Here we go with another video. I’m getting a little better at just talking to you and not reading as much, but to be on the safe side, I do have a script so I don’t wander too far off topic. If you don’t want to watch the video, I’ve copied the script below so you can read it.

Here’s a link in case the clip doesn’t work for some reason:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1lN69gnNyo

Have a great and peaceful day — and here goes ….

Can There Be Hope in Hopelessness?

I think a lot about hope these days, don’t you? This world of ours seems to grow darker every day. People are losing jobs all around us — more and more businesses are having to close their doors — wars continue to rage in so many countries — people are losing their homes — How is it possible to look forward to a more positive future with all this going on?

This is a serious question. I’m really struggling to understand how I might be able to restore the feeling of hope — in order to maintain our positive vision for the world. I used to believe that if we worked hard, did our jobs, kept new, good ideas flowing, we’d make a difference. But if people are losing hope that these attributes will work any longer, how can we all keep going?

I read a quote the other day on the Internet by someone named Rudolf Bahro, an activist who lived in West Germany — who, during his most creative years showed an unparalleled knack for glimpsing the future. He said, “When the forms of an old culture are dying, the new culture is created by a few people who aren’t afraid to be insecure.” Isn’t that interesting? Is it possible that insecurity — doubting ourselves — could be a good thing? I’ve read about groundlessness in my study of Buddhist teachings. In fact, I admit to feeling pretty groundless lately myself — but I don’t like the feeling at all.

Then, yesterday evening, I went to a lecture by Michael Dowd, who wrote, “Thank God for Evolution”. Not only did he discuss the concept that out of chaos comes order in his talk last night, he also devotes an entire chapter in his book to this concept. It’s the chapter called, “Beyond Sustainablity: An Inspiring Vision”. In it he says, “We are entering a new phase of awareness and interdependence on a planetary scale …” and, “..unless we take a square look at what could otherwise drive us into despair, authentic and full-bodied hope will elude us.”

What if we change the way we feel about how things will turn out? What if we cease to rely on the certainty that “something” will turn out well, and instead be certain that “something” makes sense no matter how it turns out? What if we learned to lose our fear of insecurity?

In Buddhist teaching we learn that hopelessness is not the opposite of hope — Fear is the opposite of hope! Anytime we hope for something to turn out a certain way, and we work our butts off to make it happen — then aren’t we also introducing fear? Fear of failure. Fear of loss.

However, hopelessness is free of fear and can be liberating in some way. How would we feel if we faced the fact that our work might turn out to be worthless –that it might achieve no result at all — or perhaps result in the exact opposite of what we expected? If we could get used to this idea — if we could begin to concentrate not so much on the results, but rather on the value — the rightness — and the truth of the work, wouldn’t we begin to sense a sort of freedom? Wouldn’t we begin to focus less on the results and more on who we’re doing the work for — the people?

It was Thomas Merton who said, “We are consoled and strengthened by being hopeless together. We don’t need specific outcomes – we need each other.” That quote reminds me of some of the disasters we’ve seen lately. We see how people begin to pull together even though there’s not much going for them. Employers who have lost orders for their products, but still keep their employees on full pay and send them out into the community to help others. Restaurants who offer meals at whatever a person can afford — or in return for helping with the dishes — or waiting on tables — or sweeping the floors. Some of the customers who are not suffering financially, will pay as much as twice what the meal would normally cost. People, many who are hopeless, working together to ease the suffering of others.

Perhaps we should adopt a new way of journeying through this time of increasing uncertainty by accepting groundlessness, hopelessness, and insecurity for what they are. In return we also experience more patience and clarity. And the big plus — we’re all together as we make this journey.

Be well — be in peace…

Ron Rink
===============================================
I believe in meditation! In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

=======================================================
Oh, and you can always get a notice of any new blog posts I’m doing or any other goodies by following me on Twitter. Just click here—> http://www.twitter.com/youcould2

Have a healthy and nutritious day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron Rink

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.wecould2.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com
============================================================

Here we go with another video. I still don’t have the courage to try to completely ad-lib one of these yet, so I’m using a script so I don’t mess up and do a lot of “uhs” while I’m recording. Hope it’s alright. If you don’t want to watch the video, I’ve copied the script below so you can read it.

Have a great and peaceful day — and here goes ….

Just to Be Alive is Enough!

Just to Be Alive is Enough!

Many of you who may have been following one or the other of my blogs, know how much I advocate for peace. Peace has been a passion in my life for many years — let’s see — I’ve been on the search for peace on earth — and peace in the home — and that wonderful inner peace — for over 50 years now.

In the early 1950′s — during the Korean War, I learned that violence was not the way to solve any problem. And, even to this day, I’m a believer in the old song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let It Begin With Me”.

Now that I’ve reached the mid-point of being in my 70s, I’ve also learned another powerful bit of knowledge — and that is this, — “There is no greater gift — (other than world peace)– than to be grateful for our lives”. There’s another gift that goes right along with being grateful — gratitude leads naturally to generosity because we want to share this gift with others.

So, in today’s video, I would like to do a bit of this sharing with you.

One of the teachings of Buddha (I do follow a Buddhist lifestyle) is about impermanence — It’s this — There is nothing that is permanent — nothing. One example which is most prominent in my life is that I know I’m going to die — everyone will. There is a teaching in Buddhism which says, “Death is certain. The time of death is uncertain.” Since we never know when the time will come, it only makes good sense to reach some understanding of how to live a life we know will end at some point. As I grow my wisdom of this it only makes sense to devote my Buddhist practice to gratitude.

As an integral part of this practice we learn there is nothing we need to get that is not already, right here, right now, at this very moment, in this body and this mind as it is. What a gift this is! Not only is life a gift — and our Buddhist practice a gift — everything we have, without exception, has come to us through the kindness of others.

When I lived in Vermont, I spent some time with one of the Buddhist teachers who lived there. She taught her students a meditation to cultivate gratitude. She asked us to think of everything we thought of as ours, and to consider how these things came to us. Our food, our clothing, our homes, books, tools, our health — she taught us how everything we can think of comes to us through the kindness of others. Even something we may have made with our own hands depends on the tools and materials we used to make it.

And we, through the activities of our lives, are also offering gifts to others. It’s sort of like a dance of giving and receiving which goes on continually. Gratitude and generosity generate each other.

I’d like to end today’s video with this wonderful poem by one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver. It’s called, “Summer Day”.

“Who made the world?
Who made the swan and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down –
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open and floats away.
I don’t exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?”

Be well — Be in peace,

Ron Rink
=======================================================
I believe in meditation! In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

=======================================================

Oh, and you can always get a notice of any new blog posts I’m doing or any other goodies by following me on Twitter. Just click here—> http://www.twitter.com/youcould2

Have a peaceful day!

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

Ron Rink

http://www.buddhistbelief.com
http://www.wecould2.com
http://www.theleaderinside.com

Here we go with another video attempt. I still don’t have the courage to try to completely ad-lib one of these yet, so I’m using a script so I don’t mess up and do a lot of “uhs” while I’m recording. Hope it’s alright. If you don’t want to watch the video, I’ve copied the script below so you can read it.

Have a great and peaceful day — and here goes ….

How Well Can We See?

How Well Can We See?

We can only see so much from where we sit in our particular bodies, in the midst of our particular lives, rooted as we are in the continuum of our own space and time.

The universe, on the other hand, is not limited to space or time restrictions, and its wisdom and workings often elude us, especially when we’re trying to make sense of what’s happening in our lives.

This is why things are not always what they seem to be and even the best-laid plans can get all screwed-up. Even when we feel we’ve been guided by our intuition every step of the way, we may find ourselves facing unexpected loss and disappointment. At times like these, we can find some solace in trusting that no matter how bad or just plain inexplicable things look from our perspective, they are, in fact, in perfect order in the universe.

Even as we take our places in our earthly bodies, a part of us remains completely free of the restrictions we face here. Regardless of what is happening in our lives, this universal part of us is always filled with joy and gratitude, connected to the unbroken source from which we come.

Our small self, our ego-self, who is caught up in our false identity, this limited being, regards happiness as the result of things going just the way it wants them to go. It’s this small part of us that suffers the greatest confusion and upset when the logic of events doesn’t seem to compute.

It is to this self that we must extend our unconditional love, forgiveness, and compassion. In order to do this, we tap into our inner universe, where the tenderness within us can extend love and light to our ego — just as a mother extends her love to a troubled child.

There are many ways to access our inner universe, -— among them are meditation, prayer, chanting, channeling, and conscious breathing, to name a few. It’s helpful to develop a regular practice that provides us access to this all-powerful, healing presence. This presence can be difficult to reach once we’re in a stressful position, especially if we have’t already established a connection.

The more connected we are with this part of ourselves, the more we share its unlimited vision and the secure, knowing that all the things of our life, no matter how they appear, are in a state of divine and perfect order.

Be well — Be in peace,

Ron Rink
=======================================================
I believe in meditation! In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

=======================================================

Every once in a while I add an articles to the regular stream of our Wellness, Fitness and Weight Loss Ideas blog that is somehwat “off-topic”. And, once again, this article is one that I received from Roger and Kathy Cawthon of The Cancer Crusade. Their web site address is: The Cancer Crusade. Please drop by there and learn more.

Their article is credited to Deedra Miller. While her words are focused on her daughter and her cancer diagnosis, her words of wisdom and advice could certainly be applied to any family member of friend who was ill and need of support.

I may be back later today or tomorrow with another in our regular series.

Shanti,

Ron
____________________________________________________________________________
Thanks to Deedra Miller for
submitting this week’s affirmation.

My daughter was diagnosed with cancer in September, 2004. There was such an outpouring of support and so many people wanted to help that, after a while, it actually became something of a problem. We didn’t want to hurt people’s feelings, but all we could think of was what was going on at the hospital. With the shock of the diagnosis and so much uncertainty about the future, we really didn’t know what we would need, but as time went by, and through much trial and error, we came up with a list of a few things that really helped us out.

1. Play with our pets. We spent a lot of time at the hospital, and even when we were home, we were pre- occupied. We asked a neighbor to spend some time playing with our dogs and giving them attention.

2. Pick up the mail.

3. Decorate our house for the holidays. I did not have the time or the energy, but when I put out the boxes for different holidays, my friends came over and put the decorations up. Later they took them down and put them away. It really lifted our spirits to come home from the hospital and see our decorations up. At a time when we felt we were missing out on so much, this made us feel like we were still a part of the holiday seasons. On Halloween, we had pumpkins on our porch. On Valentine’s Day, there were hearts hanging from a tree.

4. Deliver meals. One friend was the contact and she made a schedule and gave people food ideas (foods we liked, and not too many lasagnas in one month). We kept a cooler on the front porch so people could put the meals in it. This way we could keep germs out, and if we were busy or resting, we didn’t feel obligated to visit. There were markers in the cooler so people could sign it (or you could put a pen and pad inside for people to leave notes).

5. Take care of our plants (inside and out). It’s no fun to see things dying.

6. Remember the kids (siblings or children). People sent our son gift cards. This reminded him that others understood this had changed his life, too.

7. Donate items. Friends brought those household items that are convenient to have on hand: laundry soap, paper towels, paper plates, disinfectant wipes, etc. Other thoughtful gifts included gas cards, restaurant cards and video rentals.

8. Help with cleaning. Some people don’t want their friends to see their “dirty laundry,” so they turn down offers of help with housework. Several Sunday school classes at our church took turns hiring a maid service for us. We loved it!

It’s also important for friends and family to respect the wishes of the patient and his family when they say they don’t want certain types of help. Maybe they don’t know what they want. It doesn’t help when others put pressure on them to come up with something.

The patient and his family may feel like they’ve lost so much control that they don’t want others to do everything for them. They don’t want to feel like they’ve lost control of everything, so sometimes it’s best not to push them into coming up with ways for you to help.

It really helped us when someone offered to do one of the above because they were things that could be done without us having to sit there and feel incapable. It’s really hard to sit and watch others take care of you, and it can make you feel guilty. That’s not the point of helping. The point is to simply and quietly make the patient and his family’s life a little better.

I will be back in a little while to share my thoughts and ideas for the “Outer You” as promised yesterday.

Before I get to that, I want to share this short motivational movie with you. In fact, sharing this movie will give me great pleasure.

I’ve shared other movies like this before, but this one is a bit different from those others. This movie was orignally a motivational song. It’s a wonderful song with great lyrics, and the movie has absolutely stunning visuals.

This one is called “The Power of My Way” and can be seen at:

http://www.ThePowerofMyWayMovie.com

Please take a “brain break” from your day and enjoy it.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. It’s a real winner.

Remember, take a break while you watch this. Just relax for a couple minutes and let your mind flow.

Here’s the link again:

http://www.ThePowerofMyWayMovie.com

More movies to come in the future!

Shanti,

Ron