Sangha of Auspicious Companions

October 11, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

A Roaming Refuge for 1200 Animals

Raymund Wee, a former flight stewart and pet groomer, sold his Singapore-based business and used the proceeds to establish Noah’s Ark CARES. What began as a place of refuge for a couple hundred animals grew by leaps and bounds after a severe flood a few years back, and soon the haven was so full of three legged, one-eyed, emotionally wounded dogs and cats that he was forced to move the entire ark to Johor where more affordable land is available. Today, more than 1,200 cats, dogs, rabbits and horses live at the sanctuary. Raymund, affectionately known as Uncle Raymund, lives at the sanctuary and is joined by an astounding group of volunteers who see to it that every animal is cared for. And here’s the jaw dropper: the animals here are free roaming. They amble over several acres and are free to swim, sunbathe, climb or simply be. { read more }

Be The Change

Poet-activist-monk Thich Nhat Hanh shares a reflective piece: “Do You Have Time to Love?” { more }

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October 10, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Psychology of Choice: 5 Perspectives

“Why are you reading this? How did you decide to click the link, load the page and stay? How do we decide to do anything at all and, out of the myriad choices we face each day, what makes one option more preferable over another? This is one of the most fundamental questions of the social sciences, from consumer psychology to economic theory to behavioral science. Today, at the risk of meta-irony, we look at not one but five fantastic books and talks that explore the subject.” Maria Popova surveys five intriguing perspectives on the psychology of choice. { read more }

Be The Change

A Stanford PhD in Decision Analysis reflects on his advisor’s maxim: “You can’t judge a decision by the outcome.” { more }

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October 9, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Art of Seeing

Something happened to successful artist Jane Rosen when she came to California — something that changed the trajectory of her work. “The exposure to the beauty of the place — the coast, the hills, the redwoods — made a deep impression. One day, as she stepped out of her house, she looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk soaring above her. “As I stood looking up at the hawk, in a voice as clear as day, I heard these words: ‘Tell my story’.” Rosen’s drawings and sculptures are born from the perennial questions: What can nature show us? And what is seeing? Her work shows us something about that. I met the artist at her studio and ranch in San Gregorio, California to talk specifically about seeing.” Richard Whittaker dialogues with Rosen in this Parabola Magazine article. { read more }

Be The Change

Experiment today with the art of seeing: try nudging your experience beyond the immediate, visible reality.

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October 8, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

Four Shelters Later, Still a Star Athlete

After holding together his family through a house fire, six address changes since his sophomore year and a violent encounter with his mother’s boyfriend, high school basketball star Marquis Barnett told recruiters he is not about to abandon them now, insisting on staying local. “Marquis is fiercely loyal to his family,” said Ron Naclerio, Barnett’s coach in New York the past two seasons. Barnett is one of about 2,500 young people ages 13 to 17 living in shelters across the five boroughs. He has endured six-hour round-trip subway rides to school and, along the way, has been supported by the kindness of others struck by his sincerity, including a coach who buys him clothes and a social studies teacher who feeds him daily. { read more }

Submitted by: Amita

Be The Change

The next time you encounter a setback, “turn your face toward the sun.”

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Steve Jobs Commencement Address

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October 7, 2011

a project of CharityFocus

The Spiritual Wisdom of Simplicity

The wisdom of simplicity is a theme with deep roots. The great value and benefits of living simply are found in all of the world’s major wisdom traditions. Jesus taught by word and example that we should not make the acquisition of material possessions our primary aim. Eastern spiritual traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism have also encouraged a life of material moderation and spiritual abundance. The Greeks, Puritans, and Quakers all placed a similar emphasis. As well, the Transcendentalists, whose thinking is best exemplified by the lives and writing of Emerson and Thoreau. The simple life is not a new social invention — what is new is the urgent need to respond to the radically changing material and ecological circumstances in which humanity finds itself in the modern world. Duane Elgin, author of the classic, “Voluntary Simplicity,” shares further. { read more }

Be The Change

Take an additional step toward voluntary simplicity today, both internally and externally.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 109,283 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other CharityFocus projects include:

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