Sangha of Auspicious Companions

December 17, 2017

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The Remarkable C3 Coach of Panchavati Express

This year, the unique C3 A/C Coach or the “Adarsh” (“ideal” in Hindi) Coach on the Panchavati Express, a train running between Mumbai and Nashik, India observed its 10th anniversary. This is no ordinary coach, however. Its passengers follow a voluntary code of conduct that includes not consuming liquor and chewing tobacco on the train, adhering to cleanliness guidelines, switching off lights during the daytime, changing seat covers and curtains, conducting regular pest control and taking care of small maintenance needs. Find out what prompted ordinary citizens to come together to create an ideal commute, and how this commute has enriched their lives. { read more }

Be The Change

Spend some time lovingly and meticulously caring for something that doesn’t belong to you as if it did!

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December 16, 2017

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Great Writers on the Letters of the Alphabet

Late in life the English poet, novelist, essayist, and social justice advocate Sir Stephen Spender asked artist David Hockney to draw each letter of the alphabet, then invited twenty-nine of the greatest writers in the English language to each contribute a short original text for one of the letters. Among them: Susan Sontag, Seamus Heaney, Martin Amis, John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Ted Hughes, Ian McEwan, Erica Jong, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Iris Murdoch. The result was the 1991 out-of-print Hockney’s Alphabeta sublime addition to the canon of imaginative alphabet books, with all proceeds going toward AIDS research and care for people living and dying with AIDS. Enjoy those available here on Brain Pickings!

{ read more }

Be The Change

Iris Murdoch sees C as warm and friendly. Susan Sontag is inspired by Weather for W, always changing. Join together with a few friends to playfully assign a nature to each letter of the alphabet.

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December 15, 2017

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Julian Treasure on 5 Ways to Listen Better

In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, “We are losing our listening.” In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around you. { read more }

Be The Change

Take a few minutes today to do nothing except tune into the sounds all around you. Try to isolate and identify them. Notice something you didn’t before?

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Douglas Tompkins: A Wild Legacy

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December 14, 2017

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Fly by Light Music Video

In the shadow of our nation’s capital, high school students face more than just the challenges of schoolwork. They have to deal with inner-city gangs, drug dealers, drive-by shootings, a lack of role models, and little parental support. It can be a struggle just to stay alive — which is why many D.C. teenagers never graduate. The Fly By Light program seeks to break this cycle with a series of after-school workshops culminating in an 8-day nature retreat. For many of them, it is their first time leaving the city, hiking in the woods, cooling off in a creek, uncovering difficult emotions, or expressing their feelings through art. Let this music video from the program wash over you like a cool stream, move you with raw emotion, energize you with the beat of drums. It is the sound of transformation, self-acceptance, friendship, and hope for a brighter future. { read more }

Be The Change

Watch an abbreviated version of the documentary, “Fly By Light,” which follows four teenagers as they go through the program — and then return to the challenges of everyday life.
https://vimeo.com/173541385

Volunteer your time and talent to help disadvantaged youth. Call your local Boys and Girls Club or YMCA to ask about opportunities, or try http://www.volunteermatch.org or http://www.idealist.org.

Have compassion for all kids today. Remember what it was like to be a child, at the mercy of others for basic needs. Show them the world is a caring place.

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December 13, 2017

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Being and Doing

Sometimes life seems like a never-ending battle between doing and being. If I wish to be present, I need to turn my attention toward myself, but most of us lose our connection with ourselves as soon as we go into movement. Yet as we watch great dancers, great athletes and great actors move, we can’t help but see how deeply connected they are with themselves, seemingly listening to themselves while giving a superlative performance. What’s their secret? It clearly has to do with attention, with focus. They offer hope that it’s possible to do and be at the same time. { read more }

Be The Change

Experiment with Being-in-Action by choosing to wait a moment before you act. Let the phone ring three times before answering or take three deep breaths before meeting someone or something that you know will be difficult for you. Or try out one of Patty’s other suggestions.

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December 12, 2017

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Seven Ways to Help High Schoolers Find Purpose

How do we bring engagement, real-life lessons, and a sense of meaning into teens’ lives? Patrick Cook-Deegan discovered after years of experience and research that the most fulfilling and useful real-world lessons are not being taught in typical high school classrooms — like collaboration, passion, and learning from failure. In a system that values extrinsic rewards over internal values, students are likely to become bored and disillusioned. On top of this, teens are reporting that they are not developing meaningful relationships with adults at school, an important aid in finding purpose. In this age of technology and distraction, Cook-Deegan has found that the answer begins within, an idea that makes sense not just for teenagers but for all of us. Whether you have teens or not, you’ll appreciate these concise, insightful suggestions on how to bring meaning to your life — and help others find purpose for themselves. { read more }

Be The Change

Today, be a positive role model and share yourself with others. Read another article by Cook-Deegan on mentoring for tips. { more }

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December 11, 2017

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Head, Heart and Hands: 25 Years of Schumacher College

Inspired by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s vision, Schumacher College uses head, heart, and hands to teach its student body not only knowledge but wisdom by encouraging creativity and service. Set in the grounds of the historic Dartington Hall in rural south west England, the college has gained an international reputation as much for its pioneering approach to student life as for its innovative courses. Students experience what is described by some as ‘deep immersion’ as they explore themes around ecology, economics and spirituality, while sharing the responsibilities and the struggles of living together as a community. { read more }

Be The Change

Learn more about Schumacher College and its approach to teaching and learning here. { more }

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