Quote of the Week 63 - Small Good Deeds

Even the smallest good deed can change someone’s life.

- Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain

International Medical Corps

Please check out the following web sites: http://internationalmedicalcorps.smnr.us and http://imcworldwide.org

The focus of this blog is on the more contemplative, psychological and philosophical aspects to spiritual development, and not particularly on social causes or activism. That is not to say that spiritual pursuits are inconsistent with social activism, as inner spiritual development should work hand-in-hand with engaging in meaningful external activity. It is only that this blog chooses to narrow its focus on the more internal aspects to human development, and it leaves it up to each individual as to how to integrate their inner spiritual development into engagement in external activities. There is a multitude of worthwhile social and charitable activities and causes which one can support in a variety of avenues available and seeking our assistance, so much so that it can be confusing to sort through them all and decide what choices of support should be made. However, once in a while, when I am contacted by someone representing a social cause that appears to have particular merit to assist in spreading their word, I may choose to lend some assistance. I have been contacted by an organization called International Medical Corps and have reviewed their web sites. They have asked for me to help spread the word about their mission, and I have agreed to do so. I cannot vouch for them, as I know nothing more about them then what I have read on their sites. I will leave it for everyone to come to their own conclusions, and to please notify me if something amiss is discovered about this organization. In the meantime, in response to their request, I ask you to check out their web sites: http://internationalmedicalcorps.smnr.us and http://imcworldwide.org

Quote of the Week 62 - The Peaceful Hum

Vichara [the spiritual exercise of discriminating Self-Inquiry] is characterized by Ramana as attenuation of ego. Ego creates various melodic lines against the hum or drone of primal awareness. When listening to Indian classical music, Ramana reports, his main attention naturally focused on the rich underlying drone rather than on the melody. In the unillumined state, we hardly notice the profoundly integrating tone of primal awareness, because we are distracted by the play of ego. Self-realization, or Enlightenment, is the rediscovery of this peaceful hum of conscious being as a single eternal flow, which does not eliminate the countless melodic lines but harmonizes and grounds them.

Arthur Osborne, Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge

Quote of the Week 61 - Rabbi Naomi Levy

The art of remaining aware is a challenge. It involves taking great risks. It means opening our hearts wide enough to feel and to receive. We need to peel away the layers of protection, to move beyond fear and arrive at trust.

Before we start praying for new blessings in our lives, we must first uncover the blessings that are here now. All of us have an angel of God calling out to show us the way to blessings, to clarity and to prophetic vision.

Rabbi Naomi Levy

Survivorcorps and Ban Cluster Bombs

Please check out the following web sites: http://banclusterbombs.smnr.us and http://survivorcorps.org

The focus of this blog is on the more contemplative, psychological and philosophical aspects to spiritual development, and not particularly on social causes or activism. That is not to say that spiritual pursuits are inconsistent with social activism, as inner spiritual development should work hand-in-hand with engaging in external activity. It is only that this blog chooses to narrow its focus on the more internal aspects to human development, and it leaves it up to each individual as to how to integrate their inner spiritual development into engagement in external activities. There is a multitude of worthwhile social and charitable activities and causes which one can support in a variety of avenues available and seeking our assistance, so much so that it can be confusing to sort through them all and decide what choices of support should be made. However, once in a while, when I am contacted by someone representing a social cause that appears to have particular merit to assist in spreading their word, I may choose to lend some assistance. I have been contacted by an organization called Survivor Corps and have reviewed their web sites. They have asked for me to help spread the word about their mission, and I have agreed to do so. I cannot vouch for them, as I know nothing more about them than what I have read on their sites. I will leave it for everyone to come to their own conclusions, and to please notify me if something amiss is discovered about this organization. In the meantime, in response to their request, I ask you to check out their web sites: http://banclusterbombs.smnr.us and http://survivorcoprs.org.