Sangha of Auspicious Companions

David Whyte: On Anger, Forgiveness & What Maturity Means

“Our emotional life maps our incompleteness, philosopher Martha Nussbaum wrote in her luminous letter of advice to the young. A creature without any needs would never have reasons for fear, or grief, or hope, or anger. Anger, indeed, is one of the emotions we judge most harshly in others, as well as in ourselves and yet understanding anger is central to mapping out the landscape of our interior lives.” Here the English poet and philosopher David Whyte explores the themes of anger, forgiveness and the true nature of maturity. Read More >>

15,101 reads, 1,247 shares

What If Schools Taught Kindness?

“The school environment can be very stressful; in addition to any issues they bring from home, many students struggle to make friends and perform well in class. Being excluded, ignored, or teased is very painful for a young child, and we thought it could be impactful to teach empathy and compassion. When other kids are suffering– like that boy who split his chin– can we understand how they might be feeling? Kindness bridges those gaps and helps build a sense of connection among the students, the teachers, and even the parents. Learning to strengthen their attention and regulate their emotions are foundational skills that could benefit kids in school and throughout their whole lives.” Read More >>

12,776 reads, 969 shares

How to Listen to Pain

In this thought-provoking Q and A, Greater Good’s book review editor Jill Suttie asks author Brene Brown about the intricacies of her book ‘Rising Strong.’ One of the key points of the book is how we all react — or ‘listen’ — to the intense pain we may feel when we experience shame in our lives. And it is how we respond to those feelings that can either hinder our emotional well-being, or lead us to a new sense of courage and genuineness. Read More >>

10,475 reads, 435 shares

The Anatomy of Gratitude

Brother David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine monk, teacher and author, speaks with Krista Tippett about gratitude — a practice increasingly recognized as a key to human well-being. An early pioneer, along with Thomas Merton, of dialogue between Christian and Buddhist monastics, he sees mysticism as the birthright of every human being. And his anatomy of gratitude is full-blooded, reality-based, and redeeming. Read More >>

10,404 reads, 318 shares

The World’s Happiest Man on Altruism

“”Matthieu Ricard, also known as ‘the world’s happiest man’, spent the best part of 25 years in the Himalayas with barely any contact with the Western world he was born into. At 26-years-old he left behind his molecular biology studies and settled into a life of serenity and spiritual training. However, he is now very much back on the Western scene. When I ask Ricard why he returned, he sighs and says: “When I was in my hermitage I thought, if I can do something useful, maybe I should come down for a bit”” This piece shares more about Ricard’s perspectives on life, business, and altruism. Read More >>

9,990 reads, 381 shares

The Disappointed Diner Who Now Feeds 1200 Children Daily

Unhappy with the service he’d received at a restaurant, Darshan Chandan sent the management an email expressing his disappointment. When the management apologized and offered him a free meal, Darshan asked them to feed underprivileged children instead. What happened next changed the course of his life. The restaurant carried out his request and sent pictures of the children they’d fed. “This is the moment that changed me forever. The smile on the faces of those children left me touched. And that is when I decided to do something about it,” says Darshan. Today the 31-year-old feeds 1200 children in Vadodara, India. Read More >>

9,213 reads, 655 shares

Karen Armstrong on Leading from the Heart

“It is difficult not to feel helpless as we witness the widespread cruelty, poverty and injustice that human beings inflict upon one another. It is tempting to harden our hearts or to dwell only upon the suffering that we have endured. But this can no longer be an option. Compassion is not emotional feeling of goodwill; it does not mean pity; it is rather the principled determination to put ourselves into the place of the other. One of the most urgent tasks of our generation is to build a global community, where men and women of all races, nations and ideologies can live together in peace.” Read More >>

8,031 reads, 459 shares

In This Issue

• David Whyte: On Anger, Forgiveness & What Maturity Means
• What If Schools Taught Kindness?
• How to Listen to Pain
• The Anatomy of Gratitude
• The World’s Happiest Man on Altruism
• The Disappointed Diner Who Now Feeds 1200 Children Daily
• Karen Armstrong on Leading from the Heart

Also This Month …

Awakin Reading

Presence: The Quality of Consciously Being Here, by Kabir Helminski

(4 comments)

KarmaTube Video

Estella’s Brilliant Bus
(7813 views)

Awakin Call

A dialogue with Jacob Needleman: Money and the Meaning of Life

KindSpring Story

Submitted by LittleMiss: When The Student Is The Teacher

ServiceSpace Blogs

• The Privilege Of Living Whatever Life Brings, by Pavi Mehta
• Moved By Love From Surat To Mumbai To Pune!, by Audrey Lin
• From Oakland To Santa Clara, by Guri Mehta

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March 1, 2016

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Peace Fleece: Spinning A Good Yarn

“Peace Fleece started as an act of protest, a way of challenging the continuation of the Cold War…Founded on the mantra of ‘peace through trade,’ Pete and Marty combined American and Soviet wool into yarn — it was detente through domestic art.” Read on to learn how Pete used this practice to deal with his psychological wounds from memories of Vietnam and how this project blossomed into a company that promotes peace even today. { read more }

Be The Change

What small act can you take today to promote peace, either in yourself or in your world?

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