Sangha of Auspicious Companions

August 16, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Enrique Martinez Celaya: Self and Beyond Self

The work of artist Enrique Martnez Celaya speaks for the dignity of interiority in a world absorbed by the external. Having essentially earned a PhD in quantum electronics, widely read in philosophy, a poet and writer, few are more qualified. He observes, “I don’t think the last century will be remembered as the age of computing or nuclear power, but the age when entertainment finally took over our consciousness. Authentic art-making is a journey. To discover one’s self is also to discover ones connection to the world. As one recognizes these connections, a prison sometimes becomes apparent; the prison of what we’ve established or imagined ourselves to be.”
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Be The Change

Do you always take the same route home? Get coffee at the same place? When a habit is noticed, experiment and do something non-habitual. It can be a small thing.

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August 15, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Experiments in Kindness

Audrey Lin is a volunteer extraordinaire with ServiceSpace. With a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Lin has volunteered at the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, India; at Karma Kitchen in Berkeley, California;and has served as an educator on both the east and west coasts of the United States. While not everyone has the ability to travel abroad to volunteer, Lin’s life and perspectives remind us that anyone can participate in acts of kindness. In today’s busy world we are all ‘connected’ on social media, but often fail to connect in real life. Taking time out to really see and acknowledge people can have profound effects on both the person doing the kind act, and the person receiving it. In this talk she shares stories about the powerful ripple effects of kindness within and without. { read more }

Be The Change

Step outside of your usual patterns by finding a new way to express kindness today. For more inspiration tune into Saturday’s Awakin Call with Andy Smallman, discussing Kindness As an Avenue to Awe. RSVP and more details here. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 243,817 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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August 14, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Spotlight on Seniors Who Are Changing the World

Retirement is a time finally away from bosses and schedules, stress and assignments. Yet, once retired, many miss the sense of purpose and community their jobs provided. Where retirement once called to mind visions of rocking chairs and mid-day snoozes, many in the Baby Boomer generation are shaking things up, turning their focus in retirement to encore careers and volunteerism. In this Spotlight on Seniors Who are Changing the World, we take a look at some extraordinary individuals who have used their ‘retirement’ as an opportunity to give back to the world and their communities in remarkable ways, finding along the path both passion and purpose in their golden years.
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Be The Change

What steps can you take today to leave behind a legacy of kindness?

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 243,816 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

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In Other News

• KarmaTube Video: Tattoo Artist Leaves a Positive Mark for Those With Alopecia
• DailyGood: Looking Past Limits: The Remarkable Story of Caroline Casey
• Awakin Reading: To Know Your Mind, Pay Close Attention To It

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August 13, 2017

Small Acts of Kindness

Featured Kindness Stories

	The baby left at the church’s nursery found a safe sanctuary.
	A child’s note on a toy box led to a series of events in his community.
	The hospital sent her to four different patients to play the harp.

Idea of the Week

August 13, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Let Compassion Heal Us: An Intern Examines Suffering

“Being a ServiceSpace summer intern in these past months, I have been guided into a circle of genuine friends and mentors. As part of my internship I interviewed various people in the community about their relationship to pain and suffering. One of the lessons I received is that if we hold space for each other, open our hearts, listen deeply with our full presence, detach from any projections or judgements, then authentic connections blossom. The individuals I talked to were willing to reflect on pain and suffering, unfold decades of their lives and share insights with a young stranger whom they had never met before; and vice versa, I was able to be honest and vulnerable. In the end, “I/you” transformed to “we”, and “my/your” story became “our” stories.” This poignant article by seeker and college student Sophie Wu, shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

Ask someone in your life about their experience with and insights on suffering. Listen with your whole heart to what they share.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 243,819 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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August 12, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

The Solace of Wild Places in Nature and Ourselves

Most of us live far from truly wild places that could give us comfort from the troubles of this world, yet we badly need this healing found in nature. The Japanese recognize this need for connection to nature and have a custom they call “shinrin-yoku,” which means forest bathing. In this piece, Lucia Bettler recommends that we each take time to rest our minds and hearts in the quiet greenness of Mother Earth. “This wild world brings us solace, peace and grace.” Knowing that most of us don’t live near forests or mountains, she suggests developing simple relationships with nature to restore our spirits — things like taking a walk with a pet, watching the insects in the grass or sitting in the herb garden to rejuvenate ourselves. She reminds the reader that the medicine we all need is found in connection to the earth. { read more }

Be The Change

Walk in the silence of nature where wildness can be felt and make room for yourself to be free for a little while each day. Lucia, the author of the beautiful piece featured here is currently navigating health challenges. If you’d like to send her a positive note of well-wishes and appreciation you can do so here. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 243,812 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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August 11, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Elisabet Sahtouris on Ecosophy

In this interview Elizabet Sahtouris shares how society must unite to work toward the common goal of creating a better future for our planet. In order to overcome our tendency toward destruction, we must put aside our competitive nature to work in global harmony. Ecosophy, or “the household which is wise”, she describes, is one that does not separate ecology from economy. “The old and the new worlds are living side by side or within each other right now. If we want to have a better future, all we have to do is start to create it now by living it now”. Elizabet beautifully describes the phases through which our planet has gone, and how we can improve upon the next. { read more }

Be The Change

Even as a child Elizabet was asking the big, philosophical questions: “Who are we, where did we come from, and where are we headed?” Take a little time, perhaps over a cup of coffee, to ask them of yourself, or better still, meet with a few good friends to discuss them. For more inspiration join this week’s Awakin Call with Maya Bruer. More details and RSVP info here. { more }

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Tattoo Artist Leaves a Positive Mark for Those With Alopecia

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August 10, 2017

a project of ServiceSpace

Looking Past Limits: The Remarkable Story of Caroline Casey

Activist Caroline Casey tells the story of her extraordinary life, starting with a jaw-dropping revelation (no spoilers). In a talk that challenges perceptions, Casey asks us all to move beyond the limits we may think we have. At age 34 she realized the three dreams she held as a teenager: to become an elephant handler, to work for herself, and to drive a race car at 185 km/h. She went on to start the Aisling Foundation, which looks deeply at disability, its attendant loneliness and its inherent positive aspects. Follow her incredible, inspiring journey here. { read more }

Be The Change

Join KindSpring’s 21-Day Inclusion Challenge that starts on August 15th. Every day, for 21 days straight, you’ll receive an action prompt that will encourage you to reflect on your daily routine from a “differently-abled” vantage point, and to take small steps towards greater accessibility in the communities and environments around you. Learn more and sign up here. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 243,730 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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