Sangha of Auspicious Companions

May 13, 2024

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Becoming a Possibilist

“I don’t have a crystal ball to know what’s going to happen in the future, but I know that in the present moment, there are possibilities for us as human beings to transform our conflicts.” Author and negotiation expert William Ury’s opens his discussion on Sounds True’s Insights at the Edge podcast with this explanation of what it means to be a possibilist. The respective endgames of climate change, political unrest, state conflicts and other headline-grabbing events are not as predetermined as we sometimes believe. And while world events are big, the solutions as a possibilist, start small, with the relationships and conversations available every day. “Be curious, and out of that curiosity, out of those open-ended conversations, out of that listening, people naturally start to feel heard. They start to feel respected, they start to feel seen, and then new possibilities emerge from that conversation.” It can be easy to discard this wisdom as too hard, or too idealistic; however, Ury shares story after story about some of the most embedded, intransigent conflicts where setting aside defense mechanisms, weapons, and retaliation and picking up possibility, has led to surprising, unexpected outcomes. { read more }

Be The Change

Pay attention to immediate reactions today. Instead of moving from reaction directly to action, take a breath… count to five… then, thank the reaction for presenting the opportunity for curiosity. Ask an open, honest question you could not possibly know the answer to in place of your normal reaction. { more }

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May 12, 2024

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Momentary Eternal: Conversation with Derek Weisberg

Without quite knowing why, I’d kept an eye on this young artist for years. Then, on a visit to the Bay Area, I felt the time had come to ask him for an interview. His response to my inquiry about what drew him so deeply into art making is telling: “Art evokes life’s great pursuits – religion and the human experience, right? To be completely present in this longer, energetic lineage of what’s channeled through us, and which goes on beyond us as we leave this world. We’re connected to the present moment, and to the ripples of the larger world beyond us that are eternal.” It’s a rare conversation. { read more }

Be The Change

Working with one’s hands is a good way to come back home. Using our hands is a return to ancient times. Like with washing the dishes. Working in the garden. There’s an endless list. Next time you’re working with your hands, check in with yourself. Doesn’t it feel quietly nourishing in a way I keep forgetting about?

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May 11, 2024

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From Snow to Water

Ready to meet a compassion and business hero? Xue, an immigrant from Inner Mongolia, made her way to MIT, Wall Street and as a successful entrepreneur until a life altering experience got her to question everything in her life. She co-founded ‘The Space Between’, an investment fund redirecting hundreds of millions not just to grow wealth, but to ignite change and foster compassion. Its founding principles: holding space, listening and heart. Xue has remarkably transitioned from following traditional career paths to empowering businesses operating on the principles of love and human relationships. { read more }

Be The Change

Consider your feelings and values when making decisions, especially those that may impact others. Instead of focusing solely on self-interest, think about how your choices can serve the wider community. Begin by asking deeper questions about the decisions you are making in your everyday life.

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May 10, 2024

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Jane Goodall on What It Takes to Save the Earth

Jane Goodall’s address at Davos 2024 emphasized that climate change is not slowing down: yet there is reason to hope. Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program is an example of what can be done to protect the future if all of us recognize our interconnectedness with nature and each other. The energy of youth, nature’s resilience, the human intellect, and human’s indomitable spirit can be combined to tackle the impossible task of saving the world. The invitation Goodall offers is to join her in saying “Together we can, together we will, together we must save the world. { read more }

Be The Change

Take a walk in nature. Pay attention to all the other animals and creatures sharing the space. Pick up three pieces of garbage and dispose of properly.

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May 9, 2024

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Mountain Vapors

While hiking among the seemingly solid majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies, photo essayist Keith Kozloff found himself more attracted to clouds than the steep, uphill trails of the landscape. Upon returning home, his images inspired him to reflect on impermanence and interdependence – the “cloudiness of everything.” He wondered if he could “perhaps treat challenges more as clouds than as rocks.” { read more }

Be The Change

In what aspect of your life might you benefit from adopting a cloud-like mindset?

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May 7, 2024

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Sri Lanka’s Untold Story of Resilience

When the legendary Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne — often called “the Gandhi of Sri Lanka” — passed away last month at the age of 92, his enduring legacy of selfless love expanded in hearts across the globe. For over sixty years, Dr. Ariyaratne’s humility and servant leadership stewarded thousands of self-sufficient villages in Sri Lanka. Working quietly and often behind the scenes, the unique non-government organization behind the movement, Sarvodaya (which can be translated to “the awakening of all through the sharing of energy”), has grown to include more than 15,000 villages and has mobilized community efforts to build preschools, community health centers, libraries, and 100,000 small businesses — all without government support. Their success lies in the networks of local organizations formed through the personal awakening of participants. In that spirit, their motto, “We build the road, and the road builds us,” mirrors Dr. Ari’s practice of seeing and treating all as equals and, to echo Richard Flyer’s words, “characterizes the relationship between spiritual and economic development”. { read more }

Be The Change

This weekend, join an Awakin Call conversation with Richard Flyer, a disciple of Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne who has dedicated his life to integrating embodied spirituality and the building of community-based ecosystems. Details and RSVP: { more }

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Inspiring Links of the Week

May 6, 2024

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Sanctuaries of Silence

What might happen if we listened deeply? If we really listened? In the tranquil chorus of nature, Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist, experiences silence as ‘the poetics of space’ and ‘the presence of time undisturbed.’ He provides insight into how we perceive our locations based on their unique sounds and the value of true silence in our modern noisy world. Hempton defines silence not as the absence of sound, but as a void of noise pollution created by modern life, and warns that, with the pervasiveness of noise pollution, ‘silence is on the verge of extinction.’ However, all is not lost. As Hempton shows, reconnecting with the silence and sounds of the natural world can be emotionally therapeutic and expansive. As we listen, he suggests, our ego disappears, and we are one with nature. { read more }

Be The Change

Take a nature walk with mindfulness. As often as you can, spend time in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Schedule regular nature walks or hikes where you and others can practice mindfulness and deep listening. Focus on the sounds of nature, to experience the beauty of silence and the richness of natural sounds.

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May 5, 2024

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Mary Ann Brussat: Everyday Sacred Renaissance

“You really can feel tremendous empathy for the people, but at the same time, compassion is something that’s a little different. Compassion is where you move towards someone to see if there is a way that you can be of help. So not only do you recognize your feelings for someone, but you try to figure out, is there something here that I can do?” In this Awakin Call, Mary Ann Brussat touches upon her journey and work of bringing spiritual literacy to daily practice. For the past several decades, Mary Ann, along with her husband, Frederic Brussat, has co-architected Spirituality and Practice (S&P), an excavation of cultural and spiritual resources across faith, culture, and ethnic lines. What follows is the transcript of the Awakin Call with Mary Ann Brussat in which she speaks about her journey, some heart warming stories of daily spirituality, and a personal take on the gifts of AI and technology. { read more }

Be The Change

Mary Ann Talks about how the Quality of Reverence practice is important for them in daily living. Reverence for things, people, animals and for Self. Take a moment to pause, and look at what reverence for self would mean to you. How would it look like in action? (For more qualities from which to choose, to practice in your daily living, take a look at the Spiritual Literacy Alphabet in the transcript of the call.)

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