maybe hidden to all of us, but you have to face yourself day in and day out. soon you will be hating yourself because all you have generated within is negativity, hatred, animosity, aversion. Practise the opposite for a day . feel the difference.

We are all seekers. No single thought can be wrong.As I said earlier on in a post , if all paths are like the myriad rays that emerge from the sun how can any path which takes us to the sun be wrong.

I am genuinely perturbed, as maybe other bloggers by these inanities. Writing is an effort ...why not make it worthwhile for all involved?

Peace and love

Thank you Kavita, for expressing beautifully what many have been feeling. If I may, the following prayer was posted previously by Geeta, which she said she recited when she felt like negativity was blocking and draining her.

Beloved God, may I know that Thine unseen all protecting mantle is ever around me, in joy and in sorrow. O Spirit, teach me to heal the body by recharging it with Thy Cosmic energy, to heal the mind by concentration and cheerfulness, and the soul by meditation born intuition. Let Thy Kingdom that is within manifest itself without.
By Paramahansa Yogananda

Kaveeta,
I happened to read your post just now and am very surprised that my post came across as matronly and being on the high horse. It was a request to people to help create balance, neither a criticism nor matronly advice.Incidentally I dont need to hide behind an alias to say what I want. I think all the people who post their thoughts in response to what the bloggers write have their own personal favorites and show up with comments there.
Are you saying that david, divya and other regulars are all aliases that we all use?
I have actually enjoyed your posts and was touched when you warmly said it was nice we shared the same name.
Recently I was noticing that the topics that we were all discussing earlier and enjoying sharing ideas and thoughts on were getting limited to discussions about bush and Iraq-some of your best comments were in response to those earlier topics.
there are topics now that have indeed been beaten to death every where. My pointing that out doesnt imply I'm being patronising. I was simple pointing out a fact. Incidentally I love that excerpt about the raindrops and I have quoted it many times to friends, in my letters, and in articles.
All of us have the right to comment on or ignore what we want to ignore, and appreciate and embrace what we want to embrace. Just as you have made disparaging comments about Aditi, she has the right to do the same about you. My only hope is all of us won't stoop down to that and remain cordial.
If you read your post you'll see you are actually guilty of the very things you have accused Aditi and then me of being. I don't know about Aditi as I can't speak for her, but my intention was not to be patronising. Sorry if I offended any one's sensibilties.I will however continue to say what I believe in.

Kaveeta,
You butchered Kahlil Gibran's format and my comment was said in good humor not to get nasty at you.
I wish I could be an alias for Kavita but I'm not so lucky. If I could be half the woman that she is I would consider myself lucky. I met Kavita two years ago when I had taken a friend suffering from cereberal palsy for a bollywood show. The security wouldnt let him in. Kavita was back stage with the stars and saw what was happening and she made sure not only did the guy get pictures with them but was not manhandled. Since then I have seen far too many acts of kindness and generosity and compassion by her to enumerate. She is a strong woman, a woman who stands by her beliefs but I havenever seen her being patronising or arrogant.
My one line comments are mainly because a lot of stuff I have seen recently is not worth commenting on. I didn't like Sonali's patronising attitude about people who are not wealthy enough to go to convent schools, and she posted the same thing on Mallika's blog. So much for originality. I have no hesitation in pointing it out.I'm born and raised in this country and we speak our mind.
I also believe Richard was commenting on sonali's post and not Kavita's. Kavita incidentally offered the solution to the problem-stop spreading negativity and discuss the difficult topics with positive energy but you have to come off your matronly, patronising high horse to see that.
You may be old enough to have a 20 something daughter but again wisdom doesnt come with age.

let me repeat that kaveeta- wisdom doesnt always come with age.

Perhaps, some people have misunderstood my words because they havent read it carefully. Instead of supporting convent school I have supported Vernacular medium schools saying (because its what I belive, from my experience & observation) that vernacular schools teach more logically and more orignally while Convent schools somehow concentrate on teaching more on how to be a 'brown sahib'. They also teach (although indirectly) to look down upon vernaculars (whose mother tongue is non-English...which includes the entire Indian population!)...I should know I went to a Convent school. I hope the misunderstanding is cleared.
-Sonali

Kaveeta,
I know both Aditi and Kavita, and I can guarantee you they are two entities.:) Aditi, looks like the San Franscisco water has hot chillis my gal..cool down. I do have to say this Kaveeta, if you were to ask even one person who knows Kavita, even remotely they will tell you about her random acts of kindness, her humility and how she is one of the most giving people you can meet. And she is too hot to be matronly! I hope some day you both can meet. You'll see what I mean.
as for Aditi, she is a hot headed 29 year old who is used to winning hard hitting arguments. I was in school with her.

Actually it was triggered by madhav's post that people were the same everywhere. I would agree many people fit the description but certainly not all.

I also notice a tendancy by many but not all to project what is in their own minds onto what others express which sometimes distorts the true meaning of what the others were attempting ot convey.

As for orginality, I dont see how it comes into the picture at all. Anyone can post same comment to different blogs...if it seems applicable to them !
-Sonali

Kavita,

If your intention is to have the last word then I think that all you are doing is perpetuating an issue to which I had thought I had given a decent burial . But since you want to flog it to death (where have i just read the phrase??) it shows that you are just not practising what you preach?

I have not quoted David Divya or any other blogger, so where is the sanity in dragging them in.Neither have I made a reference that Aditi was your alias.. strange that you thought so.. Is It?? Your bias seems more than evident when you erroneously say that if I make disparaging remarks against aditi she has the right to do so . You have turned the whole matter on its head as she was the initiator of a totally uncalled for rude personal remark against me which i chose to ignore when it was made and have brought it up today when it was repeated with another.Since Aditi never resurfaced anywhere else all these weeks. All you are doing is exposing a fragile ego for one, by reacting without even reading the post with a cool mind and also trying to deprive me of my right to voice a grievance. You are choosing not to acknowledge and appreciate the undercurrent and intention of my post and choosing instead to skirt the peripheral issues which were made to elucidate rather than condemn.

You do not need permission from me or any one else here to continue voicing your opinion since you have been given the privileged position of a blogger. If you can understand the implications and responsibility it necessitates and be more selective in your choice of words , to set an example, if not anything else, it will reflect well on your credibiliy as a human being, because in the final analysis that is all that matters.I would have thought better of you had you with such promptness responded to those who had been tearing your fellow blogger Shekhar Kapur.. Incidentally all the ones who did that are names I have not read In any of the other pages on this blog either.. Another coincidence I suppose..Dont Fret.. Just making an observation. Intuitive I guess.

I cannot stop myself from telling you another story. Lord Buddha was at the receiving end of a lot of acrimony and wrath of the brahmins of his time since he advocated that each human being had the right and the capability to be enlightened without external aid. So all the Pandits of all the surrounding villages decided to get together and give him a talking to .. When they had all spewed the venom and were spent, The buddha said.. you have all come from so far and brought me this wonderful gift.. but please take it back .. I am not accepting it.

Love and peace

"I was rather shocked as it seemed more of a personal attack than a differing view on the issue.Surprisingly ,it was Kavitas chhibbers post. Wonder why aditi surfaces only then? Is it an alias or are the other posts beyond her comprehension?"
quoting you directly Kaveeta..read your prevous email to richard and you'll see why I responded to you, as I did and only as a matter of fact statement.

Also while I may feel saddened by comments on Shekhar, I think if he believes in what he says, there is no need to defend him. I think he is strong enough to stand up for himself.
Anyway, please accept my apologies -you seem very angry and hurt. It was not my intention to hurt you. Incidentally we are all intuitive, God has given us that ability, but often our perceptions are clouded by anger and hurt, and ultimately we believe what we want to believe.
take care love and peace to you.
I need to hit the sack now as it is past 1 a.m. here...and no hard feelings whatso ever..life is too short, stay happy

Hey that's not fair Kaveeta ji,
you didn't see me on other blogs? I was on Mallika's ..take a look, and please stay happy and grounded.
God bless you

Dear Kavita

As always a piece worth reading. Both heart and mind in the right place. And that balance is as rare as it is potent.

However, I would like to offer a slightly different perspective. Today's blogs and posts are very interesting. The intent of intent is being fought out to and fro. For me intent blog is become(and therefore a huge measure of its power) in a microcosm the world we exist in. The rabid and the sagacious have come together, the inspiring and the inspired ( taking turns to be both if I may add)the lost and the found (again in turn both) are all here. Many are worried about the voices which bring out anger, violence and desperation. So of what worth is the light if it does not emerge from the midst of the gloom? And in the absence of the dark what indeed is the purpose of light?

Each blog if carefully followed through the posts becomes a whole stream of thought, held together by the many who post and create it. The power of intent is the balance and often a majority of ideas bring positive, humane, creative and contemplative content to the issue. More interestingly there are some who started off as combative, and angular and have slowly responded with reason and receptivity. The transformation is the success of intent. Largely I see that even when some people have been vicious in their attacks on some issues they have also shown a deep, wise side somewhere else. Kaveeta for instance is incensed in these posts for some reason of her own but has also posted some very wise and receptive posts elsewhere. I cannot help but feel that she will process why she has attacked you today and find the answers and resolve it at some other time. That is a trend I have been deeply moved by on intent.

So I cannot agree with you that the blogs and posts must only focus on 'positive' thought. The success of intent must be catalytic, its broad 'intent' is clear to all but what is remarkable is that it is being achieved in subtle and not so subtle ways too. The controversial, the unpalatable and the disturbing are part of everyone's reality. It is that which needs resolution in all of us. Whoever presses that button, the blogger or the post it helps bring attention that the block exists and needs work. And then someone somewhere on the blog provides a key and transfers hope and light.

Like you Kavita who touch most hearts with love and lightness

Jasjit

Hi Jasjit,

The success of intent mut be catalytic.. I agree with that. wholeheartedly..

On the other hand, if you opine that my other posts have been wise and receptive than give me the benefit of the doubt and read all the posts in this blog in detail. Its possible that you have skimmed over.. I can understand, I do it at times too. But it would be unfair then to state that I am incensed today for 'reasons of my own'. Also if you dismiss the issue in totality it would be a case of 'throwing out the baby with the bath water'. Who knows how this may prove a catalyst in your growth process. Incomplete knowledge is a dangerous thing per se.It is always wiser to comment from a position of undisputed strength that way. I am sure you must have experienced that in life.. Right?

Love and peace

Dear Kavita

I do not know if there is anything called a position of 'undisputed strength'. At best all comes from our experience and translation of reality. Precisely the reason why we are all so diverse in our opinions. I would like to add that it is not really my place to comment on why you wrote as you did. It was merely an attempt to highlight a point I was trying to make to Kavita in my post. But yes I do believe that we are all quick to judge and pigeon hole people overlooking their many sides. I see you as someone who is able to express ideas with a lot more thought and a lot less name-calling(something which always weakens rather than strengthens our point). Your words were unusually disparaging and I felt that the anger maybe coming from something and somewhere else. A humble suggestion that your tone wrongs your clarity and inner wisdom.

The intent was not to cause hurt so I apologize. As for this being catalytic in my growth process, absolutely, I have already said that I see the whole of intent blog being hugely catalytic to us all.

Love
Jasjit

Jasjit

Jasjit, you are very perceptive and kind and totally right on about the content of Kavita's post and the other Kaveeta's uncalled for remarks. Just be careful though about the spellings of the names. I presume your last post was to Kaveeta and not Kavita.
It's very obvious Kaveeta can't take even a small criticism of something she writes and goes into a pompous lecture mode then contradicts her self, and makes wild allegations. But feels she is an authority on everything. So don't waste your time with her.

A lot of us who are on this site have come because Kavita Chhibber had endorsed and recommended it highly, both on a personal level and through her website.She has a huge readership globally, and a lot of us know her personally. So Kaveeta's presumptous insinuations mean nothing.However if something is said unfairly then it must be corrected and this woman has not extended the courtesy of an apology even when Kavita pointed out by quoting her directly on something she first said and denied.
What may be more meaningful would be if she saw someone to help her get over her own issues. A good psychiatrist may be. We can't play Aunt Abby to her forever.
And I bet you she will read this and come back with another long diatribe, instead of letting it go and acknowledging how out of line she has been.

Sorry my last post was addressed to Kaveeta and not Kavita.

Thank You Aditi for pointing it out. Though Aditi I cannot agree with you on Kaveeta. If we are reacting to someone's harshness then using disparaging words ourselves hardly makes us any different. A negative act is so in its entirety, one cannot justify doing the same and feel vindicated.

All of us have our low moments. Anger is hardly an alien emotion to any of us. Being stamped for life for every fraility which escapes in an unwitting moment is a scary thought.

love
Jasjit

You are right Jasjit. I was just disgusted at some of what Kaveeta wrote. Any way lets leave it at this. I appreciate you being the voice of reason. Thank you for this sensible and calming post.

Hey guys and gals,

Someone could say I need to go to get therapy.....a pcychologist, social worker, psychiatrist etc.....But guess what...one can not change another person or make them do anything. That person needs to figure it out for themselves. It is my hope that younger people figure these things out earlier in life than I did.

One must look within, that is who they are. I learned many years ago that some people who lash out at others are not happy within themselves.

We can choose whether we want to be around them, answer their blogs or just "let it go". No one can make you do anything, feel less of a person, intimidate you etc....Don't allow that to happen. You are in control of your emotions, your actions, your writing on here.

We as bloggers here don't know what hard days people had a work, or personal problems people are challenged with daily, they may come to this blog after a horrible day and it is the first chance they have had to just unwind.

Some of us may have grown up in dysfunctional families where hatred, racism, yelling, tantrums, disrespect were accepted or just happening. One of my favorite sayings...

It's never too late ot have a HAPPY childhood.

Be happy, love, help others, be kind, respect yourself and others will respect you.

Life is too short to dwell on the other things.

~joanie

Well said Ms Joanie!! I read through the incredible commentaries and thoughts expressed above and was reminded of a statement one of my favourite professors made at University . . .'there is never a single right answer to any problem or situation.'

The professor was teaching a course on case studies - allowing us to read a variety of examples of companies and situations - and we were then expected to come up with a solution. I remeber sitting with my group and all of us obsessed with 'finding the right answer.' Afterall - it is how we are brought up and educated and tested . . . black and white - you either got the answer right or wrong . . . the inevitable evaluation of exams based on multiple choice - I hated them!!

Throughout this course - and thanks to a very 'spiritual' and 'well travelled' professor - I learned there is never one definitive right answer! It took me another 20 years working in the real world to accept it - but - life has been so much more enjoyable knowing there are so many different paths and resolutions . . .no right way or wrong way. Some are going to appeal to me more based on my life experiences and the ethics/values with which I approach each day - but it is not up to me to judge Joanie's, Aditi's, Jasjit's, Kavita's or Kaveeta's path . . .I know - more easily said then done!

Joanie said it best - Be happy, love, help others, be kind, respect yourself and others will respect you . . .I would only add to respect others, be patient, tolerant, understanding and always be willing to learn.

Wishing everyone a day filled with laughter, love, happiness, love, friendship, giggles, tolerance, understanding, peace, smiles, hugs, enlightenment, serenity, tranquility and inner bliss! Take care . . .Laila

Kavita,

I totally agree! Nothing is more draining than negativity. It's the worse feeling in the world. I don't understand how people think they can change the world through that realm. It's more invigorating and inspiring when something positive is happening. I'm not talking about sweeping reality under the rug, however it's important to find the good in the chaos. Sometimes it happens inorder for good to persevere. That's how we as spirits grow... (or glow)

Amanda

Hi you "guys": Security in numbers! I thought it was only the "ego voices" in my head that arugued about "which voice is right!"

I always think people would be tired of my quotes from "A Course in Miracles," or teachers like Deepak and Wayne, etc. etc., but you guys are all "teachers" too--and frankly, it is a good thing to see some contention going on here!

Why would I, "a typical American male ego" say that, you ask? Good question!

Simple one-liners I guess:

"Would you rather be happy and healthy, or would you rather be right?" A Course in Miracles primary question to it's students.

"Why do we always hurt the ones we love the most (or, comma--"the most.")? Anonymous?

"Whatever I don't like about someone else is always a reflection of something I don't like about myself (that I don't want to see about myself!!!). It is called "projection" in psychology, and....A Course in Miracles--we "project" stuff we don't like about ourselves onto others with the insane notion that we are actually getting rid of this facet of ourselves by doing so--for myself, anybody on the Intentblog, or anywhere else, who "hits my buttons" is my most valued teacher.

Unfortunately I usually don't "see" that before I've blamed and aliented them for holding the mirror up to my face as I am pointing my finger at them (although I loved the qoute given on a previous blog about Howard Dean saying, "If I don't point my finger at the problem, how am I going to fix it!).

I am certainly in no postion to lecture anybody about "right and wrong," nor am I in charge of determining what those words might actually mean (thank God!--ACIM asks the "student to resign as their own teacher!").

What I do "see" here is the Intentblog's "huge and growing family" acting like "brothers and sisters" in a scary world (home for 'now')--I know I am constantly scaring myself with my ego's misperceptions sometimes every moment of every day (Gee--what a surprise Dave--you've never done that before, certainly not in the previous 200 lives you've had in this world!).

Soooo....maybe we are nervous about all "this stuff" that is happening, and don't have any soul-memories from "past lives," or past paradigms of thought for those who don't take to the notion of reincarnation, that give us the OK that everything is OK.

This "place" is changing like it never has before in the annals human history, or so-it-is-said. There is a thick ethereal fog of fear permeating everywhere, no matter how serence it "may appear" to the physical eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, what really is true here, is that we couldn't argue and disagree with each other, and feel hurt by others, if we didn't actually care about each other, N'est Pas?

Patzi's "Deepak Dream" that she just had the other night seemed to reflect this very much, at least to me--want me to tell you about some of her "Deepak Dreams" that she e-mails to me?

They are amazingly cool how arcurate they are--this woman is truly mystical and you have my permission to "bug" (or "butterfly") her about when her new book is coming out--she of course, won't tell me anything about it yet, and wisely so!!! Love to "you guys"--Dave

PS: Forgot the best one: "You are not capable of hating something (or someone?) you do not already love!

Something of an "imponderable 'oxy-moron!'" Dave

Thank you every body for your comments.
A few years ago, there was a disastrous earthquake in Gujarat India. A friend of mine who was there mentioned, how the day before she had been at the house of the richest billionaire having dinner.
A day later she found him sitting in the rubble, asking someone for 5 bucks to have a cup of tea. The bank had collapsed, his house and family were gone. In 90 seconds that the earthquake took, to wreak havoc, his life had changed completely.
That is the reason I can never be patronising, or all knowing in what I try to say or write. There is a higher power up there that can cause the mightiest to fall and the most lowly to rise in grace in a few seconds.
I wrote about a beautiful excerpt that I have enjoyed revisiting so often, because it speaks volumes about how important it is to touch each other with positive intent. The negativity that emerged in part here, was uncalled for but not surprising. At the same time, it teaches us all about the power of the written word-how it can impact all of us differently, depending on how we read or write it-how we must exercise the utmost integrity and caution when we write because it can potentially hurt someone. Emails and blogs deprive you of seeing the writer's body language. I'm sure every one has had their share of misunderstandings as a result both here as well as elsewhere. Several posts were misinterpreted by different people, and there were others who were perhaps dealing with their own issues but taking it out on this space as well.
I hope we can all forgive each other for the hurts caused and appreciate each other for what we bring to this cyber space, because whether we like it or not, we have become a cyber family through this blog, and will continue to both agree and disagree. All I asked and continue to ask is that we show each other compassion and the basic courtesy that all of us deserve to be shown.
Well, it's new, sunny day here in Atlanta, and I hope its a new positive, happy day for all of you.

Thanks for that beautiful quote, Kavita. I could certainly use such gentle reminders now and then :)

I love that we have a forum to communicate. I've decided that if I find I'm not getting through to someone, it makes more sense to just drop the subject rather than keep on trying. Some people just want to score points which is not at all what this is about for me. I want to participate only to the extent that blogging energizes me. If it begins to drain my energy instead, it's wiser to withdraw.

I still havent figured out the right attitude towards bloggers whose stylie I find distasteful. Tastes differ. I cannot question their intentions as I cannot possible know them for sure. But still . . . gross sensationalism is so icky. I have to mull over this some.

Thanks Divya-beautifully said as usual in your wonderful way. Sensationalism in the media is something I have had to fight against a lot, especially while doing sensitive topics, like I did on southasians who are gay or south asians who are living with HIV/AIDS, or even the issue of divorce in the South Asian community.

I realized long time back that having the last word, or trying to prove you are right just leaves every one with a horrible, empty feeling at the end of the day. You've put someone else down and they have tried to do the same, and nothing is resolved either because the two people will still believe what they want to believe. It takes tremendous courage and humility to be able to say you are wrong, and again one can agree to disagree with courtesy. I do stand up when I feel someone is being downright unfair or cruel or mean spirited, but its only as a last resort.
Often as Richard said, but these words are mine..when you put something or someone down and look in the mirror, the face that you see is your own.
It is indeed best to withdraw. I think again the best thing about having friends or favorite bloggers is that you can walk away if they cannot give you what you are looking for or vice versa. My friend Rosie jokes that its the relatives you have to worry about..you are pretty much stuck with them for life, especially us Indians who usually come from close knit families!

Sonali, I owe you an apology for misinterpreting your post. Please forgive me.
Thank you all who saw the beauty and integrity behind Kavita Chhibber's post. There are some pretty amazing human beings on this cyber space and knowing her I can tell you she is one.

How do we expect to 'teach' forgiveness, and speaking our opionions with respect, unless we practice and demonstate this?

I am most moved this afternoon to read all the posts here.

Do we escape, or embrace?

Oneness is not far away, out of reach. It's here Now, in our sharing, in reading and in reacting. The common denominator is that we all FEEL.

Is there a contradiction to say realization of the Truth is - Oneness and Individuality are inseparable.

Love to all this beautiful - almost autumn! - afternoon.

~~ K

Hi David and Patzi! Ok Patzi, you have been awful quiet there.....How will we know what book to buy LOL.

David, Sorry to hear you were not feeling so well, I am sending you butterfly cyber hugs!

I love this mystical stuff.....once one is open to it, it really is wonderful.

Love, Joanie

The flow of ENERGY requires two poles:NEGATIVE and POSITIVE as is clearly evident on this blog.
The highest level of intellect can never eradicate itself of EGO{which always lurks in the background,sensitised to the presence of the other"s EGO} and is forever ready to pounce with all the speech and vocabulary skills when it feels threatened.
If you apply the same romance of imagination and biased framework of mind you will start seeing the face of MOTHER MARY in a window pane or the face of JESUS in a cloud formation.One should refrain from overt or surreptious superimposition of MEMORY BANK images or ideology upon a pure visual perception of two raindrops.I wonder if this same analogy applies to the observation of thousands of human beings who share breath and body odour and REAL CLOSE CONTACT AND PUSHING AND JOSTLING when travelling the local trains of MUMBAI or TOKYO?

That is true, but I have also seen the same jostling masses share a newspaper, play cards, and laugh with each other and the image stored in my memory bank that comes to mind is that of warmth and sweetness and camaraderie and not body odors and sweat.I am from Bombay.
It's all a matter of perception-like Kavita wrote in a previous post-beauty and ugliness go hand in hand and often we mistake one for the other. It's up to us to make the choice...to see the glass as half full or half empty.

Once again you choose to fractionate the COMPLETE/WHOLE object/picture of a glass which is half full AND half empty.
I do not have any right or say in what you apply as attributes to the visual data, that IS YOUR CHOICE,but I hope you see the pure visual input before you apply your intellectual take on it.
IT PAYS TO CHECK THE CORRECTNESS OF THE QUESTION ASKED. IF THE QUESTION IS WRONG THEN THE BASIS OF DEBATE ON IT IS SENSELESS.

Yes I saw the whole visual input and it does not have to be from your eyes.
Also the two comments were unrelated.
The first was in response to what you had said, the second was a general observation of how one can look at life. Since you say you can't comment on the way I look at the whole visual input, and I obviously don't agree with you, there really is no need to debate to death on what works and what doesn't, I can say the post worked for me, inspired me and filled me with warmth.
If it didn't do the same for you, that is fine too. We can agree to disagree.