Sangha of Auspicious Companions

July 7, 2012

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Texting That Saves Lives

Teenagers in the U.S. send an average of 3,339 text messages per month. What happened when Nancy Lublin, the CEO and Chief Old Person at DoSomething.org, started texting 200,000 teens across America? They texted back — about their own problems, from bullying to depression to abuse. In this passionate TED talk, Nancy describes how this birthed a crisis text hotline which has helped thousands of teens quickly and safety get the help that they need. { read more }

Be The Change

Text message, call, visit, or reach out to someone in your life who simply needs to be heard.

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Restoring the Diversity of Indigenous Agriculture

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July 6, 2012

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20 Amazing Photos From Outer Space

As humans have begun to explore the mysteries of outer space, both by sending unmanned probes and physically traveling beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, a vast number of amazing pictures have been collected. Often photographs of outer space are recorded for the purposes of science, but are also often breathtakingly beautiful images revealing the wonders of the universe. This post brings together 20 of the most astounding pictures of space ever created. { read more }

Be The Change

Take time to look up at the night sky today.

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THE MIND OF CLEAR LIGHT

Is spiritual practice really worthwhile? Is it really possible to eliminate from within ourselves the forces that give rise to suffering? As is said, “The ultimate nature of mind is clear light.” Consciousness has many levels, and although the coarser levels are affected by the defiling forces, the most subtle level remains free of gross negativities. In the Vajrayana this subtle level of consciousness is called the mind of clear light.

The delusions and emotional afflictions as well as the dualistic mind of right and wrong, love and hatred, etc., are associated only with the coarse levels of consciousness. At the moment, we are totally absorbed in the interplay of these coarse states, so we must begin our practice by working within them. This means consciously encouraging love over hate, patience in place of anger, emotional freedom rather than attachment, kindness over violence, and so forth. Doing this brings immediate peace and calm to the mind, thus making higher meditation possible.

Then, because grasping at a self and at phenomena as being truly existent is the cause of all the vast range of distorted states of mind, one cultivates the wisdom that eliminates this ego-grasping. To overcome ego-grasping is to overcome the entire host of mental distortions.

July 5, 2012

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5 Principles for Inner Transformation at Work

“People go to work to sustain themselves and produce value in the world. Yet work environments can also be stressful, filled with challenging responsibilities and personalities, and feel misaligned with our most deeply cherished values. Instead of sustaining us, the workplace can sometimes feel simply draining, and at worst, unwholesome for both ourselves and the world…is there a path for heart and spirit to come alive through inner transformation at work?” This article delves into five principles that might help pave such a path. { read more }

Be The Change

This week, make an effort to align your external work in the world with your core inner values.

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THE PERFECTION OF PATIENCE

Patience is not learned in safety. It is not learned when everything is harmonious and going well. When everything is smooth sailing, who needs patience? If you stay in your room with the door locked and the curtains drawn, everything may seem harmonious, but the minute anything doesn’t go your way, you blow up. There is no cultivation of patience when your pattern is to just try to seek harmony and smooth everything out. Patience implies willingness to be alive rather than trying to seek harmony.

July 4, 2012

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Are You Training Yourself To Fail?

“‘Did you get done what you wanted to get done today?’ Eleanor, my wife, asked me. ‘Not really,’ I said. She laughed. ‘Didn’t you write the book on getting done what you want to get done?’ Some people are naturally pre-disposed to being highly productive. They start their days with a clear and reasonable intention of what they plan to do, and then they work diligently throughout the day, sticking to their plans, focused on accomplishing their most important priorities, until the day ends and they’ve achieved precisely what they had expected…I am, unfortunately, not one of those people.” In this candid article a reputed author and management consultant offers up his reflections on how the habits we reinforce can help or hinder our productivity { read more }

Be The Change

This week try experimenting with “productivity rituals” of the sort described in the article.

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July 3, 2012

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A Refugee Turned Social Entrepreneur

Amber Chand is an entrepreneur in the United States with a unique business model: “She scans the headlines for conflicts around the world and responds. “I swoop in and then identify a group of talented, skilled artisan women who live there [in conflict zones] and who are clearly going to have to rebuild their lives in the shadow of either war or genocide or civil strife,” she explains. The Amber Chand Collection partners with women in places ranging from Afghanistan to Colombia to Gaza. But her devotion toward these women flows from her own life story.” { read more }

Be The Change

The next time you hear of someone going through a difficult situation, reach out in some way, big or small, to help.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 117,231 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

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