Thank you dear sister for sharing your love of Rumi, and the divine dance and music. My wish: may we all come together one day through love and understanding, not from words, but the pure language of our hearts.

Love is the path to the divine. The politics of religion is the obstacle. I am not interested in forms or labels, only the formless within which connects us all.
Master Rumi is a divine manifestation of God, as are every single soul. Only difference is the mystics remember who they are, the rest of us have this blessed moment. Every moment is an opportunity to return to our true self. We are love and the beloved one. السلام عليكم

Book of the Month Review: The Earth Shifter!

New release: The Earth Shifter – Review, Excerpt + Giveaway!

 

I’m starting a monthly book review and will post interesting selection of  books that I had the pleasure of reading and recommending. This month will feature the talented and uplifting author Lada Ray. Thematically there are wonderful spiritual and healing messages/ lessons from her latest epic novel. You can read my full review at:   http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/491013693

If you could read just one book this year, seriously consider The Earth Shifter! This metaphysical fantasy/thriller is simply one of the most compelling stories you’ll find. Author Lada Ray expertly weaves a tale about the consequences that mankind’s insanity has upon the world.

The historical content is fantastic, I’ve learned a lot. The book is rich with historical references, time traveling flashbacks and exotic locales. The apocalyptic theme addresses probable futures for humanity, depending upon how mankind chooses its fate. The main protagonist is a smart, sassy teenage girl named Sasha. Seemingly living a normal, happy childhood growing up, imbued with special powers beyond her understanding, she has the unenviable task of saving the world! Through many mystical adventures and tribulations, she comes to understand her destiny, along with the daunting responsibility of preserving life so the evolution of human consciousness can continue.

The adventure is all-encompassing and epic in scope, and the author mindfully balances multiple story lines where the characters play a very crucial role in the outcome. Nothing is pre-determined in life, and the future is wide open as the major players fight to bend “reality” according to their will. There are major lessons that we humans need to learn and accept, the defining realization being that we are all connected in some ineffable mysterious way, which may not be apparent to us in the course of our daily existence, but plays a necessary part in the grand scheme of things. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but trust me, you will be thoroughly engrossed with the story! There are many engaging subplots which intertwine and reinforce the central theme of struggle, love, acceptance and transcendence.

My favorite character is Red! Like an enigma within a chinese puzzle box, this vivacious raven haired seductress is amazing. A girl after my own heart, she is pure mystery with her own unique agenda and plays a crucial role in the outcome of the story. Wait until you visit her underground home and the juicy drag racing scene! Don’t want to give away any spoilers… you must read it for yourself. 😉

The spiritual/ metaphysical message is strong throughout the book, you can really relate with the characters and find yourself rooting for the best possible outcome of the story. It’s the ultimate thrill ride, your soul will cry out for justice, cheer, shout out for resolution and redemption. It’s that kind of book which elicits the best and worst of humanity, but most importantly reflects our own foibles and struggles with life. Easily a wonderful, thought-provoking book, which I highly recommend to everyone of all ages. It’s a real eye-opening, earth-shifting experience for sure!

Cool Giveaways/ Reader Appreciation: The Earth Shifter Ebook Lauch and Tablet Contest!

Additional info: www.ladaray.com

Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Earth-Shifter-ebook/dp/B00AVB0GVG/

Blog: http://www.ladaray.wordpress.com

Hero’s Journey & the Quest for Self.

Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it.
Pippin: What? Gandalf? See what?
Gandalf: White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
Pippin: Well, that isn’t so bad.
Gandalf: No. No, it isn’t.

Yesterday, a few friends and I were watching The Lord of the Rings:  Return of the King and a discussion ensued about man’s epic quest and the “hero’s journey”, a phrase coined by the late Joseph Campbell.  In the greater sense, we are all on a hero’s journey simply because we exist and need to experience this journey of self realization. Life offers plenty of obstacles and challenges which forces us to seek answers to this very mystery:  Why are we here and what is the purpose of life?  Everyday we struggle, strengthen our resolve and learn to find meaning in this reality.  It is this very quest to understand one’s true nature and mature through life processes which ultimately allows us to evolve as sentient beings and return home knowing who we are.

The movie was supremely enjoyable and ended with Annie Lenox singing “Into the West” during the closing credits. LOTR was exceptionally epic in scale, and the song hauntingly soothing and enchanting.

Un-American Jesus

We should ask ourselves, what was Jesus’ intention? As humans, did we really embrace and live by his high-heart teachings? Do I really love, honor and serve Jesus by my thoughts and actions everyday? I should qualify my answer by stating: I am not a Christian because I love Christ uncompromisingly; for the same reason I am NOT a Buddhist because I am deeply in love with the Buddha. True Love and Knowledge is gained from direct experience, everything else is hearsay (heresy?).

It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff, the politics and dogmas of life are the obstacle to experiencing unity consciousness and universal love. If you have love in your heart, just LOVE with all your heart. If you have peace within you, be PEACE. Manifest all that is within you and share it with the world. That is the way and the truth and the life: remembering (re-membering as in re-joining) who you really are…

Isn’t that what Jesus really wanted us to experience for ourselves? Let’s follow Lord Jesus’ example and Love ONE another. *PEACE*

Saint Iscariot

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners…

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War and *Peace* What have we learned?

Excerpt from the “Discussions of The Dhammapada, Vol8″

Question – Beloved Master, You told us the story of Krishna and Arjuna. But is there no value in resisting war in a time where a handful of madmen play with atomic bombs?

Osho – Peter Bohm, how can you resist these few madmen who are playing with atom bombs? What will be your strategy of resistance? In fact, your resistance may bring the war sooner than otherwise; your resistance is not going to prevent it.

The only thing that can prevent the world war is that you start a totally new consciousness, that you start a new kind of humanity… a man who is capable of love, a man who is capable of meditation. Let love and meditation spread far and wide. Let meditation reach to as many people as possible. Except that, all your efforts at resistance are impotent.

You can protest and you can go on a long march, but have you ever watched the protesters, the people who are against war, the pacifists? Have you watched their processions? They look so aggressive, they themselves look mad! If they had the atom bombs, just to protect peace they would be the first to drop the atom bombs. They are as mad as the other party; there is no difference at all. Their minds are as political as the people who are in power; the only difference is that they are not in power. And their anger, their pent-up anger, you can see on their faces, in their slogans.

Every peace protest ends in a fight with the police, with the military. It ends in burning buses, post offices, police stations, cars. What kind of love is this and what kind of resistance is this? It is impotent! But they are feeling they are doing something great. It is an ego trip and nothing else.

What can you do? Yes, you can shout and you can go for a long march with great posters, and it will give you a certain satisfaction because your pent-up energies will be released. It is a kind of catharsis. Unknowingly, you are doing Dynamic Meditation — but it would be better if you do it knowingly.

Yes, war has come to a point where it can destroy the whole humanity, and not only humanity but the whole earth. Life as such can be destroyed. What can we do?

Heaven in the Present Moment

You and Me vs. You or Me: Heaven in the Present Moment

Guest blogged from IYYUN:  Center for Jewish Spirituality.

Once in a small town in Poland, there lived a wealthy learned and pious man by the name of Reb Yankel. In this town, other than Reb Yankel all the townsmen were poor. One day, this Reb Yankel send out a proclamation inviting all the leaders of the community to a feast, promising to be a feast worthy of paradise. That evening as the leaders arrived they were escorted into the living room where they saw the table set delightfully with magnificent cutlery set for each guest. The butler than showed the quests to their seats. Sitting anxiously in their place at the table, the butler enters the room and hands Reb Yankel a bowl of hot soup. Strangely, he offers no soup for the guest. Eating his soup, Reb Yankel lifts his head and says ‘Oh, what a delicious soup, I am sure my friends, you have never tasted such a tasty soup. When he finished his soup he was brought a full course meal. Once again the guest weren’t served, and once again as he was eating he kept on remarking on how delicious the food was. Finally one of the guest could contain himself no longer, and he burst out ‘Reb Yankel have you invited us here to mock us.’ The invitation, he continued, promised a feast worthy of Paradise, and here, not only did we not get to partake in the feast but worse of, we have to suffer through watching you eat. Reb Yankel smiled, indeed, he said, this is meal is truly worthy of paradise. Do you know what paradise is, do you think that it is a restaurant where you come to eat. Paradise is a place / a state, where people love each other enough so that they can take pleasure in another persons’ happiness. In paradise, we are content watching our fellow mans’ success. There, not only are we not envious, what’s more we even feel happy for them. Now that you have all understood the paradise part of the feast, dinner can be served, enjoy.

Why are there so many PROBLEMS in the World today…YOU ARE THE WORLD!

“You are the world… without you, there is no world. You must understand the
whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why
you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems
and suffer and understand, for all that is life.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
This is one way of understanding the statement: that the individual is the only
reality. And the world is nothing but the collectivity of individuals, so whatever it
is, it is a contribution of individuals. If it is ugly, you have contributed to its
ugliness. If it is full of hate, jealousy, anger, greed, ambition, you have contributed
to this whole hell in which we are living. You cannot throw the responsibility on
somebody else; you have to accept the responsibility on your own shoulders.

J. Krishnamurti’s statement that “You are the world” simply emphasizes the fact
that every individual, wherever he is, whatever he is, should accept the
responsibility of creating this world that exists around us. If it is insane, you have
contributed to that insanity in your own way. If it is sick, you are also a partner in
making it sick. And the emphasis is important – because unless you understand
that “I am also responsible for this miserable and insane world,” there is no
possibility of change. Who is going to change? Everybody thinks somebody else
is responsible.