Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Change Yourself, Change the World

We seek not rest but transformation. We are dancing through each other as doorways. — Marge Piercy

~~~~ Good News of the Day: “There are 4 ideas you have to believe if you seek to “be the change you wish to see in the world: 1. Real change requires patience: It takes time to move others through love (rather than by carrot or stick), but the results are real and lasting. 2. Real change is decentralized/local: The revolution will not be provided by governments or corporations. 3. Real change cannot be traditionally measured: We are a society that believes strongly in measurable cause and effect. However, the world doesn’t work that way — each result is born of millions of conscious and unconscious acts. 4. Real change is never complete: Each person in society is a seeker. As nobody has the answers, it is incumbent on all of us to humbly support each other in being better people.” Birju Pandya shares his ideas for how changing yourself changes the world. http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169AE2D:C3009629A010612C2B124166348013D9B4B847859706E37D&

~~~~ Be The Change: Reflect on what it means to change yourself; then take a small but meaningful step in that direction.

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Dalai Lama Quote from Snow Lion Publications

Reflections from a Five Day Walk

Not all who wander are lost. — J. R. R. Tolkien

~~~~ Good News of the Day: “I recently walked about 60 miles over 5 days, from Oakland to Santa Clara. This certainly isn’t anything unique. In a way, I was imitating many inspirations that came before, and probably many iterations will come after. Still, ‘we love to make music of this puzzle’ of our artful work of life. For me, the walk was many things. It was an expression of wandering. It was a pilgrimage […] It was a change of pace, a physical challenge and a mental exercise. And most of all it was simply — a walk. There was no explicit goal other than to put one foot in front of another, and I held a simple, fundamental intention to s l o w d o w n. And once I slowed down, then to listen. And if I listened well enough, then perhaps I could discern how to serve. Here’s what I learned from those intentions.” A pilgrim shares his reflections. http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169AC35:C3009629A010612C0544445B0E9785BDB4B847859706E37D&

~~~~ Be The Change: The five day walk was a way of celebrating a birthday; on your next birthday, give yourself a gift that also serves others.

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Video of the Week: A Gift Economy at Karma Kitchen

You’re receiving this newsletter because you are a KarmaTube subscriber. Having trouble reading this mail? View it in your browser. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe Video of the Week Oct 28, 2011 A Gift Economy at Karma Kitchen Imagine a restaurant where you pay-forward for the person after you. How long might the chain of generosity last? At Karma Kitchen, in three cities around the United States, it has gone on for close to 25 thousand people — and is still going. Katie Teague provides a thoughtful and hopeful portrait of how gift economy can work. Share: Related KarmaTube Videos Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir A Teacher in Tokyo Strongest Dad In the World Do You Realize? About KarmaTube: KarmaTube is a collection of inspiring videos accompanied by simple actions every viewer can take. We invite you to get involved. Other CharityFocus Projects: DailyGood // Conversations // iJourney // HelpOthers MovedByLove // CF Sites // Karma Kitchen // More Thank you for helping us spread the good. This newsletter now reaches 38,087 subscribers.

Dharma Quote from Snow Lion Publications

Giving Back Where He Belongs

Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition. — James Baldwin

~~~~ Good News of the Day: When most people think of the American dream, they imagine all this country has to offer them. But for 40-year-old Hamid Chaudhry, a Pakistani immigrant and owner of a Dairy Queen in Reading, Pa., that dream isn’t just for the taking. “I’m part of the society,” Chaudhry tells CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman. “And when you belong somewhere, you have to give back.” A few years ago, after becoming a U.S. citizen, Chaudhry moved to Reading with his wife, a doctor. They have two children. For most people, that would be enough responsibility. But Chaudhry wanted more. He began by offering his services to Cumru Elementary school principal James Watts. Chaudhry offered to host the school fundraisers. He eventually began fundraising for other organizations as well: Soccer teams and Crime Stoppers. All told, Hamid has said “yes” to more than 100 community organizations.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169A982:C3009629A010612C3D5A1B3145611C0FB4B847859706E37D&

~~~~ Be The Change: Bloom where you are planted.

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The Decision-Making Flaw in Powerful People

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still. — Lao Tzu

~~~~ Inspiration of the Day: The decisions made by powerful people in business and other fields have far-reaching effects on their organizations and employees. But new research finds a link between having a sense of power and having a propensity to give short shrift to a crucial part of the decision-making process: listening to advice. Power increases confidence, researchers say, which can lead to an excessive belief in one’s own judgment and ultimately to flawed decisions. This is among the first studies to examine whether power — defined as an individual’s “capacity to influence others, stemming in part from his or her control over resources, rewards, or punishments” — reduces or increases a person’s willingness to heed advice. Strategy+Business Magazine shares further. http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169A7E2:C3009629A010612CA8336EA4F8E316DCB4B847859706E37D&

~~~~ Be The Change: In making your next significant decision, listen to the part of yourself that listens to others.

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Quote of the Week | Review Your Life Now

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Teachings by Pema Chödrön, taken from works published by Shambhala Publications. Photo by ©Andrea Roth. Forwarded from a friend? You can subscribe to this e-mail emailList, and be sure to include both your old and new addresses. If you no longer wish to receive the Heart Advice e-mails, click here. If you can’t see the images, click here.

Kindness Daily: Trusting in the Force of Kindness

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Trusting in the Force of Kindness October 25, 2011 – Posted by toonerific I printed flyers that said “May you have a wonderful day! This is a random act of kindness.” They had hearts on them and a nice pattern (very feel-good). I put them under the wipers on some cars. When the deed was done, I started wondering if people would toss them on the ground and then I would be contributing to littering. Or, I thought they might throw them away and not recycle them. Because my intentions are pure (or that is what I strive for), it bothers me more that the repercussions of my deeds might not be completely without adverse results. I think I need to meditate a bit more and just chillax, as the kids say. I need to trust in the force of kindness. “Drop-and-runs” are anonymous by nature. But, I like to think about how people react when they receive the kindness. I imagine today, people will notice the flyer and get a little annoyed at first, as people tend to do when something is left on their car. I purposefully did not leave it on cars at meters because I didn’t want them to think it was a ticket. Some people, I imagine, would see it and look immediately for what it was advertising. I didn’t put anything else, even my website on there. In fact, I felt the need to write “This is a random act of kindness” so as not to confuse people. So, then they might look at it like it had some hidden camera woven in the paper or look around for a TV crew taping their reaction. They wouldn’t see any of that, still be skeptical and toss it. However, I imagined that most of the people would see the flyers and it would put a smile on their face. Maybe some would take them and tack them up at work or show them to others and put smiles on other’s faces. As I drove away from one parking lot, I thought I saw a lady in my rearview mirror pick up her flyer and stop for a moment looking at it. I didn’t see what happened next. Maybe for my next “drop-and-run” I will hide in the bushes to see people’s reactions. Maybe I’ll drop in on someone I know like a co-worker and see if they say anything. Add/View Comment >> About Newsletter Kindness Daily is an email that delivers today’s featured story from HelpOthers.org. If you’d rather not receive this email, you can also unsubscribe. Similar Stories A Loaf of Bread, by Anon A Little Time On The Elevator, by Star Shopping In The Rain, by Aurelia Listening to God’s Voice, by rrkh7 Giving someone a chance to recharge, by KingHartuc Helpful Links Smile Cards: do an act of kindness and leave a card behind to keep the chain going. Smile Decks: 52 cards with a kindness idea on each! Smile Groups: share your own stories, make friends, spread the good. Smile Ideas: loads of ideas that can support your drive of kindness. Unsubscribe If you’d rather not receive these stories by email, you can remove yourself with two easy clicks. Community

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A Case Study of Anonymous Giving

But thou, doing kindness, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. — Matthew 6:3

~~~~ Good News of the Day: “Giver Girl” and her husband “Giver Boy” came up with a simple yet powerful idea: donating $52 to a different charity every week for a year. After each experience, they post their moving reflections, invite others to join in, and maintain total anonymity. The brilliance of their project is captured in a week when they spontaneously decide to make that week’s gift a $52 tip to a waitress serving them. After leaving the tip, they decided to ‘run away without watching (their) waitress’s expression.’ “That’s it right there. That’s generosity. Giving in a sacrificial way with the intent of blessing others while seeking nothing in return — not even recognition, gratitude, or praise. And this lesson is the biggest gift that Giver Boy and Giver Girl have sent out.” Rev. Charles Howard, University Chaplain at UPenn, shares an inspiring case study of anonymous giving.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169A6A9:C3009629A010612C3383FEE9CFAFE157B4B847859706E37D&

~~~~ Be The Change: Write a note of encouragement and support to Giver Girl and Giver Boy. http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=169A6AA:C3009629A010612C3383FEE9CFAFE157B4B847859706E37D&

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