Medley

Life is difficult and throws challenges. But even in the darkest times there is hope. Joy is present at all times, we just have to recognize it. “Finding joy in the little things can be a game-changer. A smile from a stranger, a beautiful sunrise, the laughter of children, and scores of other little things bring joy to life,” write Jaya Row. We miss out on these joys because either we are too busy chasing after external objects, or preoccupied with worry and anxiety. Our mind tends to focus on something that we do not have. When our mind is focused on a future achievement, we miss enjoying what we already have. As soon as we get what we wanted, our mind shifts to something else. This goes on endlessly. As a result, we find ourselves always unhappy, miserable and agitated.

Kenneth Small – USA

We have met the enemy and he is us

Transforming Cycles of Inner Dissonance and Outer Violence

The root of war is fear. Fearing the unknown in others is reflective of our fear of the unknown within ourselves. Accepting our fear of the unknown rejected parts within us and owning what we projected unconsciously onto the ‘enemy’, transforms our inner fears enhancing our inner peace and outer harmony.

Accepting the root of our fear, giving it the awareness it needs to grow by welcoming our fears, seeing and accepting them, transforms these fears into the inner empathic sensing elements we need. Unblocking our empathic capacity into broader compassion opens a way to see the intrinsic humanity in our perceived ‘enemy’. Rejecting the inherent humanity in others, degrades and rejects the humanity in ourselves. Through inner work, meditation and contemplative inquiry we may begin to see our shared common ground that holds all beings within the unified web of life, which then motivates us to engage in greater expressions of compassion and peace making for the greater good.

A new, biomass-based material developed by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers can be used to repeatedly capture and release carbon dioxide.

The material is primarily made from lignin, an organic molecule that is a main component of wood and other plants, and it can take up carbon dioxide (CO2) from concentrated sources or directly from the air. The research was published by Advanced Materials.

Jouko Ikonen – Finland

Jouko, a lifelong seeker. He is member of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) and The Finnish Rosy Cross

I. BE CLEAN

When you work in the world, keep nature clean so that future generations can take pleasure in its purity. Leave the earth, water, air, and fire clean for those that will come after you, as your ancestors left them for you.

When you work on your inner self, watch over your emotions and thoughts so they are clean for yourself and others.

In this way, you will gradually build your being—your soul, spirit, and physical body—to be pure and brilliant, and you will be ready to encounter what is highest in you.

Kathleen Hall – Canada

My fascination with Egypt began in my childhood. We had a wonderful old set of the Books of Knowledge, and I would often sit curled up in a big, overstuffed chair in my family’s study pouring through these books and looking at all the magnificent places on our planet. When I came to the section on the Seven Wonders of the World, I was in complete awe of the grandeur and mystery of these sites and, in particular, the pyramids. Sharing this information one day to an older, blind gentleman at one of our family dinners he told me I must be sure to travel to Egypt one day and see these wonders for myself.

New research led by the University of Oxford has found that perceptions of globally shared life experiences and globally shared biology can strengthen psychological bonding with humanity at large, which can motivate prosocial action on a global scale and help to tackle global problems. The findings have been published today in Royal Society Open Science.

It appears that excessive positivity is bad for one’s health and mental well-being. It is beneficial to have a positive mindset, but the idea that we should always look on the bright side has gone too far. People struggling with low self-esteem are being asked these days to repeat self-affirmations such as, “I am a lovable person,” which could boost a person’s moods and feelings of worth. Psychologists studying self-affirmation found that as the participants feeling low did not believe in what they were saying, they ended up feeling worse. It has been termed “toxic positivity.” It is “the idea that a forced optimistic interpretation of our experiences alongside the suppression of the negative emotions can do real damage.”