Thank you Deepak.

Peace everyone.
Scott.

Thank you Deepak,
I resonate with your statement that "We aren't here to make the world evolve. We are here to evolve as individuals and then to spread that influence." And I agree that we need to address our deeper wound, our lack of consciousness.

Personally, I think it's key to acknowledge the equal importance of all levels of existence (physical, mental/emotional, spiritual) and to honor the work we can do on each level. Then, we can choose, what's first for me? What's key for me right now? But first we have to acknowledge all levels and in some way be willing to become more intimate with them. For many of us we are the least connected with ourselves at the level of spirit and that's where we have to get up to speed. Once we achieve the awareness that we are more than our bodies, minds, past experiences, personalities, etc., we can bring that awareness into the other levels of our existence. This will make all the difference.

Awareness is key. And action is just as key. Action with awarenes. UNITED ACTION WITH AWARENESS. But the action has to be something we can all equally participate in. And the sacrifice has to be equally felt by all. (Sort of like when Gandhi encouraged the Indian people to not buy salt or cloth. Thus it was clear how action on the physical level made an impact. And on the mental/emotional level they were taught to act from a place of non-violence. And they could only find the courage that they needed because of their awareness of spirit.)

So let's get busy and think of what we can all do together that will concretely connect us on all levels as we nurture and fulfill our vision of creating a more compassionate and aware humanity, a humanity that honors all of life, thereby creating global peace and alieviating the extreme poverty and destruction in our world.

Love, Kristin

Dear Deepak...You keep doing your Duty of a Peace messenger Sir, which is great! But as the saying goes in Gita...Be not Attached to the outcome or the results.

For the results are never in your control, what is in one's control is only Dharma. Duty&Action! But NEVER the outcome.

Love..Sachin

Kristin -

Brilliant analysis and post :).

I think it's important to keep centered during times such as this; times when it can be easy to fall into us vs. them, the blame game and that insidious feeling of being small and unimportant to the process.

Peace,
Scott.

Dear Scott and Kristin,

Have a great rest of the summer, I'm going to be traveling and entering into some new ventures and for now I just don't resonate with Intent anymore, I tried, but I'm not ready to "be without the 3 gunas". I have a horse in this race and not ready to let go.

You are sweet people and I will miss you and the others.

Peace and love to all,

Amba

Ahhh, come on Steve....we need you here bro'! You're the only one here (except maybe Norm)that is able to bring a sense of balance to this blog filled with flaming liberals...(I know, I guess I have fallen into that ballpark these days). But Hey it would be shame to see you go!

Hope you stop in now and again, but all my love and best wishes for you and your family. I know that this conflict is hard, but this too shall pass.

Shalom.
Scott.

Dr. Chopra:

Good post. I however disagree with the approach of a "formatted alliance".

If you look carefully, all the spiritual leaders succeeded in a phase when they set an example and let the rest do their own bidding (which was essentially to follow the exalted ones example in their own way). Sometimes these people would falter or do something that was not according to this person's thinking. The "Exalted Ones" would take that to be a Natural Evolution of soul. Eventually, when these same "Exalted Ones" started to "formulate" the structure, corruption of thought and action took birth and grew to unbearable proportions.

In Gita's lingo, in the first part the 'Exalted Ones' were being KARMAYOGIS (Mera mujhmein kuchh nahin - Nothing that I have is mine) - they did action for the sake of action as their duty. Later on they took on the mantle of giving a 'direction' to the flow!!

Gandhi was incredibly successful initially but in the end, it was a mess! Nelson Mandela also cannot boast of having any different results.

Peace, Non-violence are PERSONAL virtues not lessons that a teacher can teach a pupil! It has never been so and it can never be so!

I would argue that if one does want to propogate peace - he/she should do what he/she does as their duty for their own sake. The example will not go waste. However, if you were to try to give a "flow" to the direction, then it will end up in "corrupting" the spirit of the ones who join.

.... let them find their own flow...just set an example!

Cheers,
Desh
Drishtikone.com

Hey Scott,

Final note, thanks and I may take a peek once in a while, and do a "Norm" :)

Yes you have been flaming lately, still I need to focus on other areas right now.

Love and Shalom,

Steve

For me, and probably for many others, this is a magical journey. I am walking, but I have no idea where to. I act with more determination then ever before, but can only walk one step at a time. I listen inside for direction and if I ever get attached to a goal for even a moment... it hurts so bad that I have to drop it right away.

"The more engaged we become, the more detached we will have to be"... I never knew that the strongest passion requires us to let go of everything - all fear, the desire to be good, loved, and to be defined by something...known. Becoming real is like a vertigo, faster and faster it goes, until you find yourself laughing at your own clinging. I don't know where we're going, and I don't mind anymore. I'm passing a bucket, I think :) but the fire that has to be put out, the water and the bucket... even that story has to go. I'm doing what I need to do, right now, and I look around, astonished to see that everyone does what they need to do, and somehow... it all belongs together. Every step we take, belongs toghether. THIS is moving toghether, and there's no doubt... IT is moving the way it intends to move.

Deepak...I love it when you write like you're not running for the Senate!! this is good!!

Aurora...you...Scott and Kristin, Amba, Kate, David, Stan and Craig are beautiful people. (others also, I just happened to have interacted with you guys) The world is a better place because of all of you!!

I'm really going to try to get off of here now!!

It's a beautiful, hot day here in KY!! Kids are in the pool, I'm trying to get some work done, but find myself drawn here....dammit!! Maybe I'll just go jump in the pool myself!! Shamu, anyone??

norm

Some how I have been tempted to attach this link to a story/screen play,Which is based on my own experiences as a child when my house was burnt in comunal riots.this story was intended to be captured on movie,which inspired DR.L.Subramanyam,who was gracious enough to do the music for free, but the project never got realised due to corruption and Nepotism in INDIAN BUREAUCRACY, POLITICES, DOORDARSHAN and NATIONAL FILM DEVELOPMENT CARPORATION(NFDC).
Written in the year of 1988, I spent 10 years runing around and had at one time more than 40 MP( Member of Parliment),and Almost the same no of Bureaucrats,Which would have helped me get an Amendement passsed in Parliment but not this project.( Later on I modified the project to be shot in the Backdrop of GAZA stripe).
http://saavirahe.blogspot.com/

Here is a scary thought!

Could it be that Bush and especially Rice believe so much in the Book of Revelation that they see themselves in it, part of it and act accordingly?

What do you think?

Steve,

You cannot leave us brother! Just 'do a norm' and take a little break! You have graciously weathered a few of my borderline 'Gibson moments' (I knew there was a reason I never saw 'The Passion of Christ'), and at least your rebuttals of Deepak, me, Stan, and others, are not totally imbued with Bhagwan type of malice, and as always the 'keep your enemies closer' cliche can empower future debating, as you well know . . .

Scott! A liberal? Please. Scott is about as 'liberal' as Lieberman (which is not 'liberal' at all), but his logical argumentative skills are nice . . .

O norm, as you have backslided into the evil abyss of conservatism, I still love you man; and I do apologize for that 'gluttonous' thing, in truth my (alcoholic) gluttony of late has been monumental, so I have no room to talk . . .

You are just as important to our intentblog family as Steve is, and I admire your unwavering stands in the face of sometimes outright cybernetic hostility, but I would rather share a room with you and Steve than 2 other mes. Like Sartre said, hell may be the other person, but what fun would there be in life if we were all like-minded (just wish so many fools in this world didn't resort to violence to settle their differences . . .)

Scott, I am preparing my 'rebuttal' for "Bombings Hit Children Hardest" right now brother . . .

peace

Norm, I hope you know how beautiful you are, and I'm grateful that you "get drawn here" because - and I mean it - this place called earth is a better place because of you :) There is as much magic in every one of your cells as in a rainbow, and there is as much need for you as there is need for oxigen, and you are as necessary as anyone else to make this as perfect as it is right now. And I don't think it makes any difference if you work or if you jump into the pool with your kids :)

Buckets? I guess that must be the lebanese fire department.

Brother Craig,

I didn't mean to leave you out, brothers do that to each other sometimes, I'll be looking after you, don't worry, please take good care of yourself, I know that Norm,Keith,David,Scott and Kristin,Stan,North,Merek,and the rest will be watching out for you.
-
Love and peace out, now I can't resist this-

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Mica

Hello Ambasteve,

Or I guess I should say, goodbye, no, so long for now is better

With the war and your leaving IB extra saddness.

I am a firm and solid supporter of the State Of Israel, it's right to Exist in peace, without interference from those that choose to deny that reality and in that "crazed religious fanatical" denial, committ acts of war against the Nation of Israel, and committ acts of war against their own children and brothers and sisters. Long live Israel!

I had to leave you with something smashing, Amba!

Peace to All

dear Deepak

the validity of this post is... i don't have words, just thanks.

love, heather

sometimes i think that the prospect of the extinction of the human race might not be such a bad idea. we are not the end all be all of the universe and i'm begining to think that the earth could use some unimpeded rejuventaion time. i'm not saying this in a nihilisitc way, but more in a pratical, matter of fact way. i mean, what are the implications of the non-existence of human beings? better or worse or neither?

To put it more succinctly, what Deepak is saying is that every now and then you've just got to shrug your shoulders and say "f_ck it!"

Well. I'm sorry but I am already more evolved than that and these arguments, beautifully put as they are, reassuring and soothing though they sound, simply won't do in this instance.

Neither Jesus or Buddha, whom Deepak references in his argument, would have subscribed to just shrugging it off and saying "I'm above all this".

Remember, any idea of seperation is an illusion. We are not riding the wave, we are the wave. And you can only calm the wave from within.

Buddha's precepts imbodied in the Four Noble Truths are clear : Abstain from killing living beings, abstain from taking what is not given, and abstain from misconduct in sensual pleasure.

Jesus talked of forgiveness, love and turning the other cheek.

And what of Moses and the covenants of Yahweh. Thou shalt not kill.

These were the cosmic laws they tried to teach and intill in their people, but ignorance and evil prevail from time to time. For although Jehova promised Israel to the Jews, he also told them that they would lose it, be driven from it, because they would break his covenants. And so it is...

When Jews and Christians freely quote "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth", they deliberately leave out the important part of the quote, "vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord". In other words, God will balance the books himself, without our interference. But God is looking at the long game, and these wretched martyrs and victims are trapped in a cycle of death and rebirth into the same horror, until they learn to love unconditionally, and recognise the face of peace. Words so cheaply bandied about by men and women who know not their meaning and have never known either.

It is our duty to relieve suffering. It is our duty to enlighten those who wallow in darkness. So excuse me if I irritate you, but I'm only trying to wake you up.

Which ever religion you follow, at its heart there is always love and forgiveness, but this has been papered over by the politicians, extremists and fundamentalists. And what could be a more "crazed religious fanatic" who despite the clear edicts of their God will kill, take what is not given, murder innocent women and children, peddle hatred and violence, in the name of religion. The Islamic terrorist is only the mirror face of the Jewish or Christian terrorist. Only your attachment changes the label. If you are in support of any act which kills, makes destitute or creates suffering, then you have it like blood on your very own hands.

Now let me hear the true believers of peace call clearly - CEASEFIRE!

Ruth, I do not have any words for you. They are wasted. Go here and wallow in your victory. See if you have the courage to witness with your own eyes the horror you condone, instead of the sugar coated rhetoric of your CNN and NBC.

Truely you are a daughter to darkness.

http://www.12manypeaches.com/

You know, when Mandela was still in shackles I was active and marching for his release. During that time I and many tens of thousands like me would not have white South Africans in our homes, in our cars and we would not show them any civil niceties like politeness, feined friendship, etc., We did not mean them any ill. We did not do it as an act of racism. It was simply an "act" of direct action which demonstrated our disapproval without having to get into any discussion about it. And you know, it worked.

Stop appeasing and being polite and friendly to the champions of genocide and racism. Stop it now. Otherwise you are just hypocrites.

Here are some views of mainly ordinary Europeans:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2006/07/31/they_did_it_again.html#more

Ruth, where is your love?

What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love?
Where is the love? the love, the love

It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?
If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in
People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions
Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth
Then you never know love
Where's the love y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love? Where is the love? Where is the love?
Where is the love? the love, the love

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?

~ Black Eye'd Peas

For Israel, the shooting goes on but so does the weeping

The dovish minority understand that their state's survival depends on finding peace across the Middle East

Ian Black
Tuesday August 1, 2006
The Guardian
Ehud Olmert spent a few hours last Monday at an airbase in southern Israel, and was photographed easing his angular frame into the cockpit of an F16 fighter. Olmert is not a martial figure like so many previous Israeli prime ministers; Ariel Sharon would have cut more of a dash. But there was no doubting the sincerity of his praise for the pilots flying sorties against Hizbullah and other targets in Lebanon - and his certainty of the justice of Israel's cause. Yet fast-forward to those terrible images of dead children being pulled out of the ruins of Qana on Sunday and there, in the dust, lay the brutally simple answer to those who insisted it was wrong, from the start of this Middle Eastern disaster, to demand an immediate ceasefire.
Olmert needed time to achieve his goal: weaken Hizbullah, shift it away from Israel's border and stop rockets falling on Haifa. George Bush and Tony Blair indulged him because this would be useful in their proxy war with Iran and Syria, cynically happy to encourage Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah to fight the Jewish state to the last Lebanese. But re-establishing Israel's deterrence does not come cheap: F16s, laser-guided bombs and all the hi-tech wizardry dollars can buy couldn't stop the slaughter of innocents whose deaths will now only fan the flames of hatred. Rarely have the limits of force been so glaringly obvious.
So furious is any debate about Israel that many will be certain that Sunday's bombing was deliberate. If Israel knew Hizbullah was launching rockets from Qana - and aerial photographs have clearly shown mobile launchers parked between village houses in the Tyre area - surely it must have also known there were terrified civilians cowering in basements? It insists it did not. Few will give it the benefit of the doubt, or believe it did not also intend to kill four UN peacekeepers - though it badly wants a new international force along the border. On Qana, incidentally, no one claims the target was a command post - the US excuse for the bombing of the Amiriya shelter in Baghdad in 1991. Israel's "deep regrets" will be dismissed in the face of global outrage. Its credit has run out.

Taomaster, I knew you had it in you!

Bush and Co. are way up on the "highest floor",

whilst the soldier makes his living on the "killing floor"!

Level 7's ordering around Level 1's.

What seperation? How could anyone see that?

I say, you call for war you get first shot on the

"front lines"! Literally!!!

Then we'll just have saloon fights between individuals,

which usually means less innocents killed.

.

It is our duty to relieve suffering, IF you claim

to be a (wo)man of good-will.

Duty to enlighten ONLY those who wish To Be,

is how I read the Tao's Wisdom.

If they cannot swallow the TRUTH...

we about-face and shake the dust off of our shoes,

not letting the door hit our butts on the Way out.

.

I don't believe we have to give up the attempt

at goodness or perfection. The people I have known

and seen who use such a stategy end up in jail

or prison!

I don't believe we have to believe we'll ever reach the goal,

it's the attempt, the traveling time, and a lot of

hard work that makes the goal worthwhile in the basic sense.

Gestalt therapy...sorta.

It, the goal, has to be worthwhile,

not necessarily attainable.

My personal peace...

You know, some things are worth fighting for!

I need a certain amount of "space", in between

every cell in my body...room to move freely.

That's what my Yoga does for Me2!

Then my brain can "space off",

and not until! Duty first!!!

Give Peace a fighting chance, Keith

Amabasteve Thru the Looking Glass,

I can only see you darkly bummin' out,

even though I know that's not the case.

Reality about to intrude on your time? Me2!

I think you did yourself and your highest ideals proud!

Doesn't matter whether or not I always agree,

why...I hardly agree with most of my decisions.

But act we must.

Jump in, head first! No toe checkin' for cold water.

.

You and I do not claim the label of politician

by any means. It's not your real job or mine.

As a man, you have shown courage and nobility

without sparing the grace!

May good fortune come your way in all your endeavors!

It's been great fun knowing so many here.

You won't be forgotten either. Shalom or whatever...

Peace & Luvs, Keith

I believe if a bucket was given to each and everyone, the fire would get doused a lot sooner
World peace will happen when it is wanted, to have or feel need, to desire.
Half of the world live on less than 2 dollars a day,
The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined.
Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn't happen
The poorer the country, the more likely it is that debt repayments are being extracted directly from people who neither contracted the loans nor received any of the money.

But when I think of each nation holding a bucket equivalent to that percent of the world's population, suddenly all I visualize is what I see on the TV... groups of people congregating together trying to put out the most important fire. Ceasefires, a temporary peace, happen when there is a need, a necessary duty.
51 percent of the world’s 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations.
The wealthiest nation on Earth has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation.
A few hundred millionaires now own as much wealth as the world’s poorest 2.5 billion people.
facts per www.globalissues.org

Wishing that we could all take our buckets and head on to KY to swim in peaceful waters with Norm and his kids!

Peace to EVERYONE EVERYWHERE

Deepak: Practical--very practical, and applicable to all areas of life--excellent, when it comes through with the "personal touch" especially.

Steve and Mieke--it's good for you to step back for "a breath of fresh air"--and clearly, the waters of the Intentblog have a "purifier" kicking in now--hope you will read a lot here, and come back refreshed--like "the others," will be with you, wherever you are.

Scott (the man who walks the Buddha's 'narrow middle path!'), Norm, Craig, Stan, Keith---and all the rest of the boys-and-girls from "everywhere, round-and-about" this world of such intense dualities; have very much been enjoying your wonderful conversations and the efforts you all put forward in digging ever-deeper for those unified solutions that benefit one-and-all; and all-for-one! Much Love--Dave

Thank you sir Deepak for this post.

All of us need to know this.

The Muslim and Jewish worlds are two big Illusions. Two groups competing to promote their own distortions of reality.

The use of any label is a denial of reality and the embracement of Illusion and ignorance.

You don't need beliefs.

Just Be.

The world hasn't figured that out yet.

there is no peace but only pieces of humanbody
here n there eberywhere..

but we should hold our hand against terriorism and fight for peace.................................

Hosting certain beliefs will result in the destruction of the host. This can include the destruction of certain cultures and even civilizations.

If I were you, and I AM, I wouldn't host them.

Imagine 90% of there earth hosts such beliefs, what do you think that means?

90 % of the earth will self terminate based on the current popular belief systems.

I would stay away from the labels, they are like a mine field.

I am thinking 12 groups of 12,000, of the most enlightened. Using the Internet and sophisticated ego and consciouness level filtration they sort of come together.

We pick them up the 144,000 not a single Christian Fundamentalist among them mind you.

Erase the rest.

Plop them back down, and start the next phase.

When everyone that got erased starts to come back the enlightened ones won't teach them all that crap.

Thats my plan.

You were not born with your beliefs, you might examine where they came from and drop them like a hot potato.

A big ego, won't fit through the eye of needle.

There is only One Being, and a bunch of characters. When a bunch of characters disrupt the play. They get written out of the script.

Better find find your Self, because what you think you are doesn't really exist and if you cling to that, well when the water rises, it sinks. Part of the Infinite @ Play.

Some people just didn't get it yet, but hey everybody (character) got their chance, to continue into the new season.

Good principles to live by.

Be good and wise. Teach your kids wisdom.
That's what you can actually do on a day to day basis.

Some will take to the streets protesting, others will work through non-profits, NGO's or make statements with art and music.

Some will post their contributions to the discussions on blogs.

Some want to watch from the cave, and that's OK too.

Maybe one good thing about the global communications revolution is that for the first time, the entire world can see in real-time how incredibly stupid the whole conquer-and-colonize mentality is, and the horrendous, and totally easily avoidable suffering it causes.

Before, a government could cover up an event like Qana, and control the access their people and the people of the outside world had to the story.

Now they cannot. Everywhere, from South Africa to Canada, the images are played over and over again, of what the bombs did to those innocent Moms and Children.

And Olmert the next day steps up the offensive. The United States winks and calls for a cease-fire to save face, while making an agreement with Israel to step up the violence even more.

The whole world sees the hypocrisy of it. The whole world sees the utter, utter stupidity of it.

Kofi Annan said the bombings of the UN outpost by Israel seemed deliberate to him.

I have to concur. Israel hit that UN post EIGHTEEN (18) times. So my question is...how is eighteen separate hits an accident?

Yes, Hizbollah was dumb to attack Israel. And they were dumb not to give back the hostages.

There's an overdose of stupidity on all sides. Who decided that violence is the only alternative?

Well, is it working? Is the violence solving the issues? Exactly how does Qana help solve the issues?

The same way that Abu Ghraib and the rapes and maasacres in Iraq helped the US there, I presume.

Yes, Abu Ghraib and the massacres in Iraq made the world love America and all want a government just like America's.

And Qana and other events like it will endear the world to Israel.

And it finally seems like the US and Israel are at least realizing their cover is blown. Olmert has stopped making excuses and trying to explain his actions. He is simply calling to step up the violence.

The USA is till trying to manage things with spin-control.

But the more they lose control, the less effective is the spin.

And the images travel around the world at the speed of light. They are powerless to stop them.

30 seconds of a sex-abuse tape from Aby Ghraib undoes 100 Bush Speeches and 1000 Condi Rice press statements.

And five minutes of Qana footage destroys any claims at all Israel makes about being the victims in this conflict.

The spin has been unspun. Now the superpowers are revealed in all their ugly, oil-drenched, nuclear tipped glory.

Blessed be the peacemakers. The meek shall inherit the earth.

It is easier for a camel to pass thorugh the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever polluteth the Earth shall eat of it.

Let he who is free from sin cast the first stone.

War Inna babylon.

The people are here. The tribes are here.

War inna Babylon. Tribal War inna Babylon.

Richard Thomas....I think you've said you live in Cincinnati?? Well I'm only about an hour and 15 minutes southwest of there.....so my question: Whatever it is that you smoke...can it be bought somewhere down around Fountain Square?

You still make my head spin!! I 'm just not in your league, man!! :)

norm

Dear Dr Chopra,

You make some very valid and thought provoking points. Thanks a lot.

Yogi-one

Very well said indeed.

Kind Regards,
Stan

Good morning, Keith. You are correct and I was sloppy in my phrasing. I should have said it is my duty to lead people towards the path to enlightenment. It is not my duty to enlighten as I do not have that power. No one does. One can only be enlightened from within. It is the old addage, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

That said, I do believe that most people want to experience Enlightenment (a very inadequate western word), the only trouble is they don't want it just yet and most of them want God or the Cosmos to make the first move. That is how the ego operates because it fears change.

Our only "duty", is to lead our own self, to Self; no thing else, exists as such.

To presume leadership role, is to presume an ego-role?

Self, is the only leader, for self.

No One, can do that, for another. To presume one can, is to wallow in ego-relay.

To be a leader, you must believe you exist as one. That is an ego trait.

TaoMaster, I was agreeing with you in your #42

A ceasefire is conditional. It fulfills a need, a necessary duty.
World peace is unconditional. It feels a want, a desire.

Everybody reads and digests everybody else's remarks. You agree or disagree. That's your choice! Ultimately, if I can learn from taking a little piece of each of your remarks and making it become a part of me, then I am in essence practicing unconditional LOVE. By making you become a little bit of me makes me FEEL LIFE! I don't need to do that. I simply want to!

Love and Peace to ALL

Hello Windy. Whatever you do, don't follow your leader.

Hello Deepak and Everyone,

There is a truth here, staring us in the face and I am not afraid to state it.

Israel, it's Nation and it's People have brought themselves up from the ashes (literally) and the World, all of us, owe them our PROTECTION, RECOGNITION, AND OUR ADMIRATION. THEY DESERVE THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE EARNED- TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH A NEIGHBOR THAT IS WILLING ACCEPT PEACE.

All other arguments loose their legitimacy in comparison...peace ruth

Ruth....you go girl...keep preaching it!!

You are one tenacious little lady!! If I were married to you and you got mad at me...I think I'd just shoot myself!! As my hillbilly friends would say...."she's got stayin par"!!!

Keep it up....I know you drive our peacenik friends crazy...toastmaster in particular...but you're saying the right things....good job!

norm

http://indentblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/response-to-deepak-chopras-article.html

Found the above link quite interesting. See,if it interests you any.

EXPECT NOTHING, TREASURE THE UNEXPECTED.

It has been hard for me to maintain my composure during the escelation of madness between Isreal and Lebanon. I have had to take a step back and realize that when things are bad that's just how they are. War is a choice, war is not inevitable, war is the madness of starvation in a land of plenty. War has always served the needs of the ruling class. There is a good documentary out on DVD "Why we fight", if you haven't seen it check it out.

The serenity prayer has been helpfl to me, famously used in AA & NA, the short form follows;

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

There is a longer version that has some Christian theistic references but the short version is my favorite. I remember hearing the daughter of the serentiy prayer's author say that he had written it n response to the moral conflict in th U.S. about whether to go to war against Germany in WWII.

Onegirl, this is bad, but I don't think this is the end of humanity. Global climate is the thing we really have to be concerned about in terms of survival and quality of life.

Dear Ruth,
Is there any person in the world who does NOT deserve protection, recognition, admiration and support?

You said it all Deepak. Thank you - I will be mindful of all these points today.

Love,

Sameer

Dear Aurora,

Yes, you are correct in the very wholistic sense of the matter.

I am talking about a very specific situation between the Nation of Israel and it's neighbors.

I stated a truth and that truth, to me, is clearly the starting point of any and all negotiations pertaining to this matter.

Israel as a People and a Nation does not need the Protection, Recognition, Admiration and Support in trying, once again, to survive, our World, as much as our World Community NEEDS BE CAPABLE OF GIVING IT AND ACKNOWLEDGING IT OUT LOUD IN THE FACE OF ALL WHO WOULD RESIST IT, especially, after a long and confusing struggle while trying to solve this grave problem which tests and challenges our decision making and judgement making skills, it is our World Community's sense of problem solving, decision making, and ability to see through the veils of incorrect information that is on the line.

This struggle, really, is not so much about Israel as it is about us, our United Nations, all our Leaders. We are being called to end a struggle that has gone on too long and will continue to go for many years to come.

This struggle, clearly, to me, is more about us than Israel or Hezbollah or Hamas..peace ruth

Norm,

gee...shoot yourself? really, I'm a pussycat

but this situation does stimulate this ole brain.

peace ruth

Ruth, however loud you shout or beat your drums for Israel, doesn't negate the fact that everyone (including the innocent ones being killed) in this world deserves the list you mentioned.
It is when you associate yourself with the world as a whole, you begin to realize we are all the same. As Deepak says "showing a hard heart against those with hard hearts of their own -- all we've done is expand the problem".
It is extremely hard to be tolerant in times like this. But that is what will ensure peace long-term. The key does lie in treating everyone as equal and that everyone deserves the love, tolerance, compassion and the right to live...and live peacefully.

Dear Ruth,

yes, you are talking about a specific situation, and you are stating the truth as you see it. That's great, I'm glad you do :)

It's just that in times of conflict, especially if the conflict has been going on for such a long time, we might not find a lasting solution if we don't... let's say... climb up the highest tree we can find, to see the direction we need to take. From up there in the tree, the view might seem "generalized" or "wholistic" or maybe even a bit unreal, but it sure shows us the way. For this, we might need to let go of the many confusing details we can clearly see when on the ground, of the emotional ties to certain aspects of the stories told... but we have the chance to discover a larger, wider truth.

If we would climb up the highest tree on earth, we might even notice that we already have a home, all of us. We are already here on this planet, and if we considered ourselves citizens of the world, all territorial conflicts would lose their meaning.

So I agree with you wholeheartedly, this is not about Israel or Hezbollah, it is about all of us. It is about our capacity to grow enough so that we can consider every one of us worthy of as much protection, recognition, support and admiration. Worthy of a good life here on the planet we call home.

Deepak,
Thank you. This is a wonderful and important article -- I enjoyed it when I first read it on the Alliance for a New Humanity's Web-site. How appropriate to bring it to Intent Blog.

I agree with Bob Guyer. This new, horrible war is not the end of humanity. While I am deeply disturbed by the unusual numbers of casualties among Lebanese civilians (and especially children), I believe that the world's population is actually heading towards mass enlightenment.

The collective "dark night of the soul" that we are experiencing is a sign of imminent spiritual maturity. Isn't perhaps the time before dawn the darkest?
Love,
Donatella

Dear Steve and Mieke,
It's been wonderful to exchange spiritual ideas with you. Your contribution to intentblog has been great. Best wishes to both.
Love,
Donatella

Shaheed...Where ru from? It's called the game of lands which history of mankind has witnessed from time to time. Why? It's The Human nature!! Greed hunger and other beautiful traits of the humans. Pagalpan Ki Hudhhai yaar yeha peh! Khud alishan makano mein rehthe hai aur samjthe hai ke Duniya bhi ek din unki duniya ki tarah vho jahegi.
It's been a good site but to study the human psyche, how it creates patterns for itself in times of crisis. What Dear Deepak calls it self preservation of the Ego. My God! Preservation is more important than seeing the truth at the ground. Can you believe it?

Are you originally from India or Pakistan?

I agree with you Donatella, as we move toward a higher consciousness, the collective shadow shows itself so that it can be healed.

Love and peace

Mary

Shaheed...Firangis are all khiladis! Imperialism. Looting but Sophisticated. You seem to have a good understanding. Nice hypothetical questions I thought. Yeah, the Jewish community is a great source of strength for States. But the question you've asked is something like...ok you leave your mother here, and there's another nice loving woman who will be your mother. Plz shift there. Impractical! Theoretically we can talk.

Compromise is generally the best option, as far as my outlook is concerned. Who wants headache and violence...and in what gravity. But...people are ready to give away thousands of human lives rather than compromise.

Religion and Wars! As Dear Deepak says, age old crap or tribal wars. Principle is the same, but it's with rockets and f16's&scuds. 22nd century, most likely it will be the same story...as long as the Basic circuit in the head doesn't change. Gross mutations have to occur for that. Quantum leaps as they call!!! Sounds great on the paper, but when you see the reality on the ground with the same poverty going on for ever...it just doesn't match. Oh well...

Tomorrow morning...Israel is going to resume its airstrikes. They did talk about going on for several wks, till they dismantle the Hizbulah. Will be interesting to watch, the Outcry from the arab brothers. How strongly they will hit back at this! Kofi annan reminds me of Dhritirashtra in Mahabharat. "Ye Sab kya ho raha hai". Really must be feeling like Impotent since a long time. Ultimately each one will do according to their agendas. Talks are after all talks. Now, pakis and Indians are plannning some talks. I really find it very funny! This talk thing, after they keep killing each other. Human lives have no value in this world. 20 dead 50 Injured. If one keeps on hearing that, day after day, yr after yr. Human mind just adapts itself. Bus Khayal aata hai kabhi kabhi, Vho subhan kabhi tho aayegi...Vho subhan!

Here are a few authors whose books I chose to read in the hope to satisfy my own curiosity and search for the “truth”. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I am guided very much by reason and logic and when I stumble on a passage in a book that does not make sense I start to wonder whether the author is really the expert he claims to be.

Ken Wilber writes about evolution “A half-wing is no good as a leg and no good as a wing--you can't run and you can't fly. It has no adaptive value whatsoever. In other words, with a half-wing you are dinner.”
Wilber...confidently assert(s) that “absolutely nobody” believes the “standard, glib, neo-Darwinian explanation” of chance mutation and natural selection anymore.

Richard Dawkins counters with “There are animals alive today that beautifully illustrate every stage in the continuum. There are frogs that glide with big webs between their toes, tree-snakes with flattened bodies that catch the air, lizards with flaps along their bodies; and several different kinds of mammals that glide with membranes stretched between their limbs, showing us the kind of way bats must have got their start.

Contrary to the creationist literature, not only are animals with “half a wing” common [i.e., they are not automatically “dinner”], so are animals with a quarter of a wing, three quarters of a wing, and so on.”
Judge for yourself who makes more sense here.

Carl Sagan speculates on the evolution of the human intelligence. In “The Dragons of Eden” he gives us something very special in the chapter “Knowledge is our Destiny”. He also has a few not so kind words for pseudo-science, magic and astrology as well as “remote cutlery bending”.

Deepak Chopra in “Peace is the way” claims to be an expert in bending spoons with his mind.”

This is so sad! I am very grateful for intentblog but that is too much for my simple mind and I have not touched any books of his since.

He also writes, “Faith will no longer be seen as an irrational departure from reason and science.” !!!

Well it is time for my departure or at the very least another brake. Deepak does not need skeptics like me; he has enough followers who don’t want to see the light and follow him blindly!

Sam Harris
Please give his “The End of Faith” a read and make up your own mind!

and these wretched martyrs and victims are trapped in a cycle of death and rebirth into the same horror, until they learn to love unconditionally, and recognise the face of peace. --Taomaster

You know, this is the best I have read here after long. Tao, if not for your cliche'd name, I'm thinking you have probably tasted the higher levels of truth. If this is not true, then just take this as a compliment.

Harley/Sachin, what a load of crap you're agreeing with man? Those who created that root cause problem are all dead by now. Since we have had lots of sex, and now we have to find a solution for all the new humans we brought in the world. Muslims lived in Palestine for 1500 years is all bull and irrelevant. What a load of crap is the notion that a piece of land belongs to Muslims just because they lived there for 1500 years or Jews just because they were there before.

And pardon if you're not Sachin, you sound like one, I don't know, but that is irrelevant anyway.

I was going to add that not only we do not have solid root cause analysis (RCA), whatever little we have is all misguided. One side believes in the RCA of them owning the land because they lived there for centuries, and the other side equally makes the same argument because they owned it in ancient times and it has been proven in their scripture. If that is the root cause analysis then we better wait for next fifty plus years to even move an inch towards peace.

Taomaster,

Do you know of the works of Alan Watts? Wondrin'...

My Enlightenment(that's what I call it)consisted mostly of

educating myself with the books they wouldn't let

us read in school. For most adults, T.V. and newspapers

provide all the information needed.

I don't believe most folks want or care to know

the basics of philosophy or critical thinking.

Ignorance is bliss to them and they are quite content.

"To each his own weird", one of Alan Watts' lines.

Sometimes I think they are lucky, not needing

to seek and behold the Truth of Everything!

The farmers just say, "Come out to my place!"

Hey! Now that I look at that...

"books you couldn't read in school" or church,

Get your mind out of the gutter!

I didn't mean Playboy!!! LoLyGaGiN'...

Read pages 65, 66, 67 and 68 of “Peace Is the Way”.

people scare me with their deepak worship.

Shaheed...When I said you had a good understanding, I was referring to the Brits and Jews. I do not know the actual history of that region...I wasn't referring to how true are those facts. I meant you've a good understanding of the human psyche. How each group goes on "This is mine and not yours..so go away". You see that rt here at IB. Don't you? Looks like, noname is into it...so the history part he would know it well.

It's always good though to clear it up, so that the facts are rt there before the eyes.

In the West, Shaheed, people don't understand the Guru-Shishya relationship at all. There are two sides to it. They can see only one side, based upon the philosophy they grow up with. Even a mention of it can get you into trouble. I've seen so many heated arguments because of this misunderstanding, because of contrasting cultures.

Facts-Clarity always welcome for me!!!

I just read this last post of yours Shaheed. Man, you're Into it! Oh! Maybe you're on a mission to Bust the Myths muslims have. Anything which clear the myths/cobwebs is always welcome. That's one of the main objectives of this site. Was a little disappointed though when Ravi, who was good at ripping the hypocrisy of humans was blocked.

Good stuff for discussion!!

Keith, I never heard of Alan Watts. Sorry. I think books can illuminate, inform, inspire and provide insight, but of themselves they cannot enlighten.

Books can also mislead, misinform, constrain, limit, condition and make stupid.

I always recommend to read widely, read opposing and diverse views (not just those that confirm your own opinions) and to read what the philosophers, psychoilogists, sages and prophets actually said rather than someone elses spin or interpretation of what they said. If you have the will, test what they said.

For example, I read many books about Jung, but when I read Jung himself I realised how inaccurate, agenda ridden or ignorant most of those books about the man were.

Contrary to what the Jews, Moslems and Fundamental Christians believe, God never wrote a book. People did.

I also recommend that there comes a time when you should put books away and experience Reality for yourself.

Hey T.M.,

U2? Me mucho C. Jung. About a dozen of his I

have read. I own his last, a semi-autobiography.

I read all the history also behind all scopes

of education. Been on my path for 7 yrs.

Have practiced yoga for 28 yrs.

So yes...I'm an Elder here, somewhat.

Are you new here or a name changer?

I know...you don't like questions like that, either.

Just lookin' for real people, not just ideals.

Nice to meet you in the by and bye, now.

Peace and Luvs, Me jusMe

Keith, most all people are conditioned. They carry models in their heads, presumptions, values, prejudices, likes, dislikes, beliefs. All a product of their conditioning.

If I say I am Mohammed, every reader projects their conditioning on this and makes assumptions about me that are untrue. If I say I am Kevin, the same laws apply. If I say I am American, some will view my words more seriously and others less so. If I say I am German other assumptions are projected.

So for now I am you in an awakened state. You have seen me in the mirror when you have seen beyond the persona. Smiling. Go and take a look now. Smile, and there I AM.

...and I am a new poster here and have not posted under any other name at this site.

Keith,

I just read your post on the open thread. I would like to see your Shades of Grey!...and to think I thought I was the only one that had a Shades of Grey pic! You can send it to dyoung@bailusa.net. I went to Alaska in July 2004. I loved it ...no glitz...just ala all naturele sparkle...illuminating! Hmm, perhaps I even caught a glimpse of the Taomaster!

I listened and watched CNN. They were positioned on top of a mountain. Overlooking them was the most beautiful of blue sky. Below them lands that are being bombed. With a simple drop of a bomb, a person's life get changed forever! War is an event that doesn't have to happen

Hope happens

Ravi: I went to your blog and read your answer to Deepak on this post.

I agree, there seems no good reason for your post to be blocked. I think, on the contrary, it should be posted for all to read. In many ways it speaks for itself. Your bitterness and petty minded swipes along with the inarticulate scatterbomb arguments and flawed reasoning is a good counterbalance to some of the other posts here, especially Deepaks. As the Tao tells us, 'for something to be judged as beautiful there must exist the ugly'.

You quote the Gita but I have not read anywhere in the Gita that "it is not wrong to kill violence by violence".

It is very important to understand at whose feet one learns the teachings of any great scripture. Depending upon inclination and preferences of the teacher the aspirants may derive differing meanings from the same verses.

For me there are three salient points about the Gita in the context that you pursue.

Krishna informs Arjuna

1: It is his destiny which has brought him to the battlefield. His past actions and his nature (Karma & Dharma) were determined before he arrived there and so the battle in a way is unavoidable. So it is that each of us finds ourselves confronting our demons, for we have created them and we have failed to excise them.

2. There is no right or wrong in killing, these are human dualities, there are only consequences - Karma. One can only avoid these consequences if one was to kill with perfect detachment. But to kill with perfect detachment one would have to already be a perfected being. Krishna spends almost the entire Gita explaining what this would involve. To be a perfected being one would be as a Buddha, God or Krishna himself. In this case the Great Destroyer is also the Great Creator - God. God only has the right to kill thus because to Him "all creatures are but straw dogs" (Tao). Clearly Arjuna is not a god and the question and the inevitability of his actions are being spelled out. For part of the process of becoming a perfected being is that one must embrace love and do no harm to other creatures or men as well as practice and devote oneself to the ways of Yoga. For this it is already too late for Arjuna. He is a soldier.

3. Finally there is an outlet for Arjuna, for though he may be fated to go to battle, if he does so with the faith and devotion to Krishna/God as a devout seeker, this "intent" will in the end free him from the claws of evil/hell. For if one's intent is for the good in overcoming evil and with a devotion to God, then however misplaced that intention is, God will forgive the sinner and raise him again to see if next time he may learn the lessons.

The lessons that need to be learned have already been spelt out in the chapters of the Gita. If one was to abide and live by them one would never find themselves in a position of war or suffering. It is Arjuna's ignorance of the divine Ways that leads to war and suffering in the first instance. It is my view that Arjuna's joy in the end is the realisation of his own ignorance. His knowing that this is where fate has brought him, and now he knows that all he must do in his final moments (almost like a Martyr or Jihadist) is to keep his mind and focus on Krishna/God in the final moments of his own death, be they in battle or not. For most men's minds linger in these final moments on the sins they have committed not the good they have done, for they fear the retribution. It is this focus and fear which ultimately decides their destiny as they pass through.

I paraphrase a great work in few words and do it little justice, but I think I have done it more justice than you have done in your distorted interpretation.

You're all enlightened.

:)

Hey T.M.,

To meet and read folks with abilities

such as yours is why I came to IB.

I am still drilling holes in my

head to let the other crap

out that was deposited

there by Southern

Baptists and

my parents.

Granted,

it isn't all

bad...the sweet

stuff is sticky enuf

to stay put, the sour grape

juice(blood) and crackers go

right thru the system, anyway!

I have incorporated pantheism into

my daily bread, "God eating God", or so

it goes, right? It's all Light and Super-Srings

when we get teeny, weeny small and speed along!

I shall buzz-off now! Toast to Tao bro! Me2

Donatella,

I have seen #85.

I don't have a scanner

to send you the actual piece

my Mom painted or the script, so

I'll post the poem on O.T. and let

the critics do the usual, predictable,

cut and piece-meal vegimite sandwich.

I'll be back in a couple hours. See ya?

Dear Dana,
Your posts do make me smile!

Hi Taomaster,
Thanks for post # 86

It is ignorance that has led and continues to lead many to suffer and make war, within themselves and against others.

Love dissolves the separation, and makes Known wholeness.

Until Love has consumed the discord and disharmony in Oneself, it will rage on -- and hurt many others.

Dear Deepak,
Thank you for sharing these insights. I think point # 8 is especially helpful.

With love,
~ Kate

Donna Young,

Woops! I meant you, of course.

I was bound to get it mixed up.

I had a good friend who was raised in Alaska.

Very strange days and nights there. O.T.away...

Shaheed...I had written quite a long post to you here yesterday, coz of some net problem it got lost. Someother time maybe.

Even though the root of Dharma means uphold and is related with one's nature. It means Duty! What one's Ought to do in a given situation. What's the most appropriate action in one's good conscience, that is what is Dharma. Karma is simply your deeds, whether good or bad.

You never see the world, all of it thru' just your eyes Shaheed. Most of them get stuck there, their horizons end there. You've to jump out of your perspective and place yourself in other person's boots and feel/think what they do...Only then will you understand the real situation of different sections of this world we live in. Just becoz you me and a few others follow father of Nation Gandhiji...his ahimsa, doesn't mean the world is going to listen to you. Why would they? They will do exactly as per their nature. hmm Dharma here. A pig is designed like a pig, it will do its dharma as per its nature. A donkey will do its dharma as per its nature. You never expect a donkey to run like a horse. The manifestations are as per the Ingredients/Design. What Dear Deepak was saying about Cajoling Lions to be vegetarians. Exactly!

Will catch you later!

Shaheen, are you sure you are not Ravi by another name? I am chuckling at your sarcasm. I always enjoy humour, even some distateful humour. I even found your comment about the Mexicans funny, even though I am very fond of Mexican people and believe they are far more pleasant and compassionate than either their Anglo Saxon neighbours or the Jews that I have met. But that's just my experience. You said in your earlier comment about Deepak's points:

"So why not believe in things that our spiritual teachers and our ancestors had believed in. Their lives were trouble free. No worries. No problems. All peace. All love. Though they died of tuberculosis, plague, whooping cough, malaria, hunger, infections in millions. But they did have love for God. They did have love for each other though they died at half the mean age of modern man who is religious or not, but is enjoying the fruits of knowledge gained through science."

I thought you were an expert on the Gita. Did you not pick up the bit about death being an illusion? In which case our longevity now is a continuance. No?

Hmmmm...

{{Keith}} - thanks.

schwarmerei: excessive or unwholesome sentiment.

Very good. You get Merriam's 'word of the day' too I see . . .

Deepak,

The conflict is a sudden outburst of despair. I pray for souls lost in madness. I pray for the acceptance of diversity.

Tension is emotion, taking away life in adversity.

We have found the enemy and he is us.

Shaheed. Jesus Christ was killed b/c he refused to fight the Romans. I, being a Christian, can do no less than emulate Jesus Christ by not returning evil for evil.

And then so all of the killers inherit the earth, well, if this world is that important to them that they want to kill their fellow man; so be it. Because as for all of those quotes that can be construed to mean all sorts of things, the actions of Christ point to one thing: he did not ever act violently; except against who?

The money-changers.

And even then he did not physically assault, nor kill, his fellow man.

peace

I'm not sure, linguistically, what the term "terror", as used in the popular press, means anymore.

Is it affect(anger) or effect (fear). Or is it a transaction between two people of both of these? Like Cain and Abel? As in, "here: I'll trade ya. Martyrdom for a good whack on the head."

The term used in sentences today seems to have taken on a life of its own.

When Senate Republicans say, "Democrats are weak on terror," it sounds odd to me. Is it to say that they are weak on anger? On weak on fear?

Or are they saying that democrats are just screwing up the quality of the transaction altogether?

"Did Jesus according to Christianity, founded on his own teachings, commit a sin in preaching killing, slayings and disharmony?"

Exactly Shaheed! So do you think Christ was then the ultimate hypocrite? The verses you allude to, I believe, are: Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's enemies shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:36-34).

So, if you take these particular verses literally, I guess you better start killing your parents, brothers/sisters, wife, and children.

But, I know you know better than that brother . . .

peace

I agree with you Shaheed; Kill anybody you can, I will watch