Sangha of Auspicious Companions

10 Keys To Happier Living

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. — Charles M. Schulz

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Good News of the Day:
Based on the latest scientific research on happiness a group based out of the United Kingdom has identified ten “keys” that tend to have a consistently positive impact on people’s overall happiness and well-being. The first five keys relate to how people interact with the world outside, while the latter half are concerned more with the inner life. This piece shares the ten keys (that together form the acronym GREAT DREAM), and also includes thoughtful questions under each key to prompt self-reflection.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16ABC7E:C3009629A010612CEB582E5D8B0ADC8FB4B847859706E37D&

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Be The Change:
Experiment with using the 10 keys above more consciously this week.

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Video of the Week: Caine’s Cardboard Arcade

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 Apr 13, 2012 Caine’s Cardboard Arcade Caine Monroy is a 9-year old boy who spent his summer vacation building an elaborate cardboard arcade in his dad’s used auto parts store. He spent months perfecting the game designs, making displays for the prizes, designing elaborate security systems, and hand labeling paper-lunch-gift-bags. Unfortunately, his dad’s store is in an industrial part of East L.A. and gets almost no foot traffic, so Caine had exactly zero customers… until a random filmmaker, Nirvan Mullick, stops in for a used door handle and buys a Fun Pass. Share: Related KarmaTube Videos The Calm Within The Koh Panyee Football Club Be Selfish, Be Generous Inspirational Graduation Speech by Autistic Student About KarmaTube: KarmaTube is a collection of inspiring videos accompanied by simple actions every viewer can take. We invite you to get involved. Other ServiceSpace Projects: DailyGood // Conversations // iJourney // HelpOthers MovedByLove // CF Sites // Karma Kitchen // More Thank you for helping us spread the good. This newsletter now reaches 42,721 subscribers.

Caine’s Cardboard Arcade

Each of us represents a star in heaven. Sometimes we shine with the rest. Sometimes we twinkle alone. And sometimes when we least expect it, we make someone’s dreams come true — Author Unknown

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Good News of the Day:
Caine Monroy spent his summer vacation building an elaborate cardboard arcade in his dad’s used auto parts store. The adorable 9-year old worked for months to perfect the game designs, making displays for the prizes, and creating elaborate security systems. Unfortunately, his dad’s store is in an industrial part of East L.A. that gets almost no foot traffic. So Caine had exactly zero customers … until a filmmaker, Nirvan Mullick, randomly stopped by for a used door handle and bought a “Fun Pass.” The short film Mullick went on to create about Caine was released early this week — and has already been viewed millions of times, reportedly bringing thousands to tears. It serves as a touching celebration at the intersection of a little boy’s dream and the kindness of a stranger.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16AB9CD:C3009629A010612C474F9E9E7FF73458B4B847859706E37D&

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Be The Change:
The next time you stumble across someone who is bravely following their dream, make time to acknowledge and foster their gift — with something as small as a smile or as big as a flashmob!

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Kindness Daily: A Big Gesture to Help a Friend in Need

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A Big Gesture to Help a Friend in Need April 12, 2012 – Posted by tacjohnson My friend’s husband left her suddenly, taking the car and leaving her with the mortgage. She was left with 3 children to take care of. My friend had no way to get the kids to school and get to her job on time without a car. I told her I would see to it everything will be okay. I wanted to do something to help her. Later that day, I drove to her job and handed over the keys to a brand new Cadillac Escalade and the title. This would mean she could get her kids to school and get to her job on time. The only thing I asked for in return was 1 dollar. 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 Paid In Full With One Glass of Milk, by brighteyes Be kind – nothing in the world will harm you!, by Ari1969 Confronting Road Rage With Compassion, by Megan Bystander No More, by Michelle One of a Thousand Stories to Tell, by David G. Nadeau 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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The Memory Project: Portraits of Compassion

For so many centuries, the exchange of gifts has held us together. It has made it possible to bridge the abyss where language struggles. — Barry Lopez

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Good News of the Day:
At the base of a volcano in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, there’s an orphanage. Although developing world orphanages aren’t normally festive places, on this day, at this time, there was reason to celebrate: the arrival of a young man named Ben Schumaker. Schumaker comes from faraway Wisconsin, and he comes bearing gifts. He carries a suitcase with 62 pounds of portraits — portraits of the kids, a painting for just about each and every one of them. This is all part of the Memory Project, a unique initiative in which art students draw and deliver portraits for disadvantaged children all over the world.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16AB7D7:C3009629A010612C9C82E0519BA6D18FB4B847859706E37D&

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Be The Change:
Learn more about the Memory Project and see examples of its inspiring art work here.
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Quote of the Week | Three Innate Qualities

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The Pursuit of Silence in A World of Noise

A day of silence can be a pilgrimage in itself. — Hafiz

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Good News of the Day:
Writer George Prochnik says he’s had a passion for silence as long as he can remember. “I can’t sit in my house without hearing air conditioners. I worry about this layer of noise that’s placed on top of infrastructure noise.” In his new book, In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise, Prochnik leaves the noisy confines of New York City and goes on a global quest to find those who still value silence. He examines the never-ending series of sounds that pervade his thoughts on a daily basis — the traffic helicopters, the leaky iPods, the neighbors who hold loud parties — and researches the scientific effects of noise on our bodies. This NPR article shares insights and an excerpt from his book.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16AB5F8:C3009629A010612CA1D7AC38E7B178E3B4B847859706E37D&

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Be The Change:
What is your own favorite refuge from the noisy world? This week try making some extra time for silence and stillness.

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Kindness Daily: A Homeless Woman Bought Me A Coffee!

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A Homeless Woman Bought Me A Coffee! April 10, 2012 – Posted by kufda My father and I started our morning by darting into the local grocery store. I waited on line at the Starbucks counter while he shopped around to pick up a few things. As I was standing there I became aware of an elderly woman, hair disheveled, wearing layers upon layers of old torn clothing, hunched behind me in line. She had a few toiletries and seemed to want the Starbucks cashier to ring up since that queue was shorter than the grocery store queues were. At some point I became aware of her edging closer behind me – closer than I was comfortable with! I instinctively placed a hand over my purse and drew it closer to me. My fear and imagination raced creating wild stories about this homeless woman who might try to steal from me. Then it was my turn to order. As the barista rang up my total I discovered I was 67 cents short. I called to my father but he is hard of hearing. He asked me to repeat what I said but he still couldn’t make me out. At that point a long, grey arm, with holes in its sleeves, reached over from behind me. She laid 67 cents out on the counter, saying, "Here, We all need some help sometime." I was stunned! Here was a woman who clearly had very little to give and in great need herself. I had judged her wrongly and she had reached out, unsolicited, to help me! What an amazing gift and lesson this woman gave me about judging others. Thank You, God!! 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 Living on the Street, by strider A Tiny Gesture At A Local Fair, by learning2listen A Twenty In His Hands, by elaine The Crumpled Dollar, by Babygirl A Neighbor’s Blessings, by Agnes Haddaway 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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How To Think Like An Ecosystem

I’m neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I am a dyed-in-the-wool possibilist! By this, I mean with an eco-mind, we see that everything’s connected and change is the only constant. — Frances Moore Lappe

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Good News of the Day:
“A new way of seeing that is opening up to us can form a more life-serving mental map. I call it “eco-mind”– looking at the world through the lens of ecology. This worldview recognizes that we, no less than any other organism, live in relation to everything else. As the visionary German physicist Hans-Peter Durr puts it, “There are no parts, only participants.” This fascinating article from Yes Magazine describes — what it means to think like an ecosystem, why this crucial mindshift is necessary for our planet and what we can do to foster it.
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16AB505:C3009629A010612CB23AFA4477613DE4B4B847859706E37D&

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Be The Change:
“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper.” Thich Nhat Hanh shares a beautiful reflection on inter-connection
http://premiere.whatcounts.com/t?ctl=16AB506:C3009629A010612CB23AFA4477613DE4B4B847859706E37D&

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InnerNet Weekly: Song of the Soul

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Song of the Soul by Kahlil Gibran [Listen to Audio!] In the depth of my soul there is A wordless song – a song that lives In the seed of my heart. It refuses to melt with ink on Parchment; it engulfs my affection In a transparent cloak and flows, But not upon my lips. How can I sing it? I fear it may Mingle with earthly ether; To whom shall I sing it? It dwells In the house of my soul, in fear of Harsh ears. When I look into my inner eyes I see the shadow of its shadow; When I touch my fingertips I feel its vibrations. The deeds of my hands heed its Presence as a lake must reflect The glittering stars; My tears reveal it, as bright drops of dew Reveal the secret of a withering rose. It is a song composed by contemplation, And published by silence, And shunned by clamor, And folded by truth, And repeated by dreams, And understood by love, And hidden by awakening, And sung by the soul. It is the song of love; What Cain or Esau could sing it? It is more fragrant than jasmine; What voice could enslave it? It is heartbound, as a virgin’s secret; What string could quiver it? Who dares unite the roar of the sea And the singing of the nightingale? Who dares compare the shrieking tempest To the sigh of an infant? Who dares speak aloud the words Intended for the heart to speak? What human dares sing in voice The song of God? –Kahlil Gibran Share the Wisdom: Latest Community Insights Song of the Soul Ummed wrote: power of the subtle, sensitivity of finest sensor, most fragrant, , , , , ,… Ricky wrote: A friend of mine is dying. His wife posts on the caring bridge site every so often, and over the past 11 months has chronicled the diagnosis, the doctor visits, the nurses, the treatments, the p… Conrad P. Pritscher wrote: My guess is that one can experience the song of love by openly noticing. I remember reading William Penn’s quote on a Chicago bus advertisement many years ago. I was touched when… Share/Read Reflections >> Wednesday Meditation: Many years ago, a couple friends got together to sit in silence for an hour, and share personal aha-moments. That birthed this newsletter, and later became “Wednesdays”, which now ripple out to living rooms around the world. To join, RSVP online. Some Good News Wisdom From Alice, Age 108 Two Tragic Moments & One Boy’s Compassion The Power of Self-Compassion Video of the Week Mr. Happy Man Kindness Stories Giving A Gift Card The Gift Of Time To An Upset Student Magnetically Attracting Kindness About Back in 1997, one person started sending this simple “meditation reminder” to a few friends. Soon after, “Wednesdays” started, ServiceSpace blossomed, and the humble experiments of service took a life of its own. If you’d like to start a Wednesday style meditation gathering in your area, we’d be happy to help you get started. InnerNet Weekly is an email service that delivers a little bit of wisdom to 70,790 subscribers each week. We never spam nor do we host any advertising. Archives, from the last 14+ years, are freely available online. You can unsubscribe anytime, within seconds. A Gift Economy offering of ServiceSpace.org (2012)