Great efforts, Vijay!! Colours of Ability-will no doubt, shed some much-needed light, on the plight and poverty of the disabled in our world. In particular, we must choose to care for our global children.

Amazing, how we as adults; personified know-it-alls; continue to walk through life, without consequence or compassion for those around us, starving from living on disability incomes!

All the best for this venure, Vijay!! You and Rahul Khanna, rock!

I just finished posting a huge article I'd composed in 2000-which I read and handed out to a lone parent support group, of which I founded and were President of, at the time. You might find it an interesting read, Vijay--it was also sent to PM Chretien-of which I received promt reply from him-with nothing but empty promises(not surprised.) AS Chretien, Harris took 21.% income OFF the checques of the disabled, the aged, and welfare recipients-they THEN garnished themselves a huge pay-hike, with MONEY TAKEN OUT OF THE MOUTHS, AND LIVES OF THE DISABLED, AGED, AND CHILDREN!

Shame on Canada! Shame on Chretien!

North

Hi Vijay, your blog makes such perfect sense. Thank you. I came to USA in 1976. My husband made 800$ per pay check, as a pediatric resident. I feel life was simple, and I was happier. I wonder if decreasing the "STUFF" makes us happier. I wonder if the "STUFF" ties us down too much. Although money is needed for creature comforts, too much can be a hassle, a responsibility, and you are always wondering what to do if you do not have any, or lose it, or whatever.

As far as children with disability go, in my humble opinion they are the bravest of the souls who have come to Earth. Itty bitty souls like me have small problems like asthma, and allergies. Beautiful brave souls come to Earth with all the different disabilities. They have come to teach us patience, unconditional love, tolerance, compassion, thinking of all sentient beings as sparks of the same DIVINITY we are made of. They are victim souls and great teachers on the path of this physical life.

God bless you Vijay.

Aloha Vijay

The pictures of the children truly beautiful. How wonderful to bring them into the picture of a life that matters. Enertainment is of value when we ask how can I help? love patty

Vijay: You pretty hit the "American consumerism" syndrome on the head--one that the rest of the world is sadly emulating--to all of our dismay in light of what we're doing to ourselves.

I've heard many "spiritual teachers," including the likes of Wayne Dyer, say that "less is more"--and it is--it is more freedom from worry of all kinds.

Sooo....who else will show us, and teach us, to remember a better way, a happier way--and "ditto" to Geeta, and to you, about what it is that these "kids with disabilities" are here to teach us--maybe Geeta's right, through their souls' love, they took on hard incarnations, so that we'd grow and change.

It is the saying, that those children from the projects in India have not yet "learned" to forget: Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise--and in that order; a kind of "seek ye the Kingdom within you first, and all else will be added unto you."

Again, Wayne Dyer--and Deepak too!: There is no way to Happiness, Happiness is the Way; and, There is no way to Peace, Peace is the Way!

We have to be these in ourselves first, and children naturally know that; it is "us" adults who teach them otherwise, and then it becomes so--and then we war, become sick, grow old and unhappy, and die. Dave

Dave Hall, I like there in no way to happiness, "Happiness is the way", there is no way to peace, "Peace is the way". Those are thoughts we can ponder upon, understand and assimilate, for true HAPPINESS, and PEACE. Thank you. God bless.

As these casino consultants who are currently plaguing our intent most vividly demonstrate at this very moment:

Christ was not joking when he said it is either His way or the money way,

and until we all learn that money and 'ownership' are the true false gods,

greed, war, and injustice shall ever rule this world!

peace all (and awesome post by the way Vijay)

great post vijay..
we have a motley group of children with disabilities both physical and mental, rejected by their homes and families. who come and spend a few hours with us every day..
unlike the west, with our tiny means we had no option but to put everyone together and to our utter surprise, they have synergised a homogeneous group where one helps the other..They range from age 6 to age 30..
I have often felt that we are the disabled ones as we have our hang ups and judgements. Our special kids welcome everyone with spontaneous love and open arms irrespective of our size, colour, age etc..
a few months back a japanese friend celebrated a festival in which children write about their dreams and it was touching to see that even they had dreams and very special ones the most touching one being Preeti's who wanted to be a mother!
you can read about them here:
http://projectwhy.blogspot.com/2005/08/where-children-dare-to-dream.html

I am so glad that someone has recognized the power of peace. I was born with a disbility, and it always astounded me that people felt I had high self-esteem or that I was stronger than they. I don't believe in self-esteem.

All I know is that I knew from an early age that I had to try hard to learn to things other people could do easily. One major advantage that grew out of this was my resourcefulness. If I could not do things the way other people did them, I had to believe I could still do them. Everything began with belief. Once I believed the 'impossible' could be done, then I would try to do it. I would try again and again, until I found a way. So, while to others it would seem that my physical disability would be very limiting, I have seen it as my pathway to a kind of freedom. I accepted that I was different, and therein became free. That freedom allowed me to view the world in a much different way. Instead of focusing on the "things" I didn't have, I was able to revel in the qualities that make me who I am. No longer could my happiness ever be tied to material things. Rather I became happier knowing who I am as a person, who I am in God's eyes. That is all I needed.

Aloha Monica

Wow that is it: "No longer could my happiness ever be tied to material things." That has to be the reason for the expression: They are God's Children. We are Blessed with your Presence for you free us. love patty

Dear Monica-very poignant post! I too, live with debilitating problems of the body. Naturally, the emotional department of my spirit is often on high alert, from constant physical pain; but, even more than that; the paltry disability incomes given us to sustain our "well-being" is abominable!

For me though, disability; it was a reversal of fortune. I was married 15 years, happy; we'd just adopted a new-born son! We each had domino-accidents within months of each other. Our marriage, strong as we thought it was; did not survive the many complex and compound issues which occured, like job-loss's.

Also, I was born into extreme poverty-homeless a while, up until about the age of 14ish; and I know, the bitter taste of an empty stomach-and the hollow-gnawing pain of hunger. This birthright into poverty at my birth; seems to have caused many health issues with me and my siblings by the time we were late 20's and early 30's!! Mainly bones and joints degenerations.

To make a long story short; it's been many years of my coming to grips with the reality I live in. The more I realize I am not what I cannot do; but, what I AM, and what I can still do; I too felt a profound release from all sorts of questions, needing urgent answers from within. I found those answers, the moment I accepted myself "as I am" and when I stopped searching for a "reason."

Now, though it's still a terribly difficult struggle, at least my mind becomes less and less constrained by my debilitating diseases, and more and more at peace through acceptance, and detaching from desiring things I was once able to do(like pitch fast-ball), which cannot come to pass again in this life-form.

All I can hope to achieve, is maintaining the best self-health-care I can, on what I can do it with financially, mentally and emotionally.

Needless to say; I am ever looking, more and more-the "system-person" look. NO haircut, colour or style; no makeup, new clothes and shoes; nothing to pristine one's appearance to it's full and potential shine!

I feel, the only disability really on this planet is greed and some people's and government especially, exhibiting contempt for anyone aged and/or disabled, and/or unemployable?

So, you see? Governments everywhere around the world, starve their own; spend billions a day, on war though...

what a mess! We human beings are inept children playing adult games-and boy, does it show in the earth's mass-wars & devestations and shames.

Even Canada starves their disabled and aged people, while the government lines thier pockets with huge pay-rolls, bonus's for work-performance which is rarely actually attained in most government offices(public fact) and most corporate low work ethics-how else can we attribute starving one's own people-for any reason? No reason, is enough to warrant this slow starvation of the poor in Canada and around the world!

Anou, Vikas and Vijay-beautiful posts-from hearts of pureness of Intention!

May God conspire more, to empower all those, whom are willing and able to be the voice, arms and legs- for those without.

Thankyou for caring about the children of the world! They are our only hope for tomorrow's.

North

Monica, thank you for your comment. Once I went to an Ashram to learn Ayurveda. There was a lady teaching Yoga at this Ashram. She had hemivertebrae( half of the vertebrae), and missing ribs. But because of her abilities, as a Yoga teacher, and practitioner, she had almost overcome the disability. She is the most accomplished yoga teacher I have ever learnt under. Your comment brought her memory back to me.

Monica, I have tried to learn to swim many times. One of my teachers was a lady who was paraplegic. But she was a good swimmer and was a good teacher.

Monica, God bless you.

Vijay,

Just want to wish good luck to all those who are doing this. A society which cares for its young, old and handicapped, is obviously doing something right.

Reading some of the personal experiences here has taught me that we are all capable of raising ourselves if we stop being sorry for ourselves and decide that the world doesn't owe us anything. We can do it for ourslves if we decide we must.

To your question 'Is money a factor in bringing happiness to our lives?' Of course it is, according to me. Without it would pople who do their bit towards improving the lives of others succeed? They too are trying to bring a little happiness into others' lives. Actually this is a much larger question and this is not the place to discuss that, just wanted to answer your poser in a nutshell. Just want to add it is just one factor amongst a whole lot of others.

Vijay, any updates on the Colours of Ability project in Toronto this Thursday?

Been keeping this project, and you and Vikas in my prayers for a huge successful campaign to bring awareness in making the world and it's many places-accessible to all!

If the event is indoors, I hope it all goes perfectly-and if outdoors, same hope, with extra blessings for good weather! : )

God Bless you Vijay and Vika, and all the people working with you-on behalf of a great cause! Amazing people!

North

Sorry, missed-spelled Vikas name-sorry Vikas(blush)

North