Sangha of Auspicious Companions

September 5, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

At a Tipping Point — Towards Healing the Climate

“Climate change is the undercurrent that drives and shapes our lives in countless ways. Journalist Judith D. Schwartz sees the term as shorthand. It’s almost as if people think climate is this phenomenon, determined solely by CO2, as if we could turn a dial up or down,” she tells me over the phone. We are missing so much.” In her quest for climate solutions, Schwartz leans into the complexity of natural systems. As she and I talk, I come to imagine our climate as a beautiful series of overlapping Rube Goldberg-style cycles of carbon, water, nutrients, and energy. Those systems have been knocked out of alignment, sure, but as Schwartz sees it, repair is not impossible.” { read more }

Be The Change

The micro impacts the macro. What steps can you take to restore the functions of whatever ecosystem you call home?

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Times are tough, everything feels uncertain, and our resilience is maxing out. Still, our hearts keep asking: how do we respond with love? In July, 250+ change-makers from 25 countries joined our first Laddership Pod, with that fundamental inquiry. It was an “Alchemy of Uncertainty“, as Sharon observed: “Today I had this image of compost — all this is compost for catalyzing a kind of alchemy within us. Then, lo-and-behold, a precious soil emerges as a bed for new life.”

On that note, a few recent highlights and upcoming events …

• INSPIRATION: Recent Awakin Calls included Master Gu’s call on embodied wisdom (now the highest rated call to date); Deb Ozarko brought heart to a complicated topic of “letting go of hope for a world in collapse“. Lindy & Francis Wilson shared South Africa stories on “using white privilege for the liberation of all.” Acclaimed author Adam Rothschild offered “History lessons for a dark time”. We’re also exploring many variants, from dialogues (even in Hindi!) to interviews by teens. Two upcoming calls: Brian Conroy on Art of Storytelling (tomorrow!) and teenagers interviewing Maggie Kane on food security.
• ENGAGEMENT: within the “Zoom fatigue” constraints of the pandemic, how do we marry our content with the context of our being? After having hosted 100+ offline retreats, our crew got busy innovating. Enter virtual “Hands, Head, Heart” immersion. Instead of acts of kindness for each other, you do it for your neighbors; evening community nights still include Nimo’s music, but now family members get to join the festivities; and who says you can’t bow online? After two noteworthy experiments, the applications are now open for the third: October Immersion!
• INCUBATION: In July, we piloted a month-long Laddership Pod, with new technology that is designed for inner transformation. It is likely the deepest collective learning experience we’ve seen thus far. What does it mean to occupy the grey, to live into a contextual “middle way” of virtues, and to build labor-of-love projects that circulate a “force more powerful”? Holding sacred complexity of our uniqueness with the elegant simplicity of our universality created an uncommon tensile strength to our inquiries. Next Pod starts in mid-September. Learn more and apply: join upcoming Laddership Pod.

Almost as if graced by the osmosis of each other’s stories, we continue to dig deep and help each other respond with greater compassion — all around the globe.

In Japan, Miyagi-san is initiating a “be the change” movement around the Olympics, while Yuko is bringing Gandhi-inspired hand-spinning to pregnant women. In Hungary, Julia hosted an outdoors Laddership Circle. German magazine, OOOM, featured interviews with many members of our community — from Stephen DeBerry to Anne Jarchow to Janessa Wilder — in their “humble heroes” series. In Colombia, Oscar is integrating gift ecology as a part of his “social MBA” curriculum. While Michelle and john powell piloted a 21-day Belonging Challenge. In Indiana, Colleen started a Little Free Pantry in her front yard, while in Nebraska, Preeta initiated a “NeighborLink” program to connect youth with elders. On the island of Guernsey, Karma Kitchen inspired volunteers are piloting “ShareASlice” pay-it-forward pizza experiment. And one of our summer interns, Tanvi, realized that her grandparents couldn’t read KarunaVirus good news — so she started converting it to audio!

So many of us are holding the question that Bonnie recently raised: how can my kindness be bigger than my mask?

All through the pandemic, I have held in my heart, the unsung heroes who work in grocery stores and other essential businesses. I want them to know I care, and a mask can get in the way. I smile but no one sees it. I try crinkling my eyes, but fear I look maniacal. All constraints are creativity in disguise. The constraint of a mask is no exception. I choose to let kindness be bigger than my mask. Not in spite of the mask, but because of it, this cranky old introvert (me) works harder at appreciating the strangers who serve me daily.

In the spirit of kindness,

Nipun
(on behalf of ServiceSpace)

September 4, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Ayni: Living Life in the Round

“Today For You, Tomorrow For Me.” This is the meaning behind ayni, a living Andean philosophy and practice that awakens a balanced and harmonious relationship between nature and man. In Andean cosmology, this is expressed through complementary opposites such as male/female; sun/moon; gold/silver. Their interaction is a form of reciprocity called ayni. One of the guiding principles of the way of life of the Quechua and Aymara people, this equilibrium of exchange and mutuality, which has been practiced since ancient times (since before the Incas), creates a cycle of connectivity and support essential to social and spiritual wellbeing.” More in this thoughtful piece from Parabola. { read more }

Be The Change

How might you practice the spirit of ayni more deeply in your own life?

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September 3, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Brian Conroy: The Art of Storytelling

Brian Conroy is a gifted storyteller who comes alive when he sees people of diverse faiths, races, and backgrounds working together. Founder of the Buddhist Storytelling Circle, a group of storytellers from the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery who perform at interfaith gatherings, he first encountered Venerable Master Hsuan Hua in 1976 and took refuge with the Master in 1994. Bringing together his passion for storytelling with the wisdom of Buddhism, he writes traditional and contemporary Buddhist tales. As a storyteller, Conroy has performed at festivals and conferences including the National Storytelling Festival, The Parliament for the Worlds Religions. In this piece he shares some of the wisdom stories he has collected over the years. { read more }

Be The Change

Join this Saturday’s Awakin Call with Brian Conroy. More details and RSVP info here. { more }

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September 2, 2020

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Photographing the Hidden Story

Photographer Ryan Lobo tells how conscience led him to search beneath sensational aspects of journalism for the soul of a story. From this shift he discovers, “Focus on what’s dignified, courageous, and beautiful, and it grows.” { read more }

Be The Change

See if you can tune into hidden stories within your own community.

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September 1, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Dial Up the Magic of This Moment

“Few people have stood at the gates of hope through world wars and environmental crises and personal loss with more dignity, wisdom, and optimism than Joanna Macy during her six decades as a Buddhist scholar, environmental activist, and pioneering philosopher of ecology. Macy is also the world’s greatest translator-enchantress of Rainer Maria Rilke, in whose poetry she found refuge upon the sudden and devastating death of the love of her life after fifty-six years of marriage.” More in this beautiful piece from Brain Pickings. { read more }

Be The Change

For more inspiration, read this passage from Rilke, and sit with its wisdom: “We Move in Infinite Space.”

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August 31, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Revisiting Fred Rogers 2002 Commencement Address

“I’m very much interested in choices, and what it is, and who it is, that enable us human beings to make the choices we make all through our lives. What choices lead to ethnic cleansing? What choices lead to healing? What choices lead to the destruction of the environment, the erosion of the Sabbath, suicide bombings, or teenagers shooting teachers. What choices encourage heroism in the midst of chaos?” In 2002 Fred Rogers gave the commencement address at Dartmouth University. His words and questions are more relevant than ever in today’s world. { read more }

Be The Change

Who are the mentors and elders in your life whose words of inspiration have made you feel “part of the jewel” of this Earth”? How can you share that gift with someone else today?

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 246,847 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More