Forgive

Forgive

Comments 0 Comment

Ask for forgiveness, forgive others, forgive ourselves. Move on. Strive to be better. Failing, forgive again and strive again.

The prayer in the poster is Buddhist but forgiveness is pretty much the essence of Christianity. In the Gospels Jesus drives this message home time after time:

“Forgive us trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

“And to him who strikes you on your cheek, offer the other, and from whoever takes away your cloak, withhold not your coat also.”

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you.”

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Rome: A Flying Visit

Rome: A Flying Visit

Comments 0 Comment

Rome is possibly the greatest tourist city in the world; it’s been at it for a very long time. We visited the Basilica in St Peter’s Square and saw the tombs of dead popes. A night walk from St Peter’s Square to Trevi Fountain via a few long cuts left us both quite tired. A lot in a day. Sandy did well to do it despite painful feet. We will take it easier when we return. And perhaps learn to ignore the myriad street traders.

This is a short film on our short trip using photos and video captured on my Motorola G Android smartphone. The phone is new and the photos would probably have been better if I had been more familiar with it. I downloaded the music from http://freemusicarchive.org/.

Tony Benn

Tony Benn

Comments 0 Comment

Tony Benn died today (14 March 2014) at age 88. A brilliant teacher.

Here is George Galloway eulogising Tony Benn:

And this is a brilliant succinct exposition on the class struggle … the very last sentence is wonderfully appropriate today.

Global Warning

Global Warning

Comments 0 Comment

According to David Roberts and the majority of climate scientists we are facing imminent disaster. Global warming will cause droughts and floods and consequent mass starvation across the planet and will eventually result in the planet becoming uninhabitable. Scientists have been saying this for years but we have been collectively too stupid or too fatalistic to respond in the way we should. We don’t have the political systems that can respond properly to this crisis. Bottom line is we have the political, economic and social systems that reflect our state of consciousness so we need to change that consciousness and make the political and economic systems responsive to that better consciousness.
Teachers, philosophers and religious/spiritual leaders have a big role to play here and the dangers presented by climate change should have a catalysing effect.

Resources:

NASA: Global Climate Change

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o

Comments 0 Comment

Lupita Nyong’o stunned her audience and has created a stir on the Internet with her honest and therefore very courageous speech on being black in a world where a dark skin is not esteemed. It is important not to miss its significance. It is not only about black beauty but also about true beauty, which she names as compassion. It is right and very welcome that Lupita has become a role model for black girls but it is fabulous that she points beyond glamour to a more fundamental reality. And glamour will be Lupita’s most seductive and dangerous challenge as she continues to be lauded by the world’s media.

Clearly a remarkably articulate and intelligent young woman Lupita will have to remember the lines from Kiplings’s ‘If’:

“IF you can keep your head ..”

“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;”

“If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much”

Who is Mooji

Who is Mooji

Comments 0 Comment

I had no idea who Mooji is before seeing a Facebook post with this passage but I find his insight here to be very profound and beautifully put:

Relax without laziness
Focus without tension
Perceive without projecting
Witness without judging
Enjoy without craving
Reflect without imagining
Love without condition
Give without demanding
Receive without possessing
Serve without self-seeking
Challenge without dominating
Meditate without identity
Correct without blaming
Overcome without pride
Laugh without cynicism
Cry without pity
Confront without hatred
Guide without superiority
Be without self-defining
Live without arrogance
Enter without self-importance
Depart without regret
Be one with God

~ Mooji

At first this seems like an unattainable aspiration but then I realise that:

Where there is laziness there is not true relaxation
Projecting distorts perception
And the witness that judges tampers with his own witnessing
We do not fully enjoy a moment if there is craving that it be better or other or that it last forever.

And so on. There is a lot here to reflect upon.

America the Beautiful?

America the Beautiful?

Comments 0 Comment

Yes, a beautifully made commercial, albeit for a toxic beverage, that presents America as land of harmonious, relaxed multiculturalism. However the storm of protest at the song ‘America the Beautiful’ being sung in different languages undermines this message.

The Plank Challenge

The Plank Challenge

Comments 0 Comment

The 30 Day Plank Challenge will send your core strength through the roof! Yes, all you have to do is HOLD this position, nothing else! It looks pretty easy, but it isn’t!

Day 1 – 20 seconds
Day 2 – 20 seconds
Day 3 – 30 seconds
Day 4 – 30 seconds
Day 5 – 40 seconds
Day 6 – REST
Day 7 – 45 seconds
Day 8 – 45 seconds
Day 9 – 60 seconds
Day 10 – 60 seconds
Day 11 – 60 seconds
Day 12 – 90 seconds
Day 13 – REST
Day 14 – 90 seconds
Day 15 – 90 seconds
Day 16 – 120 seconds
Day 17 – 120 seconds
Day 18 – 150 seconds
Day 19 – REST
Day 20 – 150 seconds
Day 21 – 150 seconds
Day 22 – 180 seconds
Day 23 – 180 seconds
Day 24 – 210 seconds
Day 25 – 210 seconds
Day 26 – REST
Day 27 – 240 seconds
Day 28 – 240 seconds
Day 29 – 270 seconds
Day 30 – PLANK FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!!

**SHARE to your Timeline to SAVE for later**

Benefits of Plank Exercise:

*It strengthens your lower back
*It develops your core muscles – which include the abs, back, hips and the butt.
*Helps you to avoid injuries and encourage good posture
*Can be done anywhere
*Develops your abdominals by targeting the rectus abdominis

SUPPORT each other in Fitness!!

I got this from a post in Facebook. It doesn’t appear to be difficult and I will add it to my developing fitness practice alongside the at least five minutes QiGong ‘Standing Stake’ that I have also resolved to add.