Dear Deepak,
It was so nice to meet you last night!
with love,
~ Kate

Dear Deepak,
Rumi said something about 'what an alligator swallows, becomes alligator'
Well-being, if swallowed whole,
makes us Holy
:)
Love and thanks,
~ Kate

Deepak, I like how you treat America as a patient, interesting approach. Btw , you failed to mentioned that in 1967, we had a Democrat in the White House.

Can we also forget Sgt. Pepper and the summer of Love, some big doses of well-being going on!

Steve

Dear Deepak,

The world has come a long way, and that dark element has shrunk down to a small corner, resisting with great effort it's final dissolution leaving all that is light.

"creations Blossom from the Autunm Sew,So as do our thoughts! Blessings to all V

Brat!

Here's a polish view,
in '81 commie Russia ruled, everybody was corrupt, but if we go back further in history, when was poland really free?

in 2007, well, love that dissenting opinion, in the EU, (not that's like getting them any further in the emancipation process..) and that Bush ass-licking, is annoying, anyhow, my point,
none,
just,
e-love, passion

why is Dr. D not writing about the biggest issue in his homeland: the indian cricket team being uncermonously ousted from cricket WC along with a billion TV sets turning off at the same time? as well as the biggest scandal to hit the sports world in recent memory? just wondering!

Dear Deepak

On one hand, the late 1960's was a time when groundswells of dissatisfaction began about many of the things you list. The result was energy and focus that fueled change in the decades following.

On the other hand, we're now buried under an artificial, greedy, overly-safe way of living, that will create various problems in future decades, if the trend isn't reversed now. It's already allowed Bush to be "elected" twice. Personally, I'd take the dirty old previous decades, as long as Bush and Cheney werre uninvolved in national politics.

love, Heath

The main reasons why I think we have allowed all these to happen are
1)No sense of responsibility
2)No sense of belongingness
3)Tribal mindset.Always thinking in terms of mine and ours.
4)Lack of focus on finding out what it truth.
5)Narrow minded education policies
6)Illusionary thinking that the human body is the individual

The new Trend in corporate America toward well being? Indeed!!

This weekend while surfing the net I ran across this story showing exactly how this trend works.

Here's the story: In search of the elusive semi-practicing Catholic/obese junk-food addict demographic, Kentucky Fried Chicken apparently sent an official, personal letter to the Vatican, asking Pope Benedict XVI to bless the company's upcoming happily toxic Fish Snaker sandwich so Catholics could eat it in good grace on Friday during Lent.

You read that right! KFC wants the Fish Snacker to be officially sanctioned for those days when Catholics don't eat meat but when they apparently have zero problem shoving a nasty frozen deep-fried chemical-blasted hunk of cholesterol and salt and fat and binding agents and mystery gunk into their bloodstreams.

KFC's president is someone named Greg Dedrick. When writing the personal letter to the pope Greg apparently kept a straight face and didn't even shoot any wine cooler through his nose in apoplectic shock when he wrote "We believe this new sandwich could make it easier and more affordable for Catholics to observe the tenets of their faith."

OMG....Corporate America's trend toward well being!! Fast food fish sandwiches for Catholics, blessed by the pope himself. What genius!!

In the summer of 1967 I was 9 yrs old and marooned in the ocean of sand at Reservoir Park in Carlsbad, New Mexico, sitting on the embankment, watching the rats swim back and forth near dusk one evening. In the distance across the reservoir there was a carnie going with a lighted ferris wheel and faint music. An old yellow school bus pulled into the park and groaned to a stop, releasing its cargo of long-haired girls who wore bell-bottom blue jeans and tie-dyed T-shirts, but had no matches. They carried skinny black incense cones in a small blue box with a silhouette of the Taj Mahal printed on the cover - "Temple of India" brand, I think. I had matches. And I was cute. Very cute, and about to become a mascot of sorts for a little while.
My impression: we were always so very few in numbers. I think if younger people today were to have time machines and go back to 1967 they would be shocked at what it was really like. But what an impact on society even a few marginalised people can have, when first they align themselves with what is true.

Thank you, Dr Chopra, for this uplifting post.

It’s good to think about how much we’ve progressed and not focus entirely on what’s wrong with the world. There are so many things that have changed for the better and that we take for granted.

Peace,

Lars

Yes we have matured a bit, we are not seeking out and burning witches and heretics and it has been a while since they crucified somebody on a cross.

I guess it is safe to come out now.

If only we could get beyond the ego and it's constant narration of those fictional stories of separation in our minds.

KILLING MYSELF FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

I recently quit a job for health reasons. I sure they thought I was mad since I had full health benefits which I was summarily abandoning. I'm sure it it struck more than a few as ass backwards.

I know it's gross, but here is a list of symptoms which drove me out of the place:

-serious forehead dermatitis which required liberal amounts of cortizone to keep in check.

-triglycerides freakishly high.

-cystic acne

-rapidly diminishing eyesight

-dizziness and headaches

-continual heart palpatations and racing heartbeat.

While I haven't had my triglycerides checked, and my eyesight hasn't improved much, I can report that all of the aforementioned symptoms have completely disappeared. Especially telling are the skin conditions which I believed were merely a symptom of a greater internal problem (just like rust on the body of a car is probably a telltale sign of further rot beneath). Here's a list of possible contributing factors:

-radiation due to computer monitor

-carpet fibers blown through air conditioning ducts.

-pesticides sprayed monthly throughout the building.

-florescent lighting.

-stress.

I made this decision with spiritual consultation of a friend. When I raised my fears about foregoing health insurance, he answered with a certain amoun of irony, "Dana, there are plenty of people out there dying for health insurance."

As far as the "communist" comment above, if you nix Marx's regretable penchant for bashing religion--religion is an extremely valuable cultural and individual touchstone--there's an awful lot of Christianity in what he proposes ("from each according to his talents, to each according to his needs").

But I don't think we were really fighting a war between Communism and Democracy.

I think--quoting from a recent movie--it was simply gang warfare over who got what.

This easter season, I'd like to display a banner that reads, "JESUS TAUGHT".

Yo it was the hippies who yelled and screamed that something is wrong with the Beaver.
It is often the most unlikely people who cause the most unlikely changes.
Artists and musicians preached the gospel of questioning authority.
The stoners have been doing the same phyco babble that goes on here way back in the early seventies. They were pushing the limits of reality and perception.
The changes in society, the good ones, have not come from politicians or wars or religion. They have come from those unlikely leaders that have a passion for truth and equallity.

We have come a long way in consciousness as a society thanks to many couragous leaders.

peace comes from peace

change is already here

derek

What's phyco babble?

We have a tendency to look up for the answers to our challenges in life. Looking to the elite, the politicians the wealthy, celebrities, priests, gurus and spiritual teachers. They are only human. If they had the answers they would have told us by now. So far nothing.

We just need to look around not up. We as a global society have the answers. We no longer have to rely on the few to rule over the many.

things are changing faster and faster

derek

Sorry, Derek. Just being a jerk this morning. By afternoon and a good lunch, though, I should be on friendlier terms with the universe.

I have been doing research for a pet project of mine on language and symbols used by people to communicate. In doing this, I have talked to many people who came of age in the '60s. While that has nothing to do with this subject, I have made a few observations that do: FWIW

A lot of people who grew up in the '60s seem to have missed totally the underlying "happenings" of what was going on and describe it merely as an abberation of shameful civil disobedience and immaturity and drugs and partying, and making a business of selling drugs.

Other people describe it as one of awakening, one of vitality and feeling alive and belonging, where you instantly recognized your brothers and sisters, and a rebellion against tacit obedience to authority, a shucking of conformity and false allegiance. A time of protests for civil rights and shared opposition to the Vietnam War. When people read the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita and Silent Spring, or Thoreau and they actually understood what they meant. And they did listen to some really really good music.

We know who the first group grew up to become, but little attention is given to the second group who grew up to be the Organic Farmers, the Alternative Medicine practitioners, the Spiritual Warriors,Some, a few, even run companies who do honestly, want the well being of their employees, who pay them a living wage regardless of what Congress says is the "minimum wage"(Not like the one I described in post11-that story made my head spin around like that kid in the exorcist)They are the ones who oppose war because it is insane and solves no problems and KILLS.

Now, if we think about the first 6 1/2 years of the 21st century and think how dead and deadening it has been, is it any wonder we feel sick.

I say, support and become mature versions of those old hippies of the '60s who believe in life and spirituality and good food and good health and really really good music.

Love-ins, Peace-niks

Amen Bonnie....There is an expolosion of amazing music and art going on right now. The internet and recording technologies have put the power of music back in the hands of the artist. I could talk about just this subject for ever. What a great example of a shift in power from the elite to the people. No bloodshed, no war just a subtle shift in power.

Yo Dana
I wrote this before I read that you were being a jerk. Yay for your being a jerk this morning, it made me work a little harder. Enjoy your lunch.

Phyco babble. That's kinda tough to define.
When stoners get together, and get stoned, they often talk about the possibilities of the universe, solutions to the problems of society and spirituality. It's usaully done in jest and irreverance, with comical answers to serious problems.
A good example would be a comedian talking about politics or The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. These are highly refined forms of phyco babble.
I'm sure there is some official definition of phyco babble somewhere, but that could be totally laughed off by a good round of phyco babble.

I'm in no way saying that IB is comical or irrelevant. Jon Stewart is more a voice for reason than the "real" news.
It's just seems like the same questioning and hope for impossible solutions that make the conversations here simular to phyco babble.
Typically the conversations of these stoners has a peaceful nature to them.

A pretty rough definition

derek

Holy crap, Derek. Are you proposing that everything's not about me?

I'll have to chew on that some...

Dear danashields

Maybe, an allergy to an air-deposited particulate thingie -- some kind of something in the dust that was regularly falling down on you, that caused serious inflammatory reactions in facial skin and corneas. If some allergen or pollutant was affecting those tissues, which are relatively well-protected and under-reactive normally, it could also have caused sinus and Eustachian tube swelling, which would account for headaches and dizziness. Chronic pain and illness are stressors, which might account for the high triglycerides.

love, Heath

would you like to hear where I got, peace comes from peace?
Well I'll tell you anyway.

I was watching a documentary on John & Yoko's peace bed-in thing. They had peace signs everywhere and peace slogans and reporters and media, it was a circus of energy. What I noticed though was how angry John Lennon was. He was trying to shove peace down peoples throat. I thought how can you promote peace through anger?
peace must come through peace
I see it happenning in the music of young people today. But I don't hear much representation of young people or artists here.

Deepak has listed some examples of an old way of thinking. I remember what it was like to not even know to know if my food was organic. I and most the people I knew did not expect to live past 1999. Yo Prince
Consciousness has risen in general in my life time and continues to grow faster and faster. What we accepted 30 and 40 years ago we can no longer accept. The learning curve is getting easier. Changes in society that took thousands of years in the past now take decades. Soon maybe weeks. Then maybe real time.

Okay so this whole post is an example of phyco babble, just not stoned.

yo yo

peace comes from peace

derek

dana in #15 says
"I think---quoting from a recent movie--it was simply gang warfare over who got what"

Yes that plus what my husband says: "Men just trying to see who can piss the highest"

The language we use can be very interesting.

Bonnie

Dana
I just this month moved out of a house because of health issues.
It took awhile to realize it was the dust and mold that was causing so many symptoms.
From skin irratations and resporatory problems to depression and insomnia. My wife and I aged a great deal in this house. Our health declined radically. I was an endurance cyclist, I could ride a bicycle all day long. By last year I could barley walk up the stairs. It only took 3 years. It took 5 years to realize we needed to get out of this house.
We have moved into a brand new house and after only a month I am sleeping all night, dreaming again and symptons are diminishing. When you can't sleep and dream you start going crazy, especially for an artist.
I also worked at a theater that was old and dusty contributing to the problem.
Our enviroment is a powerful and subtle thing, we need to be conscious of it.
derek

Doodleman

I suffered for years from allergies, and had exzyema(sp). The last time I went to the dermatologist he actually gave me a medication with a skull and crossbones on it. And I had to pay $385 for a tiny amount. I decided then, I would just have to love my skin the way it was, but I did a little research and found that allergies and exzyema(sp) are synptoms of immune systems being out of balance. So, I am taking supplements and eating food that helps balance my immune system. And guess what, I don't have allergies any more or skin rashes(except for this one tiny spot which I guess is there to remind me what I need to do)

Soooo we do need to be mindful of our environment, not just our own personal space but the bigger picture as well.

Love...Peace

Bonnie

Thanks, Heath. My wife said repeatedly that she distrusted the air distribution in the building. I was immediately under an air conditioning vent.

I also noticed that everyone would begin sneezing together at certain times. Sympathetic sneezing?

Probably crap distributing through their ductwork.

Dear Jeff

Interesting that your paste has a list of "conservative" occupations that are extremely or relatively rare (big game hunters, rodeo dudes, lumberjacks, cops, firepeople, etc.) or elitist (docs, execs) -- ah, so conservatives are rare and elitist -- the very opposite of the argument you're trying to make. In another life with more time, it'd be easy to make factual swiss cheese of your paste.

love, Heath

Dear danashields

It sounds as if your wife was on the right track.

love, Heath

Yo Dana
Silly me I just realized I spelled psycho wrong and that's what you were making fun of. Nice one. Yo. What's really funny is I spelled it the same in my next post defining it.

peace comes from silliness

derek

Oh Jeff excellent example of psycho babble.

jeff says

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Doesn't drinking copious amounts of beer cause one to have to go to the bathroom lots of time.

I think my husband understands totally what is going on in the world when he said "Just men trying to see who can piss the highest." It explains why conservative men try to piss on everything that is healthy and positive and good and natural and helpful. They are just too weak and wimpy and drunk to make it to the bathroom.

Totally Bonnie
I though I was pretty aware of my environment, but this house was so cool and funky that I ignored the true funk. It was old and moldy.

Our personal environment is a reflection of our global environment and our global environment is a reflection of our personal enviroment.

everything is everything

derek

jeff, yes we do and it is YOU

hey jeff ok strike #38 from the record.

But you know what, maybe you guys should just buy some Depends and "chill out" you might be happier and enjoy life more.

hmmmm did I rattle a conservative cage. I wonder.
Anything is possible.

oh my yes jeff #42 says what a really pretty face you have. Keep on telling us---get it all out--let it all go.

Give away the things you don't need
Let it all go and you'll soon see
You'll wash your spirit clean.

aw jeff haven't you figured out that pretty and ugly are part of the same thing and some people even say this or that is "pretty ugly"--go figure.

But keep it coming.....I really would like to know why you are so angry. Get it out in the open and shine some light on it.

Bear in mind, you don't really know whether or not I am a conservative or liberal or pretty or ugly or young or old. Is it possible for a person to be neither. Is it possible that a person can simply be a human being.

Keep it coming!!

Huh? That explains so much jeff. I guess. See jeff that started as a joke, you know, kinda like the "what goes round comes round" thingy. If you "diss" somebody, you will get "dissed" back. But I don't think you picked up on that. My bad.

Anyway, you still haven't answered the question why are you,jeff, so angry. All I got from your post were compliments.

Keep it coming!

My apologies to the rest of the bloggers here for getting this started. It really was supposed to be a joke(sort of) on the different ways people say things. Blushes at my choice of words.

jeff, your conversation makes no sense whatsover. It was fun trying to make sense of it though, but it is over.

I will leave you with one last thing to think about.
There were people who marched and got hit in the head with rocks, and some died, to give you the chance to be the best you can be and you have that chance. I wonder are.........but please don't tell me, tell yourself.

Silly boy! Aren't you just so clever! I made an effort to stop this conversation out of respect for other bloggers here. Your posts indicate you don't even have respect for yourself. Lesson learned--never attempt to converse with a fool.

I said your posts indicate you do not even have respect your yourself. Lesson learned--never attempt to converse with a fool.

And you respond " Never attempt to converse with a fool. But if you do (get in a conversation) remember they are not worth your piss"

You just confirmed both of my statements above.