Sangha of Auspicious Companions

May 23, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Forgiving Her Son’s Killer

It would be easy for Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel to be enemies — he killed Johnson’s only son. But their first face-to-face conversation took a remarkable turn. “You were not that 16-year-old. You were a grown man. I shared with you about my son.” At the end of their meeting at the prison, Johnson was overcome by emotion. “The initial thing to do was just try and hold you up as best I can,” Israel says, “just hug you like I would my own mother.” Johnson says, “After you left the room, I began to say, ‘I just hugged the man that murdered my son.’ And I instantly knew that all that anger and the animosity, all the stuff I had in my heart for 12 years for you — I knew it was over, that I had totally forgiven you.” A touching NPR story. { read more }

Be The Change

The next time you feel wronged, take appropriate action externally, but internally, try practicing for-give-ness.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,463 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 22, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Art of Joy

Is artmaking selfish? In this interview, artist Gale Wagner reflects on art as a grateful response to fulfillment, as an expression of joy, and as a way of serving it forward. “We’re so fortunate. Do you realize that a third of the world’s human population isn’t going to have fresh bath water or fresh drinking water? And look at this! I’m wasting it washing my car! The only antidote, I believe, is realizing that I’ve got to give back. And I’m already making the highest spiritual thing I could make,” Wagner says. “So why make [art]? Well, I make it because it’s the best I can do. It’s the highest, most spiritually, visually rewarding and enjoyable journey in every aspect.” { read more }

Submitted by: R. Whittaker

Be The Change

Take an inner inventory. What things give you a moment of joy?

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,450 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 21, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Family Finds $45K — And Returns It

Josh Ferrin picked up the keys to his family’s first home last week, and as he opened the attic door hatch and climbed up, he saw a box that looked like a WWII ammunition case. Then he found seven more, all stuffed full with tightly wound rolls of cash — about $45,000 in all. Ferrin thought about how such a large sum of money could go a long way, pay bills, buy things he never thought he could afford. “I’m not perfect, and I wish I could say there was never any doubt in my mind.” Ferrin said. “But the money wasn’t ours to keep and I don’t believe you get a chance very often to do something radically honest, to do something ridiculously awesome for someone else and that is a lesson I hope to teach to my children.” { read more }

Be The Change

Look for opportunities to be radically honest today. For further inspiration: { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,430 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

Students Stepping Up the Kindness!

DailyGood // Conversations // iJourney // HelpOthers

MovedByLove // CF Sites // Karma Kitchen // More

Thank you for helping us spread the good. This newsletter now reaches 35,106 subscribers.

May 20, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

4 Reasons To Keep a Work Diary

What does Oprah have in common with General George S. Patton? Being an avid diarist. Recently, Oprah offered her readers glimpses into her diaries, along with encouragement to keep their own. Many well-known figures throughout history, from John Adams to Andy Warhol, have faithfully kept records of their daily lives. Aside from a place in history, are there any personal benefits of keeping a diary? This article from the Harvard Business Review outlines four good reasons for keeping a work diary: focus, patience, planning, and personal growth. { read more }

Be The Change

Start a diary, where you can reflect and write about your daily “work,” however you define it.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,413 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 19, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

To Serve With Love

“A tug at my dress. I look down. There is Meena. All of six. We have just met. “Akka (sister), you must eat in our house tonight,” she says. A sweet spontaneous invitation, and an offer I can’t refuse. Meena and the others emerge with enormous vessels (or perhaps they only seemed enormous because the bearers are so small). I am served with rice, vegetables, and curry — and love. Such love. It’s a love that will surprise you everywhere at Reaching the Unreached, a not-for-profit started in an Indian village by Brother James Kimpton. It is difficult to describe his work. It encompasses so much and so many. Among other things, he digs wells, runs schools, dresses wounds, rescues orphans, and feeds the hungry. There are entire villages that exist and generations of children who are because of this man’s heart.” This profile shares further. { read more }

Be The Change

Find a situation today to practice serving with love.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,388 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 18, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Impossible Floating Village Football Team

This is the true story of a football team that lived on a little island in the south of Thailand called Koh Panyee — a floating village in the middle of the sea that does not have an inch of soil. The kids that lived there loved to watch football on TV, and really wanted to play for themselves. Watch this stunning short film on how they used innovative thinking, hard work, and determination to make their dream come true. { read more }

Be The Change

“Maybe part of the problem is we don’t prompt ourselves enough towards faith in the preposterous.” So shares this reflection on being ‘Practically Preposterous.’ { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,382 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 17, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Emotional Lives of Animals

It won’t surprise pet owners, but now, scientific research also shows that many animals are intelligent, and even have some abilities that dwarf ours. Dogs are able to detect diseases such as cancer and diabetes and warn humans of impending heart attacks and strokes. Elephants, whales, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and alligators use low-frequency sounds to communicate over long distances. Many animals also display wide-ranging emotions, including joy, happiness, empathy, compassion, grief, and even resentment and embarrassment. It’s not surprising that animals — especially, but not only, mammals — share many emotions with us, since we also share brain structures that are the seat of our emotions. { read more }

Be The Change

Take 10 minutes to observe birds live their lives; look up and call your local animal shelter to express your gratitude and to find out how you can support them.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,310 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More

May 16, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Genius of the Fold

People who think of origami as simple paper playthings may be surprised to know of a professional origami artist, much less one who’s a Caltech physicist. Robert Lang walked away from a successful career in lasers and opto-electronics to fold paper full time. Now widely regarded as a legend in the field, Lang has published more than 500 original origami designs, with some of his work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He also pioneered the use of math and computer science to design origami models so complex and intricate, that it seems almost inconceivable that they were once a humble square of paper. And Lang has actually fused this mind-bending artistry and scientific bent, helping researchers fold a football-field-sized telescope lens into a compact package that could be launched into space. { read more }

Submitted by: N. Verma

Be The Change

“Paper Cranes for Japan” resulted in a million paper cranes being sent from around the world, raising $500K for post-tsunami relief. From a participant: { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 106,312 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

HelpOthers // CF Sites // KarmaTube // Conversations // More