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Mahatma Ghandi, Yoko Ono & Seva Art
November 25, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
What do Mahatma Gandhi, Yoko Ono and Doctors without Borders have in common? a: 5yearplan.org.
Yoko Ono will be one of 20 artists whose work will make up a unique silk screened, hand bound, handloom khadi cotton cloth book. Each book comes with a handloom khadi jhola shoulder bag.
65 copies will be signed by all the artists and only 500 copies total will be made. All profits from sales will go to Doctors without Borders (MSF) and to fund the next 5yearplan project.
The 5 year plan is an ongoing effort to re-orient art and art production towards generosity and participation, while bridging cultures. In honour of Mahatma Ghandi the 5 year plan is undertaken as ‘seva’ (selfless service). The cloth for the books comes from the Ghandi Ashram Collectives, which help millions of rural villagers survive by sustaining local industries and agriculture.
The 5yearplan website is in itself a work of art – check it out.
5 Year Plan from swirly byraloo on Vimeo.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
God & Life Tweets
July 9, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
God – Great Mystery, only fools would claim to know thee and thy ways
The Divine Mother creates the world – we just get to play in it : )
The mystery does not have limits; it is not controllable; it cannot be contained.
love is the force that animates creation and weaves this unfathomably wondrous web. Hard to see often doesn’t make it not so
Whatever we think God is can only ever be a very limited view
Your spiritual core is all that is real – the rest is a charade of mind
In the Mystery we cease to have to know or control, we trust in the perfection of each moment’s unfolding
Love by its nature doesn’t want anything, it simply IS
Life is love seeking to remember and become itself
Life is a stream, it only flows in one direction, resistance is slowly, inevitable worn away
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreFear, Conflict & Spirituality Tweets
July 6, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Continuing my practice of accumulating some of my ruminations on Twitter here’s some from the past months on Fear, Conflict & Spirituality
The energy of fear inhibits the minds of humanity, the release of fear is the solution for every situation that challenges humanity
Fear is the root of all suffering
Fear acts like gravity on human consciousness, keeping perspective narrow
Fear is like a weed that will keep growing in the mind until every root is removed
Fear is the inner lie that hides the Divine
Healing all fear = liberation
FEAR = False Energy Appearing Real. Fear is the source of illusion/samskara/maya
How many thoughts, words, actions, even positive appearing, actually arise from fear?
All control arises from fear
Whether it’s terrorists or flu pandemics it’s Fear Feeding & Fear is the real disease
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreRam Dass – Still Hip
May 23, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Many times over the years I meet someone, usually in the baby boomer generation who tells me that Ram Dass was their first introduction to Eastern spiritual ideas. Now, nearly 40 years after the landmark publication of his book ‘Be Here Now’ he is still going strong.
For those of us who have grown up in later generations it is hard to imagine a world where the richness and diversity of spiritual knowledge from the great land of India are not readily available. Maybe because of that it is harder for us to appreciate just what a trail blazer Ram Dass was on his return from India in 1969, inspired by the teaching of his Guru Neem Karoli Baba and Baba Hari Dass.
Admittedly, he was slowed down over the last decade by a stroke in 1997. That life change became a deepening of Ram Dass’s spiritual journey and not a hindrance to it.
Hidden deep within all of us is a primordial fear of death. Despite his many years of work with the dying through the ‘Dying Project’, his stroke brought Ram Dass to direct experience of his own mortality.
Of that debilitating event Ram Dass later said, "I had been superficial and arrogant and the stroke helped me to be humble. I had gotten power from helping people and now I need help for everything. That was the grace. The stroke happened to the ego, and when I could witness the pain, my life got better."
Now 79 and with a new hip replacement Ram Dass is still teaching on retreats and giving satsangs. Recently some of these activities are being made available to those outside Hawaii through the internet as Ram Dass continues to inspire new generations of spiritual seekers.
This Sunday May 24th, renowned spiritual teacher will give satsang with guest speakers Lei Ohu Ryder and Lama Gyaltsen at The Studio Maui.
Find out what else Ram Dass is up to in the near future and how to sign up for online satsang at http://www.ramdass.org
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Meditation Of A Spiritual Warrior
May 16, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
This is a wonderful 14th Century Samurai Warrior meditation. The author is unknown, but it is a timeless jewel of wisdom that can inspire you to discover the Spiritual Warrior inside of you.
I have no parents:
I make the heaven and earth my parents.
I have no home:
I make awareness my home.
I have no life and death:
I make the tides of breathing my life and death.
I have no divine powers:
I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means:
I make understanding my means.
I have no secrets:
I make character my secret.
I have no body:
I make endurance my body.
I have no strategy:
I make "unshadowed by thought" my strategy.
I have no design:
I make "seizing opportunity by the forelock" my design.
I have no miracles:
I make right action my miracle.
I have no principles:
I make adaptability to all circumstances my principle.
I have no tactics:
I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.
I have no talent:
I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends:
I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy:
I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no armor:
I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.
I have no castle:
I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword:
I make absence of self my sword.
The idea of the spiritual warrior is one much prone to misunderstanding, especially for those who like shaolin monk kung fu movies!It is though a principle that I feel quite strongly, because my own experience of spiritual evolution is that it takes a great deal of courage.
When we choose meditation, not as a form of stress management, emotional management manifesting technique, or any one of the numerous other applications that use the term these days, but as a means to sit with the darkness, fear and rage within in us, it takes a warriors courage to keep returning to that place and meditate as a means of transforming these illusions of separation.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
Loving Ourselves Unconditionally
May 11, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
"Love the one you are with. That will always include you."
Our Spiritual Nature
People often ask me how they can love themselves unconditionally, regardless of what they have done or how they think or feel. When we realize our spiritual nature, we have a better way of looking at what we do as human beings. By remembering who we are spiritually, we can more easily be loving and accepting towards ourselves and all that comes forward in our lives. So, I suggest that as we start out and complete with each day, we take the opportunity to engage ourselves inwardly in the Spirit first.
When we choose to realize ourselves spiritually, we find ourselves functioning according to the laws of Spirit — acceptance, cooperation, understanding, enthusiasm and empathy. There is an aligning of how we are intending ourselves spiritually, as souls who are one with God. A key is to appreciate with gratitude whatever comes your way. Everything has value. Nothing needs to be different from what it is, including you. Yet, in this world, change is constant. While living in the world and coping with change may be challenging, you can learn to align with and practice how to apply the laws of Spirit and love it all.
Gratitude
Begin the day by getting yourself in a consciousness of gratitude. There is a reason God is bringing a challenge to you. You can ask inside, "Help me to understand, Lord. What is it I am to learn?" Some days you just have to do the best you can. So say, "Thank you, Lord," and choose to handle the situation as best you can with what you know and the conditions present.
As you start the day, first surround and fill yourself with Light and love. You can do this as a prayer to God, an invocation of the Light, or through your creative imagination. Then, extend the Light into your day as you see yourself moving forward in the world. During the day, remember that the Light goes before you and prepares the way. All the things that come forward in your day, expected or unexpected, wanted or unwanted, are part of that Light action which is always present within you.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
Spiritual & Philosphical Tweets
April 25, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 2 Comments
Twitter is a buzz phenomena on the internet right now and I have been tweeting for a while as @consciousone. I have ‘met’ some really interesting, gifted and talented people on twitter that I sincerely hope I meet in person some day.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it’s all about it is communicating, sharing and connecting using 140 characters or less. Basically a sentence.It isn’t much to work with but it can help hone an idea to it’s essence.
Below are some of my past tweets loosely on the themes of Spiritual and Philosphical musings, I will also make posts of tweets on Mind & Meditation and another of Love, Unity & Oneness
◦ What one thing can you do everyday to raise your consciousness & vibration? Can you do it more?
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◦ God has been at play a very long time, for humans to think we are the peak of his creation is beyond arrogance
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◦ Having someone open the door is very different from knowing how to open it yourself
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◦ Just Be It
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◦ How would u be different if every word, thought & deed led to either the demise or salvation of human life?
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◦ If this moment could be the one of your enlightenment, how much more attention would you give it
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◦ I invite you to believe in the real possibility of enlightenment in this life
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◦ The Stillness i salways present. Do you feel it?
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◦ The Silence is always calling, do you hear it?
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◦ Non of the maps & models of reality are reality or truly map or model it, reality is too big, too simple & yet also too complex
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◦ Awakening is to realize you always were, you just didn’t notice
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◦ Not this body but this body,not these feelingsbut these feelings,not these thoughts but these thoughts.To be human is a paradox of wonder.
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◦ Imagine a world that does not operate on the exchange of money!
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◦ If there were no need to earn money, what would you do with your time on earth?
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◦ Fundamental change only comes from Raising Consciousness, for which there is no ceiling
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◦ Balance is static = death – Equilibrium is fluid = life
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◦ The only place to get anywhere is from exactly where you are
You can follow me on twitter for more waxing lyrical by clicking on the icon top right of the home page.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreLove – Unity – Oneness Tweets
April 24, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · 3 Comments
Twitter is a buzz phenomena on the internet right now and I have been tweeting for a while as @consciousone. I have ‘met’ some really interesting, gifted and talented people on twitter that I sincerely hope I meet in person some day.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it’s all about it is communicating, sharing and connecting using 140 characters or less. Basically a sentence.It isn’t much to work with but it can help hone an idea to it’s essence.
Below are some of my past tweets loosely on the themes of love, Unity & Oneness, I will also make posts of tweets on Mind & Meditation and another of Spiritual and Philosphical musings
◦ The only authentic source of love is within our own heart, all else is mind chasing itself
◦ Some count breaths, some mantras, some count money, some twitter followers – God isn’t an accountant & you can’t count love
◦ Love is the source of healing – the means of healing – and the result of healing
◦ What did you do that brought you closer to love today?
◦ Truth is not found in the mind, it is experienced in the heart.
◦ It’s all about heart, everything else is the way there
◦ Imagine living in a world where the truth of Unity – Oneness is a simply a given- Inherent in every part of living- You just felt the future
◦ The way we treat the earth reflects the way we internally treat ourselves, treat our bodies, and treat each other. Oneness – its amazing!
◦ Meditate on this – If Oneness was lived & embodied, what would U no longer do, think, say, feel, see, or hear?
◦ How is the ONE experiencing itself through you now?
◦ If you believe all is One, where do you not match your belief?
◦ A deeper relationship with yourself allows deeper relationships with others.
◦ Do you act in the world to get what you can or give what you’ve got?
◦ Enlightenment is just the Beginning, Sri Aurobindo – Humbling isn’t it!
◦ God is all that is=everything you experience is God. How are U experiencing God Now. Carry this thru the day- It’s All God -U too
You can follow me on twitter for more waxing lyrical by clicking on the icon top right of the home page.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
The Seva Foundation
March 16, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
Seva is a sanskrit word meaning selfless service. Spiritual teachers like Amma say that in this Kali Yuga (age of Kali) seva is a vital spiritual practice to overcome the egoic minds innate selfish tendencies. These are the principles of the Seva Foundation, now 30 years old and going stronger than ever.
In 1978, after working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to end smallpox in India, Dr. Larry Brilliant (currently Executive Director of Google.org), and his wife Girija, a public health specialist, published an article entitled Death of a Killer Disease. It was their personal story of their years in Asia, first as youthful travelers, then as spiritual seekers, and finally as part of WHO’s successful smallpox eradication team.
They concluded the article with an appeal to readers to find the compassion and understanding to support international health programs to benefit those struggling with poverty.
People who read it were moved, and before long $20,000 of donations arrived in Larry and Girija’s mailbox — with the first $5,000 coming from not-yet-famous, Steve Jobs.
This money inspired and funded a remarkable conference of friends and colleagues to consider what to do next — how could they be of service? The eclectic group included the World Health Organization’s Dr. Nicole Grasset, spiritual teacher Ram Dass, and Berkeley activists Wavy Gravy and Jahanara Romney.
The group created Seva Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing effective partnerships to build solutions to poverty and disease. Inspired by Dr. G. Venkataswami, who was just launching a new, high-volume eye clinic in India that would become the internationally known Aravind Eye Care Systems, Seva set to work making sight-restoring cataract surgery
available to poor patients in developing countries.
Continuing today Seva’s Center for Innovation in Eye Care is leading efforts to scale up equitable and affordable eye care services around the world. In 2008, it launched the So One Million Eyes See Again campaign as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment. Seva will help over 100 hospitals scale-up their capacity so that by 2015 one million more eyes receive cataract surgery each year above current levels, a plan that will revolutionize eye care in the developing world.
While continuing their work in Asia, in 1983, Seva began to provide aid to Guatemalan refugees displaced by war. That project has evolved to become the Community Self-Development Program (CSD), which partners with local indigenous groups in Guatemala and Mexico to help them address the basic needs of their communities, including education, health, and civic leadership skills.
CSD works with local partners to create access to culturally appropriate literacy programs and other educational resources; helps train local health workers and midwives; finances the construction of clean water systems; and providorder to advocate for their own communities.
Around the same time back in the USA Seva Foundation partners with Native Americans working to build healthy communities, sustain their culture, and protect sacred lands and the environment. We began in 1982, when we helped establish the Porcupine Clinic on the Pine Ridge Reservation — the first Native American-operated health clinic in the country.
In 1996, Seva launched the Diabetes Talking Circle, a highly effective training that helps Native people develop self-managed strategies for diabetes prevention and treatment. In 2006, the U.S. Indian Health Services Agency (IHS) adopted the Talking Circles model as a Best Practice, making it available to tribes across the country.
The Diabetes Talking Circle model is now active in over 75 tribal sites and has trained nearly 600 health care professionals
serving Native populations across the United States.
Seva Foundation started as a small group with a big idea, and the idea was this: To be fully human, we must translate our compassion and concern into useful service.
That simple statement conveys something about the nature of compassion that is expressed in most spiritual traditions around the world — that compassion is not just about helping those less fortunate than ourselves, it’s about the realization that we are all connected as one human family.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out moreAmma – Gods Love In A Human Form
February 6, 2009 by Ray Baskerville · Leave a Comment
I consider myself deeply privileged to have spent so much time withAmma. It would take an entire book to describe the experience of being with her and I suspect even that would offer an inadequate description. There are many gurus and teachers in the world today, some wonderful, many dubious. Amma is quite literally beyond. Beyond the capacity to describe, to know or understand, beyond any normal human parameters. Amma doesn’t do miracles, she is a miracle. A regular, or even spiritually advanced person could not do for one month what she has been doing now for decades.
I have lived and traveled with her in India, seen her give darshan (embracing) to tens of thousands of people, not just once, but day after day after day. At the end she stands up her eyes shining, bright and radiant. She travels almost continuously and yet has initiated more humanitarian acts and charitable works that probably any other other person on earth.
These outward manifestations of her life and actions are on such a huge scale that it is easy to focus on them. What happens internally to those who come to her is equally if not more profound. It is naturally more difficult to quantify and will be described differently by different people.
I have never been a guru chaser, my own profound spiritual experiences early in adulthood left me certain that the truth was within. I saw bowing to a guru as disempowering and sycophantic. I still believe it can be. I also know that when the guru is a Sat Guru (established in truth) or in Amma’s case something beyond even that,whatever that is, it can be the most profound, mysterious and powerful relationship we can ever have.
Even from the more rare instances when the autobiographies or biographies those who have awaken actually describe the blood and guts details of the process, it is hard to appreciate just how courageous one must be. More than this is the potential of reaching some degree of awakening and believing it is complete when it is not. When we see the continuous catalog of revelations and scandals about spiritual teachers and gurus, we are seeing the consequences of this.
I am entirely confident, from many direct experiences with Amma, that she can, and is guiding – usually invisibly – towards liberation, and wants nothing else for us. I had the good sense to recognize that she could and was helping me and that there are parts of the process that it is a really good idea to have help with. To have help with the whole process, well, I know of no greater blessings. Maybe in the future I will recount some of these experiences her on lifedivine.
Here then a short excerpt from the film ‘Darshan the Embrace’ hope these words and images inspire you to make the effort to see Amma somewhere in her world travels.
“Living Liberation - Meditation Training, and so much more" "It changed my life"Find out more
