LOVELIGHT
magazine
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April
2009***Vol. 6, no.4
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Managing
Editors: Adamaria Francis and a Franciscan Taoist
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Special
thanks to, and public acknowledgement of, the following contributors to this
issue: Barbara Baty, Jim Dwyer,
Mick Gallagher, Kurzweil Science Newsletter, Teresa Ramsey, Barbara Siler, and
Cherigene Slaughter
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LOVELIGHT
MAGAZINE: WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
Lovelight magazine is free, coming to your inboxscreen
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And we love to laugh!:) So,
if you discover any good chuckles, please send them along!:) But no bigoted, prejudiced,
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Still, life is not all laughs.
So, we hope also to share happy thoughts. Lovelight wants to promote harmony among all people, all
over the world, and to aid you to feel good!:) If you are working on any religious, psychological, or
spiritual issues, we encourage you to read the ezine, and to write to us at
rmfrancis@juno.com
Also, if you come across any wise or touching pieces, not copyrighted,
fairly short, please share them with us!
Also welcome are practical tips, short pieces on personal philosophies,
interesting facts, wordplays, and general spirituality (but no
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A "BABBLING BROOK" OF CHUCKLES: HUMORTHERAPY
Little Boy and prayer, sent in by Cherigene Slaughter
A little boy wanted $100, very badly; he prayed for weeks, but nothing happened . Then he decided to write God a letter.
When the postal authorities received it, they sent it to the President. He was so amused that he sent the boy a $5 bill. The president thought this would be a lot of money to a little boy, who was delighted with it and wrote a thank-you note to God, which read: "Dear God: Thank you very much for the money. But I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington D.C.; and those creeps took $95 in taxes."
***
|
FIVE BEST
THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK: sent in by Jim
Dwyer *** |
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SEX AFTER DEATH,
sent in by Jim Dwyer
After a long
life together, the husband died first.
As promised, he made the first contact with his wife.
"Is that you, John?"
"Yes, I've come back like we agreed."
"That's wonderful! What's it like?"
"I get up in the morning, and have sex. I eat breakfast and then it's off to the golfcourse. I have sex again, bathe in the warm sun
and then have sex a couple
of more times. Then I have lunch
(you'd be proud – lots of greens) another romp around the golf course,
then pretty much have sex the rest
of the afternoon. After supper,
it's back to the golfcourse again. Then it's more sex until late at night. I catch some much needed sleep and then the next day it starts all over again."
"Oh, John, you surely must be in Heaven!"
"Not exactly. I have
been reincarnated as a rabbit on a golfcourse in Arizona!"
***
BAIL-OUT!, sent
in by Barbara Baty
A great idea to bail
us out of this economic mess: Instead
of giving the 2 trillion dollars
to the banking system, give it to us. Give it to us with the provision that we must spend it on our
debts, home mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, etc. That way the banks get the 2 trillion
dollars, we all get out of debt and can start saving and spending. True, we will eventually have to pay
back the 2 trillion; but we are going to pay it anyway eventually. This way, everybody wins! Talk about thinking outside the box!
***
EUROPEAN HEAVEN
AND HELL, sent in by Mick Gallagher
Heaven: The cooks are French, the mechanics
German, the police British, the lovers are Italian, and it is all organized by
the Swiss.
Hell: The mechanics are French, the police are German, the cooks
are British, the lovers are Swiss, and it is all organized by the Italians.
***
THE GAY FLIGHT
ATTENDANT, sent in by Cherigene Slaughter
My flight was being served by a
gay flight attendant, who put everyone in a
good mood as he served us.
As the plane prepared to descend, he came swishing down the aisle and said,
"Captain Marvey has asked me to announce that he'll be landing the big
scary plane shortly, so, lovely people, if you could just put your trays up,
that would be super." On his
way back up the aisle, he noticed a welldressed and Arabic woman who had not
moved a muscle. "Perhaps you
didn't hear me over those big brute engines when I asked you to raise your
trazy-poo, so the main man can pitty-pat us on the ground," he said.
She said, "In my country, I am called a princess, and I take orders
from no one."
To which he replied, "Well,
sweet-cheeks, in my country I'm
called a Queen, so I outrank you. Tray-up, Bitch!"
***
"BEST POEM IN THE WORLD," sent in by Jim Dwyer
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money! twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber? Give me a clue."
"Speak softly," He said.
"They're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you."
***
ADVICE FROM A VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN MAN , sent in by Barbara Siler
Your fences need to be
Horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.***Keep skunks, bankers, and lawyers at a distance.***Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.***A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.***Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.***Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.***Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.***Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.***It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.***You cannot unsay a cruel, or unkind, word.***Every path has a few puddles.***When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.***The best "sermons" are lived, not preached.***Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.***Don't judge folks by their relatives.***Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.***Live a good, honorable life. Then, when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.***Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.***Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a raindance.***If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.***Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.***Always drink upstream from the herd.***Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.***Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.***If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.***Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest up to God.
*****
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LOVELETTERS FROM BUDS, PALS, AND FRIENDS
from
Barbara Siler:
Thank
you so much for you thoughtful response, on the subject of passion.
I especially loved the parts, "But it can also arise from the Soul, or
even the Spirit-- very deep areas of Mind indeed." and, ".... a
great, consuming, demanding call from deep within." These don't
sound like ego is involved, but more like my own definition of passion. (Don't we just love it when our ideas are validated?
ha-ha)
But, perhaps I still don't fully understand, because passion has always meant a
sort of "soul-fire" that can fire any one, or all, efforts. For
instance, my writing and gardening seem to spring from urges deep within, and
whenever someone says "That must have taken an awfully lot of work!," my answer is that it took no
work at all; that it seemed to have done itself, while I was dragged
along. And, it always seems to be about beauty - the beauty of words, the
beauty of nature, the beauty of bringing people together, etc. Could it
be possible to have more than one passion, and that a person could enter
into each pursuit with an innate passion that is essentially his way
of living life? Or is doing this just a diluted version of
passion? Why am I asking all these questions? :) Well, thank you,
againÉ Your messages are precious to us.
*****
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THE WOODEN BOWL,
sent in by Jim Dwyer
An old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and
four-year old grandson. The old
man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together. But the elderly grandfather's shaky
hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto
the floor. When he grasped the
glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the
mess.
"We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled
milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor!"
So they set a small table in the
corner. There, the grandfather ate
alone while the rest enjoyed dinner.
Since he had broken a dish or two,
his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in his
direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye.
Still, the only words they had for
him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in
silence. One evening before
supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What
are you making?"
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl
for you and Mama to eat your food from when I grow up." He smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents
that they were speechless. Then
tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word
was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening, the husband took his
father's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the
family. And for some reason, neither
husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk
spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what
happens, how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a
lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost
luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've
learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from
your life. I've learned that "making a
living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives
you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go
through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that if you pursue happiness,
it will elude you. But, if you
focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing
the very best you can, happiness will find you I've learned that whenever I
decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have
pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day, you
should reach out and touch someone.
People love that human touch --
holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to
learn.
*****
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WORDS WORTH REPEATING,
sent in by Barbara Baty
"The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational
mind is a faithful servant. We
have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the
gift."—Albert Einstein
***
"Of all the creations of the earth and heaven, Love is the most
precious."—Sappho (Greek poetess, 580 BCE)
***
"Sometimes
when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things... I
am tempted to think... there are no little things."-- Bruce Barton
***
When we feel safe
enough to open the locks [and], drop the armor, our truest selves step out and
we can be completely honest [about] who we are; we can be loved for who we are
and not for who we're pretending to be.
***
"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man
to elevate his life by conscious endeavor."-- H. D. Thoreau
***
GREAT ADVICE,
sent in by Barbara Baty
Speak Softly. When you speak too fast and with a
loud voice,
the energy you send out to the
universe is frantic and nervous. People
around you will feel pressure and slightly agitated. Speak more slowly and more softly, and you will
find that you begin
to feel calmer and less
stressed. Next, you will find that
those
around you will quickly become
calmer too. (Unknown author)
*****
*****
DO WHAT YOU DO!
Stop being in such a
hurry! Do what you are doing—right this minute;
don't always be thinking about "getting to the next project or
task." Otherwise, you are
not really here, now! For in your mind, you are somewhere
else, or doing something else.
A person can
"miss" an entire life, because she was never really, completely
"there"! That is, she
never paid careful attention to what she was doing at the moment! So, she missed all the joy, wonder,
fun, and learning that the cosmos so generously offered to her! She was always in a rush, and hurried
her way through every task.
So, relax. Get into, and enjoy, this moment. Do only what you are doing right now, without pushing yourself towards a
"finish line"! Avoid
multi-tasking! "The path is the destination; the
real "finish line" is wherever you are!
Whatever is right
in front of you at this moment is "God's assignment" to you; so, try
to do it well. Give it all you've got! Give it your fullest attention! It is your "exam," and the
"grade" counts! The
"really important stuff" does not come later! What you are doing right at this
moment is the
really important stuff!
An ancient
enlightened sage wrote, "Do everything as if for the Lord." All our work—even the
"smallest, most insignificant" task, should be done with Love in our
hearts, for, in everything, we are the servants of the great Lovemind. And there is no
"insignificant" act of Love!
All are equally important!
So, try to notice
"where" your mind is when you are doing "ordinary" tasks;
are you "all there"? Or
has your mind wandered far away?
If you really try to be fully present, this is what Buddhism calls
"mindfulness," and its practice will greatly enrich your life! Try to make each moment the best in
your life! This begins by "being here."
*****
*****
TO ALL MY INTELLIGENT FRIENDS,
sent in by Mick Gallagher
I am sending this to only my smart friends.
See if you can figure out what these words have in common.
1. Banana***2. Dresser***3. grammar***4. Potato***5. revive***6.
Uneven***7. Assess
Are you peeking, or have you already given up? Give it another try.
Look at each word carefully. You'll kick yourself when you discover
the answer.
***
ANSWER: No, it is not that they all have at least 2 double
letters. In all of the words
listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then
spell the word backwards, it will be the same word. Did you figure it out?
*****
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JUDGE NOT, sent
in by Jim Dwyer
Remember, just calling yourself a "Christian" doesn't make you a
Christian
any more than standing in your garage makes you a car .
Every saint has a past,
Every sinner a future!
And we are all "saints" and all
"sinners"!
*****
*****
LOOK BEYOND
APPEARANCES, sent in by Barbara Baty
This is a true story.
|
A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston , and walked timidly without an appointment in to the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard; and [they[ probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. "We'd like to see the president," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped. "We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours, the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted. "Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave," she said. He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office. The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus." The president wasn't touched. He was shocked. "Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery." "Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard." The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the buildings here at Harvard!" For a moment, the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto , California, where they established the university that bears their name, Stanford University , a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. *** *** ***** *****
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GRANDMOTHER'S
GRAND HANDS, sent in by Jim Dwyer
"Have you ever looked
at your hands?" my grandmother once asked. "I mean really looked."
She smiled and related this story:
"Stop and think about
the hands, how they have served you throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled and weak,
have been the tools I have used all my life to grab and embrace life. They caught my fall when as a toddler I
crashed upon the floor. They put
food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, I was taught by my mother to fold them in
prayer. They tied my shoes and
pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to
war. They have been dirty, scraped
and raw, swollen and bent. They
were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band , they
showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and
trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
"They have held my children and
grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't
understand. They have covered my
face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and
broken, dried and raw. And to this day,É these hands hold me up, lay me down,
and again continue to fold in prayer.
These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But, more importantly, it will be my
hands of Light that God will reach out and take when he leads me Home. And with my Light-hands He will lift me
to His side.
And there I will use my hands to touch the 'face' of Christ."
*****
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BEWARE OF
MCDONALD'S, sent in by Teresa Ramsey
Rain forests are being irreversibly decimated in order to make more grazing land for cattle in South America so the USA can have cheap hamburgers. The trees breathe for the Earth, by exchanging CO 2 for Oxygen. The methane being produced by the cattle not only smells bad but is adding to the overall pollution. There are lots of reasons to not eat beef, no matter where it is raised, but fast food beef is really adding insult to injury. [In the longterm, it is catastrophic for good cardiovascular health, and this is the karma for having regularly murdered these innocent creatures by the millions. (McDonald's alone kills twenty thousand a week.)]
*****
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TOWARDS
NATURAL WELLNESS: SUPPORTING THE
BODY'S HEALING SYSTEM
Spontaneous
healing is not a rare event. When
the body's natural healingsystem is not impeded, it happens all the time. In fact, most disorders are
"self-limiting," which is a medical way of saying that, if you leave
it alone, a disorder will tend to correct itself. But CAUTION:
This does not apply to all disorders, and some need regular medicines or
regular medical checkups.
And if natural
defenses are impaired, selfhealing is less likely to occur. For example, persistent, overwhelming
infections can significantly weaken the defense-system over time. But so can exposure to environmental
toxins; and so can toxic mental states such as hatred, bigotry, violence, and
revenge.
The environment
carries a number of toxins, which can enter the body through food, water,
drugs, etc. Psychic toxins are
also "contagious," and we "catch them" from negative,
pessimistic people.
Electromagnetic pollution can also pose a real toxic danger to sensitive
persons.
Still, there is
some good news amidst the studies of toxicity. For example, there is no evidence to support the common
assumption that older people have
less, or less active, immunity than younger ones. It appears possible to maintain the maximum efficiency
of the immune system well into advanced age.
The importance of the
heartmind can hardly be over-emphasized.
It is the major influence in healing. Healing can be triggered,
enhanced, accelerated, or frustrated by purely mental events. The continuous interchange and
interaction between mind and body has come to be known as the "mindbody"
effect.
Some go so far as to
say that a primary cause of physical disease is not even material, but
spiritual. Here, one must be
careful of extremism. For people
are often unconsciously motivated by fear to embrace this kind of thinking. Medical problems are much too complex
to be reduced to a single cause, and these "monogenic" theories tend
to represent unreasonable extremes.
A more moderate, "middle of the road," position is that disease is the result of many
factors, including psychogenesis (caused by mind), pneumogenesis (caused by
spiritual factors), personal
history, soul history, psychosocial history, biomedical history,
environment, genetics, and other factors.
But science, in seeking to
reduce everything to exclusively molecular causes, is as myopic and one-sided
as those who try to reduce everything to spiritual causes. Yes, a monogenic view-- which
postulates a single cause for a wide spectrum of phenomena-- makes things neat
and simple, but it does little to nothing in terms of actually explaining
anything. And it hardly matters whether the cause is said to be molecules or
spirits.
DIET AND NUTRITION. Everyone, no matter what she
believes, will die at approximately the same age; this deathage is likely
programmed into the dna. But it is
possible greatly to improve one's function and health while on earth, by paying attention to
nutrition. For, although everyone
will die, much worse things than death can happen to you.
Food is an important
influence, but is probably not the chief determinant of good health for all
people, and certainly is not the only one. Much in the health-artsciences has to do with genetics, and
much else with stress-levels, and another factor considers the consistent
patterns of habitual thought.
Some books on nutrition
might be totally worthless; a number of them contradict each other. But human beings are so desperate to
find a "magic diet" that will keep them healthy or young forever that
they allow themselves to become extremely gullible in the field of nutrition, believing the most
outlandish and absurd dietary theories. Just as there are religious cults that take advantage of
desperation, there are also a number of nutritional cults, usually with a
pseudoscientific basis. Even if
you do eat only cumquat seeds, and only on Thursday after six, you are still
likely to have little or no positive effect on your long-term biochemistry.
Components that
should be considered in the desiring of any reasonable, moderate diet based on
real factual data include: 1)
total caloric intake, which will vary depending on your size, activity level,
and metabolic rate; 2) total fat,
which some nutritionists believe should not exceed ten to twenty percent of
total calories; 3) protein
sources, which include poor-quality proteins such as pig and cow, and
higher-quality proteins, such as those found in egg-whites, milk, and certain
vegetable-sources such as soy; 4) carbohydrates, the body's energyfoods, which
need to constitute the major portion of the diet in order to maximize energy
(but avoid simple carbs or "junk foods"), and 5) fiber.
Astonishingly,
carefully controlled studies have demonstrated, over and over again, that
animals live both better and longer, and more energy-filled lives, when they
exist on a minimalist diet. By
comparison, animals who eat "normally," or who are overfed, are
groggy, lethargic, inactive, and lazy.
In short, the health-enhancing effects of under nutrition are
well established, and all nutritionists agree on this. The extrapolation is that most human
beings might actually be over nourished. When one watches the average American eat, it is easy to
believe that this is indeed so.
(Certainly, the average American diet is something of a nutritional
nightmare.)
The easiest and most
efficient way to cut back on total calories is simply to slash the fatcontent
of your diet. The fully functional
human body probably needs fewer than ten fat-grams per day to sustain it; most
of us eat more than seven or eight times that much, and so our diets tend to be
glutted with fat, to the point where many might actually be committing slow
nutritional suicide.
The body needs also
protein, but not nearly as much as it used to be thought. 45 grams daily is sufficient for most.
Many people have been
able successfully to minimize caloric intake daily; but if you cannot do that,
you might try fasting for one day per week, to give your digestive and other
organs a "break" from continuous work, and to create a greater sense
of wellbeing in both your cells and your mind.
This is crucial,
because now, the evidence for radical, destructive damage done by saturated
fats is overwhelming.
Those who already have evidence of cardiovascular problems might benefit
from a diet that is no more than ten percent fat. (In an intake of two thousand calories, that is only
twenty-two grams.) Beef fat is
one of the greatest common threats to health.
But both saturated and
polyunsaturated forms of fat pose great danger. For when unsaturated fats are heated or treated with
chemicals, they produce TFA's or trans-fatty acids. These are extremely toxic to the human body. (It is these that are found in
"hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" vegetable oils,
so ideally products that contain these should be avoided. With a little shopping, it should be
possible to find bread, crackers, etc., that are free from these dangerous
components.) These not only damage
the regulatory mechanisms of the body, but also regularly compromise the
immune-system. Further, they are
found nowhere in nature.
By contrast, olive, peanut,
canola, and avocado oils are monounsaturated, and do not damage the body's
systems. But be careful; canola
oil is often contaminated, and peanut oil contains natural toxins. Flaxseed oil is a rich natural source
of omega 3 fats, which are great for the body, particularly circulation.
PROTEIN. Most people consume far too much
protein. The idea that the "perfect" meal must contain meat and
potatoes has led many straight to the hospital. For most people, forty-five grams daily is sufficient. (Others thrive on even less; kidney
patients especially need a low-protein diet.) Meals should ideally consist mainly of carbohydrate-sources
(fruits, grains, some vegetables).
The reason is that the body was designed to oxidize carbs cleanly, with
no by-products, whereas the transformations involved in the digestion of
proteins produce toxic nitrogenous compounds, which the liver has to
detoxify. Besides, as specialists
have long known, animals are a poor source of protein. Egg-whites are a good alternative, and
contain no fat. Soy-proteins are
also a popular alternative.
Soy-proteins contain "phytoestrogens," which might offer
protection against prostate cancer and breast cancer.
A good rule of thumb for
any serious eater is this: Eat
less protein, and more fruits and vegetables.
TOXINS. The problem with most toxins is not
that of acute poisoning, which is immediate and dramatic in effect, but that of
long-term toxicity, which accumulates quite gradually in the body. In the cells, toxins build up
gradually, and often result in some degenerative disease. These toxins might also increase the
traditional signs of aging, and
thus appear to actually accelerate that process.
The body has, of
course, any number of natural detox-systems, including exhalation. But in some cases, these natural components can be overwhelmed. For example, recent increases in
bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases generally
are due to smoking and to air pollution.
So, when you detox, seek out parks and trees, or do so in a room with
filtered air, when using breath-work.
Try also to minimize indoor pollution by storing toxic substances
outdoors; these would include some cleaning agents and solvents. Also, new carpet is a common culprit,
as it tends to give off residual fumes ("outgassing") that can be
toxic.
It is a good idea,
particularly in a metro-environment, to use H.E.P.A. filters (high-efficiency
particulate air).
People over forty
need to pay special attention to the maintenance of natural detox and repair
systems/ for example, they should take 800 I.U.'s of vitamin E daily.
WATER should either be filtered or
distilled. But do not trust water
simply because it is bottled. Some
unscrupulous people have bottled water straight from the tap, which they then
cleverly label as "drinking" water. Demand to see a full analysis of any bottled water. Do not drink it if it does not taste
right. Steam distillation produces
the purest and best water.
Reverse-osmosis purified water is a close second.
Chlorine, often used
to sterilize water, might contribute to heart-disease and to cancer, at least
in large concentrations, or over time.
ALLERGIES
might at least partially be a consequence of eating contaminated foods. So, whenever possible, buy organic, and
call your grocery store to indicate your interest. Avoid artificial dyes and preservatives.
DRUG toxicity is
remarkably common. Whenever
possible, to maximize your natural healing system, seek a non-drug
alternative. All drugs can be
toxic. But never stop using a
drug suddenly, or without proper medical, professional supervision.
Surprisingly to many,
this can include even herbal preparations.
Alcohol and nicotine
are among the most toxic drugs ever discovered.
COSMETICS that
contain chemical dyes should be avoided.
HERBICIDES AND
PESTICIDES should be minimized.
ANTIBIOTICS should
also be minimized whenever this is possible without compromising safety.
TOXIC ENERGY or electromagnetic
pollution can be minimized by avoiding too much close proximity to electric
lines or powerful appliances such as stoves and tv's. Stay out of the sun whenever possible, and avoid tanning
salons. Avoid getting too
close to an active microwave oven, and do not microwave in plastic. Avoid sleeping close to clock-radios,
and make sure that any electric blanket is EMF-protective in design. Use a radiation-shield over computer
monitors, or do not sit too close to them, especially for long periods.
TONICS are natural
substances that strengthen the body's defense and healing systems. They include garlic and ginseng. (Garlic is a rich source of bioactive sulfur-compounds. It is used in anti-cancer,
anti-heart-disease, and antibiotic applications. Ginger contains over four hundred active compounds, and has
been recognized since ancient times as a strengthening herb. As effective as some n-saids, it
modifies the biomanufacture of a group of compounds called "icosinoids." It is anti-inflammatory and analgesic,
and aids digestion)
Green tea has also
been used in anti-cancer, anti-heart-disease, and antibacterial
applications. Ordinary black tea
is also quite healthy.
Milk thistle is often
the herb of choice when it comes to liver-detox.
Astragulus is a
natural anti-viral, used to treat colds and flu. Since modern medicine has no really effective anti-virals,
this agent can be especially useful.
As a tonic, it also increases energy. It is known to enhance immune-function.
Ginseng is the most famous of the tonic
herbs, known for producing energy.
It is especially noted for adaptogenic (stress-protective) qualities. Make sure that you buy only products standardized for
"ginsenoside" content.
"Don kwai"
is the Chinese name for the root of an herb called "angelica." It improves circulation. It is popular as a tonic for
women, but is also used by men. It
tends to counteract a wide range of menstrual and menopausal symptoms.
"Ho sho
wu" is a Chinese herb famous and legendary for its rejuvenational
properties. It is believed to
clean the blood, be good for hair and teeth, and to increase energy. It is also, like ginseng, a sexual
tonic. It tends to lower
high cholesterol.
Maitaki mushroom can
act as an anti-cancer agent and an immune-enhancer. It is also anti-viral and has anti-hypertensive effects.
Cordiceps is another mushroom used for general
weakness and lack of energy.
EXERCISE AND
REST. For a strong
defensive and healing system, both of these are equally vital in proper
proportion. Exercise not only
neutralizes stress, but tends to create the body's own natural euphorics,
called "endorphins." So,
it can be a very effective remedy
against depression. It also
enhances immune-function. One of
the most perfect exercises ever discovered is walking. Ideally, you can work your way up to
walking about forty-five minutes and covering about three miles.
Lack of sufficient
rest is a major cause of a weakened immune-system. But be careful to avoid the over-use of
sedatives, upon which you can easily become dependent or even to which you can
become addicted. Also, avoid
animal-derived ("natural") melatonin, a natural sleep-inducer; seek
the synthetic variety instead.
Turn away from too
much news, or you might suffer a stress syndrome of "news overload"
or "news burnout."
MIND AND SOUL. A genuine change of personality
does not result from mere affirmation.
By itself, without strong motivation, affirmation can be a very weak and
ineffective tool. And
it cannot change belief. If you do
not believe that you can get well, then seek out people who have actually been
healed from your condition, so that you can begin to change your true
beliefs. Then, their reality can
become yours.
In Buddhist
psychology, and mystical psychology generally, addiction to thoughts, ideas,
and concepts is a major obstacle
to illumination or freedom. Seek
to dismantle rigid assumptions, and remember that when inner energy is focused
on thought, it colors everything, preventing a clear and direct vision of
reality or truth. Thoughts are the
source of major obstructions to the
unimpeded operation of the healing system; examples include fears,
anxieties, tensions, stresses, guilts, and worries. But do not actively resist your thoughts; instead, simply
shift your attention from your thoughts to your breath. You might simply count the breaths,
from one to four.
If you are having
anti-healing thoughts, try consciously and actively to place your thoughts on
the opposite-- on health and
healing.
Remember that
the real goal of meditation is constant, unbroken practice of the
thought-free state.
The mind's eye, or
"third eye" of metaphysical tradition, has an enormously strong and
intricate connection with the healing system of the body; this is why guided
visualization can be so powerful.
For this "insight" or inner vision can be the connection
between will or imagination and
mind or brain. It is the
nexus-point for the mindbody connection.
Remember, however, that a
change in actual belief cannot be reduced to, or triggered by, mere
affirmation; for affirmation is a process of only the conscious mind, and
belief operates on deeper, unconscious levels. Here, hypnotherapy, guided visualization, and similar
techniques might help; but what is
needed is a true change of belief,
by being actually exposed to evidence that can support a new paradigm or
world-view. Here, education can be
critical. Since this kind of
education will not come from the traditional medical community or from your
doctor or teacher, you must seek alternative resources.
If you choose to use visualization, you
should know that neutral images are not at all desirable; instead, you want to
find or create images with a strong emotional charge-- as occur, for example,
in the strong bodymind interactions of sexual fantasy. Pay attention to the symbols and images
of your natural "daydreams," thus daydreaming more consciously, in
order to learn about your own natural proclivities.
Sick people often lack any
major passion, and this is a real aspect of their illness. So, work to cultivate passionate
feelings in your life. For most
people, the most natural outlet for these, and the most educational, is in
deepening the relationship with a lovepartner. So, you can begin here, and you might discover that, having
unlocked sexual passion, you are capable of becoming passionate about other
things as well. In fact, apathy
might be a more powerful block to healing than even negative emotions.
How does this,
however, fit in with the concept of detachment? Detachment is the absence of demands for the universe to
fill your egodesires; it is not nearly the same as apathy, for apathy indicates
the absence of love even for the self.
You want to care very deeply for your sacred physical body, but you do
not want to be "stuck" to particular outcomes. Try to cultivate faith that the best is
working out. What is truly yours
will come to you, and so you need not waste time and energy in worry or
fearsome visions. Simply relax and
learn to trust your "bodywisdom" to know what it is doing.
Immune-reactions
might be triggered by any intense feelings, so it is better for you to permit
yourself to feel these than to lock them up in repression and denial. For these intense feelings do not
simply evaporate; if not expressed, they will tend to cycle back into the
system and emerge later as depression.
And strangely, when you feel depressed, the very act of pretending
to feel otherwise can have a
strong mood-altering effect. The
unconscious mind is very responsive to environmental cues; and this area of
mind is the source of depression.
So, when the unconscious mind sees you smile, or hears you laugh, it
might begin to assume that everything is all right, and create better, more
cheerful feelings. This
"smile-therapy" sounds ridiculously simple, but can have profound mood-changing
effects.
Also, by
regulating the basic process of breathing, you can alter the responses of your
autonomic nervous system and unconscious mind.
Most importantly, to
trigger the maximum responses of your healing system, cultivate beauty in every
form. As often as possssible,
surround yourself with the things and people you love; ensconce yourself in beauty and comfort. Do not spend time in unclean,
disharmonious, disorderly, messy, or ugly places. (This is especially important if you have a significant
libra in your astronatal chart.)
Use bright,
refreshing colors and forms to improve the decor around your home. (Many find the principles of feng
shui very valuable in this
area.) Make sure that a room has
adequate circulation, and access to fresh or filtered air. A small fountain can generate
health-inducing negative-ion flow in the air. Crystals can add beauty, color, and vibrant energy to a
room, and crystal spheres can be very decorative while they enhance positive
forces. It is also important to
keep the room, as well as the physical body, clean. Work to make a room comfortable and livable, but forget
about ostentation. Use mirrors to
increase the light in a room-- especially natural light. The use of fullspectrum bulbs, as well
as living plants, can improve the energy of a room considerably. Avoid somberness and gloominess and too
many dark or murky colors. Avoid
dark shadows or lightless areas. Keep
it bright, cheerful, and childlike.
Also, begin to
monitor your feeling-changes and energy-changes in the presence of various
friends, objects, music, colors, and acquaintances. You will discover that some make you feel better, and others
tend to move you towards a feeling of weariness, lethargy, inactivity, or
dullness. Avoid those who give you
a literal or figurative "headache," and seek out those who improve your intuitive inner states
or feelings. For these indicate
that your healing system has been
activated. Choose your friends at
least as carefully as you choose your foods, avoiding those that tend to toxify
you or take away energy. Whenever
honorably possible, avoid conflict; and find the courage to drop from your
life, in the most courteous and gentle way, anyone who drains you of vital
force. (If you dread
phone-conversation, visits, or communication with a certain person, it is a
good bet that he/she is draining from your energy-system, and can be kindly,
tenderly nudged from your life. Be
careful to do as little emotional harm as possible when this action is
necessary.)
Whenever possible,
expose yourself to jokes, humor, laughter, and play. It is better even to watch a mindless sitcom on tv than it
is to indulge in negative or destructive thinking. If you can laugh with a companion, the effect of
humor-therapy can be even intensified.
But laugh alone if necessary; just be sure to keep your life at all
times filled with high-quality humor.
(Avoid jokes that are degrading, bigoted, or immoral. Sexual humor in moderation is okay.)
Also, expose yourself
regularly to the writings and
biographies of the world's historical saints, sages, masters, teachers,
and spiritual models, including Jesus, the Buddha, Lao Tzu, Krishna, Patanjali,
Chuang Tzu, Shankara, and many, many others. Also, read books that have a liberating or positive
spiritual message. Concentrate on
books that are universal in perspective, and avoid those that are exclusive or
bigoted in favor of "one religion only." (Avoid the extremism of fundamentalist writings, for
example, wit their fears and superstitions.) Focus instead on love.
Cultivate positive and spiritual friends. Human connectedness can be a most powerful healer, but use
wisdom, discernment, and adjustment of inner "filters" to determine
exactly what friends would be good for you to cultivate.
Inspiration or
"in-spiriting" can also be a powerful booster for healing. Be as creative positively as
possible. It is healing to paint, write, photograph, sculpt, or
engage in any number of creative arts that open the inner doors to inspiration.
Cultivate an extended
family. Let others know that you
consider them members of your "family," or inner circle of intimate
friends. This kind of love is
extremely healing.
Whenever and however possible, seek out
opportunities to practice service, goodness, and forgiveness. Release all those who have harmed,
damaged, or attacked you, and you will find joyful, delightful liberation in
this freedom, and its healing effects can be enormous and permanent.
Be sure to seek out
any professional help when it is needed,
from either a traditional or an alternative physician or mind-helper. There is a real place in every balanced
life for the wise and moderate use of drugs, surgery, and the other components
of traditional medicine. Stay openminded,
and cultivate elasticity and plasticity of consciousness, since dogmatism and
stubbornness are antihealing attitudes that arise from fear.
Lifestyle changes
have been proved capable of eliminating or modifying chronic or degenerative
diseases, and can have wide-ranging, incredible effects. But be sure to avoid any form of
"cultic" approaches to either lifestyle-change or medical
practices. (For example, the TM
auruvedic approach of the Maharaji Mahesh Yogi has sadly evolved into cultic
and exclusivistic perspectives, and is better avoided by the free person. Some aspects of the approaches of DePok
Chopra also have been criticized as unreliable.)
*******
For
more information, see the book Spontaneous Healing, by Andrew Weil (New York; Knopf, 1995)
*****
*****
MINISTRIES AND GREED
In current society, it is despicable and tragic how religion has become
interwoven with money. It is an utter catastrophe, and has led to the ruination
of the most spiritual ideas of faith. Greed has corrupted, most thoroughly, the
entire structure of most organized religions, whether they be giant,
international religions or minor microcults. The organized, orthodox Church is
thoroughly rotten with greed. Often, the actual measure of a church is its
size, and churches have come to resemble shopping-malls.
JESUS. The life and ministries of Jesus
were far different. He did not even think it important enough to build a
physical church or even mention the idea. The scriptures say, however, that
even in the very nonmaterialistic ministry of Jesus, he and his disciples did
carry a donation-box, out of which they lived. The poor followers of Francis
did the same. As in the time of
Jesus, money is a necessary evil. (1 Tim. 6:10) Not that money itself is evil;
it isn't. But the ancient Christians did believe that the "love of
money" was a "root of evil." . Sure enough, every war, rape,
many acts of torture, stealing, lying, betrayal, and murder are usually connected
with this evil "love".
So, we renounce money as a goal of any
truly sincere attempt to serve God (Love). For Jesus said, "You cannot
serve God and money." Some translations render this verse, "You
cannot serve God and riches." Either way, its intent is crystal clear: You
cannot, must not, divide your timenergy between God (Love) and money. And we
have no intentions of ever doing so!
We renounce all riches as an
"alternative god" to the real God, the God Who is Love! At Love
Ministries, we have never sought to make any kind of "profit" on
spirituality, and vow that we will never attempt to do so. Our seminars,
lectures, and personal interviews and work with students and clients have
always been offered free of charge, and we vow to keep this policy in place.
Also, our email work, client sessions, telephone work, and distribution of
other educational materials are free.
The great majority of even the books of Love Ministries have been given
away free. And we promise to keep it so.
Sadly, we have had to charge clients,
students, and the public for some of our educational materials. Books are
larger than the free printed materials that we provide, and we have been forced
to pay for the typesetting, printing, and binding of these. But we have never
made a penny's profit on any book. We sell them for exactly the cost that we
must pay for them, for we do not want to profit on spirituality.
To see spirituality as a "market
commodity" is to reduce it to the level of potatoes, beans, and melons. And spirituality is never for sale, at
any price! Nor should it be, under any circumstances!
The
Master Jesus was no fanatic. He took a moderate position. He did not call his
followers to poverty. But, on the other extreme, he actually discouraged the
popular quest for unlimited wealth. When a rich man expressed a desire to
follow him, Jesus said, "Go, sell all that you own, and give it to the
poor; then follow Me." (Mark 10:21)
This was not a literal command, so that we have to follow it. But it was a
giant test of the man's sincerity. To "sell everything" is to let go
of the heart entanglement with riches, the obsession with material wealth-- as
common in ancient times as it is today. For this path makes greed (fear) your
master, and fear is Love's opposite.
But this does not mean that money itself
is "bad." We all need to live, and to do anything in our world costs
money. So, at present, Love Ministries is reaching out for your help. Because
of our belief in simplicity, some minimalism, and our anti-materialism, Love
Ministries does not have any money for even the best causes. We now have discovered
precisely such a cause: You and we
now have an opportunity to reach the hand of compassion directly to the poorest
people in the world. As of 033009,
we have sent $100 to each of the orphanages run by Love Ministries of India,
Kenya, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. With your continued help, we can continue to reflect
the pure, bright Light of Love into the darkness of these little lives. Please help. Please send all donations to: Love Ministries, 5100
Liberty-Fairfield Rd., Hamilton, OH 45011. One hundred
percent of every donation goes straight to the poor; not a penny is spent for administration, publicity, staff,
solicitors, phones, rent, et. Thank
you for your kindness.
*****
*****
AQUARIUSCIENCE: THE FUTURE IS NOW! Discoveries and Breakthroughs.
From the KURZWEILAI.NET NEWSLETTER
Nanosized 'trojan horse' to aid nutrition
PhysOrg.com Aug 25, 2008
*************************
Researchers from Monash University have designed a spongelike chitosan
biopolymeric nanoparticle "Trojan horse" that protects
antioxidants from being destroyed in the gut, ensuring a better chance of
being absorbed in the digestive tract. The longer-term aim is to
include similarly treated nanoparticles into food items....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9280&m=40083
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Very Longterm Backup
Kevin Kelly's Lifestream Aug. 20, 2008
*************************
The Long Now Foundation has developed a modern Rosetta Stone --
a backup of human languages that future generations might cherish --
etched on a 3-inch nickel disc with an estimated lifespan of 2,000 to
10,000 years. The disc contains an archive of 13,500 scanned pages in
more than 1,500 human languages with human-readable scripts, text,...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9277&m=40083
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A Stem-Cell Revolution
Technology Review Aug. 27, 2008
*************************
Doug Melton, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, says
that distributing induced pluripotent stem cells to researchers around the world will
advance the study of degenerative diseases like Parkinson's and...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9286&m=40083
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Scientists unmask brain's hidden potential
PhysOrg.com Aug, 27, 2008
*************************
The normally developed visual system quickly becomes engaged to
process touch in response to complete loss of sight, researchers
at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have found in experiments
with Braille tests. The speed and dynamic nature of the changes they
observed suggest that rather than establishing new nerve connections
--...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9285&m=40083
**********************************************
Ayurvedic medicines laden with toxic heavy metals
New Scientist news service Aug. 26, 2008
*************************
21% of 193 traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicines bought on the
Internet from US or Indian sources contained high amounts of lead,
mercury or arsenic, with some heavy metals deliberately added, Boston
University School of Medicine researchers have found....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9283&m=40083
************************************
Researchers Report Advances in Cell Conversion Technique
New York Times Aug. 27, 2008
*************************
Biologists at Harvard have converted cells from a mouse's pancreas into
the insulinproducing cells that are destroyed in diabetes, using master proteins
called "transcription factors" that control which sets of genes are active in a
cell and thus what properties the cell will possess. The research suggests that the
natural barriers between the...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9294&m=40083
**************************************
Milestone reached in search for deafness cure
NewScientist.com news service Aug. 27, 2008
*************************
John Brigande of Oregon Health and Science University has developed an
experimental gene therapy that generates hair cells that are
damaged or missing in deaf animals. His team injected mice embryos with
a gene called Atoh1, apparently a hair- cell master switch that
activates genes that turn developing cells into hair cells. The cells grew...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9292&m=40083
************************************
Why you should go with your gut feeling
NewScientist news service Aug. 27, 2008
*************************
Our brains are capable of picking up subliminal signals in making
decisions, University College London researchers have found....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9291&m=40083
*****************************************
A Helping Hand for Surgery
Technology Review Aug. 28, 2008
*************************
Johns Hopkins University researchers have developed a tiny
handlike gripper that can grasp tissue or cell samples and could
make it easier for doctors to perform minimally invasive surgery,
such as biopsies. (Timothy Leong/JHU) The device curls its
"fingers" around an object when triggered chemically, and it can be
moved around remotely...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9290&m=40083
***********************************
A Genetic Link for Vision Loss
Technology Review Aug. 27, 2008
*************************
Researchers from multiple institutions have identified a genetic link associated
with dry macular degeneration, which they say may lead to treatments for the
debilitating...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9289&m=40083
*************************
Circadian rhythms boost cancer therapies (subscription required)
New Scientist Aug, 27, 2008
*************************
Chronotherapists have found that side effects of specific drugs and
radiotherapy can be minimized by administering them at defined times
of the day, also taking into account individual patient circadian cycles.
Circadian rhythms affect the expression of almost every gene in
our bodies, so it is not surprising that drugs are metabolised...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9305&m=40083
************************************
Two-egg diet cracks cholesterol issue
PhysOrg.com Aug, 28, 2008
*************************
University of Surrey researchers have found that people who ate two
eggs per day, while on a calorie-restricted diet, lost weight and reduced their blood cholesterol...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9303&m=40083
*******************************************
Neutralizing Fluorocarbons
Technology Review Aug. 28, 2008
*************************
Researchers at Brandeis University have found a catalyst that breaks
the carbon-fluorine bond at room temperature, promising easier and
more effective disposal of...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9301&m=40083
********************************
Tiny Drug Transporters
Technology Review Aug. 29, 2008
*************************
Research from Stanford University has shown that carbon nanotubes
loaded with anticancer drugs can target tumor cells while avoiding
healthy tissue. The researchers coated the nanotubes with a molecule
called polyethylene glycol (PEG) and attached molecules of the anticancer
drug paclitaxel to each branch. Tumors treated by nanotube delivery...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9300&m=40083
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