Medley

The New York Times for April 12, 2012, has an opinion column by Nicholas D. Kristof asking the question “Is an Egg for Breakfast Worth This?” It describes the abysmal conditions in which hens are kept by large-scale commercial chicken farmers who supply eggs to most grocery chains. And of course much the same could be said generally of those who raise animal as meat. All this will come as no news to vegetarian Theosophists, many of whom eschew flesh, fish, and fowl, not for reasons of their own health (though that is certainly a factor), but rather out of the moral principle of ahimsa. It is, however, encouraging to see the problem addressed in the major national newspaper of the United States.

Ruth Richards – USA

a chapter for a book with seven chapters

“When I am creating I am more…”

AWARE

Can we be programmed to look beyond the marvels of
life? We need our conscious awareness for creativity.
True, we miss much we don’t want to see. But what
about beauty and wonder? This is where we shall start.
If tomorrow we see a new daisy that just bloomed by our
front path, this may not seem very important — never
mind the herald of a dangerous transformation in our
entire lifestyle. But it could be. Because once we learn
to see, we learn to see what we have been missing.

We can live in a world of Aha’s!, a world of wonders. If we choose, we can see marvels around each corner. Yet how often we miss this completely. You may not believe it now, but much of our reality is effectively invisible. We look right past it—as if it weren’t even there.
Yet we can open our eyes and regain this invisible world. The goal of the first chapter is precisely this: to begin to see more, and to see with fresh vision. Now we can truly be creative.

Our first step is to become more consciously aware. And then to be more aware of this awareness—more self-aware— to decide what we are doing, what we want to change, want to keep, and even make part of our lifestyle.

If you, the good reader, are willing to take a little risk and try three experiences later on, here is betting you will see a difference! Even if you’re super-perceptive right now, you should see something. After all, says the Zen student, it can take aeons truly to learn to see. But, let us add, only a microsecond to reframe our reality. And to open our minds to whole new vistas.

Not so sure about this? Here’s a moment that stopped me cold.

Compiled by Nicholas Weeks – USA

[This is an excerpt from the Avatamsaka Sutra, chapter 11, Pure Conduct.  It is a daily practice that uses our mind to uplift ordinary actions into nobler, less self-centered actions. It is from the City of 10,000 Buddhas website: Click here ]

Avatamsaka Sutra

At that time, Manjushri Bodhisattva said to Foremost Wisdom Bodhisattva, “Good indeed! Disciple of the Buddha, out of a wish to bring great benefit and peace to all beings in the world, on whom you take pity, and to benefit and delight gods and humans, you have now asked about such principles.

George Harrison must have known about Theosophy. Working Class Mystic, written by Gary Tillery was recently published by Quest Books. Look out for the review in our next issue.

George Harrison

Many articles have appeared dealing with the “Harrison phenomenon”. He was much more than just a member of the Fab Four. Also Martin Scorcese’s documentary George Harrison – Living in the Material World has contributed to a renewed interest in the life and work of the ex-Beatle.

Clancy D. McKenzie, M.D. – USA

[Dr. Clancy McKenzie is one of the world’s foremost experts on schizophrenia and mental health]

Proper nutrition, exercise and relaxation are recognized as vital ingredients for a long and healthy life. But a fourth ingredient, LOVE, can add as much to one’s energy and longevity as all other factors combined, and yet this important factor is all but omitted from current health protocols -- and even from scientific study.

Compiled by Nicholas Weeks

All you can do is to prepare the intellect: the impulse toward "soul-culture" must be furnished by the individual. Thrice fortunate they who can break through the vicious circle of modern influence and come up above the vapours! ... We have one word for all aspirants: try. [KH in Mahatma Letters, #54; 2nd Ed. #35.]

II 4 O Rama, listen to what I [Vasishtha] am about to say, which instruction is sure to remove the darkness of ignorance.  A well-sustained self-effort leads to success in every field of life.  Wherever one encounters failure, it is due to lack of self-effort.

Liberation produces selflessness; we lose our selfishness when we come to know the unity of the soul.  By effort one can attain knowledge which leads to salvation. This is obvious; but what is called God, destiny or fate is fictitious and is not seen. The dull and the ignorant created God, which is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation affecting one.

Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP – USA

Every day Fitness

Living life to the fullest is all about striving for a mind-body balance every day. Achieve a mental, nutritional, and physical transformation for life with tips from wellness expert Pamela Peeke, MD.

While he was president, Bill Clinton packed on the weight. Talk about stress eating! By the time his two terms were up, he was 20 pounds heavier and looking forward to a well-deserved rest.

But he was still gobbling burgers, shakes, and fries. Four years after leaving office, Clinton was on tour promoting his memoir “My Life” and his life took a sudden turn for the cardiac. Chest tightness led to a quadruple bypass and a major come-to-heaven session with himself.

It was time to clean up his act — and his arteries.

For the next five years, Clinton was more diligent about his diet, cutting calories, and increasing his physical activity. But it still wasn’t enough. In 2010, he had to undergo another operation, this time to repair clogged veins from his bypass.