Sangha of Auspicious Companions

July 15, 2020

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Designing Schools of the Future

“We are building a state-of-the-art Formula 1 engine in the body of an old, broken-down Buick, and wondering why the car won’t go.”While pedagogical methods have advanced tremendously in recent decades, the shape of our learning spaces has not. Think: rooms filled with desks in rows all facing front, in an environment directly counter to contemporary progressive learning styles. Seeking to remedy these constrictions, Kurani links architecture with student-centered learning. His innovative designs help schools empower students and teachers in the learning process, thus helping entire communities. He shares more in this piece. { read more }

Be The Change

Join this Saturday’s Awakin Call with Danish Kurani, “Creating Transformative Physical Spaces for Learning and Human Flourishing”. More details and RSVP info here. { more }

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July 14, 2020

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Big Picture Competition: Celebrating Earth’s Diversity

Now in its seventh year, BigPicture encourages photographers from around the world to contribute their work to a competition that both celebrates and illustrates the rich diversity of life on Earth, and inspires action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery. Take a look at the gallery of stunning images from this year’s winners, and learn more about the photographers here. { read more }

Be The Change

Look for a big picture “snapshot” as you walk through your day. Maybe you will take an actual picture, maybe it will be a mental one — either way, look for a frame that lifts you into a larger perspective– and see what extraordinary things you discover even within the “ordinary” setting of the familiar.

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July 13, 2020

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Freedom in Prison: The Story of My Great-Grandfather

Aryae Coopersmith recounts the moving story of his great-grandfather Shmuel, a Talmud scholar who was forced war front in Bosnia-Herzegovinae. When it was discovered he didn’t have the makings of a soldier in him, he was given prison guard duty instead. “How was Shmuel, a naive young kid who knew nothing about prisons, going to run a prison full of battle-scarred soldiers? He offered the prisoners a deal. I’ll leave your cells unlocked and let you guys run the prison, he told them. But your part of the deal is, you’ve got to take care of each other, serve the food on time, and keep the place clean.” What unfolded next was an unforgettable story of trust, love and the triumph of the human spirit in dark times. { read more }

Be The Change

Make time to listen to an elder’s story this week, and discover where it touches yours.

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July 12, 2020

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Hood Feminism: A Call For Solidarity

“In her searing collection of essays, Mikki Kendall takes aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women. Drawing on her own experiences with hunger and violence, along with incisive commentary on politics, pop culture, the stigma of mental health, and more, Hood Feminism delivers an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux– and a ferocious clarion call to all would-be feminists to live out the true mandate of the movement in thought and in deed.” This NPR review of Kendell’s NYT bestseller shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

For more insight on this topic in the context of the pandemic, check out this interview with Kendell. { more }

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July 11, 2020

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Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life

In 2002 Thom Bond was a successful environmental engineer, passionate about designing smart buildings that used alternative energy. Then he chanced upon Marshall Rosenberg’s landmark book Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life. “By the time I read Chapter 1, it hit me that I had found what I was looking for…A set of concepts and ideas to be able to move through conflict.” Thom realized instinctively that he’d found a new technology — one that was human-oriented as opposed to building-oriented that would allow for more effective and harmonious use of energy. { read more }

Be The Change

Explore 64 Days of Peace. A free training resource for anyone who is ready to make a personal commitment to learn the principles and concepts of NVC and begin to incorporate them into daily life: https://www.nycnvc.org/64days

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July 10, 2020

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Empathy vs Sympathy

Empathy and sympathy are not just two different approaches to confronting the emotional challenges of others; they are diametrically opposite responses in many important ways. Sympathy places another’s problems at a distance from us, places us in a position of superiority, and “drives separation”, says the film’s narrator, Dr. Bren Brown. Empathy, on the other hand, requires that one internalize the feelings of another. That shared experience drives interpersonal connection, she says. “What makes things better is connection.” { read more }

Be The Change

The next time you find yourself feeling sorry for someone, try to shift your reaction from sympathy to empathy.

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Empathy vs. Sympathy

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July 9, 2020

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We Have to Talk: A Checklist for Difficult Conversations

“There are dozens of books on the topic of difficult, crucial, challenging, fierce, important conversations. Those times when you know you should talk to someone, but you don’t. Maybe you’ve tried and it went badly. Or maybe you fear that talking will only make the situation worse. Still, you feel stuck, and you’d like to free up that stuck energy for more useful purposes.” Judy Ringer is a conflict resolution trainer, and a black belt in Aikido. Here she offers a checklist for difficult conversations, along with best practice strategies, tips and additional resources. { read more }

Be The Change

Experiment with one or more of the best practices in Ringer’s post. For more inspiration, check out this short talk on “5 Ways to Listen Better.” { more }

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