Release Your Wonder into the World

Your day lies before you like a pond of water.  Create a beautiful thought and drop it into the pond.  See how your thought causes ripples that reach out across the pond.  Take an action, full of love and wonder, and watch the ripples go across the pond of life.  Call in loving, benevolent assistance and see how the golden ripples reach further and run deeper than ever before.

Every time you drop in your action or thought, the pond is different, full of the ripples sent out by others as well as the changing energies of the pond itself.  It is never the same twice, so what you do today may have an entirely different effect than the same action did yesterday.

Create your beautiful ripples and then release them; let them go.  Continue to broadcast your beauty and wonder, over and over, no matter the result.  One day, that beautiful and wondrous ripple of yours may release at just the right moment to change the entire world.

~11:11~ In perfection your light shines out in radiance held in the sacred form of divine being.

Through which heart you open happens there is the gift of change of breath together to grow the lighted pathway and be the Shining Ones. It is at last that virtue of courage is called in your name.

It is where the change is greatest is all that is feared, the separation of which there is always union beyond the Golden Central Sun.

Your name is not your name nor is your face your face. From behind other eyes you see and know life is beginning again as the time lines measure the destinations your energy is quietly growing.

In patience and courage the walk is set towards the treasures of life to be lived. Enjoy each day's experience and the path will be found accelerating and full of peace.

So it is with the weather and earth's temperament. The astral fourth dimensional infusion of dislocated entities and energetic thought forms pervade the lower dimensional gateways.

The current structure of how sentient forms energize cultural points of attraction creating future probabilities is operational. Impersonal dynamics by which universal law permeates structure is in accord with mystical wisdom for the allowance of creativity.

The matter that is of interest to humanity will be in accord with their intrinsic value of worth. The loss of freedom to the negatives is the issue of this conversation.

Within the larger realm of humanity War is being waged where none is required. It is the war of the mind within the emotional field of humanity as the self imposed shackles of ignorance are being uplifted gradually above the mire of greed.

Once the envious gluttony and lust for sloth is given away then the anger and wrath based through pride and elitism is given up.

As the winds of change form the whirlpools of plasma break away the firm continental foundations the enlightenment will break into awareness. The factors of the timing are awaiting harmony. When the time to flower will occur depends on many factors save one. It is destiny.

_ ^ _ Rysa Perisanna             

~Join us in the collective on the path  

~In co-creative works & insights at http://goldring.wetpaint.com/

"Mayan Calendar Insights"

 ~ Day 3 of this Mayan 9th wave has begun to unfold upon this day of May 20th 2011  and is codenamed "SPROUTING"  midpoint is at May 28-29the 2011....

~ "Mayan 9th Wave Quotes" ~

"A deeper freedom based on the sovereignty of all souls is now being called for...."

"The chief point to realize is that ultimately the course of events, and the breakdown of dominance, is a result of a cosmic plan that has been described by the nine levels of the Mayan calendar with their different polarities..."  

"Since no human being has any power to change these polarities the overall direction of the cosmic time plan is irreversible...." 

by....Carl Johan Calleman 

~ goldring dvd 00 ~ Invocations and Initiations ~ segment 01 ~ new enlightenment ~

~ goldring dvd 00 ~ Invocations and Initiations ~ segment 01 ~ new enlightenment ~

Nootka Rose

~ GET A PERSONALIZED READING ~ from Isha Lerner

~ PURCHASE FLOWER ESSENCES ~ from Isha's FlowerBlends.com

Holy Rose, Queen of Love,
Your beauty is Divine,
Sacred is your tenderness,
Jewel of nature,
Sweet and kind.

(Mailing list information is located at the end of this message.)

Norma Gentile sound shaman Home Music CDs Meditation & Teaching CDs YouTube Videos Podcasts Private Healings Calendar Newsletters Articles Hildegard Store Press Kit & Booking Contact Links FAQ          If you feel touched by this newsletter or my music and want to share something back, feel free to make a donation.

READ ONLINE http://www.healingchants.com/newsletter5-11.html PRINT http://www.healingchants.com/NormaGentile_may11.pdf Being Called Home How Acts and Actions of Chaos Lead Us to our Spiritual Purpose   Dear Friends, It has certainly been an interesting and often challenging period of time since I last wrote a newsletter. Below you will find an essay addressing what has been happening, some ideas about what this means to our personal lives and two related sound healings. And yes, we are already within the transmutation energies of the three eclipses which begin this coming Wednesday, June 1. See the essay below for more on that, and the Global Phone Meditation. As always, feel free to share this with anyone whom you believe would be interested.   UPCOMING EVENTS June 11-12 Weekend Practitioner's workshop in a private lakeside home near Ann Arbor, Michigan June 15 9pm EDT (New York City time) Global Phone Meditation June 24-26 Carlton WA Congress and Private Healing Sessions June 27-28 Seattle WA Private Healing Sessions SOUND HEALINGS (hosted on the SpiritofMaat.com website) Veni Creator Spiritu (Invoking the Spirit of Creation) A Question into the Heart of Chaos Being Called Home How Acts and Actions of Chaos Lead Us to Our Spiritual Purpose I have never thought of springtime as a time of inner or outer death.  But this year, at least for me, it has been a journey through chaos into an ever deepening stillness within. I suspect that I am not the only one who has been called, over and over again, to be present with extremes of grief and joy in these past weeks and months. Or to hold in loving compassion those who are undergoing severe and drastic life changes.  Each time I think to myself "this has to be the last crisis, the last huge political uprising, the last death, the last flood or earthquake or tornado."  But it hasn't been. World events have had no rest.  Ever vigilant, news channels report uprising after uprising in the "Arab Spring".  The Earth seems to heave her crust beneath modern cities while unending torrents of water flow into towns and farmland.  If there is no inner personal crisis to attend to there is always an external one. Celebrating life is associated with springtime. Especially here in the northern climate of the US it is clear that the land is verdant once again.  What was hidden, in terms of the life force of Nature, is now clearly visible as lush green fields (and lawns) host brilliantly colorful flowers. As I look out into my wonderful blooming garden, I wonder, does this obvious beauty mean it is over?  Has the repeated cycle of being called to be present for death and illness and the world's political changes ended now that spring has past and summer is nearly upon us?  Or perhaps, because I am human, that very human part of me asks Spirit if there can be an intermission, a pause, between the incessant acts of human violence and Nature's ever increasingly dramatic storms? Probably not.  Because with each external change, we are called to reassess who we are, and how we want to express ourselves as Spiritual Beings into our ever shifting world. Living in a constant state of overwhelm is becoming an acceptable permanent condition for many people that I see in healing sessions nowadays. Consider, even a few years ago, would you be doing all that you are doing now in a normal day?  With each act of external change we are being called into a state of being that exists only when we are silently and firmly living from that place of "home" within our body.  Within this place there is usually no sense of rushing urgency, and no sense of being pushed or pulled by outer events.  This is the spiritual and energetic antidote to overwhelm. As the cycles of change move, they create an opportunistic chaos.  Within this chaos are all the parts and pieces we need to create an entirely new world. I wonder if our ability to be present deep within our bodies isn't a part of creating a deepening sense of "home" for ourselves that over time might resonate to others in our world.    I know from deep within my own "home" in my body that the continuing cycles of violence, whether from Nature or Humanity, are opportunities to let go of what we cannot carry through our personal spiritual and physical storms.  Deciding what we treasure helps us recognize who we are now.  We are then free to release into the chaos of the storms that encircle us those things, including relationships with others, that are no longer a part of our soul's journey. Trying to do it all, or carry it all, or care for everything that is moving into a chaotic state leads to overwhelm.  Find that still center point within yourself that is home.  Here you already are. Please join me for an exploration of where "home" is within your physical body, how to get there and how to remain there.  Global Phone Meditation   June 15 at 9pm Eastern (New York City time) - on the Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse This hour will include a series of silent and spoken meditations, most likely from my guides Atamira (a Hathor), Mary and Archangel Michael.  Plan on finding a quiet space where you can lie down and be deeply at rest and undisturbed for the duration of the meditation.  This will be recorded and posted as a free podcast or at-cost CD. Donations are most welcome. Some Additional Thoughts Of the many observations I and others have made about the past few months, here are three ideas that my guides shared with me which may be useful to consider.  I do not believe that any one person, no matter how spiritually or psychically gifted, knows all and sees all.  I offer these ideas merely as possible ways of framing for our human minds what is happening in dimensional realms that is far beyond the comprehension of our human minds. Even though we like to think we can know it all!   Shredding Yourself into Multiple Realities As you read this don't try to make it make sense immediately. This metaphor for what is happening to us comes from Thoth. He suggests that you simply let the energies behind the words "play" with you as you go through your day and they will integrate into your subconscious during dreamstate. In a few days you may notice that somehow you experience what is happening in our world differently. And so your choices and behaviors also change. If it was possible to put all of what you define yourself as being and doing (a mother, a teacher, a healer…) into a container, mix it well, and then shred each role and definition of yourself into the tiniest fragment, you would see all of who you are accumulated into one big pile. But the pieces that make up each of your roles in life would no longer be connected, one to another.  We are pulling apart each aspect of who we are.  Each role that we play, (mother, daughter, good friend) or thing that we do (teach, heal, work, drive a carpool) is being shredded into its tiniest portion.  And these portions are being mixed together.  Their relationship to other portions of what we do in that same job or role in our life is not clear. Sort of like finely shredded cabbage in cole slaw before you add the dressing. All the parts of who we are still exist, but they are not connected.  There is no spiritual equivalent of mayonnaise or vinegar to bind the various pieces together. This began last winter. In late January of 2011 up until early May we began experiencing ourselves in multiple realities.  That is a fancy way of saying that decisions we make in one moment are remade in the next moment due to quickly changing external circumstances.  Many people are experiencing a type of "sea-sickness" when their physical body is not fully engaged with and stable in one reality.  In the western culture we have seldom focused on feeling our navel chakra.  And yet it is within this chakra that our unique tone or energy signature lies that tells our soul where its home is.  Again, this feeling of "home" being within the body.   Choosing One Reality (and living in it) For years I and others have mentioned that the changes we make here in the third dimension move out to other dimensions.  Naturally, changes that are made in other dimensions affect us here as well.  Not all the changes or choices we make in our lives are reflected in the other dimensions.  Some choices are, and some are not, at least not in this one single reality in which our physical body lives right now.  My guides suggest that our physical bodies are designed to exist in only one reality at a time. We shift realities as we change our minds and make new choices.  When we do not commit entirely to a new choice we straddle realities, becoming ungrounded, fuzzy, and unable to function well.  The solution is to commit to a choice, following through with whatever that would mean in daily life, and allow your body to ground into that choice and the resulting reality.  Later on if you decide to choose differently, you can.  But first you must feel in your body the results of your choice.   Our Galactic Tennis Game Recently the consciousness of our planet as arisen to the point where we are now receiving back from other dimensions the equivalent of energetic "tennis balls" that we launched out hundreds of years ago.  When our planet began to awaken, hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago, our actions began to quietly be whispered to the dimensions above and below us.  As our awakening increased, so did the volume of our actions increase within the other dimensions.  Our actions became more and more audible to all the other dimensions. And as those beings of consciousness that reside in other dimensions listened, they began to respond to our activity.  It is their response to our choices that is now being felt by us.  Each of Humanity's choices moved not just through our own lives, but also out into other dimensions.  Those beings of consciousness in other dimensions are now sending back to us tides of energies that reflect the changes they have made, based on our initial choices.   Think of it as a huge Galatic tennis game between friends.  No winners will be announced.  As anyone of us chooses to do something differently, the energy of our choice is broadcast to beings in other dimensions ,who may then also choose to do something differently.  And they let us know the changes they have made, so that we can respond to their choices with additional changes on our part. Does that mean that every choice any human has ever made is being echoed back to us now?  No. As with an overly chatty friend, much of our energetic activity was ignored by the other dimensions.  Or perhaps we have moved so quickly through various realities that we are no longer aware of the repercussions of our actions upon realities we left long ago. Starting in the fall of 2010 and intensifying into the Spring of 2011 more and more of our choices and activities are being heard and responded to by beings of consciousness in other dimensions.  Which means that the changes they make as a result of our choices echo back to us in our lives and in our larger world.  It is a tennis game across dimensions and time. Which brings me to the topic of time speeding up and events happening in a non-stop mode.  This is one result of our new inter-dimensional energetic tennis game.  It is also a reflection of how quickly we are moving through realities.  With each choice a new reality emerges, and we step into it. And while my human self longs for a summer break from all of the change, I know that will not happen.  As we head into June with three eclipses and a number of notable astrological events, I can't help but think that we are all headed for a "new normal".  Slow days used to mean a day of reflection and meditation with a few small items to do on my agenda.  Now, at least for me, those times of quiet are less frequent and more cherished.  And yet I find that deepening sense of home is carried within me at all times. My blessings to each of you, -Norma Norma Gentile www.HealingChants.com   MEDITATION CD / mp3 - - Norma Gentile - - Feb 6, 2011 meditation based on Micromanaging God: How We Pray Matters Meditation CD #28 from February 6, 2011 Weaving Soul into Body, Mind and Spirit An hour of experiential healing meditations from Archangel Michael and Mary based on Norma's essay Micromanaging God: How We Pray Matters Purchase as standard CD download or stream mp3 *includes the sound healing "O Creation of God" (O factura Dei, available on the CDs Songs of Spirit and Healing Chants of Hildegard) composed and sung by Norma to the poetry of Hildegard of Bingen. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a donation via paypal to office@... or by check to Norma Gentile, PO Box 971020, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. This helps to cover the costs of maintaining the download mp3 site, audio editing, etc. 1 Micromanaging God: How we Pray Matters 2 Invoking (and Explaining) Sacred Energies 3 Meditation: What in Your Life is ready to be released? 4 Finding more Ease in Your Life *5 Meditation Chant: O Creation of God / O factura Dei 6 Strengthening the Bond between Soul and Body 7 Meditation: Weaving Your Soul into your Body, Mind and Heart 8 Meditation: Cleansing Body and Aura (4 feet around you) 9 Creating the New You 10 Releasing Sacred Space 11 For more information Total Time: 1 hour, 15 mins Do the forms you are currently manifesting serve you? Does your life now reflect what your soul desires to manifest? What is the quality of ease that your soul wants your body to have in your life? Manifestation is an energetic process within our throat or 5th chakra working in tandem with our navel chakra and knee chakras. The quality at which our skin rubs against our physical reality is largely determined by our soul. Most of us have accidentally created much more friction in our lives than what our soul means for us to experience. With this meditation we help you find the quality of ease that your soul means for your body to have in your life now. Sometimes it is our expectation that it will be difficult to release something that actually makes it difficult. Most of the time, the old is really uncomfortable, and we have simply grown used to the discomfort. The more we let go, the more ease we have in our lives. Spiritual energetic waves are always coming towards us. But the new can't arrive until we have let go of the old. In the ocean of life, you can't surf two waves at once! What if we were to shift healing and prayer away from the idea of needing help and giving help? What if we saw healing as being a situation where a person's soul and body are recognizing a potential for strengthening their connection? Together the soul and body have identified a weak link that they are ready to change. It is only the personality that is holding us back from moving easily along that path of change. A Note on Phone Meditations and CDs of Meditations and Teachings: As of today, I have 28 Meditations and Teachings recordings available. They cover all on different subjects, some are direct channelings from my guides, most often Archangel Michael, Mary, the Hathor Atamira, Thoth, Shesat or a group of Ascended Masters. Most of them invoke Sacred Space and then focus on an issue and provide time for your guides and angels to work with you energetically. Many are drawn from the live Phone Meditations that I offer each month. About half contain healing songs or chants. All are offered freely as podcasts (you can subscribe directly on iTunes > Podcasts > Norma Gentile) or at cost CDs. At this time donations provide the funding for the free monthly (or so) Phone Meditations, the recording and editing process, posting them online and paying the monthly fee to maintain them online for free download. As of today, more than 40,000 downloads of these meditations has occurred. And chances are you have participated. Thank you! I know it is your energy that shapes each meditation and newsletter, and helps pull the information and insights that I share through me from Spirit. I look forward to many more meditations, and many more downloads! And yes, please share these newsletters, podcasts and phone meditations with your friends, your email circle and others. If you have to wear clothes... why not wear something that reflects your inner attitude as well as your outer need? Wearable Art - bring your Inner Attitude to the Outer World. 3 designs based on Hildegards own poetry and art -------- organic / cotton / plus-sizes / children / cards / tote bags / jackets / mugs ~ ~ ~ N O R M A' S    E V E N T S ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~(complete list here) PLEASE JOIN ME (and let your friends know too!) AT AN EVENT ANN ARBOR June 11-12 weekend Practitioner's workshop in a private lakeside home June 15 at 9pm EDT (New York City time) WORLD WIDE PHONE MEDITATION CARLTON, WA June 24-26 11th Annual Fairy & Human Relations Congress (Private Sessions during the Congress available) SEATTLE June 27-28 Private Healing Sessions Private Healing Sessions (offered in person or by phone) I am very good at helping to lift off heavy energies and get chronic issues to begin to move. Any energy released goes home, to follow its own growth and evolution. This means that what is released does not return. And it means that those energies with awareness know that I mean to help them. In this way your agreement to "keep them safe" is brought to completion, because they are released with honor and respect onto their next step. This is true of all energies, big or small, that your soul and body are ready to release. Remember that any energy in your body or aura that is not in time or in tune with you will cause a slow, steady draining of your vitality. This leads to larger issues arising in the physical body, emotional overwhelm, and psychic cloudiness. A complete "deep cleaning" regularly can help you find, address, and release what is no longer yours to carry. This frees you up to engage fully with your own life's issues. (and yes, we can address life issues as well in the session). A recording is made of the session. When you listen to the recording your guides and the healing angels will return to continue to help your personal inner understanding and release continue. Sessions are $185 and last about an hour. Please be in touch with me to secure an appointment time. norma@... or 734-330-3997. Read more about private healing sessions here Norma's other offerings --- RECORDINGS OF HEALING MUSIC AND CHANT (sacred chants from Hildegard, improvisations from Spirit and healing songs from the Hathors, available as a CD or download) SPOKEN MEDITATION CDs and PODCASTS (meditations and information, available as a CD or download) WATCH HEALING CHANTS ONLINE www.youtube.com/normagentile MONTHLY FREE ONLINE SOUND HEALINGS: sponsored by Spirit of Maat http://www.spiritofmaat.com My monthly articles and free sound healings are now available in English, German and Spanish online through www.spiritofmaat.com This is different from the newsletter, which you are reading now. This newsletter is available in Spanish and English (subscribe here) Do you buy books or CDs and such from amazon.com or amazon.ca? If so, you can CLICK HERE and click on the amazon.com or amazon.ca logo at the top of the Store Page of my website to send 5% of your purchase back to HealingChants.com.to support the free newsletter, free podcasts and free soundhealings offered each month. Thank you! And yes, my CDs are available at amazon as well. Norma Gentile, Healing Chants PO Box 971020, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 USA 734-330-3997, www.healingchants.com info@... YES please pass this email onto anyone you think would be interested. Just be sure to include my contact info. Click here to see other Newsletters

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Who is Atisha? 

There are many parallels between the lives of the great Buddhist teacher Atisha, and

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.  Like His Holiness, Atisha was a

monk, and a renowned scholar in the Buddhist philosophical systems of his time.

Also, like His Holiness, Atisha travelled widely, leaving India - the country of his

birth - to venture to distant parts of the then known world to study and practise the

Buddhist teachings. Like His Holiness, Atisha also faced the challenge of finding new

ways to present the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha – already more than 1500 years

old – by creatively adapting and interpreting them for the people of his own time and

culture.Prince, Buddhist monk, traveller, scholar and great meditator.

Advice from Atisha’s Heart

“How wonderful!

Friends, since you already have great knowledge and clear understanding, whereas I am of no importance and have little wisdom, it is not suitable for you to request advice from me. However because you dear friends, whom I cherish from my heart, have requested me, I shall give you this essential advice from my inferior and childish mind.

Friends, until you attain enlightenment the Spiritual Teacher is indispensable, therefore rely upon the holy Spiritual Guide.

Until you realize ultimate truth, listening is indispensable, therefore listen to the instructions of the Spiritual Guide.

Since you cannot become a Buddha merely by understanding Dharma, practice earnestly with understanding.

Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase.

Until you attain stable realizations, worldly amusements are harmful, therefore abide in a place where there are no such distractions.

Avoid friends who cause you to increase delusions, and rely upon those who increase your virtue. This you should take to heart.

Since there is never a time when worldly activities come to an end, limit your activities.

Dedicate your virtues throughout the day and the night, and always watch your mind.

Because you have received advice, whenever you are not meditating always practice in accordance with what your Spiritual Guide says.

If you practice with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.

If from your heart you practice in accordance with Dharma, both food and resources will come naturally to hand.

Friends, the things you desire give no more satisfaction than drinking sea water, therefore practice contentment.

Avoid all haughty, conceited, proud, and arrogant minds, and remain peaceful and subdued.

Avoid activities that are said to be meritorious, but which in fact are obstacles to Dharma.

Profit and respect are nooses of the maras, so brush them aside like stones on the path.

Words of praise and fame serve only to beguile us, therefore blow them away as you would blow your nose.

Since the happiness, pleasure, and friends you gather in this life last only for a moment, put them all behind you.

Since future lives last for a very long time, gather up riches to provide for the future.

You will have to depart leaving everything behind, so do not be attached to anything.

Generate compassion for lowly beings, and especially avoid despising or humiliating them.

Have no hatred for enemies, and no attachment for friends.

Do not be jealous of others’ good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.

Do not look for faults in others, but look for faults in yourself, and purge them like bad blood.

Do not contemplate your own good qualities, but contemplate the good qualities of others, and respect everyone as a servant would.

See all living beings as your father or mother, and love them as if you were their child.

Always keep a smiling face and a loving mind, and speak truthfully without malice.

If you talk too much with little meaning you will make mistakes, therefore speak in moderation, only when necessary.

If you engage in many meaningless activities your virtuous activities will degenerate, therefore stop activities that are not spiritual.

It is completely meaningless to put effort into activities that have no essence.

If the things you desire do not come it is due to karma created long ago, therefore keep a happy and relaxed mind.

Beware, offending a holy being is worse than dying, therefore be honest and straightforward.

Since all the happiness and suffering of this life arise from previous actions, do not blame others.

All happiness comes from the blessings of your Spiritual Guide, therefore always repay his kindness.

Since you cannot tame the minds of others until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.

Since you will definitely have to depart without the wealth you have accumulated, do not accumulate negativity for the sake of wealth.

Distracting enjoyments have no essence, therefore sincerely practice giving.

Always keep pure moral discipline for it leads to beauty in this life and happiness hereafter.

Since hatred is rife in these impure times, don the armour of patience, free from anger.

You remain in samsara through the power of laziness, therefore ignite the fire of the effort of application.

Since this human life is wasted by indulging in distractions, now is the time to practice concentration.

Being under the influence of wrong views you do not realize the ultimate nature of things, therefore investigate correct meanings.

Friends, there is no happiness in this swamp of samsara, so move to the firm ground of liberation.

Meditate according to the advice of your Spiritual Guide and dry up the river of samsaric suffering.

You should consider this well because it is not just words from the mouth, but sincere advice from the heart.

If you practice like this you will delight me, and you will bring happiness to yourself and others.

I who am ignorant request you to take this advice to heart.

This is the advice that the holy being Venerable Atisha gave to Venerable Jangchub Ö.”

SHARED WITH LOVE BY SPIRITUAL BLISS - http://www.facebook.com/SpiritualBlissPage

Connect to Nature

Today, spend a few moments with nature and let peace build inside you.  Spend a few moments just standing under a tree and breathing in the fresh oxygen that this tree is giving you as a gift of life.  Look closely at a leaf and marvel at the infinite detail that is there presented, even in the most lowly and common of objects that nature has wrought.  Marvel at the little veins and how each leaf is unique; there is only one in the entire world like the one in your hand.  Infinite detail and infinite variety, this is life.

And you are a part of all this. You and the tree exchange air, you share the same earth, you are part of a living breathing organism that is closely tied together.

There is a deep well of peace within you and it extends down into the earth and up into the heavens.  Nature is a wonderful way to connect to that well of peace and the infinity which is contained within each moment that you allow to be only as it is.  Each moment that you spend just being in the moment, not in the future with its worries, not in the past with its regrets, but right now and only now, reaches into infinity and oneness and contains all that is.

Let nature be a gateway to that connection, for the tree lives only now, the grass grows only now, the clouds are as they are in this moment for this moment only.  Allow yourself time to reach all of this, to be one with all of this.  Allow yourself the grace to be one with the wonder that surrounds you.

Is Buddhism an Ethical System?

It no doubt contains an excellent ethical code which is unparalleled in its perfection and altruistic attitude. It deals with one way of life for the monks and another for the laity. But Buddhism is much more than an ordinary moral teaching. Morality is only the preliminary stage on the Path of Purity, and is a means to an end, but not an end in itself. Conduct, though essential, is itself insufficient to gain one's emancipation. It should be coupled with wisdom or knowledge. The base of Buddhism is morality, and wisdom is its apex.

In observing the principles of morality a Buddhist should not only regard his own self but also should have a consideration for others we well -- animals not excluded. Morality in Buddhism is not founded on any doubtful revelation nor is it the ingenious invention of an exceptional mind, but it is a rational and practical code based on verifiable facts and individual experience.

It should be mentioned that any external supernatural agency plays no part whatever in the moulding of the character of a Buddhist. In Buddhism there is no one to reward or punish. Pain or happiness are the inevitable results of one's actions. The question of incurring the pleasure or displeasure of a God does not enter the mind of a Buddhist. Neither hope of reward nor fear of punishment acts as an incentive to him to do good or to refrain from evil. A Buddhist is aware of future consequences, but he refrains from evil because it retards, does good because it aids progress to enlightenment (bodhi). There are also some who do good because it is good, refrain from evil because it is bad.

To understand the exceptionally high standard of morality the Buddha expects from his ideal followers, one must carefully read the Dhammapada, Sigalovada Sutta, Vyaggapajja Sutta, Mangala Sutta, Karaniya Sutta, Parabhava Sutta, Vasala Sutta, Dhammika Sutta, etc.

As a moral teaching it excels all other ethical systems, but morality is only the beginning and not the end of Buddhism.

In one sense Buddhism is not a philosophy, in another sense it is the philosophy of philosophies.

In one sense Buddhism is not a religion, in another sense it is the religion of religions.

Buddhism is neither a metaphysical path nor a ritualistic path.

It is neither sceptical nor dogmatic.

It is neither self-mortification nor self-indulgence.

It is neither pessimism nor optimism.

It is neither eternalism nor nihilism.

It is neither absolutely this-worldly nor other-worldly.

It is a unique Path of Enlightenment.

The original Pali term for Buddhism is Dhamma, which, literally, means that which upholds. There is no English equivalent that exactly conveys the meaning of the Pali term.

The Dhamma is that which really is. It is the Doctrine of Reality. It is a means of deliverance from suffering, and deliverance itself. Whether the Buddhas arise or not the Dhamma exists. It lies hidden from the ignorant eyes of men, till a Buddha, an Enlightened One, realizes and compassionately reveals it to the world.

This Dhamma is not something apart from oneself, but is closely associated with oneself. As such the Buddha exhorts: "Abide with oneself as an island, with oneself as a refuge. Abide with the Dhamma as an island, with the Dhamma as a refuge. Seek no external refuge." -

Parinibbana Sutta

Some salient features of Buddhism

The foundations of Buddhism are the four Noble Truths -- namely, Suffering (the raison d'etre of Buddhism), its cause (i.e., Craving), its end (i.e., Nibbana, the Summum Bonum of Buddhism), and the Middle Way.

What is the Noble Truth of Suffering?

"Birth is suffering, old age is suffering, disease is suffering, death is suffering, to be united with the unpleasant is suffering, to be separated from the pleasant is suffering, not to receive what one craves for is suffering, in brief the five Aggregates of Attachment are suffering."

What is the Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering?

"It is the craving which leads from rebirth to rebirth accompanied by lust or passion, which delights now here now there; it is the craving for sensual pleasures (Kamatanha), for existence (Bhavatanha) and for annihilation (Vibhavatanha)."

What is the Noble Truth of the Annihilation of Suffering?

"It is the remainderless, total annihilation of this very craving, the forsaking of it, the breaking loose, fleeing, deliverance from it."

What is the Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Annihilation of Suffering?

"It is the Noble Eightfold Path which consists of right understanding, right thoughts, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right endeavor, right mindfulness, and right concentration."

Whether the Buddhas arise or not these four Truths exist in the universe. The Buddhas only reveal these Truths which lay hidden in the dark abyss of time.

Scientifically interpreted, the Dhamma may be called the law of cause and effect. These two embrace the entire body of the Buddha's Teachings.

The first three truths represent the philosophy of Buddhism; the fourth represents the ethics of Buddhism, based on that philosophy. All these four truths are dependent on this body itself. The Buddha states: "In this very one-fathom long body along with perceptions and thoughts, do I proclaim the world, the origin of the world, the end of the world and the path leading to the end of the world." Here the term world is applied to suffering.

Buddhism rests on the pivot of sorrow. But it does not thereby follow that Buddhism is pessimistic. It is neither totally pessimistic nor totally optimistic, but, on the contrary, it teaches a truth that lies midway between them. One would be justified in calling the Buddha a pessimist if he had only enunciated the truth of suffering without suggesting a means to put an end to it. The Buddha perceived the universality of sorrow and did prescribe a panacea for this universal sickness of humanity. The highest conceivable happiness, according to the Buddha, is Nibbana, which is the total extinction of suffering.

The author of the article on Pessimism in the Encyclopedia Britannica writes: "Pessimism denotes an attitude of hopelessness towards life, a vague general opinion that pain and evil predominate in human affairs. The original doctrine of the Buddha is in fact as optimistic as any optimism of the West. To call it pessimism is merely to apply to it a characteristically Western principle to which happiness is impossible without personality. The true Buddhist looks forward with enthusiasm to absorption into eternal bliss."

Ordinarily the enjoyment of sensual pleasures is the highest and only happiness of the average man. There is no doubt a kind of momentary happiness in the anticipation, gratification and retrospection of such fleeting material pleasures, but they are illusive and temporary. According to the Buddha non-attachment is a greater bliss.

The Buddha does not expect his followers to be constantly pondering on suffering and lead a miserable unhappy life. He exhorts them to be always happy and cheerful, for zest (piti) is one of the factors of Enlightenment.

Real happiness is found within, and is not to be defined in terms of wealth, children, honor or fame. If such possessions are misdirected, forcibly or unjustly obtained, misappropriated or even viewed with attachment, they will be a source of pain and sorrow to the possessors.

Instead of trying to rationalize suffering, Buddhism takes suffering for granted and seeks the cause to eradicate it. Suffering exists as long as there is craving. It can only be annihilated by treading the Noble Eightfold Path and attaining the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

These four truths can be verified by experience. Hence the Buddha Dhamma is not based on the fear of the unknown, but is founded on the bedrock of facts which can be tested by ourselves and verified by experience. Buddhism is, therefore, rational and intensely practical.

Such a rational and practical system cannot contain mysteries or esoteric doctrines. Blind faith, therefore, is foreign to Buddhism. Where there is no blind faith there cannot be any coercion or persecution or fanaticism. To the unique credit of Buddhism it must be said that throughout its peaceful march of 2500 years no drop of blood was shed in the name of the Buddha, no mighty monarch wielded his powerful sword to propagate the Dhamma, and no conversion was made either by force or by repulsive methods. Yet, the Buddha was the first and the greatest missionary that lived on earth.

Aldous Huxley writes: "Alone of all the great world religions Buddhism made its way without persecution, censorship or inquisition."

Lord Russell remarks: "Of the great religions of history, I prefer Buddhism, especially in its earliest forms; because it has had the smallest element of persecution."

In the name of Buddhism no altar was reddened with the blood of a Hypatia, no Bruno was burnt alive. Buddhism appeals more to the intellect than to the emotion. It is concerned more with the character of the devotees than with their numerical strength.

On one occasion Upali, a follower of Nigantha Nataputta, approached the Buddha and was so pleased with the Buddha's exposition of the Dhamma that he instantly expressed his desire to become a follower of the Buddha. But the Buddha cautioned him, saying:

"Of a verity, O householder, make a thorough investigation. It is well for a distinguished man like you to make (first) a thorough investigation."

Upali, who was overjoyed at this unexpected remark of the Buddha, said: "Lord, had I been a follower of another religion, its adherents would have taken me round the streets in a procession proclaiming that such and such a millionaire had renounced his former faith and embraced theirs. But, Lord, Your Reverence advises me to investigate further. The more pleased am I with this remark of yours. For the second time, Lord, I seek refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha."

Buddhism is saturated with this spirit of free enquiry and complete tolerance. It is the teaching of the open mind and the sympathetic heart, which, lighting and warming the whole universe with its twin rays of wisdom and compassion, sheds its genial glow on every being struggling in the ocean of birth and death.

The Buddha was so tolerant that he did not even exercise his power to give commandments to his lay followers. Instead of using the imperative, he said: "It behooves you to do this -- It behooves you not to do this." He commands not but does exhort.This tolerance the Buddha extended to men, women and all living beings.

It was the Buddha who first attempted to abolish slavery and vehemently protested against the degrading caste system which was firmly rooted in the soil of India. In the Word of the Buddha it is not by mere birth one becomes an outcast or a noble, but by one's actions. Caste or colour does not preclude one from becoming a Buddhist or from entering the Order. Fishermen, scavengers, courtesans, together with warriors and Brahmins, were freely admitted to the Order and enjoyed equal privileges and were also given positions of rank. Upali, the barber, for instance, was made, in preference to all others, the chief in matters pertaining to Vinaya discipline. The timid Sunita, the scavenger, who attained arahatship was admitted by the Buddha himself into the Order. Angulimala, the robber and criminal, was converted to a compassionate saint. The fierce Alavaka sought refuge in the Buddha and became a saint. The courtesan Ambapali entered the Order and attained arahatship. Such instances could easily be multiplied from the Tipitaka to show that the portals of Buddhism were wide open to all, irrespective of caste, colour or rank.

It was also the Buddha who raised the status of downtrodden women and not only brought them to a realization of their importance to society but also founded the first celibate religious order for women with rules and regulations.

The Buddha did not humiliate women, but only regarded them as feeble by nature. He saw the innate good of both men and women and assigned to them their due places in his teaching. Sex is no barrier to attaining sainthood.

Sometimes the Pali term used to denote women is matugama, which means "mother-folk" or "society of mothers." As a mother, woman holds an honorable place in Buddhism. Even the wife is regarded as "best friend" (parama sakha) of the husband.

Hasty critics are only making ex parte statements when they reproach Buddhism with being inimical to women. Although at first the Buddha refused to admit women into the Order on reasonable grounds, yet later he yielded to the entreaties of his foster-mother, Pajapati Gotami, and founded the Bhikkhuni Order. Just as the Arahats Sariputta and Moggallana were made the two chief disciples in the Order of monks, even so he appointed Arahats Khema and Uppalavanna as the two chief female disciples. Many other female disciples too were named by the Buddha himself as his distinguished and pious followers.

On one occasion the Buddha said to King Kosala who was displeased on hearing that a daughter was born to him: "A woman child, O Lord of men; may prove even a better offspring than a male."

Many women, who otherwise would have fallen into oblivion, distinguished themselves in various ways, and gained their emancipation by following the Dhamma and entering the Order. In this new Order, which later proved to be a great blessing to many women, queens, princesses, daughters of noble families, widows, bereaved mothers, destitute women, pitiable courtesans -- all, despite their caste or rank, met on a common platform, enjoyed perfect consolation and peace, and breathed that free atmosphere which is denied to those cloistered in cottages and palatial mansions.

It was also the Buddha who banned the sacrifice of poor beasts and admonished his followers to extend their loving-kindness (metta) to all living beings -- even to the tiniest creature that crawls at one's feet. No man has the power or the right to destroy the life of another as life is precious to all.

A genuine Buddhist would exercise this loving-kindness towards every living being and identify himself with all, making no distinction whatsoever with regard to caste, colour or sex.

It is this Buddhist metta that attempts to break all the barriers which separate one from another. There is no reason to keep aloof from others merely because they belong to another persuasion or another nationality. In that noble Toleration Edict which is based on Culla-Vyuha and Maha-Vyuha Suttas, Asoka says: "Concourse alone is best, that is, all should harken willingly to the doctrine professed by others."

Buddhism is not confined to any country or any particular nation. It is universal. It is not nationalism which, in other words, is another form of caste system founded on a wider basis. Buddhism, if it be permitted to say so, is supernationalism.

To a Buddhist there is no far or near, no enemy or foreigner, no renegade or untouchable, since universal love realized through understanding has established the brotherhood of all living beings. A real Buddhist is a citizen of the world. He regards the whole world as his motherland and all as his brothers and sisters.

Buddhism is, therefore, unique, mainly owing to its tolerance, non-aggressiveness, rationality, practicability, efficacy and universality. It is the noblest of all unifying influences and the only lever that can uplift the world.

These are some of the salient features of Buddhism, and amongst some of the fundamental doctrines may be said: Kamma or the Law of Moral Causation, the Doctrine of Rebirth, Anatta and Nibbana.